Scotch Corner @ Kingdom Of Adventure in July

The daily Scottish art blog Scotch Corner made up of professional artists Thomas Crielly, Gary Erskine, Simon Fraser, Andy Hepworth, Jon Hodgson, Graeme Neil Reid and Alex Ronald, is celebrating its second birthday in style by, er, taking a break. Instead of posting themselves over the course of July they will be handing the blog over to a selection of guest artists including top names such as Roger Langridge, Anton Emdin, James Ryman, Bob Eggleton, Chris Weston and Mick McMahon.

However the Scotch Corner gang are not leaving their fans high and dry as they will be appearing at the Kirkcaldy comics and RGP shop Kingdom Of Adventure on Saturday 2 July 2011 beginning at Noon for a signing and sketching session which will then be followed by the recording of a podcast. Thomas Crielly, Gary Erskine, Andy Hepworth, Jon Hodgson and Graeme Neil Reid will be there in person while Simon Fraser will be appearing via Skype.

There are more details of the event at the Scotch Corner blog and more details of the venue on the Kingdom Of Adventure website.

Kingdom of Adventure's 24 Hour Comic Day

Kingdom Of Adventure, Fife's comic shop, will be bringing 24 Hour Comics Day to Scotland this October. So far, KoA is one of only two shops taking part in this event in the UK.

24 Hour Comics Day, organised by ComicsPro, a trade organization dedicated to the progress of direct market comic book retailers, is an annual worldwide challenge for cartoonists and others to produce a 24-page comic book written, drawn, and completed in 24 consecutive hours and the newly opened Kirkcaldy shop will be flying the flag for Scotland in this year's challenge. Starting at 2.00pm on Saturday October 3rd and ending 24 hours later at 2pm on Sunday October 4th Kingdom of Adventure will try to produce Fife's first 24 hour comic.

Owner Dave Wright is confident that people in Fife and throughout Scotland can rise to the
challenge that will have comic artists, writers and fans collaborating across the world.

"Over the years, the 24 Hour Comics Day event has challenged such comics luminaries as Scott McCloud, Dave Sim, Neil Gaiman, Kevin Eastman and many others. It brings creators of all ages, skill levels and experience together in a creative comic marathon.

"It’s a first for Fife, and I'm confident we'll produce a fantastic collection of books - after all, Scotland has a great pedigree when it comes to producing comics.”

"By participating, I want to attract people to the amazing medium that comics are, while
also providing space for cartoonists and others to show their works to all interested
viewers."

All participants in the event will have their comic books, complete or otherwise, scanned
and put on the shop website. They will also be displayed in the shop as part of the
Kingdom of Adventure gallery.

South of the border, so far only Kube in Poole, Dorset, has gotten involved in 24 Hour Comic Day. Formerly known as The Study Gallery of Modern Art, it's an education-based venue, not a shop: their event takes place on 3rd October, starting at 10.00 am.

• For more information please contact Dave Wright on 01592 328121 or by email at
shopATkingdomofadventure.co.uk

• Full details of the event will be on the Kingdom Of Adventure website in due course –
www.kingdomofadventure.co.uk

• For more information of this worldwide event please check www.24hourcomicsday.com

Tube Surfing: Harker, Comic Book Signings, Manwha UK and a Creators Union

• Brilliant news! The much-praised indie title written by Roger Gibson and drawn by Vincent Danks, Harker - described by one reader as a detective series with an X-Files/Avengers twist, which doesn't do it justice - is now available in 15 comic shops across the UK, with more about to jump on board. More info here on the Harker and Critchley blog

• New Scottish comic store Kingdom of Adventure has announced somme upcoming signing events: on 1st August Al Ewing and Colin MacNeill will be making the trip to Kirkcaldy, quickly followed on 8th August by Gary Erskine and Gordon Rennie.
Kingdom Of Adventure is a games and comic book shop in Kirkcaldy, Scotland and can be found at 21-23 Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1XF. Tel: 01592 328121 Web: www.kingdomofadventure.co.uk

• (via the FPI Blog): Talking of signings, Forbidden Planet International Belfast plays host to two local artists, PJ Holden and John McCrea on Saturday 15th August. PJ, of course, has carved himself a good (and growing) rep with his work for Image and 2000AD, while John has worked on Garth Ennis’ Hitman, Captain America and The Boys spin-off Herogasm. John and PJ will be in the Belfast FPI, 52-54 Ann Street (phone 028 9043 8744) from 2 to 4.00pm.

• Online, the Facebook Comic Con Summer Gala scheduled to start on Thursday 13th August gathers pace, with an impressive line up of talent due to take part, including Paul Grist and Strangehaven creator Gary Spencer Millidge heading up the British Comics Panel. More info on the entire weekend, which will include Art Jams, contests, competitions and the launch of the Comic Book Creators Union, a coalescence of industry fans and professionals striving to improve conditions under which comic book creators work here on Facebook

• ComicBitsOnline reports on Seoul Graphics, a company aiming to get Korean Manhwa graphic novels onto the English speaking market, starting with the UK. The company is fronted by Dr. Jeeyeon Kim (BA, MA, PhD), Managing Director of Seoul Graphics and Korean / English Translator, who is looking for a British co-publisher.
One of the main projects is Hong’s Classical Mythology. Official site (under construction):
www.seoulgraphics.com

Adventure Come To... Kirkcaldy

In these downbeat times, it's rare to have something to celebrate - especially the opening of a new comic shop. But that's exactly what's just happened north of the border.

Kingdom of Adventure, which opened complete with a visit from Darth Vader and Stormtroopers on 20th June, intends to offer comic and games fans across Fife the chance not just to buy comics and games -- but play the games on show as well. And not in any small way: while game areas are nothing new in specialist stores, KOA is spread over two storeys and is fully kitted out to deal with up to 40 players at any one time.

The store will also be running classes including sessions on how to play the games on sale and others on how to paint the miniatures used to play them.

"Up until now Fife comics and games fans have had to travel to Edinburgh and Dundee or further to get the latest range of products, services and knowledge that Kingdom of Adventure will offer," says Dave. "Now they will have one of the best stocked shops of its kind in Scotland on their doorstep."

Despite the economic downturn and the closure of comic shops elsewhere in the UK, Dave believes that Fife is the ideal location for Kingdom of Adventure this nee store.

"Fife has a thriving comics and games community and Kirkcaldy feels like the ideal location for this new kind of shop. Plus, we’re a first in Scotland – offering the comics and games with plenty of space to play them in.

“I’m really hoping that the shop can play a big role in the Fife community," he continues. "I've ran games clubs in Edinburgh so I know that the facilities that we offer are in demand.

"I’ve already had a phenomenal response in talking to people about the shop, so I’m hopeful that people will come along and see what we have," he reveals enthusiastically. "There’s a huge demand out there."

Expect various events to be part of the store's schedule in coming months. "As well as the day to day running of Kingdom of Adventure, I'm also in talks with various comic and gaming industry celebrities about having signings and other special events," says Dave. "We've already had a special guest for the launch with Dungeons & Dragons writer Keith Baker in the shop running games and chatting with fans."

For Dave, the new venture is more than just a commercial venture he's been planning for years.

“I live and breathe comics and games," he says, "and I can’t wait to get started turning my hobby into my business.”

• Kingdom of Adventure is located at 21-23 Whytescauseway in Kirkcaldy. Tel: 01592 328121 or e-mail shop@kingdomofadventure.co.uk. Web: www.kingdomofadventure.co.uk