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Comics Up Close returns next month, at Sheffield Hallam University

By John Freeman on January 16, 2024 • ( 1 )

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Manchester, the organisations behind Comics Up Close, have revealed the schedule for this year’s event, “Origin Stories”, taking place at Sheffield Hallam University on Wednesday 21st February 2024. Tickets available via Eventbrite.

Comics Up Close 2024 Speakers include Steven Appleby, Karrie Fransman and Dave Gibbons — *Comics Up Close 2024 speakers include Steven Appleby, Karrie Fransman and Dave Gibbons*

Speakers at the event include Dave Gibbons, one of the UK’s most respected comic artists, the creator of Martha Washington Goes to War and co-creator of the influential Watchmen series with Alan Moore; Karrie Fransman, Creative Director of positivenegative, an organisation dedicated to amplifying academic research through engaging in visual story telling; and Steven Appleby, absurdist cartoonist and illustrator. She is the author of the graphic novel, Dragman, and has worked for The Times, Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian.

“Origin Stories” is a one day conference celebrating the influence and impact comics have on wider culture, which seeks to explore the political and social situations that are the basis for creativity within comics, the creative spark that leads to the creation of comics and the influence comics have on the wider creative industries and culture.

Comics are a diverse creative playground for ideas and narratives that are frequently developed into other creative disciplines, film, television and games, giving them impact far beyond their origins.

“We’re delighted to be partners in this annual academic event,” says LICAF Festival Director Julie Tait. “It’s just part of our growing number of projects we’re involved with beyond the Festival weekend in September, to promote comics and the creation of comics, throughout the year.”

• The Comics Up Close conference takes place on Wednesday 21st February 2024 at Sheffield Hallam University | Tickets available via Eventbrite | General Admission £10 | Student Admission £5 | Web: gallery.shu.ac.uk/event/origin-stories/

Origin Stories: Schedule

Please note, the schedule may be subject to change

9.00 Open

9.30: Matt Edgar — Origin Stories

Matt will introduce the day and open the discussion around the value and influence of comics.

Strand 1

10.00 Patrick Walker — Comics as close as you can get

This dot is a line some time next week. The dot appears to be the hinterland between black and white — it’s not of course, it’s either there or it isn’t. It’s the magnified unit of a larger narrative. The dot is democratic, it’s forgiving and illusive. This presentation explores the dot and those that have exploited and embraced it. Before undertaking a career in Graphic Design I worked in a comic shop, I devoured, collected and peddled them — I ran out of rooms to put them in.

10.20 Jo Breese — Dive into the comics / zines and corresponding 3D artefacts, created by final year Illustration students, in response to a glorious selection of factual human-interest stories from across the globe

The topics range from US roadside attractions, to Asian pearl-diving grandmas, to a Frenchman who ate anything and everything that was presented to him. Think Louis Theroux / Vice magazine / Tomorrow’s World, but beautifully illustrated. A selection of the final books and artefacts will be available to drool over in person, as well.

10.40 TBC

Strand 2

10.00 Gabi Putnoki — The origin of The Graphic Novel Reading Room

In this presentation Gabi will introduce the Graphic Novel Reading Room, events aimed at comics readers, supporting the comics community and providing a comfortable, social space to read alongside others. Gabi will briefly explore the history and purpose of reading rooms and similar projects around the world.

10.20 Alex Fitch — The groundbreaking acts of Ally Sloper

The popularity of Ally Sloper in Victorian periodicals led to eye-popping merchandise and innovative paratexts from 3D photos to a prototype graphic novel. This may be the birth of long-form British comics, and an example of reformatting strips for reprints, that predated similar activities in the USA by 50 years…

10.40 TBC

12.00 – 5.00 Keynote Speakers

Adsetts Lecture Theatre 6619

12.00 Karrie Fransman

Comics Up Close - 21st February 2024 - Karrie Fransman

Creative Director of positivenegative an organisation dedicated to amplifying academic research through engaging in visual storytelling

1.30 Steven Appleby

Comics Up Close - 21st February 2024 - Steven Appleby

Absurdist cartoonist and illustrator. She has worked for The Times, Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian and her most recent graphic novel is Dragman

3.30 Dave Gibbons

Comics Up Close - 21st February 2024 - Dave Gibbons

One of the UK’s most respected comic artists, the creator of Martha Washington Goes to War and co-creator of the influential Watchmen series with Alan Moore

5.00pm Collectives for Change Exhibition – Comics from the Arab World

Head Post Office Gallery opening and reception

Throughout the 20th century, comics from the Arab world exclusively targeted children and were used by the ruling totalitarian authorities (military or religious) to control social morals and impose political and ideological agendas.

The Arab Revolutions of the past decade paved the way for the rise of independent collectives of artists from various Arab countries, seeking freedom of expression and creating a network of sharing experiences that has been and continues to shape the comics scene today. Introducing a variety of genres and breaking the boundaries of social and political taboos with a leading role for women, these collectives and independent artists are becoming the voice of the youth across the region.

Comics Up Close 2024 - Partners and Sponsors

Curated by Lina Ghaibeh & George Khoury, organised by The Rada & Mutaz Sawaf Centre for Arab Comics Studies at the American University in Beirut. In Partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival

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.