Thought Bubble attendees in Harrogate will be able to pick up a free introduction to Uncle Zaxlor’s Robot Repair Shop, the all-ages science-fiction comedy by Leo Healy and Torgo Wells. The Uncle Zaxlor Sampler is set to debut at Redshirt Hall, table D20, during the festival’s 20th edition.
The sampler is a straightforward invitation into a deliberately chaotic premise: Uncle Zaxlor and his nephew Zam are trying to keep a robot repair shop operating while new problems, adventures and absurdities arrive. The series is described as sci-fi comedy for readers of all ages, placing its focus on accessible humour and a fantastic workplace setting rather than on dense continuity or a narrowly defined older readership.
Copies of Uncle Zaxlor issues 1 and 2 will also be available to buy at the table. That gives visitors two routes into the comic: take the free sampler as a low-commitment introduction, or continue directly into the existing numbered issues.
What the free sampler is for
A sampler is not necessarily a full first issue. In comics terms, it is usually a short-form introduction designed to establish a series’ premise, visual identity and reading tone. Here, its stated purpose is to provide a taste of the “madcap” world surrounding Uncle Zaxlor’s repair business.
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That approach is especially useful at a creator-focused festival, where readers often encounter work without prior knowledge of its characters or publishing history. A free entry point lets a visitor assess whether the comic’s sense of humour, art and central duo appeal to them before deciding whether to pick up issues 1 and 2.
The available description offers a clear tonal signal. The ordinary task of running a repair shop is transplanted into a science-fiction setting, where robots and strange illnesses can turn routine maintenance into a story engine. It is a familiar comic setup in the best sense: a stable location creates a base for recurring characters, while each new malfunction or crisis can generate a separate adventure.
Uncle Zaxlor and Zam’s repair-shop problems
The series follows Uncle Zaxlor and Zam as they attempt to keep the shop functioning. One described storyline has Zaxlor catch a strange disease, adding a personal problem to the practical pressures of operating the business. The details of that illness have not been outlined, so readers should not assume a particular diagnosis, resolution or scale of threat. What is clear is that the premise continues the comic’s blend of family partnership, workplace mishaps and sci-fi weirdness.
“All ages” is an important designation, but it does not mean the work is only for young children. It generally signals that the material is intended to be approachable across age groups, without the adult-only content or specialist knowledge that could shut out younger readers. For families attending Thought Bubble together, that makes the sampler a potentially easy table stop: it is free, short-form and rooted in a simple premise that can be understood immediately.
It may also suit readers who simply want a self-contained comic-world introduction. The premise does not require familiarity with a giant superhero universe, an adaptation, or a long sequence of crossovers. Based on the available information, the hook is the setting itself: a robot repair shop held together by Uncle Zaxlor, Zam and whatever unpredictable sci-fi complication arrives next.
Where to find it at Thought Bubble
The Uncle Zaxlor Sampler will be at Redshirt Hall, table D20. It is scheduled to debut during Thought Bubble’s 20th edition, held at Harrogate Convention Centre on November 14 and 15 as the culmination of a wider week of festival activity across Yorkshire.
- Comic: Uncle Zaxlor Sampler
- Creators: Leo Healy and Torgo Wells
- Venue area: Redshirt Hall
- Table: D20
- Availability: Free sampler
- Also available: Uncle Zaxlor issues 1 and 2 for purchase
- Festival dates: November 14–15
- Location: Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, England
For visitors building a show plan, the distinction between the free sampler and the paid issues matters. The sampler is the entry point, while the numbered comics are the place to look for more of the series after that first encounter. No print-run size, issue price or wider distribution details have been stated, so it would be unwise to treat the free handout as a limited-edition collectible or assume it will be available beyond the event.
Thought Bubble’s small-press setting
Thought Bubble’s 20th show is a fitting venue for a new sampler from an independent all-ages comic. The festival is centered on comics creators, particularly writers and artists, and is notably supportive of small press work. In practical terms, that creator-forward structure makes the event different from a release that appears only through a large retail rollout: visitors can discover comics directly at a table, meet the people behind them, and move from a brief introduction to the available issues in one stop.
The festival began in 2007, founded by Yorkshire artist Lisa Wood, also known as Tula Lotay, as part of the Leeds International Film Festival. Its earliest event took place in the basement of Leeds Town Hall and drew a couple of hundred attendees. Thought Bubble later expanded, and the convention moved from Leeds to Harrogate in 2019 because it needed more space and faced issues involving Leeds City Council.
That history helps explain why a table-specific detail such as “Redshirt Hall, D20” is more useful than a broad statement that the comic will be “at the show.” Thought Bubble has grown beyond its initial small gathering, and a focused convention floor benefits from a precise destination—particularly for readers seeking a particular creator, sampler or issue.
Why this kind of debut can matter
Independent comics often need to communicate their identity quickly. A title, a cover and a few seconds at a busy convention table can be the first encounter a potential reader has with a project. Uncle Zaxlor has a concise pitch that does that work efficiently: it is science-fiction comedy, it centers on a robot repair shop, and it follows an uncle-and-nephew pair trying to make that business survive.
The free sampler supports that pitch by making discovery less risky for the audience. It is not a promise that every reader will enjoy the same jokes or want to continue immediately. Instead, it gives the creative team a way to put the comic’s actual storytelling in readers’ hands. For an all-ages book, that is particularly practical: a parent, younger reader, longtime comic fan or casual festival visitor can try the work without needing to decipher where to begin.
For anyone attending Thought Bubble, the actionable detail is simple: head to Redshirt Hall’s D20 table to find the free Uncle Zaxlor Sampler, then look for issues 1 and 2 if the strange world of robot repairs, family teamwork and sci-fi setbacks lands with the right kind of cosmic clank.
