New Inverness comic-con celebrates early sell-out

EAGER Highland pop-culture fanatics have helped make the first comic convention to grace Inverness in five years a force to be reckoned with – with tickets selling out five months in advance.

NessCon, set for Eden Court on July 8-9, is the first convention of its kind to hit the city since Hi-Ex, which last opened its doors in 2012.

And Darrel-John Paterson, director of organisers Highland Heart Events, can’t believe how successful it’s been.

“It feels very surreal that tickets sold out five months ahead of us opening the doors!” he said.

“I am so honoured and the team are too – when we sat down last summer we thought it would be a small get together with a few people. We never anticipated it to be this successful.

“Highland Heart Events is something that I started as a hobby, and NessCon will be our staple event for many years to come. It’s different for Inverness and we need more different.

“The power that the superhero phenomenon is having is huge and we want Inverness to embrace it. Marvel has announced scenes are being shot in the Highlands for an upcoming project, so events like NessCon can only be a good thing for the area.”

So far, confirmed guests for the event include original green Power Ranger Jason David Frank; Josh Herdman, who played Gregory Goyle in the Harry Potter films; and Kai Owen, star of BBC sci-fi drama (and Doctor Who spinoff) Torchwood.

There’s little doubt however as to whom their dream booking for the convention would be – hometown hero Karen Gillan. “We’d love all of Inverness’s support to help us with our Twitter campaign to get Karen home for NessCon!” Darrel-John said.

“So far we have been unable to reach her, and we understand that she is a very busy lady!

“But wouldn’t it be great to get our girl home to celebrate her success in the Doctor Who and Marvel Franchise?”

The event will also feature exhibitors both national and local, with Dingwall’s Heroes Haunt and Ellerium Games in Inverness both set to take part.

NessCon will take place at Eden Court on July 8-9. While the event is currently sold out, there is a waiting list available in case more tickets become available – www.highlandheartevents.co.uk/tickets

To get involved with the #ComeHomeKaren Twitter campaign, search @Invcomiccon