American, Belgian, Russian and Poetry Comics all feature in the latest free edition of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s digital magazine, Between the Lines, #8, available now.
From established voices to new perspectives, each issue of Between the Lines explores the many ways comics can tell stories, challenge ideas and connect us across cultures.
Released ahead of its annual Festival in Kendal next month, edited by John McShane, the latest issue, available to read online here, celebrates the work of Belgian comics artists and publishers very much in focus at the event, and much more.
There have been illustrated versions of poems before: The Waste Land by Julian Peters, Martin Rowson’s parody of Pope’s Dunciad, and various adaptations of Burns’ Tam O’Shanter, but Over The Line by Chrissy Williams and Tom Humberstone, published in 2015, still available as a digital edition direct from Sidekick Books, compared the lines and rhythms of poetry with the strips and rhythms of comics. An interview with Chrissy explores her long held interest in the form, ahead of the release of a new collection of Poetry Comics next year.
“Herriman’s ‘Krazy Kat’ was often compared to poetry, but there’s a lot more out there,” John McShane notes.
A key feature in the issue, noting the Belgian Comics Now exhibition at the Festival, attempts to give a very potted history of the comics scene, past and present, in Belgium, introducing the Festival’s Belgian guests – and going beyond the “usual suspects” of Tintin, Zig et Puce, Blake and Mortimer, Lucky Luke (now in a new live-action mini-series on Disney+), and not forgetting the Smurfs.
As regular downthetubes readers know, James Bacon, interviewed in this issue, is an impressive researcher into the history and controversies of comics in, especially, the Republic of Ireland, but also the various situations in America, the UK, and Europe. He has just followed up his book, The Irish Conflict in Comics with A Sensual Cesspool of Iniquity, Comics and Censorship in 1950s Ireland.
“Both these books are essential reading for all those interested in comics history,” John McShane notes of James works. “You will discover some works you may never have heard of before. Wonderful!”
The beautifully designed issue also explores Korean and Russian comics, and celebrates the 80th anniversary of the National Cartoon Society with a look at A History of American Comics.
“What a roster of famous cartoonists have been members!” John enthuses. “A roll call of American greats include: Otto Soglow, Bob Dunn, Milton Caniff, Ernie Bushmiller, Ham Fisher, Fred Harman, Joe Shuster, Harold Gray, Al Capp, Bud Fisher (said to be the favourite cartoonist of James Joyce), Alex Raymond… Happy Anniversary, NCS!”
Rounding out with some smashing cartoons from LICAF 2026 guest Gemma Correll, check out Between the Lines #8 now.
• The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) will take place in Kendal from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026. Tickets are on sale now
You can view all this year’s Festival events on the Festival’s website at licaf.co.uk, view the programme online here on Issuu, or download a PDF version here
Further details on specific panel times, exhibition hours, and festival ticketing will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit licaf.co.uk
- About the Author
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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.
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