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Clash of the Toon Titans returns, at Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2026

By John Freeman on 25 July 2026 • ( 0 )

Battle lines are drawn, literally, once more, for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival most popular opening night event!

“Clash of the Toon Titans: Asterix vs. Tintin” returns as Opening Night for this year’s Festival by popular demand this autumn. Once again, top comic creator fans of both internationally famous comic characters will compete, in good humour, to prove one better than the other for the event’s launch event, at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, Cumbria.

LICAF’s most popular opening night event dates back to 2016, when Festival guests first entertained audiences and guests with The Clash of the Toon Titans – Asterix vs Tintin. It was a close call, but in the end Asterix, the creation of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, won the public vote after six brave creators had made the case for one or the other. Asterix’s triumph was sealed when Graham Dury, from VIZ, argued, in a highly convoluted way, that Tintin’s creator, Hergé, couldn’t draw horses!

Ten years on, the Festival feels it’s time for a re-match!

Two teams of internationally-renowned creators jeopardise their health and reputation to battle it out in the name of their favourite international comic character, and their creators, once more. Along the way, the audience will be asked to vote for one side or the other, and throughout the evening some of the fastest cartoonists on the planet will bring this epic battle to life. All MCed by the brilliant and impartial Keli Lark.

Tickets for The Clash of the Toon Titans – Asterix vs Tintin: The Rematch, sold separately to Festival Passes, are available here

This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, offering a wide range of comic creator panels, a Comics Marketplace, workshops, exhibitions, international rights market, and more, right across the Cumbrian town of Kendal, takes place over the weekend of Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026.

The full guest line-up so far features on the LICAF website, and tickets can be bought here.

• Tickets for The Clash of the Toon Titans – Asterix vs Tintin: The Rematch, sold separately to Festival Passes, are available here

• The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) will take place in Kendal from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026. Tickets are on sale now

Further details on specific panel times, exhibition hours, and festival ticketing will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit licaf.co.uk

Guests at LICAF 2026 in alphabetical order included in alphabetical order, Charlie Adlard, Leonie Bischoff, Serge Bloch, Kate Charlesworth, Gemma Correll, Dagsson, Mike Derderian, Colleen Doran, Louise Evans aka Feltmistress, ILYA, Khaled Jarada, Emad Hajjaj, Luke Healy, Keli Lark, Michael Lark, David Leach, Sonia Leong, Joanna Lorho, David Lumsden, Marcos Martin, Joe McGarry, Luke McGarry, Steve McGarry, Metaphrog, Mobidic, Francisco de la Mora, Bill Morrison, Jacob Phillips, Sean Phillips, Nicolas Pitz, Gemma Plum, Pieter de Poortere, Quindrie Press, Frank Quitely, Bill Sienkiewicz, Nina Six, Zara Slattery, Faye Stacey, Byan Talbot, Mary Talbot, Muntsa Vicente, the team from VIZ comic, and Chrissy Williams. More to come!

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John Freeman

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.