In Review: Macc-Pow 2018

Macc-Pow 2018 - Photo: Richard Buck

Photo: Richard Buck

Ian Loxam, co-host of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, reports on the latest annual comic event in Macclesfield, organised by comic creator Marc Jackson…

Macc-Pow 2018. Photo courtesy Ian Loxam

Photo courtesy Ian Loxam

Macc-Pow is a small comic convention held in Macclesfield. Currently on its third year, it’s run by a small team, headed up by comic creator Marc Jackson.

He throws all his enthusiasm into making it a day to remember for comic fans and newcomers alike. We went down to the event to cover the day for the Podcast and for Nikki Bates to have her first go at selling her first comic Anxiety Me [reviewed here – Ed.] to the public behind a table.

The event is held in Macclesfield town hall, which is a lovely venue itself. The main event is held in a bug room with many creators selling their comics.

Macc-Pow 2018. Photo courtesy Ian Loxam

Photo courtesy Ian Loxam

The first thing you see is that it is mainly comic creators and only one stand with Funko Pops, which was great. There was a great mix of established and new creators too, including artist Nick Brokenshire,  Psycho Gran creator and Titan Comics editor David Leach and TOXIC, Beano and Doctor Who cartoonist Lew Stringer, Colin Mathieson of Accent UK, and publisher and cartoonist Joe Matthews.

Other creators at the event included Beano artist Laura Howell, Jessica Kemp, editor of Missed Deadline, Emmeline Pidgen, creator of “Nona the Ninth” for Goof!, and Dan Whitehead, writer/editor of Ella Upgraded and Hex Loader.

Colin Matthieson of A cent Press. Photo: Richard Buck

Colin Matthieson of Accent Press. Photo: Richard Buck

Lew Stringer. Photo: Richard Buck

Lew Stringer. Photo: Richard Buck

Laura Howell. Photo: Richard Buck

Laura Howell. Photo: Richard Buck

Marc Jackson. Photo: Richard Buck

Marc Jackson. Photo: Richard Buck

Joe Matthews. Photo: Richard Buck

Joe Matthews. Photo: Richard Buck

Eleanor Crewes. Photo: Richard Buck

Eleanor Crewes. Photo: Richard Buck

David Leach. Photo: Richard Buck

David Leach. Photo: Richard Buck

Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates. Photo: Richard Buck

Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates. Photo: Richard Buck

There was also another room which Marc had setup to play cartoons as well as the odd panel. I particularly liked the playing of episode one of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the original Transformers movie.

Nikki Bates is very pleased with this convention sketch, courtesy of Nick Brokenshire

Nikki Bates is very pleased with this convention sketch, courtesy of Nick Brokenshire

Nikki was stood behind a table for most of the con and had some great chats about comics with some creators and customers and sold a fair few comics. It was great to see so many welcoming people, all happy to talk about comics and the convention.

If I was to have a single gripe it would be the lack of space behind the table but that’s a small winge!

Marc was also promoting the new online comic Goof! at the show, which looks great fun and is available now.

Overall, we had a great day and the event keeps growing. It’s one to add to the diary for sure and we both look forward to next year.

Hear interviews from the event on Episode 31 of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast here

• Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast: www.comicartpodcast.uk | Twitter: @comicartfestpod | Facebook: @ComicArtPodcast | Instagram: @ComicArtPodcast

Nikki Bates recounts her experience at Macc-Pow on her own blog here

Lew Stringer has plenty of pictures from the event here on his Blimey! Blog

• Buy Goof! Comic from www.goofcomic.co.uk

More pictures from Macc-Pow 3 over on the event’s Facebook Page



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