The Kendal-based Lakes International Comic Art Festival (18th -20th October) continues to break new ground for UK comic events with the news that the event is to have its own beer, with branding supplied by Furry Freak Brothers creator Gilbert Shelton.

Tall Toad Golden Ale will be on sale as a limited edition beer and of course people can try to get the labels/bottles signed by Gilbert himself, who will be promoting the launch of the fabulous Wonder Warthog collection that should be available at the event from Knockabout Comics.

The special beer is the result of a cunning partnership between the Festival and the local award-winning Hawkshead Brewery, whose Managing Director Alex Brodie is, we gather, something of a Furry Freak Brothers fan.

The Brewery recently won a Great Taste Award, organised by the Guild of Fine Food for its latest bottled beer, Windermere Pale, even before it went on sale, so we’re definitely looking forward to sampling ‘Tall Toad’ at the Festival.

The full programme is available to view online here on the Festivals’s web site, with a line up that includes guests such as Bryan Talbot (who has designed a comic map of the town, below), Joe Sacco, Andy Diggle (which I’ll be moderating), the Viz team, Steve Bell, Posy Simmonds and an incredible 2000AD event. Tickets for all of these events are on sale now and selling fast!

Comic Map of Kendal by Bryan Talbot for the Lakes International Comic Festival 2013

The Festival kicks off on Friday 18th October and runs until teatime on Sunday 20th. The programme features more than 50 events of different styles and scales including meet the creators (presentations, live drawings and interviews), panel discussions and a few quirky events too. Alongside this there will be a film programme, exhibitions, workshops, our version of a marketplace/artists’ alley and a dedicated kids’ zone and more.

• Purchase tickets online at The Brewery Arts Centre or by telephone Box Office: 01539 725 133 or in person in advance. Events are recommended for age 12+ (unless otherwise stated), younger people will enjoy the Family Zone events

• Download/print out this handy PDF document of each page of events in a grid. It will help you plan your visit and book events

John Freeman

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. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek 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.

Categories: downthetubes Comics News, Events, Featured News

Tags: Andy Diggle, Bryan Talbot, Gilbert Shelton, Hawkshead Brewery, Joe Sacco, Knockabout Comics, Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Tall Toad Golden Ale