Thanks

High fives all round!

 

 photos: @LouiseReeve1, @BrittCoxon, @ToonLibraries

Thanks to all the creators, many of whom travelled great distance to be there.
Thanks to everyone who delivered the brilliant talks/workshop/panels.
Thanks to the 99th Garrison for keeping the event safe from those pesky rebels (and posing for photos and collecting for our charities).
Thanks for the donations of comics - and then money for the comics - at the charity table.
(We reached a total of £149.49 that will go to the Lord Mayor's nominated charities.)
Thanks to the Jen and all the library staff for giving Canny a home.
And thanks to everyone who came and bought comics, drew stuff, attended the events, I hope you had fun.

Without all of the above, the Canny Comic Con wouldn't be.


As ever, it'll probably return.

In the meantime you may also be interested in:


The majority of our guests sell their splendid work over the internet. Many do webcomics. You should check it all out, because they're all incredibly talented folks making great work.

Newcastle City Library - has a great selection of comics/graphic novels/manga. And now it has a subscription to Comicsplus - digital platform for comics (has a bunch of great stuff including, for example Bone, Hellboy, Adventure Time) https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourism/libraries/download-ebooks-and-audiobooks#comics

The Library also has a graphic novel reading group - Readers of the Lost Art, who meet on fortnightly Tuesdays at 6pm to talk all things sequential art, usually with a particular book or theme.

In terms of making comics, check out Paper Jam Comics Collective, who meet on the second Thursday of every month at 6.30pm at Travelling Man comic shop and occasionally put together awesome anthologies (open to all (18+), regardless of artistic experience).

It's on - Canny Comic Con 2017 - 18th March

Saturday 18th March 2017.
Newcastle City Library.
10.30am to 3.30pm
Free.

A hall jam-packed with some of the most interesting comics creators from around the region and beyond!

Plus:
•In-depth Star Wars character design workshop with Nigel Dobbyn.
•Talks from Applied Comic Etc and Black Lodge Press.
•Anthology editors' panel discussion.
•'Just A Comics Minute' (ripped off from lovingly reinterpreting a certain classic Radio 4 panel show by adding a comics theme).
•Drop-by drawing all day!

Charity collection

As in previous years, we'll be collecting during Canny for the Lord Mayor's nominated charities. This year they are: Charlie Bear for Cancer Care, the Fire Fighters' Charity, the Dog's Trust, and Arthritis in Children Fund based at the Great North Children's Hospital.


The 99th Garrison will be collecting, plus we'll be running a second-hand comics stall selling incredible bargains - with all takings going into the charity fund. Dig deep, people!

CCC2017 Guest: K Ben Clarke

Who are you?
I am K Ben Clarke, sporadic writer and artist of neglected webcomics, or a person who relates surprising well to the problems of cartoon ducks.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've done a surprising amount of comic strips that are part of a series called Man-Children. I'm also now experimenting with work in less semi-autobiographical-comics-with-homicidal-penguins, like my first Paper Jam comic Necro-Nancy.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Doctor Victor Von Doom... Why? Have you never read comics - he has a magic castle full of robots, do I need to say more because I can but then this will all be why Doctor Doom is the best.

Further Info:
https://www.facebook.com/ManChildrenwebcomic/ - updates of my things get posted here as I've neglected twitter and tumblr more than my own webcomic.

CCC2017 Guest: Paul Thompson

Who are you?
I’m Paul Thompson, I make things and talk about making things. Too much emphasis on the latter and not enough of the former. I’m quite lazy.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I’ve written and drawn for a number of anthologies, my own comic is called Tales of the Hollow Earth, recently I curated an exhibition and anthology art book called Invisible Beasts. I’ve been involved in putting together a lot of anthologies too, The Newcastle Science Comic and far too many Paper Jam Comics Collective “…And That's”.

At the Canny Comic Con, I’ll be talking about anthologies as part of a panel, starting off far too many Jam Comics which you can join in with, and be taking the role of ‘Nick Parsnips’ running ‘Just a Comics Minute’ – if you’d like to play or suggest a topic drop Canny HQ an email.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Can I choose two?
I’m choosing two, but for one reason: Superman & Judge Dredd.
Both are perfect illustrations of how a character, backstory, location and supporting cast can create infinite stories to tell. Both characters have depth and backstory which isn’t immediately apparent, or even necessary to a new reader, making them immediately accessible to new readers.

As a result, both are occasionally mistaken for and criticised as one dimensional ciphers. The criticism is unfair and incorrect, but I think good writers are generally aware that this also, is an aspect of the character design that can be used to good effect where they can be viewed as a force of nature around which to tell a great many stories, a rock to bounce other characters off.

Further info:
I’m in twitter at @paulxthompson and my infrequently updated website can be found at http://www.hollowearth.co.uk/

CCC2017 Guest: Cuttlefish

Who are you?
Cuttlefish, a secretive middle-aged, undersea, comic artist from Newcastle.

What have you done / what are you doing?
With several small-press works under his belt including Out of Time 1, 2 & 3, Giga, Taxonauts, Trainee Space Chef, Dead Roots, The Best Man, Food for the Dead, Evolution & Beep and the Newcastle Science Comic project. He is also an active member of Paper Jam Comics Collective and has been involved with several comic events around Tyneside including 24 hour comics day, mini comics day and the Canny Comic Con.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Lincoln Red Crow from Scalped.

Further Info:
http://cuttlefishcomics.blogspot.co.uk/

CCC2017 Guest: The 99th Garrison

Who are you?
The 99th Garrison, we are the UK's largest independent Star Wars centric costume group.

What have you done / what are you doing?
We help our own charity (Dreamflight) and other charities raise funds, we have helped recently The MS Society, MIND and NE Children's Cancer Care to name a few.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Batman got me into comics initially, but always liked the Howard Chaykin art of the original Star Wars comics.

Further info:
www.99thgarrison.co.uk
FB @99thGarrison
Twitter @99thGarrison

CCC2017 Guest: Mama Lips

Who are you?
Mama Lips. I make auto-bio comics about queer life and anxiety. I also make music under the genre qwee (queer twee). Most of the stories are about love, gay themes, music and anything else that interests me.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've been working on a number of real life comics but working on some different ideas lately.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Mabel from Gravity Falls, because she's adorable. I don't know if she counts as a comic character. So, maybe Jeffrey Lewis, his personality and humor comes through great in his comics

Further info:
www.mamalips.bandcamp.com

CCC2017 Guest: CharlyVonKarma

Who are you?
My name is Charlotte, I go by CharlyVonKarma and my work is mostly character and comic based.
I'm an up and coming artist from the North East who loves art, tea, music and old detective shows.

What have you done/what are you doing?
I've been attending conventions since 2010 selling quirky badges and prints featuring my artwork and taking commissioned sketches. Currently I am also working on a webcomic series called Sultans that focuses on the relationship between a music lover and a musician and the first volume has now been printed, so I'm very new to it all!

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Spiderman and Iron Man will always be my childhood favourites. As an adult I like characters like TJ from The Less than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal, Spider Jerusalem from Transmetropolitan and The Commander from the webcomic Manly Guys Doing Manly Things. I like a wide variety!

Further info?
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at CharlyVonKarma!
charlyvonkarma.com

CCC2017 Guest: Paper Jam Comics Collective

Who are you?
The Paper Jam Comics Collective - long-running, not-for-profit, open-to-all, comic-makin' DIY arts group!

What have you done / what are you doing?
We've been meeting regularly since the beginning of 2007, yakking on about comics, drawing comics (including jam comics and our signature '24-minute comic' sessions, the results of which sporadically get posted on our webcomic blog 'Paper Jams'), publishing themed anthologies of comics by members of the collective, and generally acting as a hub for small press comic creators in the Newcastle area.
Our all-ages adventure-themed fourteenth anthology The Amazing Adventure Comic Machine ...And That will be launched at Canny Comic Con!

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Batman! No, wait, not Batman, we didn't think about it properly! Or maybe it is Batman? Er.....

Further info:
http://paperjamcomics.blogspot.co.uk/
@PaperJamCC

CCC2017 Guest: Black Lodge Press

Who are you?
Black Lodge Press is a DIY publishing print specializing in riso printed comics and zines with a radical ethos. We support and involve inclusive communities of creative people, publishing work that celebrates feminism and queer culture!

What have you done / what are you doing?
We've put out the Axolotl series by Jack Fallows, DIRT and LAID by Cicy Reay, Transgender Step Parent by Mama Lips and Boring Comics by Emma Thacker, plus loads more!

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Our fave comic book character is probably Enid out of Ghost World.... 😊

Further info:
blacklodgepress.com
@blacklodgecicy for Instagram
@BlackLodgePress

CCC2017 Guest: Manhua Cha

Who are you?
Manhua Cha

What have you done / what are you doing?
We serve bubble tea inspired by our very own comic book set in Newcastle. Instead of choosing your drink flavours, you choose which super power you want along with an accessory to go with it.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Dave: Negan (The Walking Dead)
Carine: Gus (Sweet Tooth)

Further info:
www.manhuacha.com
Social media: @manhuacha

CCC2017 Guest: Applied Comics Etc

Who are you?
Applied Comics Etc

What have you done / what are you doing?
Making awesome comics that communicate specific information, typically as collaborations between comics creators and researchers/archives/other subject specialists. And helping people make their own comics.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Umm, autobiographical stuff? It's fun to see how other people draw themselves.

Further info:
http://www.appliedcomicsetc.com/
@appliedcomics

CCC2017 Guest: Tara McInerney

Who are you?
I am Tara McInerney, I live in Newcastle Upon Tyne, I'm a comic creatrix and illustrator, and I lecture at Teesside University in Comics, Graphic Novels and Sequential Arts.

What have you done / what are you doing?
My strapline: Aca-fan and compulsive storyteller with queer ideas.
I've worked for magazines such as Caravan and CCQ, and exhibited around Japan, Spain and the UK. Currently, I'm working on my latest comic Friendfiction, which centres on the lives of two girls who develop their relationship through a shared love of fanwork. The idea began whilst staying in Japan to research fan comics, after observing the wonderful interpersonal benefits of the fan community. This project is still ongoing, and very much a labour of love (ie; you won't see it quite yet...).
At Canny Comic Con I'll be presenting my self-published comic Myopica, a short on the futility of dialogue, and The Jay Mews Continental, a risograph limited-run comic anthology I started organising whilst studying MA Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. It's been on hiatus for a while, but submissions for issue #2 are now open. I'm passionate about researching queer fan cultures and webcomics, an interest which constantly feeds my visual work, and helps keep my lectures current.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
At the moment, probably Professor Panther from BodyWorld by Dash Shaw. I have a thing for characters which are simultaneously powerful and pathetic.

Further info:
www.taramcinerney.com

CCC2017 Guest: Andrew Waugh

Who are you?
Andrew Waugh

What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm a Scottish illustrator, cartoonist and arts educator exiled to North East England.  I make funny comics about a range of subjects, most recently about real-life scientists.  I am the co-editor of the British Comic Award shortlisted children's horror anthology BOO!, which is two volumes down, with a third due this year.  When I'm not doing my own creative stuff I'm helping young people be creative in my day job.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Tintin - travels to exotic locations, gets into adventures and has a cute dog.  He's got life sorted out.

Further info:
THIS MEANS WAUGH 
@thismeanswaugh

CCC2017 Guest: Duncan Watson

Who are you?
Duncan Watson.

What have you done / what are you doing?
My previous work includes the entire output of Occupational Hazard Comics with Nigel Maughan. My current work is The Ratchwood Prophecies with Brian Bicknell.

The Ratchwood Prophecies foretell a time travelling anti-hero whose role underpins time itself but whose meddling threatens existence. Adventures unfolding beneath shadows cast by ominous forces of creation, incorporate Ratchwood, his sidekick Wicklow and the shady professor Vygotsky.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Morpheus (Sandman)

Further info:
www.theratchwoodprophecies.com


EDIT - alas, Duncan won't be able to attend this year, but keep an eye out on his website for details of launch events in the near future for his comics at Travelling Man shops.

CCC2017 Guest: Letty Wilson

Who are you?
I'm Letty Wilson, one of the artists in the Panels comics collective.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I've done artwork for the ongoing series Cosmic, which is written by Erin Keepers and won a Scottish Independent Comic Book Award last year! I also do artwork for various other projects, and some that I write as well, such as my webcomic Owl People, which is about a fairy criminal underworld in an ancient Scottish town.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
The One Electronic from Evan Dahm's Rice Boy. Always love a strange robot with a mysterious past.

Further info:
Panels: https://www.panelspublishing.com/
My portfolio: https://www.behance.net/lettydraws
@patchworkperson
Owl People: https://tapastic.com/series/owlpeople

CCC2017 Guest: Faye Stacey

Who are you?
I'm Faye Stacey, the other artist in Panels Comics.

What have you done / what are you doing?
My most recent printed work is a murder mystery comic called Eye Spy! Murder - a silly homage to bad murder mystery telly. I like to get involved in anthologies and have had comics in Dirty Diamonds and Team Girl Comic. My work ranges from comic to illustrative, and regularly have artwork featured in Tie the Knot Scotland.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
It's a toughie, because I like such a huge expanse of genres. But I'll have to go with Tintin - it's unabashed, ridiculous adventure, which is something I've always been drawn to. If all you want is pure escapism, fun and adventure, read some Tintin; if instead you want to sit down and learn about pacing, storytelling and brilliant panel layout, read Tintin.

Further info:
Panels: https://www.panelspublishing.com/
http://www.fayestacey-illustration.co.uk/
@pondicherrybaby
instagram: @_pppond

CCC2017 Guest: The Analogue Press

Who are you?
The Analogue Press is a small press comics publisher based in and around Newcastle. We aim to showcase the best in local, national and international talent and are dedicated to producing beautifully designed comics with the highest possible production values. We love those funnybooks and we just couldn't leave well enough alone.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Our first publication is Radio On - Strange Tales of Ink and Sound, an annual anthology of graphic storytelling based loosely around the theme of music. We have printed two issues (or 'Broadcasts') so far, and expect to have the third available at this year's Canny Comic Con. The latest anthology features an eclectic range of work from Kathryn Briggs, Alfie Gallagher, Riyadh Rateme and Ed Syder, as well as the welcome return of Lydia Wysocki, who previously featured in our first issue.  We'll also have some comics/zines on the table from previous contributors to Radio On.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Perla Luisa (Maggie) Chascarillo from Love and Rockets. It seems relatively rare to witness protagonists ageing over time in comics, but with Maggie we can follow her trials and tribulations from early adulthood through to middle age, and presumably beyond. Apart from that, she's just a lovingly crafted character and it's always a pleasure to see what she's been up to.

Further info:
www.theanaloguepress.co.uk
 @RadioOnTheComic
 Facebook: @RadioOnComic

CCC2017 Guest: Luke James Halsall

Who are you?
Luke James Halsall. Comic book writer.

What have you done / what are you doing?
I have written for DC Thompson re imagining the character Johnny Jett, Grayhaven Comics and Watercloset Press writing short stories and Avery Hill Publishing producing the ongoing strip, The Bullpen and the one off short Gifted. Other titles I have created consist of The Mind Palace, iHero and SICBA-nominated Out of Time. Presently I am working on iHero 3, Out of Time 4, and Guilty?

I am also helping to produce and writing for the Glasgow League of Writers upcoming anthology.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Spider-man. He will always mean so much to me and I love the lend of realism and soap opera drama.

Further info:
oot.thecomicseries.com
lukejameshalsall.wordpress.com
@LJHalsall

CCC2017 Guest: Jack Fallows

Who are you?
Jack Fallows

What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm an illustrator and comic book artist from Newcastle who now lives in Leeds. I make an autobiographical diary comic called Axolotl as well as zines about mental health and prints with witchy stuff on them. I help set up the Paper Jam Comics Collective and sometimes run comic workshops for kids and adults.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Jimmy Corrigan the Smartest Kid on Earth.

Further info:
http://www.jackfallows.com/

CCC2017 Guest: Ingi Jensson

Who are you?
Ingi Jensson, a sequential storyteller and Concept Art lecturer at Teesside University.

What have you done / what are you doing?
It all began in 1999, and for the first 6 years I focused mainly on making daily comic strips, political cartoons and one-page funny comics for various magazines and newspapers in my home country of Iceland, mixed in with illustration work for the same client base. Eventually the seemingly endless deadline chase wore me down and I gravitated steadfastly towards illustration work, mainly for educational publishers in Iceland and the Netherlands.

After moving to the UK in 2008, I began offering comic-making courses to schools and libraries in my area under the name TeesToons which became a reasonably successful endeavour, though I never meant for it to be more than a way for me to get out of the house, now and then. This triggered a desire in me towards teaching that eventually lead me to where I am today.

In 2014, due to occupational boredom, I flung myself down the educational trail at Teesside University. That action accumulated with a funny hat and a red gown as proof my MA title in Future Design - that then lead to my current employment at the very same institution as lecturer in Concept Art at the Computer Games Department in the School of Computing.

At the Canny Comic Con I will be promoting my MA final project, a 16 page comic that was made as a prequel to my very first published comic in the Icelandic comic magazine BLEK in 1996. The newspaper-style comic on sale includes the old comic and the backstory of my main character, Aleks dBoro.
I will also be selling a collection of older work that I compiled for the very first Canny Comic Con in 2011.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Gaston Lagaffe, by the Belgian comic artist André Franquin (1924-1997) is the comic character that captured my imagination as a youngster and would eventually be the instrumental force in pushing me towards making this visual arena my line of work. The Gaston books are a collection of gags that were published weekly in the Franco-Belgian magazine Spirou and tell of the endless blunders carried out by Gaston in his work as an office help at the Spirou Magazine. Several pages were translated to English in the early 90’s under the name Gomer Goof, published by Fantagraphics.

Further info:
www.ingi.nl
@ingijensson

CCC2017 Guest: Nigel Dobbyn

Who are you?
I am Nigel Dobbyn, comic artist and illustrator on 2000AD, Sonic the Comic, The Beano, Classical Comics, Sparkle World etc.

What have you done / what are you doing?
Recently I've done a couple of Ace Trucking Company strips for 2000AD, Goblin Princess for Sparkle World and comics and covers for Dogbreath and Zarjaz. I am currently doing the artwork for a multimedia project with the band Death Ingloria called The Wolf On Board and have a Lovecraft-themed colouring book out from Arcturus Press called The Cthulhu Colouring Book.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
My favourite comic character is probably the Gronk from Strontium Dog, or Roger Langridge's Fred the Clown, although I had a lot of fun writing and drawing Billy the Cat for the Beano.

Further info:
handtoeye.deviantart.com
@nigeldobbynart on Facebook

CCC2017 Guest: Brittany Coxon

Who are you?
Brittany Coxon

What have you done / what are you doing?
I make comics that mostly appear in the Paper Jam anthologies such as Making and that, Happy and that and Newcastle and that.
I make paper cut art that is mostly colourful and occasionally based on burlesque performers. I also make 3D paper shape kits and greetings cards, some with a comics theme. Recently I drew a series of silly mini comics while helping young people make their own mini comics. I like mini comics and think there's a lot that can be done with eight tiny tiny pages.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Nimona! From Nimona. Who wouldn't want to be able to turn into a shark? This comic is rather good, it's clever, it's funny and has emotions.

Further info:
https://www.facebook.com/BrittsLittlePaper/
@brittcoxon

CCC2017 Guest: Gemma Moody

Who are you?
Gemma Moody

What have you done / what are you doing?
I am a comic artist, that has worked on Gamer Girl & Vixen, Cooney, Valedictorian USA. I have begun working on my own superhero comic too: Skyline City Heroes, which will be coming soon~

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Captain Cold, the Flash villain and leader of the Rogues! I love villains, especially ones with codes of honor. I also love villainous siblings with petty rivalries.

Further info:
card-queen.deviantart.com
@card_queen
card-queen.tumblr.com/

CCC2017 Guest: Tom Boyle Illustration

Who are you?
Tom Boyle Illustration

What have you done / what are you doing?
In the past I’ve made comics about sci-fi space stuff and viking warriors and alien chefs and various other nonsense, most recently I created a small piece of sequential art entitled Rocket Wizard - very subtle I know, hopefully I will be debuting this in print at Canny Comic Con. Other than my freelance illustration work I’m working on a few comic things at the moment but they are top secret so stop asking me about them!

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
I’d say it’s a toss up between Corey Lewis’ ‘Sharknife’ and Brandon Graham’s ‘Earthling J.J. Catingsworth the 3rd’.

Further info:
Website - www.tomboyleillustration.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pandafunkteam/
Twitter - @PandaFunkTeam

CCC2017 Guest: Gary Erskine

Who are you?
Gary Erskine

What have you done / what are you doing?
Gary Erskine has worked for MARVEL, DC Comics, Vertigo, Dark Horse Comics, IMAGE, IDW and other companies with writers Mark Millar, Warren Ellis, Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison and Brian Wood on books including The Unwritten, War Stories, The Massive, and Grindhouse, with characters as diverse as Judge Dredd, Starman, Dan Dare and Captain America. He has also contributed to licenses including Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Transformers and Terminator. He mentors film students on storyboarding, teaches workshops at schools and libraries and is currently writing and publishing ROLLER GRRRLS. Future work includes Incendiary.US and Zachariah Gunn: Dakota.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Asterix

Further info:
http://garyerskine.tumblr.com/

CCC2017 Guest: ROLLER GRRRLS

Who are you?
ROLLER GRRRLS

What have you done / what are you doing?

Anna Malady is the co-creator of ROLLER GRRRLS with Gary Erskine. The series follows the diverse [and sometimes chaotic] lives of the girls and women on three roller derby teams and how they deal with the difficult balance of sport and daily routine. Derby drama both on and off the track!

Further info:
http://rollergrrrls-blog.tumblr.com/

CCC2017 Guest: Terry Wiley

Who are you?
Terry Wiley (publishing as IDCM - I Draw Comics, Me!)

What have you done / what are you doing?
I used to do Sleaze Castle - which isn't very sleazy, it's an anagram of Castle Leazes! It's come out in big fat stumpy 500 page book form, with slim affordable 80-page book forms for the sub-sections, all from Markosia. Recently completed VerityFair, the story of a middle-aged party-hard actress and her search for a decent night's sleep! Fanfare distributors have copies of those in book form - and so do I! Currently have lots of little watercolour comic character portraits and a new mini-comic about Verity aged 1-31.

Favourite comics character (other than your own)?
Kimiko Ross from Aaron Diaz's Dresden Codak is pretty awesome :)

Further info:
My website - rendered in "old-skool" HTML:  http://www.idcm.net/
My twitter: @terrywiley_idcm
My Facebook groups:
Sleaze Castle: https://www.facebook.com/Sleaze-Castle-186088511440561
VerityFair: https://www.facebook.com/VerityFair.Book

A date for your diary

Saturday March 18th 2017.

Watch this space.