Sad news reached us a few days ago that British Comics Legend Ian Kennedy has left us which has hit many of us hard. Ian's distinctive art style was a major part of our childhood, decorating so many of our favourite comic covers and annuals, Commando, Victor, Warlord and much, much more.
He achieved so much and I really can't do justice to his 70+ year career here, but see John Freeman's Down The Tubes respectful article for a wee taster and several moving tributes.
Ian was one of my - and so many others - childhood art inspirations and it was pure delight when, late in life he cautiously entered the world of modern comic conventions, allowing me and so many others to meet and thank him for the inspiration he'd provided.
I was fortunate enough to meet him at his first 'English' event in Birmingham in 2015, arranged and invited by my good friend, and fellow Kennedy fan, Steve Tanner - see the photographic evidence below! Ian was quite taken aback by the warm reception he received from attendess and happily signed and chatted with everyone with modesty, humilty and a smile.
We struck up a casual friendship, being as we were both from the North-East of Scotland, which to my joy led to many happy chats at subsquent conventions and events as Ian embraced his new found 'celebrity'. I was even lucky enough to pop into his home and studio a couple of times which was beyond a thrill, meeting his wife, Gladys, who makes a lovely soup.
I could happily share another dozen or so memories and it's clear from reading everyone's tributes, so could many others. It's so rare that a talented artist genuinely meant so much to so many people and he will be greatly missed.
I may share more later but in the meantime here's just a small sample of his exceptional art.
Despite the current strange times we're in, it's been heartening to see respects and tributes paid to the wartime generation who clearly suffered way more than we can imagine and still made it through, usually smiling.
I'm from a younger generation who thankfully never knew war or it's effects first-hand but it has of course been an ever present over our lifes through Remembrance, Momuments and tributes. Funnily enough much of the comics I love which entertained me as a child and still inspire me as an adult were born out of conflict and the Second World War in particular.
The Victor, The Hotspur, Battle, Wizard, Warlord and of course Commando were among the most popular, all relaying heroic tales of derring do to an eager readership both immediately after the war, and through subsquent generations. With modern perspective you do wonder perhaps why these were (and to some extent remain) so popular when the generation who had actually fought and lived the experience themselves largely rarely spoke about it. Maybe it was just such an overwhelming event that it was a way for, mainly, children to understand and process events without directly having to discuss it?
Who knows but reading those comics allowed me to gain a respect for those who had fought and learn a little of the tragic events which impacted the whole world in a way we've thankfully never seen, so it's more than appropriate that we pause to reflect and provide our own thanks.
To finish the 2014 nostalgia, here's my favourite comics & graphic novels from last year. I made it too late to contribute to Forbidden Planet's 'Best Of' articles where I was one of many featured last year, so here's a short summary of what stood out to me;
COMMANDO: Great War
Stories by George Low & Keith Page, covers by Ian Kennedy
This year, I’ve eagerly
followed D C Thomson’s longstanding title as it ambitiously embarked on a
monthly tribute to the range of ordinary characters caught up in the
extraordinary events of The Great War. The pocket sized Commando format is
perfectly suited to these tales across the many theatres of war often
highlighting lessor know combatants and conflicts. The stories are necessary
stand-alone but, through cameos, contrast the idealistic enlistment dreams of a
young newspaper boy with the experiences of those already at war. Although the
tales are not the graphic accounts of a Charley’s
War or a White Death (see below),
they are no less effective in bringing the stories of ordinary soldiers to a
wider newsstand audience and that should be praised. Expertly written and illustrated
by George Low and Keith Page behind exceptional new Ian Kennedy covers these
are well worth seeking out and hopefully will be collected on the series
conclusion.
WHITE DEATH by Robbie Morrison
and Charlie Adlard
Sticking with the First
World War, this is the recent Image Comics re-release of the indie classic to
tie in with the war’s centenary. Set in 1916 on the Italian Trentino mountain
range it is unflinching in its portrayal of those soldiers caught up in the
desperation of war. The futility of conflict is expertly played out through the
eyes of a small group of Italian soldiers as their struggles with the enemy and
their nihilist commander are dwarfed by the dangerous mountain terrain. The
quieter moments really stand out with carefully chosen dialogue and images
reflecting the horror of the soldiers experiences without being preachy. Not an
easy read for sure but an important one, well deserving of its hardcover
re-release from two of the UK’s leading talents.
MULP: Sceptre of the Sun
#1 by Matt Gibbs and Sara Dunkerton
An absolute delight and a
charming contrast to not only First World War stories but all other comics I’ve
encountered this year. An anthropomorphic pulp adventure full of mice, mystery
and exotic locations, what’s not to like! In the best adventure traditions,
it’s rollicking fun with an Indiana Jones vibe as our heroes meet by an
(alternative) Egyptian archaeological dig where their finds are under dangerous
threat from spies working for a mysterious benefactor. Matt Gibbs clever and
quick moving script allows Sara Dunkerton plenty of opportunity to show off her
artistic skills with many dynamic locations and action scenes. As a fun first
issue from two new creators this promises to be the start of something special.
Honourable mentions to Letty Wilson's delightful WEIRD MOOSE which I witnessed being created at Glasgow Comic-Con,
Top Shelf’s authentic American Civil Rights Movement book, MARCH, Jonathan Cape's SALLY HEATHCOTE: SUFFRAGETTE, Images Comics
entertaining MANIFEST DESTINY and enjoyable indies BLACK FEATHER FALLS and HALF
HANGED MacNAGHTEN from Soaring Penguin and Uproar Comics respectively.
Dan's surprised that Colin's much shorter in real life!
Aye, Aye fit like? Oops sorry gone 'all Doric' after being home for the Dundee Comics Expo - that's what happens when Gentleman Dave isn't around with his Earl Grey tea!
Anyway I'm glad to report that the Dundee Comic Expo was a good one with decent sales for Accent UK, actually selling more books than the year before so quite happy. This may have been down to my son Adam's keen promotional skills as he joined me on the table for the first time since last year's amazing Glasgow MCM, but probably was more to do with the joint manga/anime event taking place across the quadrant, Dee-Con, which attracted big crowds which were shared across both venues.
A glimpse of the Dee-Con crowd after the queue had gone down!
Actually next to the beast that was Dee-Con, the Comic Expo was a modest affair with less exhibitors than the year before and no 'big' comic names in the way that Bryan Talbot, David Lloyd, Gary Erskine (and others) had previously provided. There wasn't a huge attendance but rather a steady flow of folk which made for a nice relaxed stream of browsers and buyers. Many were new to Accent UK but there were also returning readers, so the show was great value to us in showcasing our books north of the Border.
The obligatory 'stand by your table' picture!
The University of Dundee's Chris Murray and Phil Vaughan deserve great praise in organising and setting up the Comics Expo. They ensured that the cream of Scotland's independent comic creators were there in abundance including Black Hearted Press, Planet Jimbot, Rough Cut Comics and Team Girl Comics alongside D C Thomson's Commando and Glasgow's Plan B shop and others. It's a shame that their fine programme of talks and panels wasn't better attended but that was probably just a symptom of the casual flow of visitors into the expo making things seem a little sparse at times.
Jim Alexander holding fort
Being based 'doon sooth' I'm still finding my way round the Scottish comics scene so was pleased to have time to chat to many of the other exhibitors especially the likes of Jim Alexander who I've met a few times now and like me had his son there to help him out!
Colin and Treehouse Comic's Andy Herd do a bit of neighbourly sketching
Our table neighbours were new to me, Treehouse Comics, a recently established Dundee based collective who have already released their second anthology title, called of course Treehouse issue 2! They were a fine friendly bunch with 4 or 5 of their creators in attendance playing table tag. It was enjoyable chatting to them and hearing their enthusiasm and I'll be very interested to see what they come up with in the future.
Can you tell what it is yet?
I also caught up with Graham Neil Reid and Jeremy Briggs, Allan Lowson (of Back Street Heroes biker magazine fame), and a few others which is always fun and another valuable part of these shows. Adam's help meant that I wasn't stranded behind the table as I'd largely been the year before but the friendly relaxed atmosphere encouraged lots of conversations but maybe that's just the Scottish friendly nature?
Kirsteen, Colin and Winnie!
To my delight, my Zulu:Water Cart Rescue comics again sold well and I was even asked to do a special Zulu themed sketch of Winnie the Pooh which I enjoyed doing - thanks Kirsteen! Actually my Zulu comic stocks are now very much depleted so I am seriously considering a reprint to bring both issues together in a single volume? Of course I also desperately need to produce something new which an event like this always inspires me to do, so let's see what I come up with. I think maybe that July's Glasgow Comic-Con is a realistic deadline to aim for finishing one of my in progress projects....
Anyway thanks again to the Dundee Comics Expo team, I hope that they were as pleased with the day and that it becomes the regular comic event that Dundee deserves. Thanks also to Adam for his fine company and for taking the day's photos!
Dundee - New York - London - Colin strikes a pose around the comics world!
Well after covering some 7,632 miles (according to Google maps!) these last few weeks I'm finally surfacing to catch up on events after flying the Accent UK flag at Scotland's Dundee Comic Expo New York's MoCCA Festival and London's Comic Comiket - phew!
Not sure I've quite recovered, picking up some strange mid-Atlantic flu along the way, but almost there, so thanks to all those who've been in touch, much appreciated. I realise how lucky I've been to make these trips, see some great sights, meet lots of talented creative folks and of course indulge myself in comics, so can't complain really, tired or not!
Too much time has passed to give a full blow by blow rundown and there are already good reports of each show out there which I'll link to, so I'll simply try and cover my thoughts and experiences in one wee post so here goes;
Dundee will always be the home of comics for me, not just because its down the coast from where I was born, but because its where the mighty DC Thomson are based! They were the mainstay of the British comics industry in my formative years and are still hanging in there with the Beano, new digital Dandy and of course the evergreen Commando, so it was a real thrill to take part in this inaugural show in a city which, despite my heritage, I hadn't visited in 30 years!
While this was its first Comic Expo, Dundee has recently held successful lecture & comic study days linked to the University's comics courses and the annual literacy festival with separate (and ongoing) Manga/Anime themed shows, so Dundee is quite a hotbed for comics events.
But being the first expo, organisers Dr Chris Murray and Phil Vaughan wanted to make it as inclusive as possible so tables and more importantly, admittance was free! They were rewarded with a fun wee show attended by some big names in UK comics including Bryan and Mary Talbot, David Lloyd,Nigel Dobbyn and Gary Erksine, the mighty D C Thomson and a good range of Scottish based indie creators and publishers including John and Sha from Black Hearted Press and Jim Alexander who I'd met before at last year's Mega-con show in Carlisle.
Thanks to Nigel Dobbyn for taking this wee snap of our first ever Scottish show table display!
In fact, I needn't have been worried about feeling lonely on my first ever solo show as I soon encountered familiar names, if not faces including the wonderfully enthusiastic Joe Gordon of Forbidden Planet blog fame who I don't think I'd ever met in person before, despite communicating over the years. It was great catching up with him and discovering our shared interest in Sir Richard Burton (no, the other one!) and I was pleased to do him a wee sketch and tickled that his friend snapped up my Zulu comics as my first sales of the day.
Ready for action - DC Thomson's Ferg Handley, Calum Laird & Mark
Sales continued to be brisk in the relatively short opening times, (11 - 4), which made for an unusually quick day but also one where I discovered first hand the difficulties of exhibiting 'solo' - its darn tough, you have to do all the talking and you can't get out, you're trapped behind your table and can't go for the usual leisurely stroll round the rest of the show, let alone have a pee or coffee break!! Obvious stuff but since Dave and I have always tabled together (usually with others), I didn't realise how tough it was on your own, so I hope poor Doug Noble forgave me for pouncing on him when he was enjoying a rare non-exhibiting visit to a comic show as I made haste for the bathroom.
It was then that I discovered the whole other hall and corridor area full of more exhibitors & creators, including the afore-mentioned Bryan and Mary Talbot and Nigel Dobbyn etc which I hadn't seen at all. Perhaps this was for the best as bumping into Graham Neil Reid he recommended that I check it out as some chappie was apparently selling loads of old British comics original artwork which he knew I'd a softness for, but wisely I turned my back and gratefully let Doug escape to enjoy the shows programme of talks that he'd came for.
David Lloyd's Dundee queue
So I finally experienced how awkward it was exhibiting on your own but was rewarded with decent sales and some great chats with interesting folk in a fun half-day or so. Difficult to say how many attendees there were, probably around 300, but enough to give a bit of atmosphere to the place and as a first Scottish show for the Accent UK range, I'd say it was a success.
Congratulations and thanks to the organiser's, who I understand plan to return next year which is good news, allowing me to combine with a visit home to see the folks without risking too many brownie points! Actually an extra treat was catching up with my cousin David who I'd not seen in an age. He kindly joined me behind the table for the last hour or so and gamely didn't complain or appear too bemused by my antics - Comics n Cousins, whatever next!!
See Joe Gordon's comprehensive FP blog show report and his excellent flixr account for loads of pics, Jeremy Briggs, who I somehow managed to completely miss also has pics from the show here.
Finally here's my obligatory haul photo, amazing really since I didn't leave my table for any of these but bought or traded them from where I stood, - see I'm learning!
A mere 36 hours after returning from Scotland it was off to the airport and New York's MoCCA fest, exciting stuff! This was to be our third consecutive year exhibiting but sadly Dave couldn't make it this time leaving just Scott and I to do the honours.
MoCCA is (I think) in its 11th year, but this was to be its first under the control of the respected Society of Illustrators, ('SoI') who had come forward when the previous committee had run into difficulties before and following last year's show. The SoI had impressed in their pre-show communications so we were cautiously optimistic about things, so how was it?
Well they certainly made a fantastic job of 'tarting' up the venue, a large imposing regimental army hall, and 'tarting' is appropriate as behind all exhibitor tables were hung rather lovely red drapes like a large theatre or boudoir - although I kept thinking of Twin Peaks! However the drapes really worked to dress the otherwise cavernous venue, seperate out the aisles (which also sported new hanging signage) and dampen noise, so plus marks for that and the clever addition of a 'pop-up' art gallery of original comic artwork and a couple of cafes with small seating chill out areas, so far so good!
Part of the impressive art gallery
There was however a wee problem with the table layout as they had forgot to leave 'gaps' for exhibitors to come and go, meaning that you either had to run a mini gauntlet behind the tables or risk your dignity by crawling under the tables. Not ideal and its a shame that such basic issues are a regular occurrence at comic shows throughout the world, still after my solo stint in Dundee I wasn't complaining too loudly, as any route for freedom, no matter how narrow was very welcome!
Cliodhna & Jasmine & those drapes!
Me, Scott, & more drapes!
Scott and I were fortunate to again find ourselves tabling alongside Cliodhna Lyons and her good chums, Jasmine and Chris Vollherbst, who after dipping their toes in exhibiting at last year's show returned with a very impressive array of creative goodies, well done folks!
As we looked round the hall and exhibitors listed in the glossy programme, we were though struck by how few names we recognised from previous year's shows, bearing in mind that we are really still 'newbies' ourselves, there didn't appear to be that many long timers there, with the exception perhaps of indie publishers including, Abrams, Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, Fanfare/Ponent Mon, NBM, Top Shelf. The 2012 show had clashed with Stumptown with many choosing it over MoCCA and perhaps, given the change in leadership, a good few had decided not to return. I may be wrong of course on this point but among the 300 tables, I didn't recognise that many faces?
Lars Jacobsen & his fun Mortensen series
Sussi Bech and Husband Frank Madsen
A welcome exception to this was the Danish Guild and Swedish Comics Association with their crew of friendly creators, many of whom we know from our regular trips to the bi-annual komiks.dk festival, now re-named Copenhagen comics and returning this June. It is always a delight to spend time in their company even if we are jealous of their Danish arts council funding which sponsors their trip!
As the show progressed, there was a noticeable positive atmosphere and steady streams of people coming through the doors on both days, certainly feeling busier than last year which had been 'flat' at times. However very oddly we noticed that sales were slower than before, this despite the crowds and lots of attention, business cards, questions and good conversations etc. At shows the challenge is often to engage with folk to encourage them to stop and browse your books and, although I've never studied it, you may get a sale for every 3rd or 4th such person. This year the issue wasn't getting folk to look but to buy, with sales conversions maybe only every 7th or 8th browser?
This was a little worrying and chatting to others seemed to be the general pattern (with one or two exceptions such as certain popular prints and Adhouse's Boulet 24 hour comic book which literally flew off the table), so it was sadly no surprise that our sales for the show ended up being down from the year before and well down from 2011, our first year, when we'd all but sold out of stock.
the Accent UK MoCCA table 2013
Its difficult to fully understand why, we had lots of interest and repeat customers and sold copies of each book we'd taken but it seemed that the 'big' money wasn't around, it may have been after the entrance ticket prices and souvenir programme, folk were being a little careful with their spending or it may be that with more of an art/illustration focus, the show had attracted a different crowd. Of course it may simply be that folks didn't respond to our new books in the way that we'd hoped and the way they had in previous years?
Bill Griffith of Zippy fame signing at the CBLDF booth
One further observation may be that the guests of honour hadn't set the heather on fire (as they say in Dundee!), further discouraging the more general comic fans from attending, certainly it struck me a little odd that while the likes of Karen Berger, David Mazzucchelli and Paul Pope were in attendance (as judges for the new SoI awards), and others like Charles Burns, Jim Salicrup, Kim Deitch, (and no doubt others) were wandering around, I'd not seen any of them listed as guests in the pre-show advertising?
Paul Pope, David Mazzucchelli & Karen Berger get ready to judge!
I may of course be wrong on these points and the SoI are fully entitled to concentrate on who they want but I would hope that in the likes of New York, there are many more well known potential guests without a hint of spandex who would help draw the crowds, that and a lower ticket price, could see this show soar to rival the likes of TCAF, SPX and all so we'll see...
Both my favourite USA comic sites, The Beat and Comics Reporter were in attendance and have several reports on the show here and here, (and check out Secret Acres view) and while I (still) didn't get a chance to speak with Heidi or Tom, I did catch up again with Jimmy Aquino of Comic News Insider who is a great guy and supporter of all things British.
There is more to say about this year's MoCCA and various other potential useful contacts and creators but for now I'll wrap up this bit with the obligatory photos of my hauls and scrawls;
Completing our trilogy is Comiket, Paul Gravett, Peter Stansbury and Megan Donnelly's comic marketplace which accompanies their respected Comica festival. Like MoCCA, the festival is over 10 years, with the one day Comiket's now held twice a year, nicely bookending the UK season. We attended our first one 6 years ago and while always held in London, the venues frequently change with this one at Central St Martins College, being the 4th venue in 6 shows we've been to.
We'd thankfully no hiccups in travelling and walked to the venue, behind Kings Cross station from Euston. The short walk in rare London sunshine was pleasant enough but finding the entrance to the College and show proved a little difficult, following the makeshift signs, round a few industrial corners then into the room behind the room. Being paranoid types, we and other exhibitors expressed concern whether this latest change in venue would be too far off the beaten track for even diehard comic fans to find and feared the worst.
Its this way chaps!
Erm no, this way!
Sure enough the show started slowly, as most tend to, but we made a few early sales to keep us from worrying too much and gradually things improved as it got busier and busier, particularly after lunchtime, paradoxically just when the sunshine outside was at its best - what is it with comic fans and need to avoid sunshine or maybe Twilight has something to answer!
In any case we did pretty well in the end with several titles selling out and by the 7pm close we only had 5 books in total left - phew, our best ever Comica!
Dave n Col reunited! - pic courtesy of Orbital's Camila
It was nice being reunited with Dave behind the table as I've discovered he does have his uses after all and allowed me to have my customary little wanders round the halls, although typically I missed a good chunk of the show but did get to say hi to Dave O'Connell, our own Thaddeus Mist posse of Owen Johnson, Connor and Lizzie Boyle plus John Maybury, Darryl Cunningham (also a MoCCA attendee!), Rob Jackson, Alex Finch, Joel Meadows (with whom I had a good chat and photo-shoot!), Orbital Comic's Camila, Doug Noble (fresh from his Dundee stint at the Accent UK table), and others, as well as meeting a couple of promising new creators with impressive work on display.
Me & Stephen Collins with his 'buzz' book
of the show about evil beards - gulp!
The enigmatic Rob Jackson and Doug 'Dundee' Noble!
In a happy accident, our table neighbour was to be Cliodhna, fresh from MoCCA but unfortunately a runaway cat had caused her to miss the show and return to Ireland, leaving her able brother, Connla to run her stall on her behalf and a fine job he did too.
Connla sitting in for Cliodhna
Speaking of fine jobs, the Comica crew really pulled it off, a great turnout in a new venue on one of the hottest days of the year. They've struck a winning formula with these shows, free entrance, varied selection of exhibitors and artists taking part in the live on stage drawing parade, with amongst many other indie folks a certain Frazer Irving doing a stint this time and the likes of Keiron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Rian Hughes casually walking the floor, soaking up the relaxed vibe.
Andy at Broken Frontier has a wee report of the show here and Rich Johnson of Bleeding Cool fame has posted a cool roving video of the proceedings here;
Colin's Comica Comic haul!
Summary
Well thanks for reading if you've made it this far in my longest ever post! All I can add is that each of the three shows were great fun to be part of with different experiences and a great diversity of comics and creators in attendance, reinforcing what a special time it is for comics at the moment.
Would I recommend or return to the above shows? Certainly Dundee and London will be on our itinerary next time (assuming both shows return) and if these are easily travelled to from your home base, they are well worth going to. New York and MoCCA is sadly a little harder to justify, at least from a UK perspective. If you can combine it with a holiday and (like we do) whizz round a few comic stores to raise your profile, its worth a go but maybe not every year. I would hate to think that we won't ever return to MoCCA, as its got the makings of a really special show, but we'd maybe have to tailor things a little and carefully review the costs involved, so we'll see.
Is there a secret of running a successful show? I doubt anyone can really say for sure but being well organised, having a wide ranging appeal of guests, exhibitors and books can't harm, but the most important element has to be the public, without them there simply is no show. That's why free or cheap entrance fees are a must wherever possible to encourage the casual browser to step into this crazy world of ours!
Finally a big thank you to the organisers and volunteers of the above (and all!) comic shows who put in a sterling efforts to make these special events happen, Cheers!
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