Sunday Spotlight: All The Comics News From Hither And Yon
by Richard Bruton
It’s Sunday, therefore it’s The Sunday Spotlight. Our weekly round-up of things going on in comics. Have a read, enjoy, and always keep that love of comics going…
Right now, most of North America is recovering from devouring their own body weight in Thanksgiving Day food, me included.
But right now… comics…
Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême unveils details and posters…
The biggest European festival of comics happens next year on 25-28 January 2024. It is a HUGE deal in comics and so is the unveiling of the festival’s posters every year.
This year, we have three, from Hiroaki Samura, Nine Antico, and Riad Sattouf, who’s understandably rather happy about it: ”
If I had been told at 14, in 1992 that I would be the official poster for the Angoulême International Comic Festival 2024 and that I would also be the Grand Prix, I wouldn’t have believed it for sure.”
As for the full official selections of books for the Angouleme awards – the biggest in Europe, the full details have been released. A huge list of things to look at, including several translated from English, including Julia Wertz‘ Impossible People, Nick Drnaso‘s Acting Class, Sammy Harkham‘s Blood of the Virgin, Daniel Clowes‘ Monica, James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno and Jordie Bellaire‘s The Nice House on the Lake, Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples‘ Saga, and Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente‘s Friday.
For more details, I’ll point you in the direction of Dean Simons’ excellent write-up of the full list over at The Comics Beat.
Dr Who gets the Beano treatment…
By now, everyone will be talking about the new Doctor Who that launched last night. Absolutely no spoilers for that at all here. Go watch it and enjoy it. One thing though, great to see the credits and Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons getting a nod…
But this week, after last week’s Beano celebrating the 70th anniversary of Minnie the Minx, we have another special cover this week celebrating the return of the good Doctor. A cover that even attracted the attention of a certain Russell T Davies. Images from Andy Fanton writes the Doctor Who-based Bash Street Kids today, Shannon Gallant on art.
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus to celebrate 10th anniversary…
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) is an international showcase for cartoon art and in 2024, September 25th – 29th to be precise, they’re celebrating their 10th year.
Bone’s Jeff Smith, CXC’s co-founder and artistic director has this to say:
“CXC 2024 promises a lineup of world famous and barrier-pushing guests at the fantastic art institutions of the capital city of Columbus.”
All events are free and open to the public, about 13,000 of them in 2023, and we’ll have more news on that as we get into 2024.
John Allison Great British Bump Off event at Gosh…
The always incredible John Allison (Bobbins, Scary-go-round, Bad Machinery, Giant Days, Steeple) has a signing for his latest series, The Great British Bump Off, coming up at Gosh in London. It’s absolutely nothing to do with another very popular baking show at all.
Anyway… details and a little more in the images…
Thought Bubble – looking back with Gary Spencer Millidge…
Gary Spencer Millidge, creator of the magnificent Strangehaven, has a write-up of his recent trip to Thought Bubble, the UK’s biggest and best comics festival. It rather sums up everything that makes the festival work…
‘Nabil Homsi, the Thought Bubble team and the growing army of redshirts have worked wonders yet again. As always, an unforgettable – if exhausting – experience, and if you’ve never been, I’d recommend cloning yourself to make sure you can get round to see everything and then blocking out that weekend in November next year on your calendar right now.’
Bob de Groot – RIP…
Another sad loss to the world of comics happened last week as we heard of the passing at age 82 of one of bande dessinée’s finest, Belgium writer and artist, Bob de Groot.
He was the creator of several long-running series, including Leonard and Robin Dubois, but most readers know him from his work on Clifton, and worked with Morris on Rantanplan and Lucky Luke.
