UK COMICS NATIONWIDE EVENT IN AUGUST

[redbaz]

Hi All

Below is a press release for a event people may like to be involved in. Not just specific to 2000AD or indie press but ALL UK comics, its an attempt to raise the profile of the Brit industry and help promote sales of comics. Anyone has any questions please shoot.

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact: Barry Renshaw, editor@enginecomics.co.uk

COMICS NATION: NATIONWIDE UK COMICS EVENT AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Never before have comic books been so present in the public eye, with the ever increasing success of big budget movie adaptations of superhero icons, the proliferation of manga in popular culture and the growing interest in more non-genre specific independent titles such as Blankets and Persepolis in the broadsheet press. Although British mainstream audiences are starting to catch up with the rest of the world in exploring the potential available in the form, anyone passionate about comics knows there is so much out there to explore.

As such, an unprecedented nationwide event will take place on the Bank holiday weekend of Friday 26th to Monday 29th August 2005 to raise awareness of the medium, as part of a year long promotion of the vast amount of talent on our own shores. Lead by Accent UK Press and Smallzone Distribution, the 365 Day Comics Nation reflects the activities of over sixty independent publishers and even more individual creators who have already been involved in cartoon workshops, signings, reading and discussion groups, panels and exhibitions over the last few years. For the first time these will be coordinated on the same weekend, taking place in galleries, libraries, comic shops and book stores across the country, engaging the public in fun activities.

?We had a long tradition of newsstand comic books in this country until the early Nineties,? says Accent UK and Redeye Magazine editor Barry Renshaw, one of the organisers. ?Due to the economics of the time, dozens of titles for all ages, genders and tastes disappeared until only a handful remained. Whereas the rest of Europe, Japan and America have enjoyed a progression of the form in the public eye, and more importantly, widespread distribution, the UK comics industry instead has not developed the way it could have.?

Creators looking for an outlet have instead looked abroad for job opportunities or have turned to independently producing, printing and distributing their own works in small numbers, and have not had the opportunity to find their full audience. ?It?s certainly not due to a lack of quality or talent, just simply availability,? believes Barry. ?With this event we hope to re-educate the public of what great material is out there, get them involved in making their own, while supporting local retailers and arts centres.?

A number of events, individually organised by creators in their own local areas, have already been scheduled with many more to follow. The organisers encourage pros, amateurs, readers, retailers, anyone with a passion in comics to become involved, and invite them to visit comicsnation.blogspot.com for further information on how to do so.

For any further information or media please contact Barry Renshaw at editor@enginecomics.co.uk.

About Accent UK:
Formed in November 2002 by the lead creators of Deva Comics, Engine Comics and M56 Comics, the Accent UK collective combined to produce an annual US format anthology which has since garnered much critical acclaim, award nominations and the attention of the entire UK indie community. Realising strength in diversity and cooperation, the group set in motion a more formalised support system, through collective convention appearances, workshops for local children, panels and sketching/signing sessions, while promoting through websites, cross advertising, and continuing to develop a healthy network of creators across the country and beyond. With publications such as the popular Rough Guide To Self Publishing and Redeye Magazine, AUK are an example of how to provide both an educational and promotional service to artists and writers looking to create their own independent comics. Visit the official website at www.accentukpress.co.uk.

END"

Cheers

baz

[Art]

So it's lots of little events, all over the country, with the aim of promoting comics in general?

[Bico]

Good point about the UK comics industry suffering while others survive.  I used to think it was snobbery about the medium in general, but now I think about it, that seems unlikely - look at how people look down their noses at hoodies or people who have the crazy frog ringtone, and that doesn't seem to have affected the sales of either.
My best guess is that the UK comics industry suffers from trying to be a smaller version of an idealised vision of the US comics industry.  Most comics that come out here are reprints of superhero stuff, or British attempts at same, so it looks like they're just trying to replicate what they percieve to be the American market.
Personally - and even though I've read most of it - I wouldn't mind something along the lines of those Batman and Spiderman books that come out over here each month, but with Vertigo titles.  An issue of Sandman for the Cure fans, maybe the odd one-off (like those War Stories comics), Hitman for the kiddies, the Filth, etc.  Stuff that a British audience would appreciate in a more available format (which means being able to avoid having to go to places like ex-comic-shop chain Forbidden Plant).
I reckon the industry just needs to find what a potential audience would respond to - didn't someone say that girly manga was selling like hot cakes?  If girly weeklies are anything to go by, the average bit of skirt doesn't have high expectations to begin with, so reading something half-decent would probably blow their minds.

[Carlsborg Expert]

I know an indie comic producer I was talking had beautifully rendered stuff  going to waste because it was seen as "too european" by British printers.

Whats all that about?

[redbaz]

Hi all,

To answer your points:
Art, it is a series of events across the country each arranged and managed individually by the creators themselves, their representatives or the manager of the shop but taking place over he same weekend under the same banner, promoting diversity in comics via Brit creators. The publics awareness will be heightened first by the big movies. The first official confirmation of Paul Grist and Blink Twice appearing at Bristols' Area 51 store has just been added to the comicsnation.blogspot.com page, with more to come as they're confirmed. We hope to encourage the pros as well (including the 2000ad crew) as the up and coming creators to take part and spare a few hours on a saturday or sumday.

Prof: Agree that the UK industry suffers somewhat as always being compared to the far bigger and well funded transatlantic cousin. Different culture, bigger population, different appreciation of the medium. That's why events like these are designed to try to change the Brit publics perception that comics are just superheroes as a medium instead of superheroes just as a genre within countless others. If people can see that theres diversity, they'll demand the availability. Everything else falls into place after that. But it will probably take a culture shift to get to that point, and only if people in the UK comics industry are actually arsed to do something about it.

Carlsborg expert: Not sure what you mean by a printer saying too european, you mean a UK publisher? Could your friend not self publish it instead?

Please be sure to spread the word on this.

cheers

baz

[Carlsborg Expert]

Yeah,UK publisher.
And he is forced to self publish.
Which he feels is a drain on the creative side.

[redbaz]

Self publishing is hard work but if you can pull it off it's a great experience. more people are doing it, even established pros, because of the direct control over the work.

i'd be interested to see some samples and find out who the creator has approached.