London Book Fair lines up comics events

The London Book Fair has almost finalised its list of comics events for this year's three day event at Earl's Court in April, with a line up of guests that so far includes Paul Gravett, Helen McCarthy, Emma Hayley, Ian Rankin and Cory Doctorow.

Some 23,000 industry professionals attend this trade event, providing publishers with the largest gathering of international literary agents, publishers and publishing suppliers under one roof in the UK for three days.

By registering for the event in advance (before Monday 19th April 2010) you can get a discount on the onsite entrance fee, paying just £25 for entrance over the full three days of the fair.

The Fair is taking a keener interest in comics and graphics this year, offering a dedicated "Comics Pavillion" which includes Diamond Comics and Highland Books as exhibitors, and a number of seminars that should certainly interest comics publishers and creators. There will also be opportunities to watch celebrated illustrators creating new work live in the ‘studio’, but we don't have details on just who will be involved in that just yet.

A full list of all events and seminars can be found here on the LBF web site, but here are the events we think might particularly interest downthetubes readers...

• Cross-Media Horizons: Graphic Novels & Video Games

19 April 11:30-12:30

Multiplatform releases are increasingly becoming the new frontier in the world of publishing. This seminar explores the particularly fruitful marriage between the graphic novel and the videogame in this field, whether through the publication of graphic novels based in blockbuster videogames, or videogame adaption of well-known graphic novels. Successful examples of this new business model can be found in the conversion of the Marvel superhero universe or the Asterix saga to the electronic platform

• Getting Graphic Novels and Manga to the Reader

20 April 2010 10:00-11:00
Chaired by Helen McCarthy

This seminar will focus on how showcase and display Comics, Manga & Graphic Novels in bookshops and libraries. We will count on the presence of different booksellers and librarians that will share his experience and will tell the audience their secrets and experiences: from the different categories and genres to the creation of innovative activities involving reluctant readers.

• New Opportunities: Graphic Novels and Digital

20 April 2010 14:30-15:30

Speakers
Mr Cory Doctorow, Author, Activist, Journalist and Blogger
Mr Paul Gravett, Director, COMICA Festival
Mr Ian Rankin, Author

After a record-busting year in 2008, the Graphic Novel & Manga markets appear to be living a second Golden Age. Join the discussion led by pioneer editor Emma Hayley on the future of one of the most vibrant and innovative sectors of the publishing industry. With the debut of the iPad in March (in the US, anyway), this event is sure to command a lot of attention.

• Graphic Novel Industry Unveiled

20 Apr 2010 16:00-17:00

Speakers
Ms Sophie Castille, Foreign Rights Director, Mediatoon
Ms Emma Hayley, Director, SelfMadeHero / Metro Media
Mr Marco Lupoi, Licensing Director, Panini Publishing Division

The Graphic Novel and Manga universes have been invaluable cornerstones of popular culture in the 20th century in many countries across the globe. The panel, formed by leading industry experts, will introduce France, Italy and Spain as clear examples of how this wing of the publishing industry has created for itself a high added-value cross-generational market in Europe. Join the seminar to learn more about the origins, present landscape and future potential of this recession-proof international industry.

• For more information on the Fair visit: www.londonbookfair.co.uk