The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the addition of Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of Scott Pilgrim and the bestselling graphic novel, Seconds, to its 2016 line-up.
Making an exclusive UK appearance at the event, Bryan will join previously-announced guests Joe Kelly and 2000AD‘s Mick McMahon for this year’s Festival taking place in Kendal (14th-16th October).
Bryan Lee O’Malley is a Canadian cartoonist who created the “Scott Pilgrim” series, which inspired the cult classic film Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (directed by Edgar Wright). His most recent book is the Eisner-nominated, New York Times-bestselling Seconds.
He’s currently writing comic book series Snotgirl, which will be published by Image Comics, while working on his next major graphic novel. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
“We’re thrilled Bryan is joining us this year,” enthuses Festival Director Julie Tait. “It’s a real coup for us and we think his appearance will excite and involve a whole new audience from both the comic art world and beyond.”
Many more international and British comic creators will be announced over the coming weeks, joining a host of writers, artists, publishers and retailers for a long weekend in the Lakes crammed with panels, exhibitions, children’s events and other activities. The town will be entirely given over to comics, with business owners lining up to support the Festival’s famous “Windows Trail”, giving over store front space to display comics art created by artists and local groups and school children.
The October weekend is just one of a number of comics projects from the Festival on its way this year, with the world premiere performance of Black Dog – the Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean already announced, taking place at Kendal Town Hall on 28th May.
The fourth Lakes International Comic Art Festival will run from 14-16 October 2016 in Kendal, Cumbria, celebrating great comic art from across the world. It is the only one of its kind in the UK taking over the whole town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, for a weekend.
The festival features comic artists from around the world, as well as performance, film, exhibitions, comic trails, workshops, master classes, live drawing and independent retailers and publishers. The events programme is bursting with opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the leading comic artists and writers from across the world – see them draw, talk about their work and bring comics to life.
A free Family Zone provides drop-in activities for all ages, alongside a series of fantastic workshops for kids and teenagers. The Lakes International Comic Art Festival brings the town together for a weekend to celebrate the amazing world of comic art.
Exhibitors in the Comics Clock Tower “marketplace” for 2016 include – to name but a few! – Widdershins creator Kate Ashwin, the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain, Italian illustrator and cartoonist Silvia Carrus, Buzzfeed illustrator James Chapman, Disconnected Press, Forbidden Planet, the writer and artist on Rick and Morty Sarah Graley, Gareth A. Hopkins, creator of the increasingly experimental comic The Intercorstal, retailer Page 45, graphic designer and illustrator Simon Russell, Soaring Penguin and independent publisher and writer Tom Ward.
• Lakes International Comic Art Festival: www.comicartfestival.com | Find the Lakes International Comic Art Festival on Facebook | Follow the Festival on Twitter @comicartfest
• Bryan Lee O’Malley Official Site: http://radiomaru.tumblr.com | Follow Bryan Lee O’Malley on Twitter @radiomar
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.
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