The Macc-Pow team have announced their Esteemed International Guest for this year’s event in June will be James Kochalka, first Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont.
Cartoonist, author, musician, the first cartoonist laureate of Vermont, The American Elf himself, James Kochalka has been a prolific cartoonist since 1998, when he started his American Elf diary comic. Each day, he would document something that happened in his unique style. Funny, poignant and always emotional, the comic ran every day for 15 years documenting births, deaths and life in general.
During that time James also created many comics for children, including Dragon Puncher, Monkey vs. Robot, and Johnny Boo, to name a few. He also worked on SpongeBob Squarepants comics, and a number of titles for adults too. In March 2011 he was declared the “First Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont’ in his home state.
James currently creates Gentle Observation comics each day appearing online, and in print in both the Village Star Revue in New York, and Seven Days in Vermont. His latest series for children takes the Dr. Seuss characters Green Eggs and Ham, and brings them to life in his own unique way in a new set of comics!
In addition to all that, James has been a contributor to GOOF each year, the comic MAC-POW! launched at the festival in 2024. (He’ll be returning for this year’s third issue alongside Lew Stringer, Tor Freeman, Eliza Kinkz, Rachael Smith and more).
“We can’t wait to welcome James to Macclesfield!” event coordinator and cartoonist Marc Jackson enthuses.
“James took part in our first festival back in 2016, via a Skype interview live on the day no less, and getting chance to welcome him in person this is another exciting part of this year’s Macc-Pow!”
MACC-POW!, Macclesfield’s Boutique Comic Art Festival returns for its eleventh year in June, bringing a mighty weekend of comics and comic art to the very heart of Macclesfield, Cheshire. Announced guests are Abby Bulmer, Tor Freeman, Mister Hope, Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett, Sonia Leong, Gary Northfield, Sean Phillips, Emmelline Pidgen, Ahmed Raafat, Jim Stafford, Lew Stringer, Lucy Sullivan and Wocco.
James’ attendance at MACC-POW! Has been made possible by local business support from the following Macclesfield independent businesses: P R Jones Jewellers, Henbury Travel, estates_and_leisure, Amtri Veritas, and Lovelive – Creative Agency.
• Macc-Pow 2026 Friday 26th June – Sunday 28th June 2026, Macclesfield, Cheshire | Latest Information: Facebook | Web: maccpow.co.uk
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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.
Categories: Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, US Comics
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