As the marts became more popular, however, British comics professionals began to congregate and socialize at the shows and afterward in pubs nearby[1][2][3] (such as The Westminster Arms).
The first so-called London comic mart was held in 1970, organized by "Godfather of British fandom" and publisher of the fanzine Fantasy Advertiser, Frank Dobson.
[4] Dobson and a small group of fellow comics dealers rented out the upstairs room of The Eagle pub in Clerkenwell on a Saturday and called it a "Mini-con.
)[5] Held on 2 December 1972, at Lyndhurst Hall, in Camden Town,[6] Landau and Barrow's event was the first "official" Comic Mart, attracting over 250 attendees.
Volunteers and sponsors of the first Comic Mart included Skinn, Phil Clarke, Mike Higgs, Stan Nichols, Derek Stokes, Richard Burton, Alan Austin, Colin Campbell, Dave Gibbons, Compendium Books, IT, Candida, Electric Cinema Club, Better Books, and Virgin Records.
The first Comic Mart of the year was held in January, followed by one on Saturday, 27 April, at Holborn Assembly Hall, John's Mews, in central London.
[9] The 1974 edition of Comicon, again organized by Barrow (on his own), was held 20–21 July at London's Regent Centre Hotel, and was jointly billed as the "Comic Mart Summer Special 1974.
"[4] Denis Gifford, a key figure in British comics fandom, was the only "industry guest" at this combined Comicon/Comic Mart, providing the introductory presentation.
[12] For the 3 October Comic Mart, an admission charge of 10 pence was levied (largely to discourage petty thieves, who had been making a nuisance of themselves).
1979 belonged to Barrow, as Fantasy Domain put on seven Comicbook Marketplace events that year, all at his favorite venue, Lyndhurst Hall.
[18] In 1981, bi-monthly Comic Marts were being held in Central Hall Westminster,[17] with Barrow's Comicbook Marketplace taking the alternating months.
[19] The Comic Mart of 16 October 1982, featured a "Teach-In and Work-In" sponsored by the Society of Strip Illustration, with a number of creators from 2000 AD talking and presenting about their work.
[20] The 1983 London Comic Mart, held October[21] 15[22] again at Central Hall Westminster, was the host convention for the Eagle Awards, which were presented by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
[31] The Comic Mart phenomenon spread to Manchester in 1980, with Bob Smart and Graham Holt producing five events that year, all held at Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall.
[39] Six Birmingham "Comic Mart & Film Fair" events were held in 1989 at the New Imperial Hotel: on 18 February, 1 April, 3 June, 29 July, 23 September and 25 November.