Craig Thompson, Bryan Talbot, Emma Vieceli and other top creators to draw OCD Action charity comic at Lakes Festival

OCD Action Comic Montage

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced this year’s special 24 Hour Marathon Comic project as part of this year’s weekend-long event in October, featuring a stellar line up of talent that aims to raise awareness of the medical condition OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Written by Alex Paknadel and Dan Watters, the artists are Dan Berry (editor), Craig Thompson, Charlie Adlard, Emma Vieceli, Petteri Tikannen, Bruce Mutard, Nick Brokenshire, Bryan Talbot, Ken Niimura, Joe Decie, Mike Medaglia and Jake Phillips, offering an exciting mix of styles of art for this challenging charity project.

All profits from the sale of this special comic will go to OCD Action alongside a percentage from other merchandise.

Craig Thompson

Craig Thompson, just one of a terrific creative team on board for the Festival’s OCD Action comic

“I’m excited to participate in the OCD Comic,” says US guest Craig Thompson, creator of the award-winning graphic novel Blankets, “because it sidesteps the sleep deprivation and isolation of the 24 hour comic, for something social and collaborative and much more energetically manageable — a sprint and passing of the baton, rather than a grueling, joint-destroying marathon. I’m very much looking forward to it!”

“As a notion in itself the collaborative process of this project excited me, so I said yes; absolutely,” says Festival patron Emma Vieceli of this daunting marathon draw and concept, whose work includes the critically acclaimed independent web series, BREAKS created with Malin Ryden.

“Having now seen the amazing list of co-creators, I’m double-excited about it.”

“This will be the first 24 hour comic I’ve ever contributed to,” says award-wining artist Bryan Talbot, creator of the Luther Arkrwright and Grandville graphic novel sagas. “Two pages in two hours? I must be mad!”

“People always say how fast I am,” enthuses Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard of the challenge. “Well, this is where I prove them right. The race is on!”

“I am very excited by the challenge of having to produce pages in such a short space of time!” says Nick Brokenshire, the artist on IDW’s Amelia Cole fantasy series. “And for a great cause – Fun!”

“‘This project is so important and I am very happy to be involved,” says Mike Medaglia, whose critically-acclaimed work will also feature in the “Five Bridges” exhibition at the Festival.

“Comics have a unique way of engaging new readers and re-engaging past readers with important subjects,” he continues. “They can bring information on a range of subjects to readers who don’t normally read up on such topics, and perhaps they even find information to help them in their lives. Then, for readers who do read on specific topics regularly, like OCD, comics is a new way for them to approach the subject.

“I think the depth that comics can reach in terms of having a positive effect on people’s lives is yet to even begin to be discovered. This project is certainly a big step in that direction.”

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is proud to be supporting the work of OCD Action. As the UK’s largest and most comprehensive OCD charity, OCD Action is able to provide accurate and up-to-date information on OCD and related conditions. The charity runs a helpline, advocacy service, support group network and forum to help people with the disorder, and also works to raise awareness in the media and campaigns to improve access to quality treatment for OCD.

The Charity also has access to a wide range of case studies from individuals willing to share their own story about struggling with OCD.

“We’re thrilled and honoured to be given the opportunity of working with this amazing festival,” says Charlie Loveday, Lead Fundraiser of OCD Action.

“OCD is an often invisible condition that affects two per cent of the population,” he notes. “Many people in the comics community will have the disorder themselves. There are likely to be attendees of this festival itself who are living with the condition, either too afraid to seek help or unaware that the distressing thoughts and compulsions they are subject to have an explanation. So we hope that our presence at this Festival, and the comic being produced on OCD, will help these people realise that OCD is a treatable condition and that the help is out there.”

• Buy your Festival tickets now from The Brewery, Kendal – www.breweryarts.co.uk (Social media short link – http://bit.ly/LICAF16-Tickets) | Box Office 01539 725133 | Email

• For all events information visit the Lakes International Comic Art Festival web site: www.comicartfestival.com | Find the Lakes International Comic Art Festival on Facebook | Follow the Festival on Twitter @comicartfest

• For more information about OCD Action visit www.ocdaction.org.uk

• The 2016 Lakes International Comic Art Festival Programme is available to view and download here

• In a hurry? Here’s the Festival in a Flash!



Categories: British Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discover more from downthetubes.net

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading