Portsmouth Comic Con announces 2024 Talent Search

By John Freeman on April 18, 2024 • ( 0 )

Portsmouth Comic Con, returning to Portsmouth Guildhall 11th – 12th May 2024, is to host its first ever Portsmouth Comic Con Talent Search, open to anyone attending the event who’s ever wanted to be a comic creator.

Launched earlier today the convention team hope it will prove something a little bit extra for budding comic creators attending this year’s event, whose comics guests include Gary Erskine, John Freeman, Tini Howard, Roger Langridge, Russell Mark Olson, Cian Torney, Russell Walks, Ant Williams and more.

“Since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I’ve always wanted to make comics and I remember how impossible that seemed when I was a kid,” says Comic Con Artistic Lead David Baillie. “One of the best things about comic conventions is that they bring together a whole bunch of people who create comics, all into one place. Any kid walking around Artists Alley will see example after example of people who are making comics, right now, with passion and skill – and doing it really well.”

“But even with all these great examples on Artists Alley, we know it can still seem like an impossible goal, hence this new Talent Search.”

All you need to do to take part in the Portsmouth Comic Con Talent Search – full guidelines here – is draw a single comic page. The page can be any size. It can contain any number of panels you like (as long as it’s more than one! Two panels is fine – oh and don’t worry if you don’t know what a panel is – it’s the square box in a comic that break up moments of time or actions! Don’t worry, everyone has to start somewhere).

WHO CAN ENTER?

Absolutely anyone can enter – any age, any level of talent or experience. You just need to get started right now, and make this one page comic! But you’ll have to do it by midnight on 9th May, just before the convention begins.

Portsmouth Comic Con has cemented its reputation as the biggest and best comic event in the south of England, and we have a huge number of local fans who show up every year. So many of them have mentioned to us how they dream of one day writing and drawing comics – so we’re particularly interested in identifying that local talent, and helping them on their next steps.

OKAY… BUT WHAT DO I MAKE A COMIC ABOUT?

Anything at all! You could write and draw a comic about you, something that happened to you or something that you have imagined. Real life, fantasy, princesses, mermaids, wizards, robots and superheroes – all are welcome.

All that we ask is that you do the work yourself (no AI!) and that you enjoy making the comic.

AND WHAT DO I WIN?

The convention team are looking for new talent that we can encourage and help, and our prize packages reflect those aims.

The winners will receive guest passes for themselves, and their friends or family, for next year’s convention (2025) as well as a pile of Portsmouth Comic Con swag, and signed comics from our superstar Artist Alley guests. But most importantly the convention will organise a one-to-one portfolio review with at least one of our expert guests – writers, artists and editors who have worked for Marvel, DC, Lucasfilm and in the Star Wars Universe.

“We hope that the advice and guidance you’ll get in these one-to-one meetings will help you figure out your next (or first!) step into this wonderful art form and industry,” says David.

• To find out more and how to enter, head to this special Portsmouth Comic Con Talent Search page on the convention’s web site – the deadline is is midnight on 9th May, just before the convention begins)

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. 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.