Hellboy set to haunt Kendal, Dungeons & Dragons delights revealed at Lakes Festival

Young Hellboy by Duncan FegredoWith little over a month to go before this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (11th – 13th October 2019) in Kendal, work is proceeding apace on a number of exhibitions at the event, These will include an exclusive take on the Hellboy comics of Duncan Fegredo, the previously-announced Smurfs and Tom of Finland exhibitions and more.

A special exhibition-related event will be “Next Frame“, a rare opportunity to see eight international artists respond to work in the town’s prestigious Abbot Hall Gallery collection.

Artists who include Britain’s Charlie Adlard, Doug Braithwaite and Italy’s Paolo Baclieri, Canada’s Julie Rocheleau and Marine Schneider from Belgium will take residence in the Gallery for a few hours or more and respond to a work from the collection by creating what they think could be the “next frame” i.e. what happens next…

Each artist will be given a selection of works from the gallery collection in advance to choose from and, once finished, the next frame will be displayed alongside the original for at least one week after the Festival.

Dungeons and Dragons - 1980s ArtAlongside its exhibitions, some running only for the Festival weekend, others longer, the Festival has also announced a celebration of the hugely influential roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons, today published by Wizards of the Coast, with Becky Cloonan (Gotham Academy), Andy Diggle (Green Arrow), Simon Spurrier (Coda, Labyrinth).

Chris Thompson will host a discussion with the three creators who are addicted to D&D, and a great line up of other events is also planned, including a special short fantasy RPG campaign that will be run in the Brewery Arts Centre on Saturday and Sunday, produced especially for the event, written by Andy Diggle, with all proceeds of sales of the campaign going to the Festival’s partner charity, OCD Action.

“”We are really excited to be hosting an RPG room at LICAF this year,” enthuses ‘Dungeon Room’ co-organiser Katie White, who’s working with Phil Welch on this aspect of the Festival. “There are so many crossovers between the RPG and comics world, from storytelling, character creation and of course the amazing artwork.

“There has been a huge rise in popularity for Fantasy RPG games recently, and many comics reflect this. We have found some amazing exhibitors who all have art and comics inspired by Fantasy RPG, and will be running some fantastic activities throughout the weekend!”

The family-friendly Festival offering a full weekend of wonderful events, activities and workshops for all ages, many of them free, would, of course, not be the popular event it has become since its launch in 2013 without its Family Zone activities. Throughout the Festival there will comics adventures for kids of all ages – and the Westmorland Shopping Centre will again be transformed into The Family Zone for the weekend.

Look out for events headed up by festival favourites Robert Deas, Ilya and Marc Jackson, and a “Superhero Challenge” organised by Sarita Robinson and Nicky Danino challenging kids to test their puzzle solving abilities in a number of fiendish brain-teasers to see if they have what it takes to be a superhero.

Promising kick-ass superheroes, future worlds, fantastical creatures, zombies, crime fighters, politics, satire, documentary, comedy, manga and much more, the full Festival programme is available to read online and as a downloadable PDF. Tickets are on sale now!

• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Kendal at various venues across the town 11th – 13th October 2019 | Buy Tickets | View the full Festival programme online or grab the Festival Guide as a free PDF download

• Tickets for the 2019 Festival are on Sale Now at www.comicartfestival.com/buy-tickets

• Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast

• Want to receive news about the Lakes International Comic Art Festival? Then sign up for their newsletter now 

THE EXHIBITIONS

FROM THE DEPTHS: THE HELLBOY COMICS OF DUNCAN FEGREDO

LICAF presents From the Depths, a celebration of the acclaimed Hellboy artwork of Duncan Fegredo.

This exhibition will delve into Fegredo’s working techniques and uncover how images are summoned from the written script.   Duncan’s work on the latest Hellboy title, Hellboy: The Beast of Vargu will be explored in fascinating detail and the exhibition will also celebrate The Midnight Circus, the Hellboy comic of which Duncan is most proud; along with a host of other material from his own collection.

Wildman Street Gallery,  Kendal College Campus, Free
21st September – 13th October 2019 | Wednesday – Saturday, 11.00am – 4.00pm Also Open: Tuesday 8th October 11.00am – 4.00pm;  Sunday 13th October 11.00am – 4.00pm

The Ground Benath Our Feet by Edward TaylorBELOW THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET – EDWARD TAYLOR EXHIBITION

This is an exhibition of Edward Taylor’s artwork from Godzilla vs the Fatberg, his LICAF-commissioned comic and Kamishibai (Japanese paper theatre).

Deep in his underground cavern, Godzilla attempts to hibernate. But there’s a problem; he’s not the only one below ground.

The Chinese Terracotta Army, King Arthur’s Knights of the Templar, fatbergs, rivers of oil, rivers of lava, and even the living dead all disturb his slumber.

Edward Taylor is best known for his work with the renowned street theatre company, Whalley Range All Stars.

This exhibition relates to Edward’s Kamishibai (Japanese paper theatre) show Godzilla v. The Fatberg that will be presented during LICAF 2019. A publication related to the exhibition will be on sale at the Brewery Box Office.

The Intro, Brewery Arts Centre
10.00am – 6.00pm 27th September – 2nd November  Free

Art from Camping by Tom of FinlandLET’S GO CAMPING WITH TOM OF FINLAND

An exciting and unique exhibition for LICAF 2019… ‘Let’s Go Camping with Tom of Finland’ in association with the Tom of Finland Foundation.

“My aim is not to create an ideal but to draw beautiful men who love each other and are proud of it.”

LICAF is proud to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tom of Finland; the world’s best loved queer artist, comics creator and gay icon.

From the 1940s Tom pushed the boundaries of gay erotic art, creating a new type of comic that inspired a generation of gay men to celebrate their sexuality.

Let’s Go Camping with Tom of Finland has been curated with the Tom of Finland Foundation and Cross Lane Projects and charts his career, including the famous Kake comics and some of the less well-known titles, including Camping and soccer comic, Dick.

The exhibition will also explore the work of artists inspired by Tom of Finland, including renowned artist, Michael Kirwan.

This is a unique exhibition and part of the official Tom of Finland Centenary celebrations, supported by the Finnish Institute.

LICAF has produced a series of fine art prints and a unique publication featuring an entire reprint of Tom’s football comic, Dick, to accompany the exhibition.

These have been created in partnership with the Tom of Finland Foundation, LICAF and Cross Lane Projects and support the work of all three organisations.

Let’s Go Camping with Tom of Finland includes frank and explicit erotic content and admission is restricted to those aged 18 or over.

In partnership with the Tom of Finland Foundation, Cross Lane Projects and the Finnish Institute.

Cross Lane Projects, Cross Lane, Kendal
Wednesday To Saturday, 12 – 6.00pm28th September – 19th October, apart From 10th – 13th October, 10am – 6pm | Free Entry Strictly 18+

The Smurfs Fireworks

THE SMURFS AT 60

Celebrate one of the world’s most enduring comic creations, The Smurfs, as they reach 60.

Created as incidental characters in a comic set in the Middle Ages by Belgian creator Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo, for the magazine Spirou, these endearing blue imps are now known across the globe.

This amazing exhibition, supported by Wallonie-Bruxelles International charts the rise of the Smurfs to worldwide popularity and includes games, puzzles and activities that will keep children and their grown-ups very happy!

COME AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE LAND OF THE SMURFS!

In partnership with WBI | The Smurfs online: www.smurf.com

Sugar Store Gallery, Brewery Arts Centre
4th October – 2nd November, Monday & Tuesday 10am – 5.30pm, Wednesday – Saturday 10am – 10pm, Sunday 12am – 5.30pm | Free

Darren Cullen - It Has To Get Worse Before it Gets Worse“”ARTIST”” EXHIBITION BY DARREN CULLEN

Described by Conservative MP Johnny Mercer as a “Britain-hating anarchist who knows the value of nothing”, Darren Cullen brings his satirical, bitterly funny exhibition, “”Artist””, to LICAF 2019.

The show explores subjects as diverse as the Iraq War, the UK police and of course the Daily Mail.

Originally from Leeds and now based in London where he runs WAR Gallery, a studio/gallery of political and comic art, Darren is perhaps best known for his Pocket Money Loans installation at Banksy’s Dismaland, winning a legal dispute with Shell over his anti-Shell artwork, and the Action Man: Battlefield Casualties toys and short film.

In 2018 he released the Mini Daily Mail, a hand-drawn satirical scale-model of what he calls “Britain’s angriest and horniest newspaper.”

The Warehouse, Brewery Arts Centre
10.00am – 6.00pm 10th – 13th October | Free

• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Kendal at various venues across the town 11th – 13th October 2019 | Buy Tickets | View the full Festival programme online or grab the Festival Gudie as a free PDF download

• Tickets for the 2019 Festival are on Sale Now at www.comicartfestival.com/buy-tickets

• Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast

• Want to receive news about the Lakes International Comic Art Festival? Then sign up for their newsletter now 



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