The Canny Comic Con

This is what happened

2011-12-13T11:14:00.000Z

The Canny Comic Con occurred on 10th December 2011. It seemed to go pretty well. A massive thank you to all involved.

Here's a collection of info that we'll try to keep updated, pointing to things of interest relating to the CCC. If you spot something (a report or photos or anything), drop us a line so we can link to it, cheers.

***UPDATE*** Listen to the full 'The Information Superhighway to your audience! Digital distribution for self-published comics' panel discussion from the Canny Comic Con! Listen HERE!

On 12th December there was a little CCC report and interview with the fabulous Paul Davidson on page 12 of Newcastle's Evening Chronicle, plus a shorter piece in the Journal (also, coincidentally enough on page 12). These are not online so I suggest you try and seek out copies.

Okay, here are the links...

Here's the day in pictures - a big collaborative set of photos from the day: BIFF! (And if you've got some of your own, add them!)
Ingi talks about his monster workshop at Teestoons.com: POW!
Andy Waugh reports: ZAP!
Cuttlefish reports: BOSH!
Photos from James Bacon for Forbidden Planet International: ZOINK!
Ian Mayor reports for Bleeding Cool: SNIKT!
Ian's CCC Twitter photos: CLONK!
Paul Thompson reports: BAMF!
Nigel Aucterlounie (AKA Spleenal) reports: FWAKK!
Lydia Wysocki reports: KABLOOEY!
Brittany Coxon reports: BLAM!
James Bacon reports for Forbidden Planet International: BOOM!
Newcastle City Library reports, with excellent podcast interviews with Dr Mel, Jack Fallows, the Talbots and Alex & Stacey): THUNK!
Gary Bainbridge reports: KERPLUNK!
Stacey Whittle reports for SFX magazine blog: WHOOSH!

Alexi Conman

2011-12-11T12:22:00.000Z

Who are you?
Alexi Conman, occasional writer of comics and now accidental festival organiser.

What have you done / what are you doing?
What I've been doing recently is mainly sending a lot of emails and worrying extensively. You know who has been doing things? Literally everyone involved with the Canny Comic Con. If it was a positive experience (and it seems like it was - good vibes, people, good vibes) it was thanks to every single guest of every ilk who made the journey in (in some cases at great distance - from Preston! And Glasgow!), everyone who prepared and delivered the fantastic talks, panels and workshops (I was so pround of the events schedule), everyone who helped each other out, covering tables, all mucking in to make the day work. Plus of course everyone who came and enjoyed the event!

Also our hosts - first, the Tyneside Cinema put on an excellent launch shindig, somehow making a Howard the Duck screening a classy event. Then the Newcastle City Library - the CCC was lucky to have such a brilliant venue with brilliant staff. Massive credit is due to Judy and Jennifer who put so much work into preparing for the CCC; nothing was too much trouble, every wild demand I made for the event, they covered enthusiastically. As if anyone needed reminding: public libraries are mint.

And finally the people behind the scenes who inexplicably put the CCC ahead of their own lives to a really notable extent to Make It Happen. Paul 'Design Machine' Thompson! The Indefatigable Cuttlefish! Ian 'Floating SAS' Mayor! And gorgeous and wonderful Stacey 'The Whittle' Whittle! What an amazing bunch. All genuinely "without whom..." etc etc. The finest of people.

Thank you everyone.

What am I doing now? Looking forward to being able to think about something else for the first time in a couple of months.

Why comics?
I've thought a lot about this recently and still don't think I have a satisfactory answer. The musings given by the guests on their profiles are all more insightful and wise than I can manage, so I urge you to have a look at those. I'll have a go anyway though.

What is it that inspires such amazing enthusiasm? There was literally no money involved in the organisation of the CCC, everyone got involved for the love of comics - running workshops, giving talks and everything else just because it seemed like a good idea. Comics are an extraordinary medium: personal and immediate and with almost limitless potential in style and form, yet I think a special part of their appeal is how misunderstood and underrated they are. So for those of us that get it, we want to share it! We want to talk to each other about comics, and draw daft jam comics in pubs, and lend out our favourite graphic novels, and throw all our free time into writing and drawing, and self-publish comics that are lucky to break even, and aspire to work (or actually work) in an industry that's still often under-recognised and under-paid for the talent involved, and try to enthuse all our non-comicky friends and relations, having the same old "well actually comics are really diverse" conversations over and over, and... turn up to funny little comics festivals. Somehow it's almost impossible to give this up, but it makes for a community full of dedication and creativity and inclusivity, and I feel really lucky to be part of it.

Further info:
I'm going to have a cup of tea now.

The CCC is GO!

2011-12-09T13:49:00.001Z

Well, this is it...

The launch party kicks off at 7pm tonight then tomorrow morning the Canny Comic Con itself will roll into action, with a full-to-bursting event schedule right from 10am through till 5pm.

We hope you can make it along!

Ben Clark

2011-12-07T13:55:00.001Z

Who are you?
Ben Clark, writer and artist.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Magic Beans Comics. They're sort of daft adventure mini comics, mostly set in the North East and often starring TV legend Mike Neville.

My current project is my weekly webcomic The Spine Chillers, featuring the day to day adventures of horror writers HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and Ambrose Bierce, as they sit around doing nothing in a grotty boarding house.

I've also done lots of other stuff for comics like Solar Wind, Zarjaz, Paper Jam Comics Collective anthologies, Mallard and Omnivistascope.

Why comics?
It's the ultimate medium of expression, a combination of words and pictures that can tell any kind of story you want. And you can draw monkeys hitting people.

Further info:
http://magicbeanscomics.blogspot.com/
http://www.renegadeartsentertainment.com/spinechillers-comic

Evelyn Hewett

2011-12-06T10:28:00.000Z

Who are you?
Evelyn Hewett aka Mimi - student by day and comicker by night. (Like Batman!)

What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm currently drawing and writing a webcomic called Fruit Machine the first issue of which I have recently published, available at the Canny Comic Con this year! Fruit Machine is a fun modern romance with big influences from the world of music, fashion and youth culture. Its also a quirky look into the erratic mind of an egotistical teen struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and the direction of his heart. It currently updating weekly at http://fruitmachine.smackjeeves.com

Why comics?
I've got a lot of stuff in my head to comment on, praise and immortalise. Some stuff just has to be said and this just happens to be the method I'm best at. And also because its damn good fun and the people who draw comics are marvellous!
Further info:
http://fruitmachine.smackjeeves.com
Follow me: @Mimi_Evelyn or my alter ego: @JasonFellows92

Events Schedule Announced

2011-12-05T13:56:00.001Z

Okay people, this is it. After loads of preparation, a schedule has been drawn up cramming the absolute maximum quantity of comics tremendousness into one short day. BEHOLD!

The spectacular talks and panels schedule!

The amazing workshops that will be running!

Gary Erskine

2011-12-04T13:51:00.000Z

Gary is a comic book artist currently living in Glasgow, Scotland with his wife Mhairi. He has been illustrating for twenty years and worked for Marvel, DC Comics, Vertigo, Dark Horse Comics, Image and many other publishers.

He has worked with top writers including Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Garth Ennis, James Robinson, Paul Jenkins and James Robinson and with characters as diverse as Dan Dare, Captain America, Judge Dredd, Transformers, Star Wars and the JSA. He has also contributed character designs and storyboards for film and television, commercials and games and reaches workshops at schools and libraries. Gary is a three times nominated Best Inker at the British Eagle Awards.

Current projects include...

The Big Lie (inks)
GI Joe: Real American Hero (inks)
Crossed: Wish You Were Here (inks)
Julius Caesar (inks)

Ed Murphy

2011-12-03T14:49:00.000Z

Who are you?
Ed Murphy; writer, publisher.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I’m Publisher of Rough Cut Comics which celebrates its tenth birthday in 2011. We made our name with The Surgeon comic titles, which were based on an unproduced film script which got the backing of Richard E Grant in 1999. We also published the official comic-books based on the cult horror film Society and got behind The Freedom Collective, which is renowned as one of Alex Ross’ favourite comics. I’ve been editing and financing for most of the decade; and also wrote the Rose Black titles, which is just about to reach its third-completed volume of books.

Why comics?
Why not? That’s the short answer. The long one is rather more complicated and is best explained by asking you simply to read The Amazing Spiderman (#121 in 1972), 2000AD (prog two), Captain Britain (issue one), Doctor Who Weekly (issue one), The Uncanny X-Men (#114), House of Hammer (issue two) and Tales of the Zombie (issue one). That should explain everything. Nuff said.

Further info:
http://www.roughcut-comics.com/
Or find us on Facebook

Suzy Varty

2011-12-02T09:59:00.000Z

Comics have fascinated me since I was a child. My first comic was published in 1976, and I edited the first British Women’s Comic in 1977. Since then I have been published and exhibited in the USA, Europe and Scandinavia and worked with the medium in a variety of ways.

I organized a Comic Art Festival in Newcastle for Visual Arts Year 1996, have produced a comic on a billboard, worked on many artists residencies and to commission and run accredited comics courses. I have produced several issue based comics for publishers, marveling at the way serious subjects marry so well with the medium, and I continue to write, draw and champion comics.

Some highlights :
2011 : Contributor to the unique graphic novel, Nelson, Blank Slate Books
2008 Comic for BBC publications RaW series
2002 Spot cartoons for Genetic Politics New Clarion Press
1996 Comic for AWAPeace Organisation book published Holland
1997 Women out of Line anthology for Fanny comics @ Knockabout
1992 Wimmins Comix San Francisco USA
1991 Partylines for Thames tv publication
1990 Comics for two Penguin books, The Comic Book of First Love, The Facts of Life
1981 Comic for Pork Roasts Canada
1978 Comic for Mamadramas Kitchen Sink Comics USA

Mel Gibson

2011-12-01T14:44:00.000Z

Who are you?
Dr Mel Gibson, a UK based comics scholar and consultant.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I lecture at Northumbria University. I also work with libraries, schools and other organisations in Britain and further afield, helping them understand how to develop collections of manga, comics and graphic novels, how to teach with them and how to promote them.

I write for professional academic and general audiences about comics. You can find out more here at Dr Mel Comics.

Why comics?
Eighteen years ago I was a librarian who wanted to encourage libraries to include comics in collections, because I loved the medium so much. One way or another, I’ve been working with comics ever since.

Further info:
http://www.dr-mel-comics.co.uk/

Art Heroes

2011-11-30T18:10:00.000Z

Who are you?
Art Heroes.

Art Heroes is the trading name of Daniel Clifford and Lee Robinson, a writer and artist team publishing comic books and offering a range of creative workshops.

What are you doing?
The Canny Comic Con will be the North East launch of Art Heroes. The first Art Heroes comic, Halcyon & Tenderfoot, will be previewed in the budget #0 comic - packed with clues for almost every story that will appear in the 4-times-a-year ongoing series.

The Art Heroes boys will also be sketching, signing, giving tips on how to make comic, selling subscriptions to the Halcyon and Tenderfoot series and running a create-a-character competition.

What have you done?
Daniel Clifford is the writer and co-creator of Newcastle's very own costumed crime-fighter, Sugar Glider, which has been a critical and sales success. As well as writing and publishing comics, Daniel had been running comic book workshops for two years under the name 'Jack and Daniel's Comic Book Workshops' before setting up Art Heroes with Lee.

Lee Robinson is a Hexham-based artist. Over the last few years he has completed a number of illustration projects and worked with young people and vulnerable adults. His first comic book work was the 12-page mini comic, Anthony, included in Sugar Glider 2. Sugar Glider Stories 2 will feature a 4-page strip by Lee, 'Costume', which reveals an important piece of the Sugar Glider origin story.

Why comics?
The Art Heroes lads have always been interested in comic books. Comics are great entertainment (a vibrant, visual storytelling medium), a wonderful aid to learning (a fantastic resource for getting youngsters passionate about reading) and can be incredibly cathartic to make and read.

Further info:
You can find the Art Heroes website at www.artheroes.co.uk. It's not finished yet, but when it is it will look great! You can also buy Halcyon & Tenderfoot issue 0 at http://artheroes.bigcartel.com.

Gordon Robertson

2011-11-30T11:01:00.000Z

Who are you?
Gordon Robertson. Writer. Fan of Morrissey, Herge, Powell and Pressburger, Ealing Comedies and a probably mythical time when the best thing in the world was to be British.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Co-creator of the world's number one webcomic with the word 'Arse' in the title. It's a slightly surreal take on my experiences as a bowel cancer sufferer and wonderfully drawn by co-creator Cuttlefish.

Founder of the Glasgow League of Writers - a comic book writer's collective in Glasgow who meet to discuss, workshop and chat about writing. Our first anthology is coming soon, to be quickly followed by our second one and then…well you get the picture. The League has been a fantastic success and is something I would like to see reach out to other writers across the UK and beyond.

Comic book editor for GEEKChocolate. I do reviews and news for this upmarket geek site. Not as often as I should, or would like to, but that's the pain of the day job for you.

You can find some previous comic book stuff in Bulletproof Comics' Bomb Scares anthology and I have some previous convictions I would like taken into account in the world of film and TV.

Why comics?
Comics were my first love. I was a precocious child and I clearly remember the first book I ever borrowed from the library, when I was round about 5 - The Crab With the Golden Claws. I was hooked from that moment on.

Tintin, Asterix and the UK Mighty World of Marvel weeklies fuelled my over active imagination as a child and made me the man I am today.

I love the collaborative process of creating comics. Seeing someone take what you've written and turn it into images is a buzz like no other. Particularly when, as is the case with Arse Cancer, the artist takes your words and turn them into something way beyond what theywould otherwise have been.

Further info:
Visit our webcomic http://www.arsecancer.co.uk/
Follow the Glasgow League of Writers on Twitter: @GLoWriters

Lee Robson

2011-11-29T13:42:00.001Z

Who are you?
Lee Robson. Word alchemist, tea drinker, ne'er do well.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm a writer of stuff, based in the north east, trying to make a go of it. I've written for the Eagle Award nominated FutureQuake, its sister publication Something Wicked and the series of themed anthologies from Accent UK (Robots, Western and Predators are out now, and Zombies 2 and Victoriana are due to follow in 2012/2013). I've also written for the 2000AD fanzines Zarjaz and Dogbreath, and have more anthology work in the pipeline. Also, I will write for money.

My debut graphic novel, Babble (with Bryan Coyle) is due to be released by Com.X in 2012.

Why comics?
For the tears and the laughter.

Further info:
http://www.imaginarystories.co.uk
@lee_robson

Steven Finch

2011-11-29T10:10:00.001Z

Who are you?
Steven Finch: graphic designer, letterer, and production artist working under the studio banner ‘Fonografiks’.

What have you done / what are you doing?
A number of Image Comics books, most notably the Eisner and Harvey award-winning anthology series Popgun. People might also know my series of retro paperback comic covers. Currently working on: Severed with Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, and Attila Futaki; Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore's The Strange Talent of Luther Strode; and the upcoming Brian K. Vaughan/Fiona Staples series, Saga.

Why comics?
Because lines and colors and words on paper hold a unique power, and so captured my imagination that I had to learn their secrets.

Paul Regan

2011-11-28T17:24:00.000Z

Who are you?
My name is Paul Regan, but y'all can just call me Regan (like Madonna, or Cher). I'm a comic book writer and co-founder of the wee label O.G. Comics.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Myself and co-visionary, artist Gavin McPhail, have for the past few years been pummelling all of our efforts into a book entitled Trenchfoot: the tale of three super-villains living and working in the Lake District.

Thus far we've published 3 issues of Trenchfoot, along with a bumper-sized annual and two one-shots: The Biscuit Maker and The Blood.

We aim to continue publishing the tawdry tales of John Trenchfoot and company, whilst expanding and branching out into new and surreal avenues.

Why comics?
Why not? What's better? Music? Literature? Personally, I find nothing more enjoyable than serialised comic-book fiction. It's a sick little addiction that crawls under your skin and can't be removed. I am as compelled to continue writing them as I am to continue reading them. Comics are like cocaine, but they don't (or shouldn't) make you sneeze. Xanadu!

Further info:
http://www.ogcomics.com
Or search on Facebook for Trenchfoot Comic

Doug Braithwaite

2011-11-28T09:30:00.001Z

Doug Braithwaite is an award winning artist who started his professional comics career working for Marvel UK and 2000AD, he has worked on many of the industry’s flagship titles, and has drawn just about every major character for both Marvel and DC comics.
A few of his career highlights include: Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe, Thor, Universe X , Brave and the Bold, Wolverine, Journey into Mystery and the Justice series for DC comics.

Who are you?
My name is Doug Braithwaite, I am an artist and have been working in the comic business for over 20 years.

What have you done / what are you doing?
See bio above!

Why comics?
Because I love art and telling stories and I believe comics, as a medium, can be one of the greatest forms of communication. Or, looking at it another way, I also enjoy drawing men in tights having fights.

Further info:
I can be found on Facebook, but a site I would recommend for people interested in the finding out more about this fantastic medium would be Paul Gravett’s site: http://www.paulgravett.com/ - it's fun and insightful.

Lydia Wysocki

2011-11-27T12:25:00.001Z

Who are you?

Lydia Wysocki, a perfectly respectable young lady who draws pictures and make things. Usually with a sense of humour. And who won't get offened if you mispronounce my name.

What have you done / what are you doing?

I've drawn and self-published two adult colouring books so far. Not adult in the sense of 'ooh that's saucy', just adult in the sense that 'maybe colouring in is a good thing for everyone, not just for children'. I've also draw and self-published two small books. The first one is a flippy-over book called Coffee/Tea that caused lots of confusion at the printers. The second involves googly eyes and sequins but is still definitely a book.

I'm currently drawing lots of pictures of houses and trying to work out what I'll do with them.

Why comics?

Because I think it's unfair to make people choose between being an artist, a writer, a craft-er, an explainer-of-ideas, and having a day job. So for me comics are a way to do all this. And to meet people and/or make them laugh.

Further info:
http://HelloLyd.wordpress.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelloLyd

Paul Thompson

2011-11-24T17:23:00.001Z

Who are you?
Paul Thompson. I’m an artist and writer, working in digitalart, photography and comics.

What have you done / what are you doing?
In comics: Tales of the Hollow Earth is now in its third issue: Dark goings on in a coastal city of peculiar institutions, paperfolding, weird tales, dangerous catering and unreliable narrators. In addition to comics, I've had several exhibitions of digital artworks and photography, and I occasionally write and draw for other people. I'm currently working with Cuttlefish Comics on several top secret projects.

Why comics?
Placing pictures in sequence will create a story for the viewer, whether it was intended or not. Putting words too close to an otherwise unrelated picture will set a world in motion. Most of it happens in the viewers head, and it’s much greater than the sum of its parts. The comics creators I admire have supernatural control over this, and from this unstable chemistry are able to wield extremely evocative storytelling.

Further info:
http://www.hollowearth.co.uk
@paulxthompson

En Gingerboom

2011-11-24T13:43:00.000Z

Who are you?
En Gingerboom (N for short!)

What have you done / what are you doing?
I draw a full-colour fantasy/sci-fi comic called Those of No Class most of the time, which is essentially about prejudice/judgement alongside self-discovery, but I also have a couple of smaller comics on the side as it were. What is it Katy? is my current project, and it's an interactive webcomic where the audience talks to the main character Katy and she responds each week in order to progress the story.

Why comics?
I have no idea in a way, it was almost accidental. I've always spent my time coming up with countless stories and drawing countless pictures. It finally occurred to me to combine the two things, and now I have discovered a magical wondrous portal to another dimension which I am completely enamoured with. I don't think I'll be giving them up any time soon. ;D

Further info:
www.nattherat.co.uk

Drink and Draw Social Club

2011-11-24T09:26:00.000Z

Who are you?
We are the official UK Chapter of The Drink and Draw Social Club. We were officially sanctioned by The Founding Fathers of Dan Panosian, Dave Johnson and Jeff Johnson back in 2007 and were the first chapter to be established outside of the US. We are a loose affiliation of creative types from many different fields, all of whom gather together when the stars are right with one simple goal: to drink and to draw. It really is as simple as it sounds. Lots of like-minded individuals just hanging out in a bar with a few beers (non-alcoholic beverages are available – we wont say bad things about you behind your back) drawing some stupid stuff and enjoying themselves.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Despite the vast pool of creative juice which we collectively possess, we have done relatively little. To organize something would rub a little against the grain of out raison d’être. And be somewhat akin to herding cats.

Why comics?
Comics are our first, our last, our everything. They are the greatest novel, the finest picture and the best movie all at the same time. They have no limits. They are all types of awesome.

Further info:
We’re like the A-Team: you’ll find us when you need us most, otherwise we’re just an urban legend drifting through the consciousness of the underworld.

Or, we are also on Facebook. Look for a mister ‘Drink Draw’. Tell him fate sent you…

Forbidden Planet

2011-11-23T16:45:00.001Z

Who are you?
Forbidden Planet is the world’s largest and best-known science fiction, fantasy and cult entertainment retailer and the largest UK stockist of the latest comics and graphic novels. We specialise in selling action figures, books, comics, DVDs, graphic novels and toys and we offer all the best merchandise from the cult cream of movies and television.

What have you done / what are you doing?
We’ve been selling four-colour wonders to the fantastic populace of Newcastle for almost two decades now! Many people had their first taste of the world of comics in our shop. We’ve also had lots of celebrities through our doors over the years from comic innovators to movie stars. And we’ve made a lot of kids’ Christmases thanks to our great range of toys and games.

Why comics?
Our company was first founded on a love of comics and wholly believes in them as a vital and distinct form of creative media. Our parent company, Titan, publishes and distributes some of the biggest and best comics in the UK. Our shops throughout the country strive to offer everyone the best comics we can find for them to enjoy. Here in Newcastle we have hundreds of years (well, almost…) of experience between us and if you’re stuck for something or want to try something new, just ask one of our staff members. We are all big comic readers and we want you to be too!

Further info:
You can find us in Newcastle City Centre at: Forbidden Planet, 59 Grainger Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5JE. Phone us on 0191 2619173 if you need directions or have any questions.

Or you can visit us online at http://www.forbiddenplanet.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook.

Al Ewing

2011-11-23T16:02:00.001Z

Who are you?
Al Ewing. I write comics at home and abroad, as well as various novels and other projects.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm probably best known for my 2000AD work, in particular Zombo, the first two serieses of which are out in trade paperback. In addition to that, I've done some Judge Dredd work, and at the moment I'm working on a couple of things for Dynamite Entertainment in the States, starting with Jennifer Blood #7, which I believe is out sometime in December or so.

Why comics?
You can do anything in comics. It's a unique medium - the mixing of words and pictures, the narrative and the visual - and it continues to fascinate me more than any other.

Further info:
@Al_Ewing

Simon Donald

2011-11-22T15:14:00.001Z

Simon Donald co-founded the publishing sensation of the 1980s, Viz Comic, writing and drawing on its pages for 24 years, finally leaving in 2003. After working as a TV presenter he moved into stand-up comedy in 2008, releasing his highly acclaimed autobiography in 2010 and his first live comedy DVD in 2011.

Who are you?
Simon Donald, 'Him Off the Viz'. Viz co-founder, comedian, writer, cartoonist, media whore.

What have you done / what are you doing?
You see me, right, I invented Johnny Fartpants (1984) and Sid the Sexist (1982) amongst other toilet funnies.

Why comics?
Because I wasn't good at reading. I discovered that I'm dyslexic when I was forty.

Further info:
www.simondonald.com

Alex Collier

2011-11-21T17:54:00.001Z

Who are you?
I'm Alex Collier. Illustrator, writer, animator, director, w*nker.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've just finished work directing a Viz animation for Channel 4 online with Tim Searle of Baby Cow. My next job is a comic strip about vampires for SFX Vampire special.

Why Comics?
Because I didn't have any other attributes or interests which the other kids could pick on me over at school.

Further Info:
www.oddballmedia.com/BLOGBALL
www.alexcollier.co.uk

A recent BBC Comedy project:

Brittany Coxon

2011-11-15T10:05:00.001Z

Who are you?
Brittany Coxon - Illustrator and Designer.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I once made a comic in 24 hours, it was called Not Mushroom for Thought. I also drew a strip in Food for the Dead, brainchild of the one and only Cuttlefish. You will also find my work in a handful of Paper Jam anthologies. Most recently I have been illustrating and designing through the means of paper cutting and surprisingly both my hands are still intact; these paper cut creations, along with my comic and illustration work, will be available to browse, peruse through and even buy if you feel so inclined.

Why comics?
It has become apparent to me that I like the following things:

telling stories
drawing things
putting things in order
making things
sharing these things with other people

As you can see, all of this can be achieved with comics. Yay.

Further info:

http://britthub.co.uk
http://britt7094.blogspot.com/
@Britt7094

Nigel Auchterlounie AKA Spleenal

2011-11-10T17:08:00.003Z

Who are you?
Nigel Auchterlounie AKA Spleenal, cartoonist/story-teller.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I draw for The Dandy. I also have a book out called Spleenal from Blank Slate Books with another due out first half of 2012 (if the world doesn't end).

Why comics?
It's the only thing I'm any good at. Well okay I'm not very good at comics but it's the thing I'm least bad at.

Further info:
www.spleenal.blogspot.com

Mack Chater

2011-11-09T19:12:00.001Z

Who are you?
Mack Chater, concept artist, illustrator, comic book artist/creator...

What have you done / what are you doing?
Worked on Radical Publishing’s EARP: Saints For Sinners (pencilled first issue). Many, MANY computer games, such as Wheelman and Driver: San Franciso (PS3/Xbox/Wii out now - buy it!!!)

Also currently working on some test pages for Marvel, as well as numerous creator owned projects!

Why comics?
I love telling stories, and drawing, so they are the PERFECT combination ...plus I can tell my own stories, free of any budget constraints (obviously that will change when they all become movies!)

Further info:
http://www.mackchater.blogspot.com/
@mackchater

Other comic things happening...

2011-11-09T18:36:00.002Z

We've got loads more CCC guests lined up, whose profiles we'll be posting soon, plus the events schedule is being worked on right now (it's very exciting) and we're looking forward to releasing details of that in the near future too.

However, as a brief interlude, we'd like to point out a couple of other particularly noteworthy comic-centric events happening in Newcastle (unconnected with the Canny Comic Con) which you may be interested in:

Simone, Sale and Starkings signing soon!

Gail Simone, Tim Sale and Richard Starkings will be signing at Travelling Man from 5pm on Wednesday 16th November. Exciting!

Comic films in a bar!
The Tyneside Cinema are screening several excellent comic adaptation films on Thursdays (all at 9.15 in the bar):

Thursday 10th November: American Splendor (the best comic-to-film adaptation ever)
Thursday 17th November: Ghost World
Thursday 8th December: Kick-Ass

Ingi Jensson

2011-11-09T09:41:00.000Z

Who are you?
Ingi Jensson, Icelandic cartoonist, comic maker & illustrator, with one foot in Holland and my behind firmly placed in the North East of England.

What have you done / what are you doing?
In 1998 I danced my way out of a ballet teacher’s education and turned my focus on my childhood dream of earning a living from drawing. Since then I’ve done daily newspaper comics, monthly comics for several magazines and my fair share of illustrations for various publishers.

I ran my own comic school in Iceland for three years and for the past two I’ve been offering comic workshops to schools in the North East. I am a somewhat irregular member of The Paper Jam Comics Collective and contributed a two page comic 'Do Androids Smell Electric Sheep' to the PJCC's Robots ...And That anthology project.

Since I’m the new kid on the block, I’ll be putting together a little b/w collection of my work, in English (no need to bring the English/Icelandic dictionary) and offering it for sale to any curious passers-by.

Why comics?
At an early age I was infected with the horrendous comic-flu and I’ve found that the only real antidote is to make comics myself.

Further info:
www.ingi.nl
www.teestoons.com
@ingijensson

A.J. Garrett

2011-11-07T12:48:00.000Z

Who are you?
A.J. Garrett, artist and co-founder of D.I.Y. arts organisation the Peg Powler Gallery. Producer of various art shows, zines, events, and films, often on a budget of £0 or less.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Estelle is a comic book in zine form that I write with Alyson Agar. I do the drawing and that. The story concerns a 90 year old woman who draws a daily comic strip of a New York newspaper and hasn't missed an edition since 1935. She's very under-appreciated and lives in an apartment building populated by clichés, criminals and weirdoes. Her only true friend turns out to be an overbearing ancient spirit that lives in a toy computer. The comic is all done in a very D.I.Y. fashion - cutting and pasting and pens and photocopiers and no computers.

Peg Powler (named after a legendary monster said to live in the river Tees) is a gallery in Stockton-on-Tees dedicated to underground and unusual art. I started the gallery with Rebecca Little in 2010 and since then we've done lots of exhibitions, special events, weird workshops and more, not just in Stockton but all over the country. The aforementioned A. Agar, being a scholar as well as an artist, acts as our consultant, and we've been able to work with all sorts of excellent quirky characters from different places.

Peg Powler has always had a strong connection to zines and underground comics. We have a little comics library, we've held a bit of a table at London Zine Symposium and we've exhibited comic artists such as the lovely Jeffery Lewis.

Why Comics?
It's a question you might ask yourself at when it's 4 in the morning and you're up blu-tacking speech bubbles onto a drawing of a defecating ghost (a heart warming scene from last year's Estelle Christmas Special).

Further info:
http://sozboz.com
http://pegpowler.com
@EstelleTheComic

Mary M Talbot

2011-11-04T15:06:00.001Z

Who are you?
Mary M Talbot, academic-turned-graphic-novelist.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I’ve worked in higher education for over twenty-five years and Dotter of her Father’s Eyes is the first work I’ve undertaken in the graphic novel format. I’ve published widely on language, gender and power, particularly in relation to media and consumer culture. My other recent books include Language and Gender (2nd edition) and Media Discourse: Representation and Interaction. I’m currently scripting a historical graphic novel.

Why comics?
It’s a great medium, where it’s still possible to do new and exciting things. I’m really enjoying using the graphic novel format to explore gender politics and women’s social history in an accessible and interesting way.

Further info:
www.mary-talbot.co.uk

Paul Scott

2011-11-03T18:14:00.000Z

(picture by Bryan Coyle)

Who are you?
Hi, I'm Paul Scott, sometimes known as Paul von Scott, editor and writer of the award-winning Solar Wind and the critically acclaimed Omnivistascope.

My day job is working in a library, and my evening job is sculpting for Midlam Miniatures. Creating comics is a hobby and I've put out over 1000 pages of comics to date.

What have you done / what are you doing?
My work in comics can be divided into three easily summed-up episodes:

1. My first comic, Solar Wind, was a homage/spoof of 70's and 80's British Kids comics, the ones that you can no longer find on the newsagent's shelves.

2. For the last 7 years I have been working on my science fiction comic Omnivistascope, a high quality book format anthology, featuring some incredible artwork.

3. For the future I will be working on stand alone collections, featuring characters and storylines I created from Omnivistascope, Solar Wind and beyond.

Why comics?
The comic 2000AD, from 1977-1987, was, unknown to most people, the greatest cultural achievement of western civilisation and it's influence has echoed through comics, books, films and beyond as a generation of fans turned onto 'thrill-power' have taken the comics influence with them into the wider world. It really was just the most amazing thing my teenage mind had ever come across, I discovered whole worlds, met strange and incredible people and I don’t think I've ever got over those levels of imagination, creativity and story telling.

Further info:
You can find me at www.omnivistascope.com and on facebook under Omnivistascope.

Readers of the Lost Art

2011-11-02T17:18:00.003Z

Who are you?
Readers of the Lost Art, probably the longest-running graphic novel reading group in the UK, based at Newcastle City Library.

What have you done / what are you doing?
We've been meeting fortnightly since March 2004, using the Library's graphic novel stock as a basis for group discussions on all kinds of comic-related topics. We write graphic novel reviews and occasional articles which we publish on our website. Aside from borrowing the stock and discussing/reviewing it, we've also had a hand in selecting it on behalf of the library. We meet alternate Tuesdays at the library, all welcome.

At the CCC, we'll be recommending material from the library stock - so go on, read some comics free!

Why comics?
Comics (well, specifically graphic novels) are ideal for library reading groups - compared to prose books, graphic novels are quicker to read, more expensive to buy, and perhaps easier to assess and discuss. It's odd that there aren't more groups like us!

(Also: "who would win in a fight, Batman or Hulk?" never gets old).

Further info:
http://readers-of-the-lost-art.org.uk/

Travelling Man

2011-10-29T22:42:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
Travelling Man, a chain of fab little comic shops through the North of England. We love comics and really enjoy checking out the products of the small press scene in Newcastle, and our Newcastle shop regularly hosts meetings of the Paper Jam Comics Collective. We sell comics, graphic novels, manga, and tons of board games and role playing games too!

What have you done / what are you doing?
Supplying the good folk of Newcastle with their comics / geek needs since 2004. We run comics nights and games nights in store, we've worked with libraries and schools in the area to promote comics as great reading material, and have the best named loyalty card in the land, SUPER CARD GO! Our staff are extremely knowledgeable and approachable, so if you have a question or are just looking for something new to read just pop in for a chat.

Why comics?
Because there's nothing better than immersing yourself in comics, whether you're a superhero fan, a mangaholic or a swinging hepcat who likes the indie-est of the indies. COMICS!

Further info:
http://www.travellingman.com/
mike@travellingman.com
Travelling Man is involved in putting on the annual Thought Bubble comic convention in Leeds, for more information please check: http://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com/

Paper Jam Comics Collective

2011-10-28T16:31:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
The Paper Jam Comics Collective, a comic-centric creative community based around the Travelling Man comics store in Newcastle upon Tyne.

What have you done / what are you doing?
We've been meeting fortnightly since the beginning of 2007, yakking on about comics, drawing comics (including our signature '24-minute comic' sessions, the results of which sometimes get posted on our webcomic blog 'Paper Jams'), publishing anthologies of work created by members of the collective on various themes, and generally acting as a hub for small press comic creators in the Newcastle area.

We've produced eight anthologies so far: ...And That, Halloween... And That, 24 Minutes ...And That, You Will Have To Wait ...And That, Robots ...And That, Space Monkey, Art ...And That, and History ...And That. Our latest anthology, Alcohol ...And That, will be out soon.

Why comics?
It's in our name, fool!

Further info:
http://paperjamcomics.blogspot.com/

Graham Pearce

2011-10-21T13:28:00.002+01:00

Who are you?
Graham Pearce, comic book writer/artist, quiz show contestant and dark horse.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I write, draw and publish SGT MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO which is a satirical action comic about a kick-ass American Soldier who goes around stomping evil-doers, defending America and forcing smaller countries to embrace democracy. I’ve been doing the book for 10 years and haven’t run out of ideas or motivation just yet.

Why comics?
It’s a very accessible medium whether you are a reader or a creator and it offers greater storytelling potential than movies or novels.

Further info:
www.sgtmikebattle.co.uk

Gary Bainbridge

2011-10-20T10:38:00.001+01:00

Who are you?
Gary Bainbridge, artist, comics creator, adventurer.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I have self published a number of small press comics and artists books that are all set in, or are connected in some way to Newcastle. My latest work is Sugar Glider (with Daniel Clifford), an all ages Geordie kitchen sink superhero comic. I'll also have copies of Grainger Street, a subjective guide to the Toon, connected by my memories of walking up and down its streets. Or one street in particular. I have also self published a crime fiction comic series set in Newcastle; Nightbus told the tales of the city after dark and also features in my half of Show & Tell, an anthology of work by myself and Andrew Waugh. At the CCC, I'll be talking about my work and the importance of location in comics to anyone who'll listen.

Why comics?
Why do I make comics? Probably because I wasn't happy with the last one I made.

Further info:
http://unterweltcomics.blogspot.com
@GB_COMICS
Facebook Search: Sugar Glider Comics

Jack Fallows

2011-10-18T12:11:00.001+01:00

Who are you?
Jack Fallows - comic book creator, illustrator and workshop facilitator.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Jack is responsible for the comics The Gentleman Ghost, Costume Party, John Henry Split My Heart and the currently on-going series The Big Bang. He has created a number of personal commissions as well as commercial illustration work for magazines, bands and small companies. In 2007, he founded The Paper Jam Comics Collective and between 2009-2011 also ran comic book workshops for children with writer Daniel Clifford. He thinks a lot about the apocalypse and enjoys Fentiman's Dandelion & Burdock and M&Ms.

Why comics?
Comics are an infinitely diverse, widely underused, misunderstood and wrongly interpreted art form that, despite our best efforts, are still not quite accepted by the majority of society as anything to raise an eyebrow over. Because Jack enjoys feeling outcast, belittled and unappreciated, and because he hates money, friends and fresh air, he has toiled in this medium for almost a decade and will more than likely continue to toil in it until he keels over at the drawing desk or, heaven forbid, comics are actually welcomed by the wider world.

More info:
www.jackfallows.com

Cuttlefish

2011-10-17T10:46:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
Cuttlefish. Artist, cartoonist, writer, letterer and comic creator.

What have you done / what are you doing?
The art for joint ventures Taxonauts comic and the Arse Cancer webcomic. Also a willing contributor to numerous anthologies with strips including Trainee Space Chef, Alpha & Omega, Girl-on-a-Spring, Father's Day (Sugar Glider Stories), Alan the Confused Tortoise, Technocretin and Coitus Accordianus. Two 24-hour comics, Giga and Evolution & Beep, as well as contributing to and editing the collaborative Tyneside zombie comic Food for the Dead.

Why comics?
Comics will save Earth.

Further Info?
http://cuttlefishcomics.blogspot.com/
@CuttlefishComics

Terry Wiley

2011-10-16T20:37:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
Terry Wiley - I do comics, me!

What have you done / what are you doing?
I used to do a thing called Sleaze Castle (which wasn't sleazy at all, it was an anagram of 'Castle Leazes') - this may be coming in digital form to a shiny modern device near you soon! That had a spin-off, Petra Etcetera, which is also due out digitially at the same time.

Nowadays I write and draw VerityFair, a drama about drinking, screaming, acting and big fat secrets. Warning: May contain bottoms and swearies!

Why comics?
Because they're just as effective as film but 1 million times cheaper to make? People say 'comics are for kids', and yes, they are; but they never go on to say they are also for adults, teenagers, ladies, gentlemen, idiots and geniuses too. I wasted 10 years not reading comics because of that attitude, until someone showed me an intelligent comic and got me back on the ball.

Further info:
http://www.idcm.net/
@terrywiley_Idcm
http://tinyurl.com/idcmcomics Facebook group

Stacey Whittle

2011-10-16T10:45:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
Stacey Whittle, podcaster, SFX blogger, editor.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I host both the Small Press Big Mouth podcast (part of The Geek Syndicate Network), which reviews small press and indie comics, and The Megacast with the delicious Iz McAuliffe, reviewing the Judge Dredd Megazine. I sporadically write blogs for the SFX magazine website and I am currently in the middle of producing an anthology comic called Into The Woods: A Fairytale Anthology, which I am editing and publishing and will be launched at Cardiff International Comic Expo in February.

Why comics?
Because they have so much to say, and so many different ways of saying it. Because comics are cool and comic geeks are hawt - fact!

Further info:
http://smallpressbigmouth.blogspot.com/
http://whittlewaffle.blogspot.com/
@stace_w

Paul Davidson

2011-10-15T20:40:00.000+01:00

Who are you?

Paul Davidson, comic book artist and commercial book illustrator.

What have you done / what are you doing?

My first break in comics came in the 90's with Warhammer Monthly from Games Workshop where I created the series DwarfLords. Disappeared into the video games industry as a concept artist for a number of years. I now work for Marvel, pencilling and inking titles such as X-Men: Legacy to The New Mutants. I'm currently slaving over a five issue mini-series on another X book for Marvel, X-Men: We Do Science, which starts in November I think.

I'm also developing a creator-owned project that I'm hoping will be published next year called AquaForce - you can see pre-production concept art in my art book that I'll have for sale at the Con. A sneak peek can be had here. I'll be selling that with or without original inked Marvel artwork, along with a selection of prints that I have on my website. Just for the CCC, I'll be selling the A3 prints for a fiver (a quarter of the usual price). Really looking forward to meeting the comic book Geordie massive - and if anyone would like a free sketch on the day, just collar me and i'll be happy to oblige :)

Why comics?

Why comics?! It's the best art form in the world!

Further info:

http://www.pauldavidsonart.com/

Leonie O'Moore

2011-10-14T17:54:00.000+01:00

Who are you?
Leonie O'Moore, artist / writer.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've been writing and drawing comic books since the mid-90's. My work includes the graphic novel Some Forgotten Part, the adventure series Monstrum Horrendum, as well as comics for Accent UK, New British Comics, the International Manga Association and the Comic Book Alliance. I recently contributed to the Spirit of Hope comic anthology, which aims to raise money for the victims of natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan. (It can be purchased from all good comic stores, such as Travelling Man in Newcastle). I'm currently working on a new graphic novel, some new Monstrum Horrendum books and I'm moving in to film making with a couple of documentaries in production.

Why comics?
Because they're awesome. I grew up reading comics. I love making comics. It's a diverse and accessible medium with so much potential that you can never tire of it.

Further info:
www.lomoore.com

Andrew Waugh

2011-10-14T13:46:00.003+01:00

Who are you?
Andrew Waugh, illustrator, cartoonist and beard-enthusiast.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I have regularly illustrated for publications such as Mustard, NARC and Alan Moore’s Dodgem Logic, and have produced artwork for the likes of the BBC and South Tyneside Council. My short comics have appeared in the anthologies HIVE, Paper Science and Solipsistic Pop and I'll have longer minicomics available at the CCC.

Why comics?
Outside of the internet, comics is the only medium where a person who draws and writes can make something with their bare hands and use it to make people on the other side of the world laugh their heads off.

Further info:
For more info, please go to my website http://thismeanswaugh.com/

Bryan Talbot

2011-10-13T13:36:00.001+01:00

Who are you?
Bryan Talbot, writer and artist of comics and graphic novels.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've been creating comics for over thirty years, from underground and alternative titles to superhero comics such as Judge Dredd and Batman. I've worked for DC Vertigo on Sandman, Fables, The Unwritten and others and produced graphic novels, including The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, the Tale of One Bad Rat, Alice in Sunderland and Grandville. My next book, to be published in February 2012, is Dotter of Her Father's Eyes, scripted by my wife Mary.

Why comics?
Comics is a sea in which a gnat can drink or an elephant can bathe (old Klingon proverb).

Further info:
http://www.bryan-talbot.com/

Watch the trailer for Grandville Mon Amour:

So who is going to be at the Canny Comic Con?

2011-10-13T13:28:00.000+01:00

Well, since you ask, we're going to provide a series of brief introductions to the good folk who are going to be involved with the CCC.

It gives me great pleasure to start this process by annoucing the attendance of local hero and comics legend... Bryan Talbot!

Let's do the show right here

2011-09-26T18:21:00.001+01:00

It's been many years since there was a big comics get-together in Newcastle. This is a shame, because there's a lot going on in the area.

Hence: the Canny Comic Con.

It's an experiment, we hope it's going to be a lot of fun. Spread the word!