Free “Race Into Space” Challenge Anthology Launches from Lakes International Comic Art Festival

By John Freeman on November 6, 2020

The digital anthology of select entries to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival‘s Race Into Space Challenge is now available to read for free online. It includes the winning strip by Spacewarp artist James Newell, alongside entries from a variety of both established comic creators and newcomers to the world of comics.

Judged by comics editor John Freeman and publisher Andrew Mark Sewell of B7 Media, this digital anthology features strips by (in order of presentation) entries by James Newell, David Livens, Gavin Pollock, Martin Cater, Craig Fletcher, newcomer Naomi D’Silva, Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle, the publishers of Sentinel, Fred Eggs Comics publisher David Robertson, Eagle Award shortlisted creator John Maybury and 2015 Observer/ Cape/ Comica graphic short story prize winner Richard Woods.

The opening page of the winning entry, "Twinkle" by James Newell — *The opening page of the winning Race into Space entry, “Twinkle” by James Newell*

A wide range of entries were received, mix of straight adventure, humour, surreal – no easy choice – from creators of different ages, from all over the world.

Blaster Bunny by David Livens
Space Chimp by Gavin Pollock
Lightning Five by Martin Cater
Short Cut by Craig Fletcher
Evicted by Naomi D’Silva
This Planet is Ours by Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle
Race into Space by David Robertson
Race into Space by John Maybury
The Falcon by Richard Woods

The announcement of the winner of the LICAF “Race into Space” Challenge was part of a segment of the recent free online LICAF Live Festival, with a “gob smacked and delighted” James Newell, one of the contributors to Pat Mills Spacewarp, winning the £500 prize provided by Lancaster-based gaming platform Videö.

The anthology includes only entries published with the express permission of their creators and features on the LICAF Tapas channel, where you can also read other LICAF-published works such as Edward Taylor’s Godzilla’s Lockdown Diary and more.

Backed by the Arts Council, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival supports a number of projects spotlighting comic creators work from the UK and beyond.

Coming soon, in partnership with Soaring Penguin Press, co-ordinated by Tim Pilcher, is the Breakthrough anthology due for release next, the result of an 18-month mentoring initiative aiming to give under-represented individuals a chance to express themselves through the medium of comics – and to hopefully open up a career pathway within the publishing industry.

• Read the Race Into Space anthology here for free on Tapas

• More about Lakes International Comic Art Festival Special Projects can be found on the Festival web site here

• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival – back 15th to 17th October 2021 – is online at: www.comicartfestival.com

• Most #LICAFLIVE 2020 content is also available on the LICAF YouTube Channel here, including the Comics Master Classes – but check the official LICAF site for exhibitions and some other items, such as the Desert Island Comics interview with comic creator Kelly Sue DeConnick

• Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast: www.comicartpodcast.uk | Twitter: @comicartfestpod | Facebook: @ComicArtPodcast | Instagram: @ComicArtPodcast

• Want to receive news about the Lakes International Comic Art Festival? Then sign up for their newsletter now

• Check out their LITTLE LICAF Facebook Page here and the dedicated LITTLE LICAF Instagram here

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.