Commissioned to lead the ‘Zombie Walk’ procession for Shrewsbury’s 2019 Comic Salopia event, this science fiction inspired sculpture, nicknamed the ‘Jaguator’, was born. Local sculptor, Luke Kite, took two months to create the incredible life-sized Terminator sculpture which sits perched upon a matte black Jaguar car. Created using recycled car parts, shower hoses, pipes, electric cables and a large selection of other upcycled materials, the ‘Jaguator’ has a striking presence which towers over all of its onlookers, just as the indestructible cyborg machine does within the 1988 The Terminator franchise.

Shrewsbury is home to many festivals, carnivals, fairs and shows throughout the year, showcasing the very best of what Shrewsbury has to offer in terms of colour, enjoyment and innovation. Comic Salopia was a festival like no other.  The two-day festival took place on the 1-2 June 2019 and celebrated comic artists and storytellers from all across the country. In efforts to bring a diverse and broad range of people from all over the UK to Shrewsbury, the Comic Salopia festival not only boosted the local economy but also provided an enriching and creative experience for all of its attendees.

The event was arranged with the objective to expand the comic industry, showcasing that comics can be read and enjoyed by anyone no matter their background, age or circumstances. The fully inclusive family event was an international festival featuring some of the biggest names and faces in the industry.  Guest stars featured Shrewsbury resident Christian Ward, artist, writer and illustrator for the Marvel Comics, and Charlie Adlard of Walking Dead fame.  The festival aimed to inspire local artists and future writers through interactive experiences and to learn from the very best in the profession through guest talks, live arts shows and film screenings. The ‘Jaguator’ was the very first moving sculpture featured at the Comic Salopia event and certainly made a HUGE impact on all the procession spectators!

The ‘Jaguator’ can now be found on our grounds for all of our visitors to see and, in true Terminator style, no matter how far the sculpture travels, he’ll always be back.