B7 Comics are among the publishers at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Kendal this weekend (2nd – 4th October), at what looks like it will be a very busy Comics Market that offers an exciting lineup of comic creators and more.
They’re sharing a table with the team from Krakathoom, a project from the team behind SHIFT Magazine, dedicated to building a new comics eco system that empowers creators to publish their own comics. (Krakathoom are offering a print-on-demand service ensures that creators can reach all sales avenues, including online platforms, comic shops, and bookstores, more information here).
B7 Comics will be previewing some of their up-coming graphic novels, not least the long anticipated return of Dan Dare, written by Alex de Campi, with art by Marc Laming, and colours by Michael Woods; along with Volume 2 of Mr Jones’s Smoking Bones, the historical, supernatural mystery by Iqbal Ali; and the final instalment of John Freeman and Neil Edwards’ scifi adventure min-series, Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies, #4 now at colouring and lettering stage.
The independent publisher will be offering special LICAF discounts on Volume 1 of Mr Jones’s Smoking Bones and the acclaimed graphic novel Hancock: The Lad Himself (£10 off) about the life and times of British comic Tony Hancock by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
And for the first 50 people who pre-order the hardback edition of Dan Dare: First Contact at LICAF they’ll give you a free Dan Dare Tote Bag and Bookmark… so do check them out.
• B7 Comics is part of B7 Media, online at b7media.com | Instagram | Facebook
• LICAF is online at licaf.co.uk
• The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) will take place in Kendal from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026. Tickets are on sale now
You can view all this year’s Festival events on the Festival’s website at licaf.co.uk, view the programme online here on Issuu, or download a PDF version here
Dan Dare ©️ Dan Dare Corporation
Declaration: John Freeman is a team member of B7 Comics
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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As a lifelong fan of Frank Hampson’s Dan Dare, and even Dave Gibbon’s later interpretation, the samples above look incredibly generic and uninspiring. I can’t imagine kids of any age getting excited over it.