The next HiEx comic convention in Eden Court Inverness, which will be held on the 27th and 28th of March 2010, will feature a number of exciting new events over the course of the weekend.

HiEx is very much a family event, and as such, there are some fantastic things going on for young children and families.

First of, there will be a Kids Corner, where members of the DFC Library team will be on hand. The DFC have three new books on the way soon. Each book showcases a single strip from the much-loved weekly comic, the DFC. The DFC Library launches with Good Dog, Bad Dog by Dave Shelton in March: Dave describes it as ‘a knockabout comic noir adventure comedy full of slapstick humour, terrible puns and exciting action’! This is followed by MeZolith in April from master storyteller Ben Haggarty and artist Adam Brockbank and The Spider Moon in May by Kate Brown.

Dave Shelton will be at Hi-Ex Inverness promoting Good Dog, Bad Dog so do drop by his table to see him sketch and to buy your very own signed copy of the book!

Sarah MacIntyre, author of Morris the Mankiest Monster, will also be on hand to help the younger (and older!) visitors who fancy trying their hand at creating their own monster.

And as if this wasn’t enough, this year sees the welcome return of Kev F Sutherland and his famous comic masterclass, with help from funding from the Highland Council. Plus, as an added bonus this year, Kev will also be putting on a performance of the hilarious Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre.

In July 1938 The Beano was born. Anarchic, anti-establishment and always funny, The Beano has brightened people’s lives for over 71 years selling at one point over two million copies a week. Morris Heggie, former editor of The Dandy and author of THE HISTORY OF THE BEANO (Waverley Books), and Gordon Tait, creative consultant on DENNIS & GNASHER series 3, take you through the story in this illustrated presentation. With a Q&A session and a rare chance to see original art from the archives this is an event for all the family.

Followed by a book signing and sketching session! THE HISTORY OF THE BEANO BOOK will be available to buy with a special HI-EX discount at the event.

Day tickets for the event can be bought at Eden Court, with discounted advance day and weekend passes available through the HiEx website on www.hi-ex.co.uk