Comica Returns To London’s Century Club With Luke Pearson, Peter Hogan, & Posy Simmonds – Talking Brit Page To Screen Success

Paul Gravett‘s Comica makes a welcome return in April and May for the Comica London Comics Festival and three very special events at Soho’s Century Club on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue – first up, Luke Pearson, Peter Hogan, and Posy Simmonds talk going from page to screen on 16 April…

Comica was founded by Gravett and John Harris Dunning, continuing with Gravett, Dunning, Megan Donnolley, and Peter Stanbury, putting on many impressive comic events over the years. It’s been dormant for some time but it’s damn fine to have it back with these three events, part of the Comica London Comics Festival 2024, organised in association with VIP Brands.

Let’s open with the first event – They Shoot Comics Don’t They? – Three British Page-to-Screen Successes.

Taking place on Tuesday 16 April at 7 pm, this features three Brit comic makers, Luke Pearson, Posy Simmonds, and Peter Hogan in conversation with Ivanka Hahnenberger of VIP Brands about the transition of their works from the page to the screen. All three will be signing their books after the discussion.

“Luke Pearson’s first Hilda graphic novel, Hildafolk, was released in 2010 and reissued in 2013 as Hilda and the Troll. The award-winning series now comprises six books which have found a place in the hearts of readers all around the world. Between 2018 and 2023 the books were adapted into a BAFTA and Emmy award-winning Netflix series directed by Andy Coyle, with Hilda voiced by Bella Ramsey.

This November Hilda will return in the first of a brand-new comic series for younger readers, Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain.”

“Since 2012 writer Peter Hogan and illustrator Steve Parkhouse have been collaborating on their down-to-earth science-fiction comic book Resident Alien (2012-) for Dark Horse USA. In 2021, the Syfy channel premiered a live-action television version, whose third season concludes this April.”

And of course, Posy Simmonds is Brit comics royalty, with a long career as a press cartoonist, children’s book author and graphic novelist.

“Her first book for kids, Fred, was animated as Famous Fred and nominated for an Oscar. Her graphic novels Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe were adapted into movies, both starring Gemma Arterton, directed by Anne Fontaine and Stephen Frears.”

So, a must-visit event I’d say – They Shoot Comics Don’t They? – Three British Page-to-Screen Successes – details and booking details here.