ComicPopUp Brighton is a new event happening on Saturday 13th May 2017, a one-day small-press/art comics shop that’s part of the Brighton Artists Open House Festival.
Selling comics to comics readers and a whole new audience in a family-friendly pizza pub, with all sales money going to the creators, its a great idea where creators don’t even need to book a table – it’s a pop-up shop where the organisers sell your comics for you, in much the same way that the annual Caption convention has just one sales stand or how Paul Gravett and Peter Stanbury used to run “Fast Fiction” back in the 1980s.
The event offers space to hang out and sketch, meet the public – and creators also have the option to donate a copy of their work to Brighton’s central library if they choose.
The project is the brain child of comics creator Simon Russell and others – and, so far, confirmed creators there on the day are Rachael Ball, Andrew Barron, Tim Bird, Warwick Johnson Cadwell, Richy K. Chandler, Dead Canary Comics, Joe Decie, Fraser Geesin, Lucy Hallam, Jaime Huxtable, Marc Jackson, Rob Jackson, Mad Robot Comics (Matt Hardy and Ed Bentley), Michi Mathias, Van Nim, Paul O’Connell, James Parsons, Ed Pinsent, Paul Rainey, Karen Rubins, Paul Shinn, Martin Simpson, Zara Slattery, Inko Ai Takita, Natalie Kay-Thatcher, Myfanwy Tristram and Ian Williams ‘The Bad Doctor’.
|This is a pilot project to see if we can find ways for comic artists to sell their work outside of the usual cons,” Simon explains, “where they have to travel, book a table, give up a whole day and sell mostly to other comic artists.
“In this case we are hoping to get a sizeable number of families trekking round Brighton looking to buy arts and crafts and probably despairing of the the venues that ask £250 for a picture of a beach hut made out of lollipop sticks (I’ve seen those offered).
“Zara and Inko will both be sketching on the day,” he continues. “Great original art made before your very eyes!Anybody who wants to plan similar efforts for an hour or more is more than welcome.
“I’m also working with a local teenager comic reader with learning difficulties to help him turn his proto-comic into a free how-to make comics as a giveaway free with other purchases on the day.”
“Back issue dealer Lorne Brown has also agreed to supply a box of pocket-money comics suitable for young children, so you can buy some reading matter for all the family to enjoy over a pizza.
“The one thing I have to keep telling people is they don’t need to attend but are very welcome. There are no tables to book – it’s a shop set-up in a pub where we sell everyone’s work – but there will be a couple of communal spaces where people can meet-n-greet/sketch etc. And it’s in a pub!”
• Other activities for the day are in the planning stage. For all the latest details visit www.facebook.com/comicpopup
• ComicPopUp Brighton The Hanover, Queens Park Road, Brighton BN2 9ZB (buses 18, 21 and 23 stop outside)FREE entry maximum £5 joining fee for creators to cover cost of joining the Open Houses listing
• Brighton Artists Open House Festival: aoh.org.uk
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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, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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