The countdown to the relaunched Caption Comic Festival, taking place Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th August in Botley, Oxford, continues – and the lineup of comic creators in attendance is absolutely awesome.
As Caption, whose focus is championing British Small Press and Independent Comics, doesn’t take place in large cavernous halls, attendance is limited to a comfortable number. Availability has opened up now for tickets on the door – or you can buy in advance with different levels of perks direct from the Festival’s website.
Caption allows creators and fans to meet in a relaxed, social, non-sales focused environment. Instead of stalls, there is a communal sales table run by the organisers, plus talks and workshops running throughout the day. Learn about comics, make friends and swap tips.
Guests include…
The longest-running comics festival in the UK until it went on hiatus in 2017, hence the “Rebirth!” theme, announced guests include, in alphabetical order: Mike Armstrong, creator of Rose Thornhill and the Troll Bridge; Cara Brown, creator of Everything’s Fine; comic artist and writer Al Davison, creator of Muscle Memory and The Spiral Cage; writer and publisher Paul Cornell; writer and artist Darryl Cunningham; illustrator and writer Dominique Duong, creator of The Dog & The Cat; Scratch Comics publisher Shane Chebsey; Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph, the acclaimed South London comic creator whose work has often challenged and inspired its readers; Beck Kubrick (creator of Dead Girls); Broken Frontier publisher Andy Oliver; Shane Melisse, creator of They’re Coming Down The Stairs; Paul B. Rainey, creator of There’s No Time Like the Present; comic artist, book cover maker, illustrator Alison Sampson; Chris Shepherd (creator of Anfield Road); Zara Slattery, creator of Coma; and Lucy Sullivan, creator of Barking; and comic artist Zen K.
Alongside the Festival’s many panels and the valuable networking opportunities it offers with other creators, there are still have a limited number of portfolio reviews with volunteer guests. These will be 20 minute slots throughout the day, with one on one discussions with established creators who have been exactly where you are and have continued to succeed in their own unique ways.
Portfolio Reviews
The review – which is free, with a valid ticket – is informal, without promise of employment, nor bias or agenda – the reviewers aim is to help in whatever ways you’re looking for.
“This is a unique opportunity to spend quality time with professionals. These portfolio reviews slots will fill quickly, so head here to find out how you can register your interest when you buy your ticket, with your contact details, preferred professional and a brief paragraph of what type of advice or help you’re looking for.
The professionals volunteering their time include: Shane Chebsey, Lucy Sullivan, Andy Oliver (Saturday only), Beck Kubrick (Saturday)m Chris Shepherd and Dominique Duong (Saturday only).
If you already have a ticket but want to get a slot, then email the Caption team at captionfest@gmail. com with your ticket reference number, your contact details, preferred professional listed in order of preference and a brief paragraph of what type of advice or help you’re looking for.
• Caption Comic Festival – Rebirth Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th August 2025, Seacourt Hall, 3 Church Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TH | Web: captionfestival.co.uk
• Buy tickets in advance with different levels of perks direct from the Festival’s website
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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.
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