Like many shows, the organisers of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) are making their return plans to a physical event, post-pandemic, gods willing – and this week they have announced the initial guests that will be making their way to the picturesque city of Kendal this 15th-17th October.
Transatlantic stars such as Greg Rucka (writer, STUMPTOWN / LAZARUS), artist/writer Michael Lark (BATMAN / TERMINAL CITY), and writer Chris Condon (THAT TEXAS BLOOD) will be joining home-grown talent such as Guardian cartoonists Martin Rowson, Nicola Jennings and Lou McKeever (aka BluLou), as well as good friend of the Convention Collective and creator of the exceptional QUARANTINE COMIX, Rachael Smith.
This is an impressive first salvo and will go some way in demonstrating that the Lakes is determined to make this physical return an event to remember. All of the regular features will be making their return, such as screenings and talks in the Brewery Art Centre, exhibitions in various locations around Kendal and, of course, the centrepiece of the whole she-bang, the Comic Comics Tower in the majestic Town Hall.
Greg Rucka in particular is very excited about making the journey to the UK:
“I am incredibly excited to attend the Festival! I love visiting England, and this’ll be my first time to the Lake District. Plus, getting to see the country and meet the people is always a highlight for me.”
“This’ll be my first show post-pandemic (I hope!), and that makes it even more special. To be able to attend with my LAZURUS co-creator Michael Lark is just icing on the cake! I’m very much looking forward to attending and participating in the Festival.”
We of the Collective be showing our face, too – or should we say, we’ll be showing our eyes, masked up and slathered in hand sanitiser like most people. Cant be too careful, ammiright? Tickets will be made available shortly for the talks/presentation portions of the Festival – we’ll keep you up to date when they drop.
In the meantime, keep a track of all the latest Lakes news on our Convention Collective Twitter, as well as the official Lakes website, their Facebook, their Twitter and their Podcast website and Instagram (some great interviews, hosted by Ian and Nicola, will be on the way – do subscribe, you won’t want to miss them).
From the official Lakes announcement:
Comics Come Home to Kendal – First guests announced for Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2021 in October
Top American comic creator Greg Rucka, whose credits include Lazarus, Black Magick for Image, Stumptown from Oni Press, writer of the 2020 screenplay for The Old Guard, is among the first of several announced guest for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, returning to Kendal 15th-17th October 2021.
Also announced are American comic artist Michael Lark, Canadian comics writer and artist Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer, Snow Angels), writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood), Rachael Smith (Doctor Who, Quarantine Comix), and Guardian cartoonists Martin Rowson, Nicola Jennings and Lou McKeever (aka BluLou).
After a successful virtual Festival last year, LICAF LIVE, the team behind the Lakes has been working hard behind the scenes to bring the physical event back to Kendal in October, lining up a formidable guest list of international and British comic creators, preparing exhibitions and family-friendly events… and, of course, gearing up for the return of the world-famous Comics Clock Tower in Kendal’s town hall, a much-loved platform space for comic creators and publishers both new and established.
“We’re thrilled to be heading back to Kendal with a lively line up of comic happenings in the works,” enthuses Festival Director Julie Tait.
“While we inevitably had to go digital last year, all the signs are that planning for an engaging, enjoyable physical event, in Kendal, is what both comic fans and creators are just itching for. Who are we to disagree?
“Our funding partners – the Arts Council, and local, public funders, business supporters and more – have been hugely supportive of our plans, too.”
