We all know that trying to get into creating comics is a hard task, whether you are trying for professional work or creating small press works in your spare time. Obviously there is the actual creation itself – you probably have some ideas, but every writer and artist needs a bit of feedback; showing work to friends to see what they think is one route but the best has always been to be around similar creators who can look and advise and, where required, critique (in a positive, constructive way), share tips about how they approached similar problems; its also a good way to pick up more ideas, to have similarly minded people to spark off of.
And even when you are happy with your work there is the question of what you do with it? Can you publish it yourself? How do you do that? How much does it cost? If you do it then how do you go around letting people know it exists, generating interest, possible sales and getting your name and work known among readers? Or is it more sensible to try something shorter for an existing anthology? And how do you go about trying out for something like that? Sometimes grouping together in a collective can be a good way to offer advice and support among creators in any medium – its why we see associations like the Glasgow SF writers getting together regularly or the diverse but excellent comics folk who make up Act-I-Vate.
(frame from Duvet and Pillowcase, borrowed from Adam Cadwell’s fine site and (c) Adam Cadwell)
And in the city of Manchester a group of comics creators have pooled together to help one another with the Manchester Comix Collective, which already boasts a number of good creators, including Stuart Kolakovic (whose praises have been sung on here before and doubtless will be again), John Cei Douglas (who Oli Smith mentioned recently here – have a look at John’s site for a look at Buffalo Roots which is generating some buzz in the UK small press community), Rob Jackson and Oliver East (whose excellent Trains Are Mint will be coming out in print this spring). We asked Adam Caldwell (who has some lovely art on his own site which you should go and check out) to tell us what it was all about:
“The Manchester Comix Collective is a social network for all levels of comics artists and writers and for anyone interested in what they are doing. It’s been set up to put creators and fans in and around the city in touch with each other and to nurture the comic scene that is developing here. It’s also intended to promote the many talented creators on the site and, by functioning as a group, make it easier for publishers and others offering opportunities to find them. There’s also a monthly Drink ‘n’ Draw event open to all and a good number of the Collective will be on show together at this year’s conventions, especially Bristol. But at its core, its a place for people to share comics and art and there’s plenty of both to be found.”
It’s quite interesting to see this kind of grassroots, co-operative approach among comics creators with the Manchester crew and the London Underground Comics mob. Obviously there has always been a kind of punk D-I-Y ethos to the small press scene by its very nature, but I think it is both interesting and encouraging to see these types of associations coming together and if it gets more good comics work in front of more readers then we’re all for it. What about other cities out there? Anyone else running a group like this or perhaps trying to set one up? Let us know!
Tue, Feb 26, 2008
Art and animation, Comics and cartoons