This year’s Lancaster Comics Day will be bringing some “Roy of the Rovers” moments to Lancaster in June, when special comic guests artist David Sque and writer and editor Barrie Tomlinson recall their time working on Britain’s best-loved and most iconic comic football hero.
Both creators have rarely appeared at comics events, so the Friends of Lancaster Library have achieved somehting of a coup!
Plus there will be a celebration of the life and work of the artist who helped create legends such as Marvel’s Avengers and Fantastic Four, and a very rare appearance by artist Richard Piers Rayner, whose Doctor Who work is highly regarded by fans – and is a dab hand at drawing football scenes, too.
David Sque
Guests are Roy of the Rovers artist David Sque (making a very rare comic event appearance); writer and editor Barrie Tomlinson (Roy of the Rovers, Tiger, Eagle); Richard Piers Rayner (Doctor Who, Road to Perdition – and also rarely seen at comic conventions); writer, artist and publisher Tim Perkins (creator of the stunning series Worlds End, finally dragged from his lair after three years of trying); Nickolas Brokenshire (fab artist on Amelia Cole and Once and Future Queen); writer and publisher Tom Ward, whose Merrick the Sensational Elephantman , created with artist Luke Parker, has been a publishing sensation (and a fantastic comic); fantasy author A.S. Chambers; and publisher Michael Barrett, author of the graphic novel Preston North End: Rise of the Invincibles.
The event will feature a range of panels, with a panel featuring David Sque and Barrie Tomlinson alongside Richard Piers Rayner, who was Artist in Residence at Middlesbrough FC for 16 years, and wrote and illustrated Middlesbrough FC: the Unseen History, talking Roy of the Rovers, football comics and more.
Artist and publisher Tim Perkins, artist Nick Brokenshire and comics editor and writer John Freeman will be happily celebrating the work of US comic creator and legend Jack Kirby, whose centenary is in August; there will also be a comics publishing panel with Tim, Tom Ward, Michael Barrett and A.S. Chambers – find out more about the ways to get your comic out there, including tips on self publishing, running a crowd funder, digital publishing and more; and the day will round out with Richard back on stage talking to John about his work on various Doctor Who comics, including Evening’s Empire, the Seventh Doctor written by Andrew Cartmel, recently released as a graphic album featuring some all-new pages.
Alongside the panels many local comic creators will have stalls selling their comics on the Day; the Games Room run by Sam Phillips and House Lancaster Gaming returns, and of course how could there not be plenty of mouth-watering Cosmic Comic Cake thanks to Katie White?
Cosplayers and kids are welcome.
• Lancaster Comics Day 11.00 – 5.00 Sunday 11th June Lancaster Library. Tickets £5 adult, £2 concessions (inc. Students). Web: lancastercomicsday.uk | View the Day’s programme here | Find Lancaster Comics Day on Facebook | Follow Lancaster Comics Day on Twitter @LancasterComics
Lancaster Comics Day art by Nick Miller.
(All guests appearance subject to work commitments)
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.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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