Pictured left to right: Breakthrough co-ordinator Tim Pilcher with participants Danny Christie, Hannah Hodgson, Michael Lightfoot, Abbigayle Bircham and Halima Hassan at Chicheley Hall, Buckinghamshire, in May 2019

Lakes International Comic Art Festival Breakthrough new creators project gets underway

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The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has held the first workshops for its ambitious Breakthrough project, which aims to give under-represented individuals a chance to express themselves through the medium of comics. Five aspiring comic creators – Abbigayle Bircham, Danny Christie, Halima Hassan, Hannah Hodgson and Michael Lightfoot – are taking part in the inaugural 18-month mentoring initiative,Continue reading Lakes International Comic Art Festival Breakthrough new creators project gets underway

Winterfell, as seen in Game of Thrones. Credit: Home Box Office, Inc.

“Home of Thrones” Game of Thrones Studio Tour opens next year

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Already pining for more Game of Thrones? Then you’re in luck, especially if you’re a fan living in Northern Ireland. Inspired by the renowned HBO Series, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour will open Westeros to everyone in Spring 2020, at the Linen Mill Studios, Banbridge, Northern Ireland. Showcasing authentic sets, costumes and props fromContinue reading “Home of Thrones” Game of Thrones Studio Tour opens next year

“Seeing the Bigger Picture” by David Shaw

What has the EU Ever Done for Us? “Europe+” Comic Challenge goes on tour

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The shortlisted entries of this year’s Animate Europe comics competition, challenging creators with to come up with a comic addressing the value of the European Union, are now on tour around the continent. With Britain’s involvement in the EU drawing to a close, despite the difficulties reaching that end, there has to be more than aContinue reading What has the EU Ever Done for Us? “Europe+” Comic Challenge goes on tour

The British Museum team busy installing a show-stopping 17-metre-long theatre curtain ahead of the opening of the MANGA Exhibition earlier this month. It was made by Japanese artist Kawanabe Kyōsai for the Shintomi Theatre on 30th June 1880. That day, after drinking a few bottles of rice wine, Kyōsai retreated to a studio and started painting. Just four hours later he emerged with the huge curtain, depicting members of the acting company as various kinds of monsters. The curtain is on loan from the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University. Photo: British Museum

British Museum’s massive MANGA exhibition opens this week

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Author and manga expert Paul Gravett was lucky to be granted an exclusive sneak peek at The British Museum‘s MANGA exhibition, opening this week – and he’s very impressed. Announced last year, the exhibition, which will run until August, explores the phenomenon of manga and is the largest exhibition of the art ever to take placeContinue reading British Museum’s massive MANGA exhibition opens this week

The Black Iris by Russell Mark Olson

In Review: The Black Iris by Russell Mark Olson

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By Russell Mark Olson Beginning life as an Inktober project last year, The Black Iris is a glorious film-in-a-book, rendered using only black India ink washes and a smattering of correction fluid. The book tells the story of the Black Iris, a World War Two resistance fighter and spy, on her attempt to smuggle plansContinue reading In Review: The Black Iris by Russell Mark Olson