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Sequential art in the spotlight in new online event series from Lakes International Comic Art Festival and Oxford Comics Network

By John Freeman on December 18, 2023

Lakes International Comic Art Festival has partnered with the Oxford Comics Network 2024 Montage

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has partnered with the Oxford Comics Network, which was first devised and funded by LICAF Chair, Peter Kessler, for a new season of free online events from January 2024, delving once again into the mysteries of sequential art.

LICAF and the OCN will be hosting four online talks from respected academics across the world of comics. The upcoming sessions (with UK times) are:

· Adult to Child Violence in British Comics of the 1970s, presented by Dr Robert Hagan (Manchester Metropolitan University) – 5.00pm Tuesday 30th January 2024

· Graphic Depictions of New Motherhood, presented by Dorothee Marx MA (Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel) – 5.00pm Tuesday 6th February 2024

· Chris Ware: Art, Empathy and Connection presented by Professor Martha Kuhlman (Bryant University, Rhode Island) – 5.00pm Tuesday 13th February 2024

· How Comics Travel: Translation, Publication, Radical Literacies (or possibly another topic), presented by Kate Kelp-Stebbins (Director, Comics Studies Program, University of Oregon) – 5.00pm Tuesday 5th March 2024

All the events are free, hosted online, and include both a lecture and opportunities for questions and discussion.

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your interest in comics, you’re welcome to join. The 5.00pm UK start means it’s a lunchtime treat in New York, a book at bedtime in Delhi, and a 9.00am pre-office mental workout in Los Angeles.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) is dedicated to the development of comics in literacy, environmentalism and international culture, and also runs an in-person annual academic festival, Comics Up Close, returning Wednesday 21st February, taking place at Sheffield Hallam University.

• All the events for the Oxford Comics Network: January – March 2024 series are free, but booking is essential, via EventBrite

• The Comics Up Close conference takes place on Wednesday 21st February 2024 at Sheffield Hallam University | Web: gallery.shu.ac.uk/event/origin-stories/

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.