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Twentieth Anniversary COMICA event announced, coming soon to London

By John Freeman on February 7, 2023

Comica - London Comics Festival (2023 Banner)

Twenty years ago this year, John Harris Dunning and Paul Gravett co-founded COMICA, the London Comics Festival, at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, or ICA. To mark this anniversary, COMICA is coming back to offer a season of early evening events through March at the stunning Century Club, Soho on Shaftesbury Avenue, in association with VIP Brands and The Lakes International Comic Art Festival.

*Paul Gravett promoting COMICA back in 2013*

The first COMICA took place in 2003, a two week long festival, based at the ICA, or more formally know as the Institute of Contemporary Arts, in The Mall, sponsored by The Guardian. Guests included Charles Burns, Mike Carey, Sophie Crumb, Warren Ellis, Gary Spencer Millidge Joe Sacco, Posy Simmonds, Chris Ware and more.

Although there hasn’t been a COMICA in recent years, a substantial number of comic fans form part of a COMICA Social Club on Facebook, and gather at the regular London Comic Mart at the Royal National Hotel to meet friends old and new, and enjoy conversations, drinks and chips.

Full dates, details and booking links of COMICA 2023 will follow soon – join the COMICA Social Club on Facebook for news | COMICA on Facebook

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.