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| A festival of comics and graphic books inspires new artists and writers in Newcastle | A festival of comics and graphic books inspires new artists and writers in Newcastle |
| (21 days later) | |
| Our story begins with a young lad called Josh. | Our story begins with a young lad called Josh. |
| Josh happened upon the first Canny Comic Con in Newcastle last year. He took part in a workshop on how to put together comics. He went away inspired. | Josh happened upon the first Canny Comic Con in Newcastle last year. He took part in a workshop on how to put together comics. He went away inspired. |
| And then, most importantly, he kept going. | And then, most importantly, he kept going. |
| When the second event rolled around last weekend, he returned with sketches to show everyone. | When the second event rolled around last weekend, he returned with sketches to show everyone. |
| "It's pretty much exactly what you'd hope for when you're putting together an event", says co-organiser Stacey Whittle. | "It's pretty much exactly what you'd hope for when you're putting together an event", says co-organiser Stacey Whittle. |
| The Canny Comic Con is a free event nestled in Newcastle City Library. It brings together all sorts of creators, from emerging local talent to professionals such as 2000AD's Al Ewing and Alice in Sunderland creator Bryan Talbot. | The Canny Comic Con is a free event nestled in Newcastle City Library. It brings together all sorts of creators, from emerging local talent to professionals such as 2000AD's Al Ewing and Alice in Sunderland creator Bryan Talbot. |
| Josh's story is an example of why events such as this are important, and why it's sad that some people still sneer at comics. Maybe it's a rite of passage for all mediums. After all, some 18th Century critics fretted that novels would corrupt "the young, the ignorant and the idle", distract from useful work, and encourage people to read by candlelight and risk setting their houses on fire. | Josh's story is an example of why events such as this are important, and why it's sad that some people still sneer at comics. Maybe it's a rite of passage for all mediums. After all, some 18th Century critics fretted that novels would corrupt "the young, the ignorant and the idle", distract from useful work, and encourage people to read by candlelight and risk setting their houses on fire. |
| "It's such a shame that Britain still has – to a degree – a lack of comfort in the medium", says Dr Mel Gibson, a senior lecturer at Northumbria University. She believes many are still hamstrung by the definition of the comic book as "for children and funny". | "It's such a shame that Britain still has – to a degree – a lack of comfort in the medium", says Dr Mel Gibson, a senior lecturer at Northumbria University. She believes many are still hamstrung by the definition of the comic book as "for children and funny". |
| More challenging work written for adults is always going to be seen as more difficult if you've developed a culture which sees anything but a comic for children as a problem, not as a wonderful kind of material to work with. | More challenging work written for adults is always going to be seen as more difficult if you've developed a culture which sees anything but a comic for children as a problem, not as a wonderful kind of material to work with. |
Dr Mel gave a talk at Canny Comic Con about comics for girls through the decades, how they changed and what they said to a generation. | Dr Mel gave a talk at Canny Comic Con about comics for girls through the decades, how they changed and what they said to a generation. |
| It only takes seeing comics from the era that you're passionate about to remind you of who you were then, and how those texts shaped how you thought about reading. | It only takes seeing comics from the era that you're passionate about to remind you of who you were then, and how those texts shaped how you thought about reading. |
| As a child, Daniel Clifford fell in love with reading thanks to comic books. He went on to create comic books such as Sugar Glider, a Newcastle-based superhero tale he developed with artist Gary Bainbridge. Daniel's also teamed up with Hexham artist Lee Robinson to set up Art Heroes, which delivers creative comics workshops for young people. | As a child, Daniel Clifford fell in love with reading thanks to comic books. He went on to create comic books such as Sugar Glider, a Newcastle-based superhero tale he developed with artist Gary Bainbridge. Daniel's also teamed up with Hexham artist Lee Robinson to set up Art Heroes, which delivers creative comics workshops for young people. |
| Comics helped me develop reading skills and other skills. If it wasn't for comics, I would never have a degree. I wanted to be able to go out and do the same for other young people. | Comics helped me develop reading skills and other skills. If it wasn't for comics, I would never have a degree. I wanted to be able to go out and do the same for other young people. |
| The Canny Comic Con offered an opportunity to meet fellow creators and existing fans in the North East, and maybe inspire a few new ones. | The Canny Comic Con offered an opportunity to meet fellow creators and existing fans in the North East, and maybe inspire a few new ones. |
| You meet families and older people, people who might not have seen a comic before, or might not have wanted to see a comic before", he said. "You start to engage with those people, and it's interesting to see the expressions on people's faces as they look through. | You meet families and older people, people who might not have seen a comic before, or might not have wanted to see a comic before", he said. "You start to engage with those people, and it's interesting to see the expressions on people's faces as they look through. |
| The Canny Comic Con sprang from the Paper Jam Comics Collective, a group for aspiring creators that's been running in Newcastle since 2007. It found a willing host in Newcastle City Library, which has a long-running graphic novel reading group called Readers of the Lost Art. | The Canny Comic Con sprang from the Paper Jam Comics Collective, a group for aspiring creators that's been running in Newcastle since 2007. It found a willing host in Newcastle City Library, which has a long-running graphic novel reading group called Readers of the Lost Art. |
| Organiser Alexi Conman says: | Organiser Alexi Conman says: |
| Canny Comic Con relied an awful lot on goodwill - but the fact that both events have worked so well says everything about comics and the people who make them. | Canny Comic Con relied an awful lot on goodwill - but the fact that both events have worked so well says everything about comics and the people who make them. |
| Sunderland-based writer and artist Bryan Talbot was at the event. Dotter of Her Father's Eyes - a graphic memoir he illustrated from his wife Mary's script - was recently shortlisted for a Costa Book Award. | Sunderland-based writer and artist Bryan Talbot was at the event. Dotter of Her Father's Eyes - a graphic memoir he illustrated from his wife Mary's script - was recently shortlisted for a Costa Book Award. |
| "It's all about meeting people", Bryan says. "Sometimes it's seeing people you don't see very often, but also meeting the readers of your books who can give you feedback." | "It's all about meeting people", Bryan says. "Sometimes it's seeing people you don't see very often, but also meeting the readers of your books who can give you feedback." |
| Bryan started out as part of the underground comics scene, and has created works such as The Tale of One Bad Rat and the ongoing Grandville series. He gave a detailed presentation at the event on how he makes his comics, including the creative flourishes he puts into his work. For example, Metronome is designed in 4/4 time, with sets of four panels used to mimic a beat. | Bryan started out as part of the underground comics scene, and has created works such as The Tale of One Bad Rat and the ongoing Grandville series. He gave a detailed presentation at the event on how he makes his comics, including the creative flourishes he puts into his work. For example, Metronome is designed in 4/4 time, with sets of four panels used to mimic a beat. |
| "Comics are just a medium, like prose, novels, opera or theatre", he says."You can communicate sometimes quite complex ideas very simply and directly using a mixture of words and pictures, so you can tackle any sort of story." | "Comics are just a medium, like prose, novels, opera or theatre", he says."You can communicate sometimes quite complex ideas very simply and directly using a mixture of words and pictures, so you can tackle any sort of story." |
| So how do you become a comic creator? Apparently, it's a question of not expecting to make money, and taking joy from what you're making. | So how do you become a comic creator? Apparently, it's a question of not expecting to make money, and taking joy from what you're making. |
| Al Ewing got a sample script published a decade ago in enduring British comic 2000AD. He's since established himself as a respected comic writer and novelist, and has written several stories for 2000AD's iconic character Judge Dredd. He advises: | Al Ewing got a sample script published a decade ago in enduring British comic 2000AD. He's since established himself as a respected comic writer and novelist, and has written several stories for 2000AD's iconic character Judge Dredd. He advises: |
| That's the wonderful thing about comics. You don't need equipment or materials and you don't even need a lot of time. You can get something together. If you've got an idea just make it, put it out there, send it around. | That's the wonderful thing about comics. You don't need equipment or materials and you don't even need a lot of time. You can get something together. If you've got an idea just make it, put it out there, send it around. |
| So long as you keep doing it you can't go far wrong, because eventually someone's going to notice. | So long as you keep doing it you can't go far wrong, because eventually someone's going to notice. |
| You can hear John talking to Daniel Clifford here: | You can hear John talking to Daniel Clifford here: |
| And to Dr Mel Gibson here: | And to Dr Mel Gibson here: |
| And to Bryan Talbot here: | And to Bryan Talbot here: |
| And here are John's details: | And here are John's details: |
| John Hill is a freelance writer and journalist based in Newcastle. | John Hill is a freelance writer and journalist based in Newcastle. |
| He blogs on http://www.betarocket.co.uk/ and you can get in touch with him on Twitter @John_PJ_Hill | He blogs on http://www.betarocket.co.uk/ and you can get in touch with him on Twitter @John_PJ_Hill |
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