House of Illustration “Women Making Girls’ Comics” Event Tomorrow

By John Freeman on April 15, 2016

Jan Shepheard, art editor on Valiant and 2000AD. Photo © Sue Smith, used with permission.

London’s House of Illustration will be shining a spotlight on the work of women creators from the ‘Golden Age’ of British comics aimed at younger female audiences, with Jenni Scott, Mel Gibson and David Roach tomorrow afternoon (16th April 2016).

The women writers and artists who worked on British girls’ comics of the 1970s and 80s were often uncredited or overlooked (such as Jenny McDade, who write for Tammy), but their work has been deeply influential and is now beginning to garner the recognition it deserves. We’ve covered some of the history of British girls comics here (and elsewhere) on downthetubes, including the work of 2000AD‘s first art editor, Jan Shepheard, who died in 2014.

While the Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics exhibition at HoI is focused on adult comics, this event will include a presentation selection of girls’ comics specially for this event.

Mel Gibson is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies at Northumbria University, and also runs training and promotional events about comics with a wide range of organisations including schools, charities and libraries. Her book, Remembered Reading, a reader’s history exploring the forgotten genre of British girls’ comics was published last year by Leuven Univeristy Press.

Jenni Scott is an independent researcher and fan of both comics in general and girls’ comics in particular. If you’re interested in girls comics, then you should definitely check out her fabulous blog: jintycomic.wordpress.com.

David Roach is a comic book artist and writer. In his 30 year career in comics, he’s drawn for many of the biggest publishers both in the UK and America. David is also a life-long comics historian and has worked on 14 books including The Art of War, The Art of Vampirella and Lifestyle Illustrations of the 50s and 60s. His latest book is the acclaimed Art of Jose Gonzalez and he is currently writing the follow up for Dynamite books: Masters of Spanish Comic Book Art.

• More details about Women Making Girls’ Comics (3.00pm, Saturday 16th April, House of Illustration, London) here and the House of Illusration web site starts here: www.houseofillustration.org.uk

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.