“One thing I’ve noticed over the last couple of years is that the creators doing portfolio reviews at the 2000AD table [at the Bristol Comics festival] at least are very encouraging to new people probably because a lot of them were on the other side of the table until quite recently. In other words, the younger generation of pros know exactly what you’re going through hawking your portfolio around so they are often sympathetic and willing to give advice.”
Pete Ashton from bugpowder.com, ostensibly a resource for the UK small press but there’s much more on the site besides!
• You might also like to take a look at this guidance on what you should – and shouldn’t – include in your art portfolio when you’re showing it around at comic conventions. You might also like to take a look at my Editor’s View on what we like to see in Portfolios; and more advice here from Marcia Allas and Matt Brooker
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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.
Categories: Creating Comics, Features
The Origins of newspaper strip “Annie Droid” by Ian Gibson and Peter Richardson 
In His Own Words: Carlos Ezquerra on his Early Judge Dredd designs 
The Wonder of Roy Wilson, comic artist, and his meticulous approach to creating comics 
Comic Character Spotlight: Billy Bunter