Britain’s Society of Authors has formed the Comics Creator Network, a member-led online community that aims to empower, connect and support all types of comics creators in the UK.
Founded by creator / graphic designer Woodrow Phoenix and Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, the network aims to offer continuing professional and personal support with an online, member-led community for comics creators to unite over common challenges, share experiences, offer advice and make new connections.
The network is run entirely online, using a range of setups and platforms, with the aim of making it as accessible as possible.
A member-only private Facebook discussion group has already been set up, where you can share tips and advice, as well as updates about your work, or simply connect with other members. The team are currently looking into alternative discussion platforms to help members stay in touch outside Facebook.
If you want to know more, join Hannah, Woodrow writer Alan Cowsill and Nicola Solomon, Chief Executive of the Society of Authors, online on Monday 9th November 2020 (2.00 – 3.00pm) as they discuss the comics scene in the UK as part of the SoA @ Home Festival.
The panel will discuss findings from the recent UK Comics Creator Survey and the impact of the global pandemic on the future of comics. Free to book.
Hannah Berry is a comics creator, cartoonist, writer, illustrator, and current UK Comics Laureate. She is the author of three highly acclaimed and occasionally award-winning graphic novels published by Jonathan Cape, and in 2018 was inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
• Hannah Berry’s website | Instagram | Twitter
Alan Cowsill wrote Stormwatcher for Acme/Eclipse before spending ten years as an editor at Marvel UK working on the US titles and Overkill. He was the launch editor for Panini UK’s Marvel reprint line and wrote the first UK-originated Spider-Man strips for over a decade in Spectacular Spider-Man Adventures (UK). He created the best-selling Jackie Chan Adventuresand the award-winning Classic Marvel Figurine Collection and DC Super Hero Collection for Eaglemoss Publishing and presently edits the Marvel Movie Collection.
• Alan Cowsill’s website | Twitter
Woodrow Phoenix is a writer, artist, and graphic designer based in London and Cambridge. His work has appeared in national UK newspapers, in magazines and comics across Europe, the USA and Japan, and in television projects for Walt Disney and Cartoon Network. His most recent book, Crash Course, was published in August 2020.
Nicola Solomon’s role as Chief Executive of the Society of Authors encompasses protecting authors’ interests in negotiations/disputes with publishers and agents, advising individual authors and campaigning for authors’ rights, as well as for the wider cultural environment. Nicola is an expert in the publishing industry and the associated law, from copyright and defamation, to privacy, data protection and contract.
She is a Deputy District Judge and sits on the board of the International Authors’ Forum and the British Copyright Council and the European Writers Council. At the SoA Nicola liaises with the Management Committee to set and implement strategy and policy and to manage finance. She liaises with external organisations and manages the SoA team of professional staff.
• For more about the CCN visit this page, where you can sign up now get 20% off membership
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.
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