A special comic art festival feature writing and drawing workshops, guided tours, film screening and a Q&A session will take place at the University’s Victoria Gallery & Museum (VG&M) on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 October 2017.
The VG&M Comic Art Festival is inspired by the exhibition of Liverpool-born comic artist John Higgins, who found global success as a comic book artist and writer for 2000AD, DC and Marvel, which is currently on display in the VG&M
It will include practical workshops that will give participants an insight into how to write for comic books and how to develop a storyboard. These sessions will be facilitated by John Higgins himself and comic book writer, Mike Carroll.
There will also be a drawing workshop led by John Higgins who will demonstrate his techniques for drawing monsters.
A special Q&A session with John Higgins and other comic writers and artists will explore themes of democracy and politics in Mega-City One, the fictional city-state featured in the Judge Dredd comic book series.
There will also be a screening of the 2012 film, Judge Dredd, directed by Pete Travis and written and produced by Alex Garland.
The Festival will come to a close with a roundtable discussion about the comic process and the future collaboration between Judge Dredd and Razorjack, the comic book created, written and illustrated by John Higgins.
There will be a small charge for some events but many events are free.
Places are limited and booking is essential. Visit this webpage to find out more and to book onto individual events.
In keeping with the Festival theme, the Waterhouse Café, located in the VG&M, will be serving superhero sandwiches and supervillain pizzas throughout the two days.
The exhibition `Beyond Dredd and Watchmen: The Art of John Higgins’ which features Higgins’ original art displayed alongside examples of the work of the artists and science fiction classics that inspired him, is on display in the Victoria Gallery & Museum until February 2018.
VG&M Comic Art Festival Programme:
Friday 20 October:
11am – 1pm Comic Writing Workshop One | 2 – 4pm Comic Writing Workshop Two
(£10 charge for both workshops)
5.30 – 7pm – Film Judge Dredd (Cert 18),Leggate Theatre
7.30 – 8.30pm – Q&A: Democracy and the Politics of Mega City One (£10) includes wine reception
Saturday 21 October:
2 – 4pm – Drawing Monsters workshop (£5)
5 – 6.30pm – Festival Finale roundtable (free)