Shojo (sometimes spelt Shoujo or Shoujou) means girl in Japanese, but that doesn’t mean Shojo comics can be enjoyed only by girls. In Britain and, increasingly, Japan, shojo’s stories are enjoyed by men as well. Here are five shojo comics… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2015
Metaphrog Gains New Funding From Creative Scotland
In these days of contracting budgets for the arts it is good to report that Glasgow based couple John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, better known as Metaphrog, have been awarded £35,000 by Creative Scotland to research, develop, produce and promote their graphic… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Karrie Fransman, creator of “Death of the Artist”
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
Lakes Festival confirms Canadian comic guest line-up, announces “Canada Lodge” venue
The full line-up of Canadian creators at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October) is now confirmed and includes Kate Beaton, Darwyn Cooke and Kathryn and Stuart Immonen – who will be joining many others in the dedicated Canadian Comics Lodge at The Shakespeare… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Canadian Comic Creator Seth
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
Exploring Shojo Manga, the World of Japanese Girls’ Comics
Coming up in October is a great exhibition that’s part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival – the first major exhibition of Japanese shojo (girls’) manga in the UK in association with Japan’s Kyoto International Manga Museum. The exhibition’s aim is to… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Brings Comic Art to the High Street
Kendal’s high street will again be taken over by comics in October in the run up the third Lakes International Comic Art Festival, complemented by exhibitions of art by Andy Poyiadgi and Mike Medaglia. The Lakes International Comic Art Festival… Read More ›
Mind Probes At The Ready! Presenters Revealed for Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The presenters selected to wield the mind probes at year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th October 2015) have been announced, and include some top names in the world of British comics journalism and academia, including… Read More ›
New Lakes Festival Guests: The Yanks Are Coming!
Two top US comics creators have joined the already impressive international line-up announced for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October. From Bambi to Bart Simpson and Mowgli to Moe, Bill Morrison has drawn them all, and almost everything in between. For… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: Shojo artist Inko Ai Takita
Continuing our spotlights of the guests attending the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October 2015, we’re profiling Brighton-based Shojo artist Inko. Inko is Brighton-based Japanese manga artist actively producing manga cartoons, illustrations, and picture books. She grew up in Kyoto, a very traditional and arty… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus: Shojo artist Akiko Hatsu
Here’s the first of our spotlights on the guests attending the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October 2015, starting with internationally-acclaimed Shojo artist Akiko Hatsu. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, Akiko Hatsu worked as assistant to her older sister, the manga… Read More ›