Dave McKean To Dave Gibbons, Comica London Comics Festival In March

Comics Festival in London time! London’s Century Club was a favorite venue in my Soho promoting days, on Shaftesbury Avenue between the theatres. Launched in 2001, the most important personal members’ membership in Soho is called after the hundred steps from the doorway to the terrace backyard 5 tales up, with views throughout St Anne’s Church Courtyard. And now in March, it’ll host the long-awaited return of Comica, The London Comics Festival in affiliation with VIP Brands Ltd and The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, a collection of panels operating within the night via the month, with everybody from Armando Iannucci to Posy Simmonds, from Brian Bolland to Iain Sinclair, Dave McKean to Dave Gibbons, from Lizzie Stewart to Lucie Arnoux and Lucy Sullivan. Given that I’ll most likely be hanging out at Blacks not far away on Dean Street, possibly I can deliver Mark Millar alongside?

Join Posy in dialog with graphic novelist Lizzy Stewart the place they’ll talk about Posy’s life as an artist, author and observer of the world, revealing facets about her childhood, friendships and artists that almost all impressed her work. At the top of the night, Posy will likely be introduced with The International Award for Excellence in Comic Art for 2022. Thursday, the 2nd of March, 6.30 pm,  £12.

ALEX is the longest-running present day by day British cartoon strip nonetheless produced by the unique authors. It started life in 1987 as a satire on the short-lived social phenomenon of Yuppies (bear in mind them?) in Robert Maxwell’s London Daily News. The newspaper itself proved to be equally short-lived, however the character of Alex Masterley,  an egotistical, snobbish and materialistic banker struck a chord with the general public. The cartoon transferred to the Independent, the place it remained for 5 years, earlier than Alex defected shamelessly to the Daily Telegraph, the place he seems to today. Over the years the strip has developed right into a satire on the company world and middle-class skilled life and has ridden out extra increase and bust cycles than Alex cares to recollect. In this illustrated discuss Alex’s creators, Charles Peattie (artist and author) and Russell Taylor (author and luncher), will give the low-down on Britain’s favorite funding banker (properly, it is not like there’s a lot competitors from any of the real-life ones). Tuesday, the seventh of March, 6.30pm,  £12.

Dave Gibbons and Brian Bolland have a fifty yr friendship having met at a comic book conference in 1972. Both artists joined the fledgling science fiction title 2000 AD in 1977. Brian was one of many artists who drew Judge Dredd, creating a number of of its key characters, whereas Dave went on to collaborate with Alan Moore on Watchmen, one of many best-selling graphic novels of all time. Between them they’ve labored on franchises reminiscent of Dan Dare, Superman, Batman, Dr Who and Star Wars. In dialog with the comedian historian Tim Pilcher, Dave and Brian will take you on a journey of their lives as artists, writers and observers of the world. Each will discover their childhood, friendships, careers and the comics that almost all impressed their very own works. Expect a inventive cocktail of the numerous influences that formed their trajectories into turning into two of probably the most excellent comedian artists of their time. The occasion can even function a launch for his or her autobiographies: Gibbons’ ‘Confabulation’ with Pilcher (Dark Horse) and Bolland’s It’s About Time (Book Palace). Signed copies will likely be out there for buy. Tuesday, the 14th of March, 6.30 pm,  £12.

The artist Salvador Dali believed that “comics will be the culture of the year 3794”. In reality, this tongue in cheek prediction seems to have come true fairly faster than the good surrealist predicted, particularly on this planet of cinema. Four of the highest ten highest grossing movies of all time began their lives as comics exhibiting that graphic novels have crossed the borders of fringe popular culture into the area of Hollywood’s main style. Join us on the Century for a panel dialogue with a few of London’s high producers discussing their expertise in adapting comics to display. After the talks, there will likely be a chance to satisfy the panel informally for a drink. Panellists embrace: Armando Iannucci for The Death Of Stalin, Michael Lake for Violent Cases, Tim Searle for Dennis & Gnasher and Patrick Walters for Heartstopper. Chaired by Ivanka Hahnenberger of VIP Brands Ltd, a rights and consulting firm specializing in increasing graphic novel horizons. Wednesday, twenty second of March, 6,30pm £12.

Autobiography has turn out to be a central style in up to date comics with notable exponents being Robert Crumb (Fritz the Cat), Art Spiegelman (Maus), and Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis). But what does it actually take to rework your private, generally personal experiences into footage and phrases for all to see and browse? Lucie Arnoux and Lucy Sullivan are two of probably the most distinctive voices from the present era of comics memoirists. In this illustrated discuss they’ll share their paths and processes in an enlightening and provoking dialog. Lucie is a French comedian artist and author. Her autobiographical graphic novel Je Ne Sais Quoi was printed in 2022 by Jonathan Cape. She can be the creator of the “Enola Holmes” comedian collection. She has travelled the world along with her sketchbook, however is happiest in her adoptive residence city of London, the place she has lived for the final 10 years. Lucy Sullivan is finest identified for her critically acclaimed debut “Barking”, a stark black & white graphic novel about grief, insanity and the ghosts that hang-out us. She creates brief comics for Collusive Press and has collaborated on a wide range of comics together with Ind-Xed, Razorblades, Skrawl, Yoshin and Metallic Dynamite. Thursday, twenty third of March, 6,30pm £12.

Ever needed to know the way Hieronymus Bosch would have depicted Strictly Come Dancing? Or to see Batman as a visitor within the Last Supper? AI can now generate beautiful renditions of virtually something you would like for in a matter of seconds. It can produce real looking selfies of non-existent folks (as if the world actually wanted any extra selfies..) and Cosmopolitan not too long ago trumpeted the world’s first AI-generated journal cowl. All of which has brought about the human inventive industries to ponder their future. Illustrator Dave McKean was one such individual. After studying in regards to the implication of generative AI he determined he might both retire or reply. He selected the latter possibility and produced a 96-page ebook of brief graphic tales exploring and conversing with AI. For this particular occasion, McKean is joined together with his collaborator and pal, the multi award author and countercultural poet Iain Sinclair for a dialog exploring the query, “when AI can make art – what does it mean for creativity?” Tuesday, twenty eighth of March, 6,30pm £12.

To end up our Comica month, be part of cartoonist Martin Rowson as he takes us on a rumbunctious, rollicking journey via his 40 years of ankle-biting, satirical-savaging makes an attempt to carry the good and good to account. During an action-packed – and presumably very messy – night, he will likely be depicting (with commentary) the 9 prime ministers who’ve been in workplace throughout his profession – utilizing ketchup, mustard, mayo, peanut butter, rest room duck and varied different family condiments. The night will embrace a non-public view of Martin’s ‘Naked Attraction’ work of varied prime ministers which will likely be exhibited alongside his ‘Gluttony’ collection within the Century’s cocktail lounge throughout March. Tuesday, twenty eighth of March, 6,30pm £12.

Comica was co-created in 2003 by Paul Gravett and John Harris Dunning for the Institute of Contemporary Arts. It continues as a part of the annual Observer/Faber/Comica Graphic Short
Prize, based in 2007, and because the common Comica Social Club in London. Comica, The London Comics Festival, at The Century Club is a VIP Brands Ltd idea and initiative, introduced in affiliation with The Lakes International Comic Art Festival.