CAPTION 21: Robots!

By John Freeman on August 23, 2013

This weekend the East Oxford Community Centre is once again host to the comics festival Caption – and the event’s full schedule is detailed below.

Creators from Oxford-based comics companies 2000AD and The Phoenix will be in attendance, and there will be fun workshops and activities for anyone who wants to get involved and a wide variety of comics will be available to buy from the Caption table.

Don’t expect a dealer’s hall with cyncial merchandise and cosplayers: do expect fascinating panel discussions and excellent workshops all in an informal friendly environment.

Guests include Rian Hughes (Dan Dare), Andrzej Klimowski (Stanisław Lem’s Robot…), Danusia Schebal (Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde graphic novel), Al Davison (Doctor Who), Paul Collicutt (The Murder Mile), Vicky Stonebridge (Dogbreath), Karen Rubins (Victoria & Albert Museum comic artist in residence), Ian Rakoff (V & A comics lecturer, writer “The Prisoner: Welcome to Harmony”) and Dan White (Cindy and Biscuit).

Tickets are £6 per day or £10 for both days, so if you’re in the area, get yourself along! The EOCC bar will be open from noon to 5pm, for drinks and crisps as well, what more could you want?

Saturday 24th August

11am: doors open

Noon: Vicky Stonebridge workshop – creating composition, physiognomy, perspective, movement, mood and action in comics

Noon: SF comics for kids – Paul Collicutt / Robert Deas / John Aggs / Dan White; David O’Connell (chair)

1.30: Self Made Robots panel – Andrejz Klimowski / Danuscia Schejbal / Paul Collicutt / Robert Deas; Alex Fitch (chair)

3pm: Fine art and comics panel – Vicky Stonebridge / Al Davison / Hannah Eaton / James E Snelling; Richard Reynolds (chair)

4.30pm: Cyperpunk / steampunk panel – Yomi Ajeni / Jennie Gyllblad / Ben Dickson / John Aggs; Alex Fitch (chair)

6.45pm: Short films screening, including films by Al Davison and Alex Fitch

7.30pm: Tony Hitchman’s Robot Quiz

Sunday 25th August

11am: Comics Gosh!p reading group w/ Mike Medaglia

Noon: Al Davison workshop – The Alchemist’s Easel: Techniques to Access your unconscious and tap into your creativity… and yes create a short Robot comic!

12.30pm: 2000AD and fanzines – Rian Hughes / Chris Geary / Andrew Cheverton; Alex Fitch (chair)

2pm: Designing comics – Rian Hughes / Robert Ball / Mike Medaglia / Karen Rubins; Alex Fitch (Chair)

3.30pm: Educating with comics – Chris Geary / Ian Rakoff / Tony Hitchman / Al Davison; Karen Rubins (Chair)

• Caption, East Oxford Community Centre, 44 Princes St, Oxford OX4 1DD
11am – 11pm Saturday 24th August / 11am – 5pm Sunday 25th August

• More info: www.caption.org

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.