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S.M.A.S.H., a Symposium on Matters of Art, Storytelling & History announced

By John Freeman on October 27, 2014

In the wake of news that this year’s planned Comica Comiket has been postponed as part of the Comica Festival in London until Spring 2015, key organiser Paul Gravett has let us know that some extra events have been programmed to make up for its loss at the Barbican Library – including the Symposium on Matters of Art, Storytelling & History, or S.M.A.S.H., for short.

The Festival and The London Graphic Novel Network have teamed up for this event on Saturday 15th November to offer comics lovers the chance to hear and participate in a free, free-spirited threesome of opinionated panel discussions with creators and critics: Alex Fitch (Panel Borders); Ben Smith (Rebellion); David Baillie (2000AD); Emmeline Pui Ling Dobson (Emerald Song); Hannah Berry (Adamtine); Ilya (Room For Love); John Miers (Central Saint Martins); Jonas Herriot (Richmond Libraries); Lord Hurk (Fancy Butcher); Mazin Saleem (Kraken); Paul Gravett (1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die); Woodrow Phoenix (Rumble Strip) and Joel Janiurek (Barbican Comic Forum).

Join them in heated debates on the three subjects of:

ART: Where is the art in comic books?

What’s so great about comics anyway? Now that Television and Film have snatched up all the superheroes, why should anyone bother with reading a comic? What are the experiences that comics can provide that you can’t get from any other medium?

STORYTELLING: How important is storytelling to comics?

Are comics all just pretty pictures? Does it matter if the story is rubbish so long as the artwork is nice? Or are all comics just the same old regurgitated tales of superheroes, monsters and gangsters?

HISTORY: What is the history of comic books?

Who are the unsung heroes of comics and which “Classics” deserve to be forgotten?’ Which books have been most integral to the development of comics today? People tend to talk about Watchmen, The Dark Knight and Maus – but are there any other books worthy of our consideration?

Organised and curated by Joel Janiurek of The Barbican Comic Forum. For more details see The London Graphic Novel Network Blog…

• Symposium on Matters of Art, Storytelling & History Saturday 15th November, 2014 12.30-3.30pm Barbican Library, Level 2, Barbican Centre, London EC2Y 8DS Free – All Welcome. More info: www.comicafestival.com/index.php/festival/program14

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.