Produced from 2004 to 2010, always in the month of March, the convention's venue was typically the Great Hall of Queen Mary University of London.
The Thing showcased webcomics, minicomics, graphic novels, comic books, and zines created by independent artists and publishers.
Instead, the show centered around an artist alley-style exhibition space that featured up to 100 vendors, as well as industry-related panel discussions.
In an interview, Findlay explained the genesis of the show: The Thing was conceived as an event to showcase what was at the time a new industry, the webcomic, with the traditional homemade comic attached.
It was conceived along the simple idea that the event featured a hall of tables with exhibitors showing their stuff.