Photo Review: 2D Festival - Creators At The Comics Fair

This year's 2D Comics Festival in the UK's 2013 City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, was the largest comics event ever held in Northern Ireland. With talks and work shops in the days running up to the weekend, the weekend itself had a family friendly cosplay event and a free comics fair during the day at the city's Millennium Forum plus evening talks in Sandino's Bar.

Organised as it has been for each year since 2007 by the Verbal Arts Centre (above), it has outgrown the 19th century former school and so this was first year that 2D has moved from its spiritual home, and into the much larger Millennium Forum theatre and conference centre also just within the city's defensive walls. This year the Verbal Arts Centre building was retained for an exhibition of local artist Will Simpson's film and television work including that on the biggest TV series to be filmed in Northern Ireland, Game Of Thrones.

The Millennium Forum (below) is a much more modern building with considerably more room to move around and generally be able to breathe. Built to cope with the hilly section of the city where the old wall actually runs beneath a road, the building has multiple levels with the main doors being, disconcertingly, at the top.

The main atrium of the building was used for the 2D Comics Fair with tables squeezed into every space, from the entrance hall via various bridges and landings, to the main lower floor and even beyond. The layout of this at first glance seemed a little chaotic but realisation soon dawned that the organisers had blocked certain routes to ensure that everyone walked past all the various tables before arriving at the main floor level. Indeed the various guests were spaced around the building with each area having several guest artists meaning that there really were no sections that could be ignored.

And the organisers were not ignoring their guests either with drinks and food being provided and even paper being offered to the artists in case they had run out. 2D has a good reputation amongst its guests and it was not hard to see why.

As it was free entry to the Comics Fair, there was a varied cross-section of punters around with, on the Sunday at least, few cosplayers to be seen other than those taking part in the Heroes and Legends event deeper in the building.

The city's local creators are Uproar Comics who came together through previous 2Ds and the 2D Collective offshoot. They publish the Zombies Hi title which is an anthology of the main ongoing Zombies Hi story backed up with short zombie text stories and comic strip, and is widely distributed within Northern Ireland. Writer Danny McLaughlin (left) was more than happy to talk about both zombies and their new standalone title, The Ballad of Half Hanged McNaghten, while artist Kevin Logue (right) drew attendees as zombies.

There are more details of all Uproar Comics publications on their website.

From across the border, and the Atlantic, was Canadian artist and Co Donegal resident Tim Stampton who was displaying some lovely watercolours of folkloric figures which he had combined into a softcover book entitled Irish Faerie Folk.

There are more details of Tim Stampton's work on his website.

Also from the Republic of Ireland, yet a familiar face at UK conventions, was writer Maura McHugh. As well as books and plays, Maura writes two title's for Dublin's Atomic Diner comics, Roisin Dubh and Jennifer Wilde. The third and concluding issue of Jennifer Wilde was hot of the presses, as Maura shows above, while the third issue of Roisin Dubh is due imminently.

There are more details of all Maura's work on her website which includes her own thoughts on 2D 2013.

Back north of the border and Belfast artist Davy Francis who worked on IPC's Monster Fun and Oink as well as a wide variety of Northern Ireland small press zines. Like most of the artists at 2D Davy was providing quick sketches for free and here he provides one young fan with a image of Spiderman.

There are more details of Davy Francis' work on the Irish Comics Wiki.

Sitting beside Davy was Welsh artist Mike Collins perhaps best known these days for his Doctor Who work including the two Dalek graphic novels published by BBC Books. Here he is sketching an unusual mix of the eleventh Doctor and Dan Dare.

There are more details of Mike's work on his website.

From Wales to Scotland and artist Gary Erskine who was there with his wife Mhairi Stewart who run workshops under the Perfect Spiral name. One of Gary's latest titles is the fourth Doctor and Leela episode of IDW's Doctor Who: Prisoners Of Time, while his own project, Roller Grrrls, skates closer to publication.

There are more details of Gary's work on the Scotch Corner blog and the Perfect Spiral website.

Marvel artist Herb Trimpe was a major US guest perhaps best known for his run on The Incredible Hulk during which time he drew the very first appearance of Wolverine in 1974. He was selling original Marvel artwork pages as well as doing sketches.

However why ask him to sketch Hulk or Wolverine when he was also the first artist on Captain Britain in Marvel UK's Captain Britain Weekly in October 1976?

There are more details of Herb's work on the Marvel Comics Database.

Artists and writers Emma Vieceli (left) and Kate Brown (right) were also there promoting, amongst other things, Emma's work on The Avalon Chronicles and Kate's work on The Phoenix. They decided that as downthetubes is a serious blog that they should do a serious pose - and this was one serious pose...

Of course to hold a serious pose you have to remain serious and as soon as Kate started to smile...

... that set Emma off.
 

Was it something I said? Sorry to disappoint, but I couldn't possibly repeat it - what happens at 2D stays at 2D!

There are more details of Emma's work on her website and Kate's work on her website.

(With thanks to both Emma and Kate for being good sports and agreeing to let us run these photos)

Yet these photos seem sum up the friendly and fun atmosphere of 2D for both the guests and the punters. That is the sort of atmosphere that organiser David Campbell and his team set out to achieve each year and, once again, in 2013 they have achieved it.

There is more information on 2D, the Northern Ireland Comics Festival, on the the 2D website and Facebook page.

Lakes International Comic Art Festival announces full guest list

Duncan Fegredo is just one of the latest
guests announced for LICAF

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has now announced the full line up for the event which will run from 18-20th October in Kendal, Cumbria.

15 new guests are being revealed today. These are on top of the 37 guests who have already been confirmed including Kurt Busiek, Ed Brubaker, Posy Simmonds, Judge Dredd creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, comics journalist Joe Sacco, Gilbert Shelton, Hunt Emerson, Glyn Dillon, Doug Braithwaite, Viz creators Simon Thorp and Graham Dury and Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard.

The founder patrons of the festival are Bryan and Mary Talbot and Sean Phillips.

​Bryan Talbot says: “Everyone can now see the full line up for the festival in October.  It’s an impressive list of some of the best and most innovative comic creators from around the UK and overseas.

“Kendal is the perfect place for a European-style festival and we’re all looking forward to seeing the town transform itself into a centre for comic art in October.  We look forward to welcoming the fans but also those who perhaps have not picked up a comic book since childhood.”

The final group of guests revealed by festival organisers includes a leading British political cartoonist, an artist on the Hellboy comics and some of the best of the new wave of comic writers and artists.

Steve Bell is one of the UK’s leading political cartoonists, producing cartoons for the leader pages of The Guardian. His strip cartoon Maggie’s Farm appeared in Time Out and City Limits in the 1980s and since 1981 he has also written and drawn the daily If… strip in The Guardian.

Steve created the memorable images of John Major with his underpants worn outside his trousers, of Tony Blair with Margaret Thatcher’s rogue eyeball and of George W Bush as a chimpanzee. His work has been published all over the world and he has won numerous awards.

Artist Duncan Fegredo is best known for his work on the Hellboy comics created by Mike Mignola. As we reported earlier this week, the pair are currently collaborating on a new Hellboy project, The Midnight Circus, which is due out later this year. Duncan Fegredo has also worked on a number of other comics, including Judge Dredd.

Duncan is the only other artist that Mike Mignola has entrusted with Hellboy. Mike Mignola has described him as a 'genius' saying: "Duncan can draw anything.  He can draw the real world, he can capture the mystery and the atmosphere that the book needs-but he's also a fantastic cartoonist, so he can keep the life and the humour that I try to get in my stuff."

Al Davison is an award winning graphic novelist. He is also a film maker, martial artist, fight choreographer, performer, and teacher, and is probably best known for his autobiography The Spiral Cage. He is currently illustrating Blood-Light, a graphic novel written by Alex Finbow.

Dave Taylor is a comic artist who has worked for Marvel on Zorro and for DC on Batman.  He is also known as one of the artists on Judge Dredd and is working on a film and TV project based on the 1980 UFO incident at Rendlesham forest known as 'Britain's Roswell'.

American Nye Wright was hailed as ‘an amazing talent’ for his first book Lex Talionis: A Jungle Tale. He was the animation director for a cartoon sequence in Michael Moore’s Academy Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine. His book Things to Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park was published by Myriad Editions in February 2012.

Isabel Greenberg is an illustrator and writer. She won the Cape/Comica/Observer Graphic Short Story Prize in 2011 with 'Love in a Very Cold Climate'.  It forms the prologue to The Enyclopedia of Early Earth, which will be published by Jonathan Cape later this year.

Daryl Cunningham is a prolific cartoonist, sculptor and photographer. His most recent book, Science Tales, was published by Myriad Editions in spring 2012.  It is a documentary comic book debunking myths and exposing the lies of scientific naysayers and conspiracy theorists, and the role of the media.

Ian Williams is a comics artist, physician and writer. He originated the website www.graphicmedicine.org, coining the term that has been applied to the interaction between comics and the discourse of healthcare.  His book The Bad Doctor will be published by Myriad Editions in 2014.

Ed Hillyer is a comic strip writer, artist and editor. His works have been published by Marvel, DC and Dark Horse in the USA, Kodansha in Japan, and numerous independent companies worldwide. He is currently working with Joe Kelly of Man of Action studios (the creators of BEN10) on a brand new concept called Kid Savage and Room4Love, a graphic novel for Selfmadehero.

Kate Charlesworth is a successful cartoonist and illustrator who is currently working with Mary and Bryan Talbot illustrating 'Sally Heathcote – Suffragette’.

Art by Gary Erskine

Gary Erskine is a Scottish artist who has worked on a wide range of comics including Judge Dredd, Hellblazer and Star Wars. One of his latest projects is Roller Grrrls.

Katie Green's first graphic novel, Lighter than my Shadow, will be published by Jonathan Cape in October.

Andy Poyiadiagi is a filmmaker and comic artist. His comic Teapot Therapy was shortlisted for the Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize.

Dan Berry is an illustrator, designer, cartoonist and lecturer.  He also runs a podcast on comic art called Make It Then Tell Everybody. His book, The Suitcase, is published by Blank Slate Books shortly.

Owen Johnson is a Cumbria based artist who is also organising the festival’s version of a comics marketplace. His first graphic novel was Who on Earth was Thadeus Mist. He is now working on his next book Raygun Roads & The Infinity Loop Death-Trap of Ullysses Pomp, which is due to be published in the summer.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is modelled on the popular festivals on the continent in places such as Angouleme.  The format will be more like a literary festival than the comic conventions that UK fans are more familiar with.

There will be a wide range of talks, special live drawing events, workshops, films, exhibitions and a kids’ zone.  Some of the events, including the exhibitions and the kids’ zone will also be free.

The festival's marketplace – the Comics Clock Tower - will champion breaking talent from all styles and genres.  Many of the big name writers and artists visiting the festival will also be appearing in the Comics Clock Tower over the weekend.

Sean Phillips, one of the patrons of the festival, is the artist on Fatale which recently received six nominations in the Eisner Awards, the Oscars of the comics industry.  He says: “Like many people working in comics, I’ve long wanted to see a British version of the kind of festivals that take place in Europe, so I’m delighted to be involved in this new festival.  We have a fantastic line up and we hope to turn Kendal into a comics town for duration of the festival.

“With talks, special live drawing events, exhibitions and a kids’ zone there will be something for everyone to enjoy.  If you think you don’t like comics, we think you’ll be in for a surprise, with a huge diversity of work on offer in different genres from superheroes to politics, journalism to manga, and comedy to crime.”

The Festival is being supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The founder partners of the event are the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal College, South Lakeland District Council and Osprey Communications. Founder supporters are Curious Road, Designworks, Jonathan Cape, Kendal Town Council, Forbidden Planet, Absolute Digital Print and Kendal Library.

The festival is also supported by publishers Myriad Editions, Nobrow, Blank Slate, Knockabout, DC Thomson, Cinebook, Dark Horse and SelfMadeHero and by 2000AD, Game, Comica, Panini, Redan, Westmorland Shopping Centre, The Phoenix Comic, Derwent Pencils, Soundsmith and Aha Marketing.

• The full list of guests is available at www.comicartfestival.com. It is also possible to keep up to date with plans for the festival by following @comicartfest on Twitter or by liking the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Facebook page. Tickets for the festival will go on sale 13 May 2013.

Ron Smith joins other 2000AD for Free Comic Book day signing

Legendary 2000AD artist Ron Smith is to appear at a signing in London to mark Free Comic Book Day – his first signing for well over a decade.

Revered by Judge Dredd fans for his satirical and, at times, bizarre take on the world of Mega-City One, the 89-year-old artist will be joined by writers Dan Abnett (Sinister Dexter, Insurrection) and Al Ewing (Zombo), and artist Ben Willsher (Judge Dredd) for this signing.

The event will take place from 1pm on 4th May at the Forbidden Planet Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

A former Spitfire pilot and animator, Ron first appeared in 2000AD in 1978 before helping define Dredd’s futuristic world, from the League of Fatties to the craze for Otto Sump’s ‘ugly’ products.

Considered one of the ‘big four’ Dredd artists alongside Carlos Ezquerra, Mick McMahon, and Brian Bolland, Ron is also one of the most prolific artists in 2000AD’s history and his work continues to delight fans thanks to the best-selling Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files series.


Ron also drew many of the Judge Dredd newspaper strips for the Daily Star. Beyond 2000AD, his comics credits, which date back to the 1950s, also include "Codename Warlord" for DC Thomson's Warlord, and he is credited with the creation of the British hero "King Cobra" for Hotspur, now revived in STRIP Magazine.

Now retired from illustration, Ron has not attended a public signing for many years and fans should grab this opportunity to meet one of the greatest Judge Dredd artists of all time.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event in May each year aimed at helping promote local comic book stores and the comics industry in general. Participating shops across the world give away special comic books free to anyone who comes into their stores.

• More about the Forbidden Planet Free Comic Book day evets here on the Forbidden Planet Megastore web site

• Download a copy of the "Thank You, Ron" comic given to Ron last year, organised by the Everything Comes Back to 2000AD web site (zip file)

Aces Weekly heads for the London SuperCon

Progenitor by Phil Hester & John McCrea, which featured in Aces Weekly Volume 1

Aces Weekly - www.acesweekly.co.uk - the exclusively digital weekly comic art magazine that's packed with talent from around the globe - is just one of many British comic enterprises on location the London Super Comic Convention at the Excel Centre this coming weekend.

 

Creators Herb Trimpe, David Lloyd, Ben Dickson, David Hitchcock, Kev Hopgood, Dave Hine, John McCrea, Paul MacCaffrey and many more ace creators will be on Stand D105, ready to sign, sketch and say hi! 

 

Sample Volume One with a collectible sketchcard from any artist on hand if you're yet to subscribe.

 

Featured guest at the SuperCon include Neal Adams, J Scott Campbell, Lee Bermejo, Brian Bolland, Doug Braithwaite, Neil Edwards, Carlos Ezquerra, Gary Erskine and many more (full 'featured' list here.

 

British publishers include PS Artbooks, Orang Utan Comics, UK Comics, 2000AD, Soaring Penguin, Accent UK, Eaglemoss, Panini, Time Bomb Comics and more. (List of exhibitors here)

Dead lie Waiting for Midlands Comic Con!

From a metal band's new comic to the galaxy's most bad ass bounty hunter to two of the best new games to come out of Japan, this Saturday's MCM Midlands Comic Con at Telford International Centre comes jam-packed with geeky goodness.

Guests for their Comics Village area, with an emphasis on manga, include creators Josh Clarke, Kit Jo Yuki, Lily Mitchell, Lisa Cummins and Lyndon White; and indie publishers such as Subversive Comics, T Publications and Vimanika Comics UK.

Here are a few other highlights:

• Star Wars fan favourite Boba Fett will be touching down in Telford as British actor Jeremy Bulloch meets fans, signs autographs and hosts a panel. As well as playing the iconic bounty hunter, Jeremy's credits range from James Bond movies to TV shows such as Doctor Who, Spooks and Robin of Sherwood.
• Metal band The Dead Lay Waiting will be at the show to promote their new comic book. Nominated for the Best British Newcomer award by the readers of Kerrang! in 2011, the band have recently been touring the UK and Europe
• The sci-fi theme continues with Primeval stars Andrew Lee Potts and Hannah Spearritt. Andrew is currently playing palaeontology student Connor Temple in the show's hit spin-off, Primeval: New World, while former S Club 7 star Hannah appeared in all five seasons of Primeval as zookeeper Abby Maitland.
• Find out first-hand why gorgeous-looking new Japanese RPG Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is flying off the shelves courtesy of Namco Bandai. Fans of the game will also discover the voice of Ni no Kuni's lovable Drippy - Gavin & Stacey actor Steffan Rhodri - over in the signing area
• Voice actor Alix Wilton Regan is also at the event. Best known as the voice of Samantha Traynor in BioWare's Mass Effect 3, Alix's other roles include Mhairi in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and Calista in Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's The Last Story.
• Konami is giving visitors the chance to get hands-on with the eagerly-anticipated Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ahead of its 22nd February release date, as well as its ever-popular Yu-Gi-Oh! collectable card game.
• Telford also sees the first comic con appearance by Eoin Macken, best known as Sir Gwaine from BBC fantasy series Merlin. Eoin also recently appeared in Roman war epic Centurion, playing opposite Michael Fassbender.

• Tickets for MCM Midlands Comic Con on 16th February are available at www.midlandsmcmexpo.com/tickets And remember: KIDS GO FREE! *

Website: www.www.midlandsmcmexpo.com
Twitter: @MCMExpo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcmexpo
YouTube at www.youtube.com/mcmexpo

* The ‘Kids Go Free’ offer applies to General Entry tickets only. Children aged 10 years or younger gain free entry if accompanied by a full paying adult, to a maximum of two children per full paying adult.

Atomic Diner prep lauch of 'Noe the Savage Boy'

Atomic Diner will be hosting a launch of their new book Noe The Savage Boy #1 in Forbidden Planet Belfast on Saturday February 9th from 1.00 to 3.00pm.

On hand will be the title's creators - Rob Curley (plot) Malachy Coney (script) and Stephen Downey (art) - and copies of the comic on sale will feature a Forbidden Planet Belfast Exclusive Cover.

Noe’s story begins in the village of Baltimore, Cork in 1631 in which the entire community is kidnaped by Barbary pirates and brought to Africa as slaves. Noe’s faith lies in the hands a group of clandestine monks who help train him to become a true warrior and overcome is dark faith.

Noe The Savage Boy is Coney’s first work for Atomic Diner after a career in comics that featured work at Top Cow/Image Comics The Darkness book and titles at Harris Comics and Fantagraphics, among many others.

Atomic Diner was set up in 2004 by Robert Curley, primarily to produce and publish a line of cross genre titles from horror to detective and of course good time super heroes. The company is 100% independent and prides itself on good story telling from Ireland's top creators. Over the past six years they have helped launch the careers of artists such as Stephen Mooney, Declan Shalvey, Will Sliney, Stephen Thompson and Bob Byrne and are proud to continue this tradition by working with people such as Terry Kenny, Maura McHugh, Stephen Daly and Gareth Gowran.

• Atomic Diner web site: www.atomicdiner.com

• Malachy Coney's Blog

New festival to celebrate comic art launched in Lake District

A new festival which aims to match the vibrancy of France's annual Angouleme event was launched last night, to celebrate the very best comic art from across the world, from cartoon strips to superhero comics and manga to non-fiction graphic novels.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival will run from 18-20th October 2013 in Kendal, Cumbria.

The founder patrons of the new festival include Bryan and Mary Talbot who won the biography category in the Costa Book Awards earlier this month. They are joined by another internationally renowned comic artist Sean Phillips.

And, while the Festival organisers are keeping tight-lipped about their guest line-up, at a special event at the Brewery Arts Centre attended by local comic creators, arts organisers, press and councillors, Bryan revealed Guardian cartoonists Steve Bell and Posy Simmonds are signed aboard.

The full guest list will be revealed over the next few months, with top comic archivist and promoter Paul Gravett also on board and lending his support. The organisers, who have been attending numerous comics events around the country over the past few months and are planning the Festival as something long term, have already gained support in kind from designers, PR experts and local business, and had meetings with publishers in an effort to attract their support.

The launch of the new festival comes at a time when there is a growing buzz about comic art. Graphic novels have been taken increasingly seriously over the last 20 years.

Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes, written by Mary Talbot and illustrated by husband Bryan, was the first graphic novel to win the biography category in the Costa Awards. The Chair of the 2013 Man Booker Prize has also encouraged entries by authors of graphic novels.

Bryan Talbot’s work also includes Batman, Judge Dredd, Alice in Sunderland and his Grandville series of detective thrillers. He also wrote and drew A Tale of One Bad Rat, which is partially set in the Lake District, a haunting tale homaging the work of Beatrix Potter.

Bryan Talbot at the Festival launch

“The UK is one of the only countries in Europe that doesn't have an international comic festival, celebrating the whole range of this versatile and exciting medium," he says. "This is the golden age of graphic novels, with more, and better, comic art being produced today than ever before.

"The Lakes International Comic Art festival is therefore a concept whose time has come."
Giving a brief overview of British and US comics history, and enthusing about the achievements of European comic festivals such as Angouleme, Bryan clearly has high hopes for this new Festival, supported by his wife.

“The medium of comics, or sequential art, is as valid an art form as any other and is capable of dealing with any subject and any genre in its own unique way, a way that is direct and accessible," he feels. "The best graphic novels are comparable to the best in prose, film or drama.”

The festival will include events where people will be able hear from some of the biggest names in comic art, panel discussions, films, exhibitions and workshops. Authors and artists will also be signing copies of their work and there will be a marketplace to buy comics and comic art.

Sean Phillips, who lives in Cumbria, has also worked as an artist on comics such as Batman and Hellblazer, and more recently on crime genre comics Criminal and Fatale.
“It's great to be involved with any festival that is interested in promoting the vast range of comics out there," he says.

“Comics is a medium, not a genre. It's not just superheroes and the Beano, and this festival is a good chance to see that there are comics for everyone, no matter what their interests are. Comics can be used to tell any type of story in any genre, and that should be celebrated.”

Festival organiser Julie Tait outlines plans for the event

The festival is the brainchild of Julie Tait and her 14-year-old comic fan son Finn, who live in Kendal.

"The Lakes International Comic Art Festival will celebrate this exciting and vibrant art form, which is gaining a growing number of fans of all ages," says Julie. "For me, the fusion of great art and great writing is dynamite. It makes it a very exciting, inspiring and challenging art form to be promoting, celebrating and encouraging."

The event's founders have looked to the comic art festivals held on the continent for inspiration, including Europe’s largest celebration of the art form at Angouleme in France, which takes place later this month.

"In countries like France there's a real appreciation of comics as an art form and our aim is to create something of the atmosphere at comic art festivals like the one in Angouleme," Julie enthuses. "There will be plenty for the real enthusiasts but we also hope it will help to introduce a new audience to comic art."

Julie also runs the team behind the Lakes Alive outdoor arts festival. Speaking about her latest venture she says: "There's a real enthusiasm in the Lake District and across Cumbria for new, contemporary cultural events. We believe this new festival will provide something that is inspiring, exciting and creative for local people to enjoy, as well as bringing in audiences from outside the area."

The new festival will take place at a number of venues across Kendal, including the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal College and the Town Hall and will be created and presented by Lakes Arts Festivals Ltd, a not-for-profit company.

• More details about the new event will be available at www.comicartfestival.com shortly. It is also possible to keep up to date with plans for the festival by following @comicartfest on Twitter or by liking the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Facebook page.

Dandy Events At The National Library Of Scotland

To tie-in with their free Treasures exhibition on The Art And History Of The Dandy which runs until 3 February 2013, the National Library Of Scotland (NLS) are holding two free Dandy related events.

 

The first, on Wednesday 9 January 2013 at 1800 is an Adult's Cartoon Workshop to be run by former Dandy editor Morris Heggie and artists Gordon Tait and Steve White. The NLS website describes it as, " Want to know how 'The Dandy' has made generations laugh over the years? 'The Dandy' creative team of Editor Morris Heggie and artists Gordon Tait and Steve White will be giving a workshop into how to draw, write scripts and produce publications. Bring out your creativity as you are guided through every step. Ideas are welcome – you could create a brand-new Dandy character! So if you’re tough enough for eating cow-pie and shaving with a blowtorch, this is a day you’ll never forget!"

 

The second event is a talk by Morris Heggie on 75 Years Of The Dandy on Tuesday 15 January 2013 also at 1800. The NLS website describes it as " Morris Heggie, Editor of 'The Dandy' and an expert in comic history, will give a never-before-seen presentation on the art and history of 'The Dandy'. Insights into the story of Britain’s longest running comic will open your eyes to how it all happened. There will be a short question-and-answer section where you can find out anything you wanted to know. Make sure to bring along your copy of the final printed 'Dandy', because he will be doing signings."

 

Both events will take place in the National Library of Scotland on Edinburgh's George IV Bridge and are free. Pre-booking is required and this is available on-line via the NLS website or by phoning the NLS on 0131 623 3734.

 

There are more details of the National Library Of Scotland, the Dandy exhibition and the two Dandy events on the NLS website.

Neil Gibson aims to bring comics into the mainstream

Neil Gibson (right) with actor Samuel L. Jackson

Comic book writer Neil Gibson is to give a talk at the flagship Regent Street Apple Store in London on 15th November 2012 about his passion for the comic book medium, and, like many other creators of the medium, campaign to get people to take graphic novels seriously.

“Comics are often seen as infantile” explains Gibson, whose credits include Twisted Dark, a collection of stories recommended for mature readers. “I intend to completely change the way most people think about comic books, I want to convince people who blindly assume comics aren’t serious literature to actually give them a shot.”

Gibson also promises an exclusive preview of his new comic “Tabatha”, which he describes as his “best yet.”

He will also be signing copies of his Twisted Dark series.

Neil used to have a very different life, travelling the world working as a management consultant. But in February 2011 he made the life changing decision to leave it all behind and follow his love for comic books. The flagship ‘Twisted Dark’ volumes, produced under Neil Gibson Comics, have been praised for their realistic characters, excellent art and thought provoking subject matter.

Each volume contains a selection of stand-alone short stories, but with hidden and subtle interconnections. Compared with TV's The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits by critics, Neil’s stories explore the darker side of the human psyche.

• T-Publications: www.neilgibsoncomics.com T-Publications on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tpublications

British Zombie-guests galore at F.A.C.T.S. 2012

While the Mayan civilization has proclaimed 2012 to be the end of the world, F.A.C.T.S. – a Belgian convention  organized once a year by Con-Fuse bvba, an organisation promoting Science Fiction, Comics, Fantasy and Japanese animation – found it appropriate to invite "zombie-guests" for 20th - 21st October 2012 and to celebrate the event even more F.A.C.T.S. has developed a ZOMBIE-COMIC with the help of the artists invited to the show.

"I really do not care much about this heralded End of the World so inviting Zombies - or rather guests in movie and comics, who have something to do with the zombie-phenomena - is entirely making sense to me, in a 'living life on the edge' kinda way", said Emmanuel van Melkebeke, F.A.C.T.S. Convention Director. "and this year we have something amazing, as many artists have supported the idea to publish a Zombie Comic – with all profit going to charity!"

Artists included are Sean Philips, Paul Duffield, Dean Yeagle, Colin Wilson, Tyler Kirkham, Lectrr, Romano Molenaar, Louis & Lamirand, XA, Emmanuel Nhieu, Popescu, Kristof Spaey and Sophian Cholet.

The cover will be provided by Guest Of Honor Charlie Adlard, who also provided an introduction as well as picked Greenpeace as beneficiary to the proceedings of this special edition, called “Dead Cold… zombie art”.

F.A.C.T.S Convention is the signature pop culture event of the Benelux, presenting guests and programming to cater for the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, TV, and gaming industries.

Entering its 22th edition, F.A.C.T.S. is expected to draw over 21,000+ attendees to its October 21-22, 2012 convention held at the Gent Flanders Expo Convention Center located in Gent, Belgium.

The show will sport 3,000 extra meters compared to its last edition and will now have 15,000 square meters. FACTS will host over a mile of dealers of toys, comics, movie merchandise, fantasy merchandise, manga and will see 2,500+ cosplayers and a cosplay competition, life size props, model kit exhibitions, an entire fan-village, a Japanese Village, a huge game zone with dozens of consoles, as well as loads of surprises, to brighten up the already amazing venue!

• For more information, please go to http://www.facts.be

Ross, Hitch signing at Forbidden Planet to launch 'Powers'

Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch will be launching their new comic America's Got Powers (published by Image Comics) at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 14th April from 1 – 2pm.

Welcome to America's Got Powers!It's the biggest TV show on Earth, where the chance to win fame, fortune and get laid are dangled in front of a generation of super-powered teens. All they have to do is Win. Who is the fastest, the strongest or the greatest? Who survives? Young Tommy Watt's dreams of being the greatest hero of them all might just be shattered when the greatest show on the planet begins to reveal it's dark heart.

Needing no introduction, Jonathan Ross is not only a national celebrity but a lifelong comics fan - who made his writing debut with the fantastic Turf! Bryan Hitch, who I've known back since his early days at Marvel UK, should need no intriduction to DTT readers either, but his credits include Ultimates, Fantastic Four, Stormwatch and The Authority. He also worked as a concept artist for the 2005 relaunch of Doctor Who for the BBC.

- Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch Signing: Saturday 14 April 2012 1-2.00pm, London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

 

GOSH Comics host Tom Gauld 'Goliath' book launch

Tom Gauld is a firm favourite at GOSH Comics in London, so they’re properly chuffed to be hosting the launch of his new graphic novel Goliath, a stripped-down, reworking of the David and Goliath myth, published by Drawn & Quarterly.

Goliath tells the story of the famous giant from the Bible from his side, and is not what you’d expect at all. Far from being the towering, bloodthirsty killer we remember, this Goliath is a gentle giant, who has been unwillingly conscripted into the army, and would rather be doing paperwork than fighting.

You may be familiar with Tom Gault’s work in The Guardian, and this book brings to life a melancholy, sad, earnest, bewildered character, in sparse and striking images and prose that reworks this story in any manner of ways: from the futility of warfare, how we judge others wrongly on their appearance, the macabre humour of cumbersome bureaucracy that takes over even on the front line of a battlefield, questioning whether a power structure is a good thing if orders have to obeyed unthinkingly, and more.


We've seen an advance pages of the book, and it's tremendous fun - well worth tracking down.

On Friday 9th March, Gauld will be at Gosh to sign copies of the book from 6.30pm, then at 7pm they’ll get down to the important business of wetting the baby’s head. Get along and shake his hand! 

"Not only is he one of the finest cartoonists in Britain, he’s a thoroughly lovely chap too," say the GOSH team.

Gosh will even have an exclusive Gosh! Bookplate Edition available on the night.

The Rest of the Tom Gauld Goliath Tour so far...

10th March: Signing at Forbidden Planet, Cambridge. Details
15th March: Signing at Here, Bristol. Details
29th March: Signing at NoBrow HQ, London. Details

4th April: Signing and talk at Analogue, Edinburgh. Website
5th April: Signing and talk at Travelling Man, Leeds. Website
21st April: Comica Comiket, London. Details

Tom then hops across the ond for events there...

28th and 29th April: Signing at MOCCA, New York. Details
5th and 6th May: Signing at TCAF, Toronto. Details

More US and Canada dates coming soon. 

• Check Tom's web site for signings info at: www.tomgauld.com

Canny Comic Con comes to Newcastle

(with thanks to Bryan Talbot): Next Saturday, 10th December, Newcastle hosts its first comic convention for 16 years. The Canny Comic Con is an all day event at Newcastle City Library and entry is free.

Comics, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, manga, sequential art - however you want to refer to it, the CCC wants to celebrate everything about telling stories in pictures. Whilst it won't be on the same scale as some of the bigger UK comic conventions, they're going to have a full range of activities, including talks and panel discussions, workshops and a hall of stalls where you can meet some of the finest comic-creating talent from the region and beyond.



There’s a jam packed schedule of talks and panels and guests include Viz’s Simon Donald, Marvel artist Dougie Braithwaite, Bryan Talbot and Al Ewing.

Whatever your age or experience, whether you read comics, make comics, or are just interested to know a little more, we hope to have something to interest you.

• More info at: http://cannycomiccon.blogspot.com/p/what-is-it.html

Demoncon2 finalises line up with plenty of web comic creators

(With thanks to The Grinning Man, Maidstone): The line up for Demoncon2, taking place in Maidstone in November, is now pretty much finalised and includes comic creators such as Garen Ewing and Dan Boultwood on the guest list, along with many of them creators of web comics you might be following.

The guests that will be packing (and that probably is a fair description, we're told) into the Eden venue on the 6th November are as follows:

• Peter Anckorn (By the Book)
• Chris Bates (Travelling the Wolf Road)
• Dean Beattie
• Dan Boultwood (Hope Falls, The Gloom, Baker St Irregulars)
• Garen Ewing (The Rainbow Orchid)
• Phillip Jackson (Sequential Art, Little Victory, Travelling the Wolf Road)
• Marc Laming (The Rinse, American Century)
• Jack Lawrence (Darkham Vale, Lions Tigers & Bears, Tinpot Hobo)
• Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Starship Troopers, Hope Falls, The Gloom, Baker St Irregulars)
• Sonia Leong (Aya Takeo, Domo the Manga, Love Stuffing, Comic Book Tattoo)
• Morag Lewis (Looking for the Sun, Sun Fish Moon Fish, Ambient Rhythm)
• Chris Phillips (Candleman, The Moose, Travelling the Wolf Road)
• Ian Sharman (Hero 9 to 5, Hypergirl)
• Dave Stokes (Poster Artist for Demoncon2, Blackfriars Webcomic)
• David Wynne (Hypergirl, FTL, Particle Fiction)

Hopefully coming to their first Demoncon will be Cy Dethan (Slaughterman's Creed, Cancertown, Starship Troopers), Laurence Campbell (2000AD, Marvel Universe vs Wolverine, Punisher)

"Space is going to be a real issue even with the gaming presence from last time gone, but we’ll juggle something," say the organisers.

• DemonCon 2 is on 6th November 2011 at the Eden, Bank Street, Maidstone. For the latest info check out this area of local comic shop The Grinning Demon's web site

MCM Expo Expands Comic Village as Tables Sell Out In Record Time

MCM Expo London Comic Con is expanding its Comic Village area after tables for the 28-30 October show sold out in record time.

Due to the massive demand, the Comic Village will now be enlarged by 50 per cent to give even more comic creators the chance to attend the UK’s biggest pop culture event.

“When all of the Comic Village tables were snapped up only a week after going on sale, we decided to expand the area so that some of those comic artists and writers who missed out can still come to MCM Expo London Comic Con,” commented show co-organiser Bryan Cooney.

“Attracting over a 100 top comic creators and 60,000 fans, London Comic Con is now one the most important weekends in the UK’s comics calendar, and the unprecedented demand for tables only goes to underline this.”

• For details about Comic Village, e-mail Comicvillage@mcmexpo.net

So how did Comics Barcamp go?

(cross-posted with permission from Andy Luke's LiveJournal): Comics Barcamp, an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment,  happened on 3rd September 2011 at Blick Studios, Malone Road, Belfast.

Sponsored by Blick, DriveThruComics.com, Paper Tiger Comix, Don't Panic! and Roger Sabin, it proved an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from attendees.

The first comics barcamp in the UK and Ireland, it pooled knowledge and shared it amongst comics creators and other people with an interest in the industry North and South of Ireland and a follow-up event in the South will take place next year.

Here, organiser Andy Luke offers his own take on the Belfast event...

Lots to tell about one of the first ever Comics Barcamps. So I may as well start here.

Followingthenerd.com (FTN) professionally shot a few interviews with folk in the morning but had to leave for midday. (They're working on a TV pilot). Posters were still being assembled around them and breakfast being consumed, brought along by myself and Jennifer Hanley on a reduced-to-clear croissant hunt.

The first session kicked off at 11:30 with Ciara Brennan, my new Absence liason at UnLtd, a charity which supports social entrepreneurs. She and I spoke about the group: its funding potential and the Southern equivalent. We gelled, and the piece gelled, clearing away my misgivings about UnLtd's case being treated as pie-in-the-sky.

Andy Luke and the Principles of Open Space

I folllowed this up with a piece on Writer Pitching with visuals of huge spiderplans and mind maps I made. There were jokes made about my bachelor status but more importantly I got people thinking, and Gar mentioned he'd like to try a proper personal project and raise the bar on his own work. There's an MP3 of this which I'm going to try to match with visuals of the pitch.

The presentation led to an intense discussion of work patterns and passions (kind of the point), and we ran well over the allotted time.

Lunch next, and everyone who tried it enjoyed Richard and Aofie's spicy noodle soup and the Mediterranean bread I sourced. We'd plenty of food and drink to keep going and Marc (of FTN) brought a few bags of crisps.

Attendance numbers were low, fluctuating between 7-10 (with 14 overall), so much that we felt best to restrict ourselves to one conference room. We didn't regroup to around 3.00pm. I didn't pick up much lunchtime chatter as I was helping with the food and trying to set up uStream.


Gareth Watson's session about portfolios on Wordpress was a bit tired I felt, as I knew half the group already used Wordpress. He knew his work though, so the best parts were when people asked questions. He would move to an unseen slide and explain exactly what we wanted to know. He also offered us some free consultation. The session ran to nearly an hour, tighter time control next time.

Paddy Brown's piece, "Getting it out", was a carefully scripted manifesto rallying against my own proposal of comics and business, stating that it was the love of the art that could only be achieved by an amateur approach to give the finished work better results. He used historical examples, and examined modern routes such as FPI, co-ops and speciality bookshops. He did it so well I almost gave him a standing ovation. The version on the web is poor sound quality, but he may be up for reprinting it at some point.

Adam Lively and the Law of Two Feet. Photo: Andy Luke

Gar and Deirdre had to catch their train to Dublin, so the session broke into informal discussion about the Black Panel and a Dublin co-op. In short, the former needs a serious re-tooling (I said) if it is to survive the year. Gar has a site in mind for the Dublin venture, and I made a point of saying they'd have to properly man-up before he undertook it. I mentioned he and Dee may like to perform a proper case study on London Underground Comics as an example of how to do it well.

The final piece was my own on digital distribution. I had 15 minutes to deliver it but it's the sort of thing that could really benefit from knowledge pooling, so I may wheel it out again. Then to clearing up the venue and balancing an enormous vat of soup on my lap in the car home. Lazy takeaway at Paddys and the best Doctor Who I'd ever seen.

Richard said afterwards, "I really feel that I learned a lot today", and I think this summed up everyone's experiences. As the person with the least involvement in the comics business, he said, "The industry seems like a really terrible place to work. Particularly in Belfast."

Richard probably knows me best and has been the closest to all the work I put into this event. The people who participated appreciated the sponsors and supporters, who were notable in facilitating hope for improvement.

We learned plenty about how to run a barcamp and I'm quite certain we'll see a comics camp in London, Dublin and somewhere else in the next nine months.


Web Links


• Original wiki for Comics Barcamp

• Andy's  Comics Barcamp 2011 Set on Flickr

• Comics Camp afternoon recordings on uStream (poor sound and slow loading)

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair in October

The 3rd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair will take place on Saturday 1st October, in A Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds, just behind the Leeds City Art Gallery.

In keeping with previous events, this small but perfectly formed event hopes to bring you some of the best Northern, alternative comics makers, print-makers and illustrators, who will be selling their wares in the quirky, relaxed bar on Cookridge Street.

Don’t like comics? (Surely not! Did you think this was a surfing web site for some reason?) Well, there’ll be lots more on offer, such as craft wear, badges, art and music.

This event's guest list includes old friends such as Steve Tillotson (Banal Pig), Hugh “Shug” Raine (REET! Comics), Gary Bainbridge, Andy Waugh, Gareth Brookes, Helen “Memo” Entwisle, Huw “Lem” Davies, Ben Clark, Kristyna Baczynski and Geof Banyard (Fetishman), who will be showcasing new work.

New exhibitors include James Downing (COUK), Jim Medway, Isaac Lenkiewicz, Kelly Walton, Bob Milner (Milk Two Sugars) and a cameo appearance from Darryl Cunningham, of Psychiatric Tales fame.

The Fair is also reintroducing the communal table, giving non-exhibitors the chance to bring their comics along to sell. All we ask is that you help man the table for a short period of time.

• The event will run from 12 noon until 5pm and is free to enter. Get along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie! More info: http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com, Facebook search “Leeds Alternative Comics” or tweet us @leedsaltcomics

BD & Comics Passion weekend in London in October

(With thanks to Paul Gravett): London's Institut Français in association with Comica Festival will hold the first of its annual BD & Comics Passion weekends in October (7th-9th).

The graphic novel medium has grown over the years to become an increasingly important force in popular culture, dominating the film landscape and coming into its own as an explosive new literary genre. To celebrate this, as well as explore accepted ideas about the genre, the Comica team have invited some of the most celebrated British and French authors to join them in London to discuss their work and share their love of graphic novels.

"Over the course of three days, enthusiasts and beginners alike are invited to participate in this exciting array of events," explains Comica Director Paul Gravett, "with acclaimed authors and artists such as Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), China Miéville (Kraken), Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife), Bryan Talbot (Grandville), Yves Sente and André Juillard (Blake & Mortimer).

"Plus there's Jean-Claude Mézières (Valérian & Laureline), Benoît Sokal (Canardo), Catel & Bocquet (Kiki de Montparnasse), Bastien Vivès (The Taste of Chlorine), comics guru Paul Gravett (1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die) and more!

"There's something for everyone here," Paul enthuses. "A drawing duel between Jean-Claude Mézières and Dave Gibbons, talks (Bryan Talbot on the tradition of animals in comic books, me on the history of the medium, China Miéville on his love for comics, Audrey Niffenegger on her passion for Aubrey Beardsley); a masterclass by Alan Moore collaborator Oscar Zárate (A Small Killing) on making a four-page comics about London, and a conversation with Yves Sente and André Juillard about the making of the popular series Blake & Mortimer.

"We'll also host a drawing session starring the rising star of French graphic novels, Bastien Vivès, a translation workshop given by the famous translator of Astérix, Anthea Bell, and live drawing events with Sokal and Catel & Bocquet."

Along with this , visitors will also be invited to celebrate their favourite character during the weekend's costume party!

• For the full programme which runs from 7th - 9th October 2011 and booking see http://www.institut-francais.org.uk/programme/bd-comics-passion. The Institut Français is at 17 Queensberry Place, London. Tel: 0207 073 1350). Early reservations recommended. Tickets for each event £8 (Concessions £5)

Favourite Comics from the Fabulous Fifties

Paul Gravett is giving a talk titled "Favourite Comics from the Fabulous Fifties" at Wokingham Library, Berkshire next week (Thursday 8th September 2011).

'Comics Brainiac' and editor of the forthcoming 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die (which is being published by Cassell in October), Paul will take his audience through a thrilling decade that premiered Dan Dare, Asterix, Dennis the Menace, Marvelman, Astro Boy, Andy Capp and the new Green Lantern.

The event is free, but phone the library to book a place. Full details here

1001 Comics is described as "visually amazing" – a critical history of comic books, manga, and graphic novels and a must-have for any comic buff or collector.

Here's the description:

Over the centuries, comic books and their offshoots, such as graphic novels, manga, and bandes dessinées, have evolved into a phenomenally popular, influential, and unique art form with which we can express our opinions, our fantasies, our nightmares, and our dreams. In short: comics are emphatically no longer just for kids.

This diverse, constantly evolving medium is truly coming into its own in the 21st century, from Hollywood's blockbuster adaptations of super-powered caped crusaders to the global spread of Japan's manga and its spinoffs, and from award-winning graphic novels such as Maus and Persepolis to new forms such as online webcomix. This volume is the perfect introduction to a dynamic and globally popular medium, embracing every graphic genre worldwide to assess the very best works of sequential art, graphic literature, comics, and comic strips, past and present.

An international survey, this engaging volume is organized according to the year of first publication in the country of origin. An opening section acknowledges pioneering pre-1900 masterpieces, followed by sections divided by decade, creating a fascinating year-by-year chronicle of the graphic medium worldwide. The material includes the very earliest one-off albums to the latest in online comics and features some series and characters that have run for decades.

Packed with fantastic reproductions of classic front covers and groundbreaking panels, this book is visually stunning as well as a trove of information--perfect for the passionate collector and casual fan alike. 

With an introduction from Monty Python's Terry Gilliam, it sounds like a book that will cause a lot of debate and maybe it will lead to one of those Channel 4 "Top 100" shows - after all, they're pretty much covered every other aspect of modern culture...

• Paul Gravett's Official web site is at www.paulgravett.com

Tube Surfing: TOXIC's new strips, Mudman and STRIP Magazine news

Here's a quick round up of British comics news courtesy of various sources...

Bro vs. Bro by Laura Howell

• Lew Stringer reports the website for Egmont's popular TOXIC magazine for boys has recently had a revamp. Although some of the older items such as the Joke Machine have gone, the site now offers a bunch of new features, including one of his Team Toxic stories, Butt of the Joke, that you can read online for free.

The magazine itself also has two new strips this week (Issue 189), in addition to the ongoing Busted Bieber, stinky superhero Captain Gross and Lew's long-running Team Toxic. Luke's Spooks features a boy haunted by a couple of gross ghosts, and Bro vs Bro, drawn by Laura Howell, is about the rivalry of two brothers, one a boy genius, the other a sports jock.

"Hmm, thinking about it, a scenario about belligerent youths isn't much of a departure from BBC News 24 at all is it," Laura notes wryly on her blog. "Ahem, let's move on.."

• Print Media Productions STRIP Magazine is on course for an October launch - still no actual date yet - and the first three strips in the STRIP Challenge, seeking to spotlight new talent, have been chosen. As the title's editor, I can report we had a terrific selection to choose from and while there were some entries that strayed wildly from the declared content of the magazine most of the submissions were in the right ball park as regards content. The first three creative teams have been informed of their success, but we still have to decide the next three.

STRIP Magazine, a monthly anthology adventure title, will include stories by Phil Hester, John McCrea, PJ Holden, James Hudnall and John Ridgway (among others). More information at http://www.printmediaproductions.com/ (currently re-directing to the title's blog)

Paul Temple © London Evening News

• Steve Holland is currently publishing episodes of the newspaper strip Paul Temple on his wonderful Bear Alley blog. Based on the BBC radio character of the same name and published in London's Evening News from 19th November 1951 until 1st May 1971, it's the adventures of an amateur detective told with typical derring-do of the period, and was drawn by a variety of artists - Alfred Sindall, Bill Bailey and John McNamara.

There's more about Paul Temple character here on the Thrilling Detective web site , but Steve has plenty more about the comic and Paul Temple's creator on Bear Alley.

• Bryan Talbot, creator of Luther Arkwright and much more, has dropped us a line to say that his wife, Dr Mary Talbot, an internationally acclaimed scholar in her own right with published works on language, gender and power has a web site live dedicated to her upcoming graphic novel (drawn by Bryan), Dotter Of Her Father’s Eyes, which will be published by Cape in February 2012. Part personal history, part biography, Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes contrasts two coming of age narratives: that of Lucia, the daughter of James Joyce, and that of author Mary Talbot, daughter of the eminent Joycean scholar James S Atherton. ... a fine addition to the evolving genre of graphic memoir.

“I think what’s been most distinctive about this project is that I haven’t just completed a script and then passed it over to an artist. We’ve been able to work on the book together, with an intensive and ongoing creative interaction that’s usually missing from writer/artist collaborations.”

There are preview pages from Dotter on Mary’s website, © 2011 Mary M. Talbot. You can pre-order Dotter of Her Father's Eyes from amazon.co.uk now

• A quick reminder about the the upcoming Comics and Conflict conference which is being held in the Imperial War Museum on 19th-20th August, which will include panel discussion, workshops and a film screening, as well as boasting some terrific guests such as Pat Mills, Roger Sabin and Garth Ennis - among others. If you're a war comics fan and in London that weekend it's not to be missed.

• Talking of events. don't forget the Edinburgh Book Festival has started. Our own Jeremy Briggs has already brought us a run down of this year's comics-related events, which include appearances by the Etherington Brothers, Pat Mills, Tony Lee, Dan Boultwood, Emma Vicelli and many others.

There are more details of all the talks at the Edinburgh International Book Festival website where tickets can also be purchased.

• US publisher Image Comics have announced the upcoming publication of Mudman by Paul Grist. After self-publishing for much of the 1990s, Paul Grist brought two critically acclaimed original titles to Image Comics in 2002: the crime drama Kane and then the eclectic superhero series Jack Staff. Recently, Grist has been using his sparse, signature style to develop this new superhero that will be introduced to the world this November.

"This is my 'Back to Basics' superhero comic," explained Grist. "It's not about alien menaces or cosmic powers (though they may pop up once in a while); it's all about growing up and finding your way in the world, and how the decisions that you make can affect others. In a way, it's probably the most autobiographical comic I've ever done. But with added mud." There's more information here on the Image Comics web site.

I'll round off this Tube Surf with news of another event, again north of the border. An exhibition of paintings by HI-Ex co-organiser Vicky Stonebridge - well known for her indie comics work on titles such as Slaughterman's Creed - and artist John Mikietyn, and a ceramic sculpture by Allison Weightman, will open at the Scotland Russia Forum’s Edinburgh premises at 6.00pm tonight, Friday 12th August, attended by Sergei Krutikov, the Russian Consul General.

The week long exhibition - "Reactions to Vysotsky" - accompanies music by Scottish singer, songwriter and translator, Tommy Beavitt, whose long-term project to interpret and perform the work of the Russian Bard, Vladimir Vysotsky (1938-1980), in English and Russian, has been an inspiration for the work displayed. Alongside the artworks, the exhibition will present Tommy’s performances in Russian and English of some of Vysotsky’s songs, which feature universal themes of faith, conflict and individual freedom.

After closing in Edinburgh on the 18th, the exhibition will then re-open at the Inchmore Gallery, near Inverness, on the 19th August. Full details here on Vicky's Balnacra Arts web site