THE first graphic novelist to win the prestigious Costa Book Award is delighted that his home city is staging the North-East's first dedicated comic convention.

Bryan Talbot wrote Dotter of her Father’s Eyes with his wife Dr Mary Talbot, and the pair are now official patrons of the Comic Con being held in Sunderland in August.

Mr Talbot, who has created art for Batman, Judge Dredd and Hellblazer, as well as writing the hit graphic novel Alice in Sunderland and the Grandville series, said: “This is long overdue.

“Sunderland has a rich history of producing comics and graphic novels, and there are a lot of talented artists here who are having to travel to show their work.

“For me it’s even better, usually I have to spend days travelling to get to comic conventions, this one will be five minutes from my house.”

The convention, which will be held at the Sunderland Software Centre next to the city’s Mowbray Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, is being organised by Sunderland Live and Black Hearted Press, the team behind the popular Glasgow Comic Con which last year attracted 2,000 people.

Sha Nazir, artistic director for Black Hearted Press, said: “We chose Sunderland because there are lots of people who are making comics here, we want to help those who are aspiring to create their own works, as well as putting on a great event for comic lovers.”

Mr and Dr Talbot will both attend the convention, although it is not yet known whether they will be doing a presentation.

Dr Talbot’s new book Suffragette, the real life story of a northern women’s rights activist, is due to be released in May.

Dotter of her Father’s Eyes, which told the story of James Joyce’s daughter Lucia and covered Dr Talbot’s own upbringing as the child of a Joyce scholar, was the first graphic novel to win the Costa award in the biography section in 2012.

Dr Mel Gibson, a comics scholar and fellow patron of the Comic Con, said: “This is going to be a really exciting occasion for comic fans across the region.”

Beano and Dandy cartoonist Nigel Parkinson will also attend, as will Hannah Berry, a highly prized artist working for Random House.

The convention will be dedicated entirely to comics with talks, presentations, sales and portfolio viewings and advice sessions for budding artists.

For more information, visit SunderlandComicCon.com.