Kids Comics Competition announced

By John Freeman on August 20, 2007

The Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) in partnership with Peters the Booksellers and TBK Magazine recently launched the National Comic Art Competition.

Kids across the UK and beyond have been invited to tell a two page comic story about how they would save the world.

“This can be a real threat like global warming or something outlandish like an alien invasion!” said Shane Chebsey, one of the organisers behind BICS. The only requirements, and that the children create their own characters rather than use existing ones like Spider-Man and Dennis the Menace, and that there be at least six panels on each page

Fellow BICS organiser James Hodgkins added: “One of our remits is to reach outside of the usual fan base and try to bring in new readers, especially kids.” To that end, the competition has been split into categories to keep things fair, one for the 9-13 age group and the other for 14-16 year-olds.

Full details on how to enter the competition can be found at the BICS 2007 website (wwww.thecomicsshow.co.uk) and in copies of TBK Magazine, available free in all good public libraries and schools in the UK and English-speaking schools overseas. Educational authorities and Art councils are invited to join those already involved and spread the word even more!

The competition has got off to an excellent start with promotional flyers being handed out at various media events since Spring, and Paul H Birch’s public announcement of the competition during the popular BBC Blast Roadshow when it rolled onto Victoria Square in front of Birmingham Town Hall this June. It has subsequently been reported on BBC Radio with TV interest expected to follow.

Prizes include comic books from publishers including Dark Horse and Markosia, art supply manufacturers like Letraset, original pieces of art donated by creators, and a very special prize for the overall wining school entry that will be offered a free comic class by comic book professionals

The winners names will be announced live on stage at the Birmingham International Comics Show 2007 on October 13-14th at the Thinktank, Millennium Point. Fun and festivities are guaranteed all weekend at the show with an all-star line-up of international comic book celebrities and publishers, the finest dealers with excellent bargains and a jam-packed programme of extra-special events with competitions prizes and give-aways to be won all weekend long.

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.