The Sunday Spotlight: The ‘Our Love Affair Was Doomed From The Beginning’ Edition
by Richard Bruton
You know the drill – it’s Sunday, put your feet up and enjoy a few comic news thingies I’ve gathered together for your enjoyment – it’s the Sunday Spotlight…
inQ! – London’s Queer Comics Fair – 7 September 2024…
inQ! is a new queer London comic fair, giving LGBTQIA+ comic and zine creators a place to share their self-published works with all.
The very first fair will be held in central of London, at the London LGBTQ+ Centre, on the banks of the Thames. inQ! is free, and the organisers promise it will be something ‘ridiculously fun’ where everyone is welcome. Sounds like a perfect comics event to me – and yes, ALL comics events should be this inclusive, community-focused, and family friendly.
Co-created by comics creators Chloe Starling, Ed Firth, and incredible crafter and author Deadly Knitshade/Lauren O’Farell, and with inQ volunteers Nancy Artmusic and AJ O’Neill, inQ looks to be a lovely thing for the whole community.
Here’s what they say on the website about inQ…
‘At inQ! there are a few things we won’t shut up about: comics and zines, and the importance of celebrating the diverse, proud, and vibrant voices of our LGBTQIA+ community.
‘Our mission: For inQ! to be a comfy, welcoming and inclusive space, where anyone and everyone can wander into the rich world of queer culture through comics, zines and graphic art. For everyone to feel free to explore, connect with the LGBTQIA+ community, and learn more about our history, grand heritage, and hopes for the future. For creators across the queer community to feel seen. Yes, even you at the back trying to hide. We want to build a safe space for you be part of something outside your sketchbooks.’
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Brit Comics at their best – Quantum No.8 keeps pushing forward to UK newsagents – on sale 20th June…
I’ve told you about Quantum before, the ongoing quality anthology from Time Bomb Comics that’s taken the incredibly brave and adventurous step of selling exclusively to newsagents and via the Quantum Prime subscription. Selling via newsagents carries so many risks and expenses, so hats off to Time Bomb for doing this and doing it so well!
Quantum #8 is the second issue of the anthology’s second year and contains…
Major Rakhana – the Victorian Space Ace begins a perilous new mission on Mars (writer Steve Tanner, line art Roland Bird, colours John Charles, letters Rob Jones).
WesterNoir: Dead End – Cassidy encounters more horrors that plague a western border town (writer Jemma West, art Gareth Sleightholme).
The Very Strange Reappearance of Peter Thomson – Peter tests his ability in a whole new way (writer Dave West, art Gustaffo Vargas).
The Baker Street Irregulars – the bizarre angel continues to cause chaos (story, art David Morris, inks Patrick O’Connor).
Kingdom – complete this issue – a mechanical outcast tries to find acceptance in the circus. (writer Dave West, art El Indio).
The Quantum Prime subscription through Time Bomb’s Patreon page includes an exclusive extra every issue as well as special variant covers.
Quantum No.8 is available in newsagents from Thursday 20th June, priced £6.99.
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Celebrating the King – Kirbyvision exhibition – opens 29 June in LA…
New exhibition on a giant of comics, the great Jack Kirby, opens up in LA at the end of June – Kirbyvision – A Tribute to Jack Kirby – Presented by The Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center and Corey Helford Gallery
The exhibition promises ‘original artwork by Jack Kirby, along with new works by over fifty contemporary artists, and plenty of exciting surprises’. Find out more here.
The exhibition runs from 29 June – 3 August 2024 with an opening reception on Sat 29 June from 7:00–11:00 pm
The Corey Helford Gallery can be found at 571 S. Anderson St. #1, Los Angeles, CA 90033, open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6pm.
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John Wagner, Alan Grant, & Dan Cornwell’s Rok returns…
John Wagner and Dan Cornwell‘s excellent Rok Of The Reds and Rok the God will, at some point, be joined by a third, provisionally titled Rok the World, with Cornwell and Wagner announcing (the former on the 2000 AD Thrillcast, the latter on social media, that they’ve signed on the dotted line to serialise it at some future date in the Judge Dredd Magazine.
If you don’t know about Rok, have a read this by me, or Senior Editor Olly MacNamee’s Rok the God glowing review here. Although all you really need to know is that it’s a great series that mashes up alien adventures and the beautiful game of soccer/football as an alien seeks sanctuary on Earth and manages to end up as the starting striker for the local team, a genuinely funny black comedy of revenge, redemption, and so much more.
Here’s what John had to say, will look forward to seeing it sometime (hopefully soon!)…
‘If you tuned into the recent 2000AD Thrillcast with Dan Cornwell you will have heard that Rok Book 3 will be appearing in the Megazine. Not quite sure when – in the words of Capt Oates it ‘may be some time’ – but we are of course delighted. Big thanks to Matt and the crew at Rebellion for the opportunity. The story is provisionally titled ‘Rok the World’ and will feature Baz and Shel and a lot of other familiar characters, and as we don’t have to scrape together the finances this time we intend to feature some loyal Rok fans in the story for free. We also intend to stay with Laser Tools as our shirt sponsor as because of the pandemic we don’t feel they got value for their contribution…plus we very much like the logo. Further updates will follow.’
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Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery events – the Hot Off The Press Bookfair – 13 July 2024…
Happening 13 July in Seattle, Wa, at the Fanta Bookstore & Gallery – what looks like a rather cool event – plenty of comics, zines, prints, and art, all to a musical backdrop. I’d tell you more but let’s just show you the poster for all you need to know…
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Phoenix Fest Online – now with two Jamie Smart appearances – 20 July 2024…
The in-person Phoenix Fest event, starring many of the creators that kids love in the Phoenix Comic every week, but there’s still the online Phoenix Fest to get your tickets for. In fact, the in-person Fest was way, way too popular – so popular that the Phoenix had to address some of the concerns and complaints regarding getting hold of tickets (I covered that here).
The online Phoenix Fest has now announced another Jamie Smart appearance, in addition to his Critter Chaos in-person and online, there’s now going to be an online exclusive Live Q&A with the star of the show, whose Bunny vs Monkey books just keep on selling and selling, delighting fans young and old around the world.
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One of the best Judge Dredds for so many years – advance orders now open for A Better World…
This really is an ESSENTIAL read for anyone and everyone. The best Dredd in years, following Accounts Judge Maitland’s attempt to change Mega-City One forever.
Out in January 2025.
This is what I had to say about it in The Weekly 2000 AD… I stand by every word…
“How many different ways do I have to say it? This is one of THOSE Dredd stories, one that will reverberate across the series for many years to come. Stellar plotting and scripts from Williams and Wyatt, coupled with career-high artwork from Flint (and that’s saying something for an artist who is undoubtedly the finest Dredd artist of his generation) have made this one just a great read.
The slow build of things have been delicious, the idea of Maitland’s vision of transforming Justice in MC-1 from punishment and judgement to one of social education and real change to reduce the crime rate has been so involving and perfectly reflecting the worst aspects of the modern world – just as the best sci-fi always has.
And the art… well it’s just been superb, Flint doing so much on each and every page, utilising a tight grid based on a 3×5, 15-panel per page layout that manages to be both claustrophobic and expansive at the same time. It’s simply one of the best Dredds for many, many years.”
