The London Zine Symposium takes place this weekend at the Rag Factory in East London.

An annual event where people interested in zines, small-press, comics and/ or radical culture can get together, buy or sell zines and share ideas with each other, the event aims to build a stronger DIY network and community by having people meet up, chat, maybe participate in a workshop or two but definitely have a good time.

Started in 2005 and strongly influenced by the Portland Zine Symposium and other radical and small press events that were happening in the USA, organisers say that whilst London had the excellent Anarchist Bookfair every October, there wasn’t something specifically geared towards small press, DIY or handmade publications in London, or the UK.

The symposium has grown each year as those involved with putting it on learn new lessons. More info on previous years can be found in the archive section.

Among the many attendees will be Lil project creator Paul O’Connell, who’ll be selling brand-new hot-off-the-press copies of The Sound of Drowning #14 (pictured): 48 pages of dark comic goodness illustrated by Lawrence Elwick. Also on sale will be copies of Lionfish, another recently completed project by Paul with illustrator Simon Fowler.

“I’ll also have with me the last few copies of the second print run I did of A Muppet Wicker Man, which Fangoria described as ‘Even funnier than Nicolas Cage in the remake’ and Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool.com thought ‘A brilliant work of parody, done to perfection.’ and even Robin Hardy, director of The Wicker Man found (bizarrely!) ‘quite sweet’.”

• The London Zine Symposium, Saturday 29th May 2010, Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage St, London E1 5LJ (off Brick Lane, nearest tube Aldgate East). More details about the Symposium here: www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk

• If you can’t make it on Saturday, Lionfish and the new Sound of Drowning are available to buy online at www.soundofdrowning.com/books.html and you can check out A Muppet Wicker Man online for nothing at issuu.com/soundofdrowning/docs/muppetwickerman

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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.

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Categories: Events

Tags: Lawrence Elwick, Paul O'Connell