Tag Archives: professional skateboarder

Comic Con Midlands 2026

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Comic Con Midlands

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July 2026

NEC, Birmingham

Much time has passed since I last attended a Comic Con at Birmingham NEC. However my good buddy, Adam, and I decided to venture back to the cavernous halls of this huge venue, to visit Comic Con Midlands, organised by the Monopoly group. These same guys run the huge Liverpool convention that I’ve been to several times recently.

The reason for our trip was because Adam had convinced me to go halves with him on a photo with a celebrity. This is not usually my kinda thing. I’ve queued up for signed autographs from actors etc in the past, and often (though not always) been very underwhelmed by the experience. For a big cash outlay I’ve been left with a colour pic and heaps of embarrassment. It would take something major to drag me out of my celeb-meeting retirement.

Something big would be the cast of cult 90’s comedy Mallrats, including Jason Lee, Renee Humphrey and Ethan Suplee. The cultured amongst you will know that Lee and Suplee also starred in legendary comedy series My Name is Earl, of which I am also a huge fan. Of course, the really hip cats out there will also know that Jason Lee is also an ex-professional skateboarder – one of the greatest to ever do it and a living legend.

So it didn’t take too much persuasion to sign me up for the My Name is Earl duo photo with Jason and Ethan.

Doors opened at 9am, and we were there bang on time. That meant a very early start for me on a Saturday morning, which is NOT a good thing. Waking up at 6.30am at the weekend? That’s pure criminality. Never mind, there would be plenty to keep us occupied till our photo op at 3.15pm.

Well, you would assume so. Usually these events (and certainly based on previous experience at the NEC) have hours worth of merch stalls to wander round. Merch stalls there were, but not enough – we’d completed a circuit by 10.30am. What??! Absolutely crazy. I mean, OK – I picked up a few comic books for my collection. Action figures were a scarcity, however (this would’ve been unbelievable in the past) – so it was relatively slim pickings on the merch front.

With hours to kill, we did some more circuits of the merch and explored outside the events hall to find refreshment. It was like a ghost town out there – even the Wetherspoons was shut.

Eventually it was time for the Mallrats Q&A session, featuring all three of the guests. The panel was very entertaining and informative, each of the cast members came across very well. They all seemed relaxed, happy to be there and divulged some interesting and funny stories. I later decided to quickly say hello to Jason Lee at his signing station. We had a really quick chat about skateboarding and I got a fist bump from the master. A very cool and memorable experience.

Later (much later) it was time for the photo op. Adam and I waited in line on our best behaviour, and soon enough were ushered in to have our photos taken with Lee and Suplee. Both stars were friendly, greeting us warmly with handshakes. The assistants barked orders at us and the photo was taken, then milliseconds later the same assistants barked at us to get out.

I was left feeling embarrassed and as if I’d been rude to two of my heroes. But the assistants were just doing their job, Jason and Ethan were lovely and I got a cool photo of us all together.

After that, it was time for the journey home. It had been a successful day – my experience of the Mallrats/My Name is Earl stars was very positive and I got a bunch of Marvel comic books. In future though, a later start wouldn’t hurt. I learned to my cost that no one needs to be in Birmingham at 9am.

New Deck 2025 – Death Benson

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Somehow, a couple of years ago, I ended up with a spare deck. I was going to put it on the wall as a display item, but recently I changed my mind.

The deck in question was this Death Benson Devil Woman. I think I decided it was too wide and set up a different deck to skate – an 8.25″ Patrick Melcher Mermaid deck. I wouldn’t normally buy a deck just to display, so I must have skated one set up for longer than anticipated to end up with a spare.

Whatever the reason, this 8.5″ Benson was put aside to mount on the wall. Recently, my current set up was starting to get really worn out – I obviously needed a new one. As I’d been considering going wider, this 8.5″ deck was brought out of retirement and set up, ready to go.

I used some older Independent trucks that just about fit OK, and moved my current Slime Balls wheels across to this set up.

The result: a great new skateboard. It has that nice poop that new decks have, it feels awesome. I’ve really enjoyed skating it, slightly wider was a good move.

I’ve had one of these decks previously, though in a smaller width (you can read about it here). I’m still a big fan of Death skateboards, and of course the amazing artwork of Liane Plant!

New wheels may be an option in the near future, and definitely new bearings.

And there you have it: just another little post celebrating these rad skateboards that I’ve had the pleasure to ride over the years.

All of this stuff was bought from the extremely brilliant Native Skate Store.

The Death Skateboards website is here.

Liane Plant’s website is here.

New Deck Update – Death Patrick Melcher

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Continuing my ambition to document all of my skateboard decks, here’s my latest set up for 2021. My Death “Script” in red got worn out through a load of skating (or attempted skating, ha!), so I needed a replacement.

To take over as my day to day skateboard, I ordered another Death deck, the Benson Devil Woman from good ol’ Native Skate Store. It’s 8.5″ wide, great concave and a spectacular graphic from the legendary Liane Plant.

So amazing is this graphic, that I had second thoughts about skating it.

I already had a Death Patrick Melcher deck that I had bought and was planning to hang on the wall. Fantastic mermaid graphic (by L. Plant again, of course) which I’ve shared before on the Virtual Hot Tub, and I thought it would be great as a display piece.

I was in a pickle: do I set up and skate the Benson as intended, or switch to the Melcher? Both great graphics, great shapes and great boobs – but as classic as they are, I needed something to ride.

As the Melcher Mermaid is 8.25″ wide, that was the final deciding factor. Slightly less wide than the Devil Woman, I felt that this would suit me better. I’ve been right so far – the mermaid feels slightly more “me” than my previous 8.5″ Script deck.

The Patrick Melcher is set up with my Independent trucks and Death wheels – and I love it.

Which means that the Benson Devil Woman will go on the wall as an art piece. At least for now…

The Death Skateboards website is here.

Liane Plant’s website is here.

Visit the Native Skate Store here.

Skate Art: Liane Plant/Death Skateboards

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Rather than just write a post about my latest set up – as I have done in the past – I decided it was time to shake things up a bit. You see, I’ve inadvertently become a collector of skate art. I don’t have a lot, but I have a few pieces. Though I’m destroying this art on a regular basis, so who knows how my collection will develop – if at all.

Regular readers will already know that I’ve been partial to equipment from Death Skateboards for a long time. UK based company, great ethos, cool and durable products. You may have also seen my previous blog about my Richie Jackson pro-model. That was where the addiction started.

The art for the Richie Jackson deck was drawn by an artist called Liane Plant. I loved it’s detailed, clear and defined lines – a realistic portrait of Richie the master, done in an art nouveau* style. Very clever and quite beautiful. At least it was, till I skated it and shined the graphics off.

Liane has also produced other graphics for Death (along with other skate companies, bands etc). Last year when I needed a new deck, I picked up the Patrick Melcher model, which has a fantastic mermaid graphic. I was all set to stick the trucks and wheels on, then shred it – when I decided not to. This amazing creation will go on the wall instead.

I’m not a deck collector – they’re too expensive – and to be frank, in a house already cluttered with vinyl, toys and other collections, I just don’t have room. The only deck I have on the wall is a reissue of the classic Santa Cruz Rob Roskopp face, drawn by Jim Phillips. If I had the space and the cash, I’d have loads of skateboards on my walls. But for now the Melcher mermaid remains something of an anomaly.

Then this year, I bought another Liane Plant graphic – Eddie Belvedere‘s iron maiden model. Again, another intricately detailed work. It’s bold and grim, a very heavy metal deck graphic melding hot chicks and medieval torture. Totally in your face. But like the other graphics, I love it because of the realism that Liane has created in the characters.

I set up the Eddie Belvedere deck with my Indy trucks and Death wheels, and I’ve been skating it for a while. Great deck, lots of pop, now with a messed up graphic. Never mind, that’s what skateboards are for.

I am slightly regretting shining the graphics on this one though. Let’s see what my next deck will be. I’ll need something to skate, but will I be vulgar and unrefined enough to defile another work of art like this??!

You can see more of Liane Plants work here and on Instagram.

The Death Skateboards website is here.

I bought these decks from Native Skate Store, who are pretty bloody good.

Bonus! Here’s a link to a little article from Sidewalk about Eddie Belvedere’s set up (old but gold).

Now go and Google some footage of Death and the above mentioned skaters. Thank you.

*I think it’s art nouveau, not sure if I’m honest. Should probably educate myself.

New Deck 2019 – Death Skateboards Richie Jackson

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A few weeks back, I got a new deck and (eventually) set it up to ride.  I took some photos to commemorate the beautiful graphic and general awesomeness of the full, set up skateboard.  Here it is, for our mutual enjoyment.

Again, I opted for a Death deck – and again a Richie Jackson model.  Great company, inspirational skater.  This is an 8.25″ wide model.

According to the graphic, it’s a Richie Jackson “Collectors Shred Sled” – but this particular baby ain’t going on the wall.  Oh no, it’s for shredding, not collecting.

The deck was ordered from Native Skate Store.  The merchandise arrived with no problem at all, everything was perfect.

I also ordered a set of 53mm Death wheels from Native.  Together with a new set of ABEC 5 bearings, and my previous set of Independent trucks, I was able to piece together the work of art you see here.

It’s a great set up and I’ve really enjoyed riding it so far.  No complaints whatsoever.  The deck width is perfect for me for me these days, so I’ll stick with that for now.  The wheels are rolling well too, I’d forgotten how nice a feeling it is to ride a new set.

These photos were taken a few weeks ago, and this skateboard doesn’t look as fresh as it used to.  There are quite a few scrapes from concrete and the number of those marks is growing.  But hey, that’s the way it goes.  It’s great to skate and that’s all that matters.

Still, it’s nice to be reminded of that brand new, virgin set up in these photos.  There’s just something incredibly rad about getting – and skating – a new skateboard.  I never get tired of it.

The Death skateboards website is here.

Check out Native Skate Store here.

And don’t forget to check out Richie Jackson on social media!