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Lakes International Comic Art Festival: The ComiXology Clock Tower Line-Up!

By John Freeman on September 5, 2017

Photo: Giuseppe Abbà. Web: vimeo.com/giuseppeabba

The countdown to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has begun and alongside some 70 creators as guests, there’s an amazing line-up of comics artist, writers publishers and more in the Comics Clock Tower – or rather, the ComiXology Clock Tower, thanks to sponsorship from the top digital comics distributor.

“Little Red Cap” art by Adele Phillips

This year’s exhibitors are: Iqbal Ali, who used to wear glasses, but can now see clearly without them – although that clarity may be an illusion (much like the year 2016); the Big Brown Eyes Collective (a small press illustration and comics collective of three sisters: Emily, Freya and Karis Lambert; comic artist Nick Brokenshire; Robert Brown, a cartoonist from Manchester, currently based in Warsaw; writer and editor Corey Brotherson; Israeli comic artist and illustrator Capitalette; fantasy author A.S. Chambers; James Chapman, a Manchester-based illustrator working mostly with language and the cultural difference found around the world; Hari Conner, a prizewinning comics artist and professional illustrator currently working on several fantasy comic series set in the same universe; Comicbooks.IE; 2000AD artist Rufus Dayglo; Doig & Swift, two freelance artists working in the fields of comics and animation based in Ireland; the Drawn Chorus Collective; Wallis Eates and Danny Noble, two London based comic artists; the Etherington Brothers (you won’t find a more energetic and inspiring duo than Lorenzo and Robin!); Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo; children’s book illustrator Tor Freeman; Graphic Lives, a community project telling Bangladeshi migrant women’s stories through graphic narratives; comic artist Eve Greenwood; Glasgow-based artist and founder and editor of the women’s comic collective Team Girl Comic Gill Hatcher; Claire Hubbard (aka Emseeitch), an illustrator and comic creator specialising in cute patterned stationery, homewares and accessories; freelance animator Luke Hyde, who dabbles in creating comics; ILYA, who has more than 30 years’ experience as a comic book writer, artist and editor; and Inksplattery, a comic artist and illustrator, writing and illustrating independent comics around themes of childhood, identity and transition.

Jessica on Paper

Then there’s Manchester-based creator Jessica on Paper, who was raised on a healthy mix of cartoons, old movies and video games, with an unhealthy amount of trips in the playground; Rebecca K Jones, who makes comics, mainly in traditional media but sometimes also incorporating digital processes; Fionn Jordan, illustrator and 12th generation inheritor of the unbeaten Sacred Golden Toad style, currently working out of Taiwan; Tom Kindley, a freelance illustrator living and working in Newcastle upon Tyne; Jack Knight, a well-known and energetic artist, illustrator and cartoonist from Lancaster; Bristol-based self-employed illustrator and graphic designer Joe Latham; Leeroy Henson and Graham Leggett, collectively known as Lockbox Comics; Michi Mathias, who draws thinly-veiled rants, confessions and random stories about the absurdities and annoyances of real life, making comics in the old-fashioned way on paper with pen and ink and watercolour; METAPHROG – Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers, whose work straddles children’s and adults’ comics with a surreal style which has won them many awards and much acclaim; Douglas Noble, creator of The Silent Choir (part of the British Library’s Comics Unmasked exhibition); Alex Norris, who lives in London and as well as Webcomic Name also makes the sporadically updated webcomic Dorris McComics; illustrator Adele Phillips; Rune Ryberg, a Danish comic book artist with a history in animated films; Max Sarin, who says knew she was going to be either a pirate or a wolf since she was five; comic artist/writer, illustrator Jade Sarson, creator of Cafe Suada and For the Love of God, Marie!; small press cartoonist A.J. Smith; artist Ben Bernard-Smith; and Stray Lines, a collective of comics artists dedicated to incubating and promoting innovative approaches to comics in Ireland.

Zoom Rockman

But there’s more! This Man, This Pete (Pete Taylor), the artist and co-creator of Monster Kids, published in volume 20 of Aces Weekly; Zoom Rockman, a British artist and cartoonist whose comic strip Skanky Pigeon first appeared in the Beano when he was 12 years old; Myfanwy Tristram, who draws colourful comics, taking inspiration from aspects of everyday life; comics maker Jordan Vigay; ODY-C’s Christian Ward; Steve White, who has worked in the comics industry for over three decades, his career starting at the offices of Marvel UK in 1986; illustrator Jennifer Winetrobe; Aneurin (Nye) Wright, who is exhibiting with Andy Pearson and Tom Eglington as a collective, Welsh El Dorado Press; Lydia Wysocki of Applied Comics, who makes comics, art, and prints; and animator and cartoonist Clíodhna Ztoical.

Publishers: Artic Ring Comics, run by Leslie MacKenzie; Black Lodge Press, a small publishing print specialising in riso-printed comics and zines by queer artists; Bog Eyed Books, run by Beano and Phoenix creator Gary Northfield and book lover, Nicky Evans; Centrala, a publishing house originally based in Poland, specialising in comics since 2007; Cinebook, the largest publisher of European graphic novels in English; Improper Books, a studio focusing on creator-owned stories that have a touch of the fairy tale, the fantastical, or the otherworldly; Invisible Six, a small creative arts company, based in Glossop, near Manchester – whose main focus is publishing graphic novels; Knockabout Comics (their Knaughty Corner is knocking around in the Romney Room in the Comics Clock Tower); the London Horror Comic, an award-winning British horror comic book anthology that celebrated its 10th year in publishing in 2016; Myriad, established as one of the most thought-provoking, characterful and eclectic lists in the UK; Papercutz, the leading kids graphic novel publisher, and sister company NBM Graphic Novels for an older audience celebrating its 40th Anniversary, who will present their best latest books; SelfMadeHero, the UK’s leading independent graphic novel publisher; Sloth Comics, a young independent comic book publisher based in the UK; Soaring Penguin Press, an independent, eclectic publisher of graphic novels, comics and poetry; and Udu Books/Lines of Enquiry, an emerging online publisher and distributor of art books and related products;

Plus: Clockwork Watch Films, creators of graphic novels, interactive promenade theatre, freeform role-play, online adventures, an interactive book, and a feature film; top retailer Forbidden Planet, the world’s biggest chain of comic shops, serving fellow fans with graphic novels, sci-fi, toys and movie and TV merchandise since 1975; Geek Goods (who want to bring that smile to your face when you see a key ring with your favourite show or a poster with that game you’ve just spent 100 hours on); the Jeff Hawke Club, formed in 2001 with the aim of bringing the Jeff Hawke science fiction stories to a wider public; Joe Bailey Sculpture & Design – sculptor, artist, designer, author, poet and just all ’round Genius; the National Cartoonists Society, the world’s premier organisation for professional cartoonists since 1946; London-based comics retailer Orbital Comics; The Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain, the UK’s largest and oldest cartoonists’ organisation; and the University Of Cumbria Comic Book Collective, who will be manning a table of illustration, comic book and zine related material from students and tutors.

The legendary Page 45 will once again be taking over the Georgian Room with an additional selection of creators, signings, show and tell sessions and much more.

ComiXology, who offer the largest selection of digital comics anywhere, will also be exhibiting at the Festival. Find out more about their catalogue and plans!

The weekend-long festival (running Friday 13th – Sunday 15th October 2017), celebrating the amazing world of comics, takes over the scenic town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District.

Featuring live comic drawing, films, exhibitions, comic trails, workshops, performances, masterclasses, a free family zone and independent publishers – the events programme is bursting with opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the leading comic artists and writers from across the world.

The Festival brings the biggest names in comic art to Cumbria with over 70 special guests from across the comic world.

There really is something for everyone, whether you’re a comic veteran, new to comics or just love seeing amazing artists at work.

Book Your Festival Tickets Now!

• Book your tickets for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival here. This year’s events programme includes live draws, masterclasses, interactive talks and a chance to get up close to the best comic creators in the world!

• Read our Kendal Calling Comic Creator Interviews

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.