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War Stories – How Do We Tell Them? Free comic workshops offered across Scotland

By John Freeman on August 10, 2023 • ( 1 )

Researcher and comics enthusiast Matin Moors is hosting a series of free “War Stories – How Do We Tell Them?” workshops across Scotland this month, organised by Helm Arts, all taking place in various comic shops, the first at Castle Comics in Cumbernauld this Saturday, 12th August.

*Detail from Commando No. 463, “Midnight Menace”, art by Jordi Bosch Penalva, and Captain America #1, art by Jack Kirby*

For some shops, such as Little Shop of Heroes in Dunfermline, this is their first creating comics workshop event – the first in a planned series.

Matin Moors is offering a free, two hour creative workshop where participants explore this question whilst creating their own comic strip. All materials will be provided, but booking for these workshops is essential.

Please note, these workshops are available to those aged 14 and over only.

“These events are free, accessible to all and doesn’t need you to be an expert in drawing,” says Matin, an undergraduate student and Laidlaw scholar who is also investigating how popular anime and animated shows and manga and comics influence young people’s habits of visualising war and peace. “The point of the workshop is to explore war stories that are told in comics, films and games.”

You can find booking details for all the workshops here on EventBrite – or follow the individual links below

• WAR STORIES – How do we tell them? A creative workshop | 3.00 – 5.00pm Saturday 12th August 2023 Castle Comics, Cumbernauld | Free

• WAR STORIES – How do we tell them? A creative workshop | 3.00 – 5.00pm Monday 14th August 2023 Little Shop of Heroes, Dunfermline | Free

• WAR STORIES – How do we tell them? A creative workshop | 4.00 – 6.00pm Friday 25th August 2023 Geek Retreat, Glasgow | Free

• WAR STORIES – How do we tell them? A creative workshop | 3.00 – 5.00pm Saturday 26th August 2023 Asylum Books and Games, Aberdeen | Free

• WAR STORIES – How do we tell them? A creative workshop | 3.00 – 5.00pm Sunday 3rd September 2023 Deadline Comics, Edinburgh | Free

War Stories - How Do We Tell Them? (2023 Workshops by Helm Arts)

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.