25 June 2010
2010 Dundee Comics Conference
Photo opportunities will be available at the times listed below. All events take place at the University of Dundee’s D’Arcy Thomspon Lecture Theatre.
Some of the giants of the British comics industry will be in Dundee on Sunday to help celebrate the 2010 Comics Conference, part of the Dundee Literary Festival.
This year’s event brings together the likes of artists Alan Davis (Captain Britain, Miracleman, Excalibur) and Rian Hughes (Dare), writer Pat Mills (2000AD, Slaine, Nemesis, Requiem Vampire Knight), editor Dez Skinn (Warrior, Doctor Who Weekly), and professional manga artist Nana Li.
The Comics Conference takes place on Sunday, June 27th, the final day of the Festival. The 2010 Festival has seen thousands of book lovers attend talks, lectures, workshops, book signings and other events featuring some of the most talked about names from the worlds of literature, politics, philosophy and journalism.
Through a series of entertaining talks and interactive workshops, speakers at this year’s conference will be discussing, from their different perspectives, how comics are created. There will also be an exhibition focusing on the career of late DC Thomson artist Bill Ritchie, who worked on comics such as The Beezer and Baby Crockett, and whose work delighted readers for decades.
'We are very pleased to be celebrating Bill Ritchie's life and work,' said conference organiser Dr Chris Murray, from the University of Dundee’s English department. 'He was a man who loved comics, had boundless enthusiasm for his work, and loved to entertain.
'I am very happy to see the comics conference go from strength to strength, and I envisage it
growing even more in years to come. This is a source of personal satisfaction for me, as
a Dundonian, a life-long reader of comics, and now someone who researches the subject.
'I know all too well just how important Dundee has been in comics history. The connection between Dundee and comics is one that should be celebrated as it is a unique cultural heritage.'
Dundee is one of the great powerhouses of comics production, not just in the UK, but internationally. The publisher DC Thomson is at the heart of the city, with its long running comics, The Beano and The Dandy, and ahost of beloved characters, such as Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, and the Bash Street Kids.
The Comics Conference aims to draw attention to Dundee’s important role in the history of comics, and to bring together artists, writers and other professionals involved in the comics industry to celebrate the medium in all its forms.
Since 2007, the University of Dundee has hosted the conference, which is organised by Dr Murray, a researcher in comics and lecturer at the University. Past speakers have included prominent figures such as Warren Ellis, Bryan Talbot, Alan Grant, Gary Erskine, and Hunt Emerson.
Events are designed to appeal to everyone with an interest in comics, from young comics fans to those with a scholarly interest in the medium. This year’s event takes place at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, University of Dundee Tower Building, between 11am and 7pm on Sunday 27th June.
Whole-day tickets cost £10/£5 for under 13’s, and refreshments will be provided to attendees at no extra charge.
To buy tickets, or to find out more about the 2010 Comics Conference, please contact Dr Chris Murray on 01382 384907/07774 149380, or email c.murray@dundee.ac.uk.
The full line-up of events is:
- 11.00am - Opening of Conference
- 11.05am - Nana Li, workshop on creating Manga
- 12.00noon - Break for lunch
- 1.00pm - Rian Hughes
- 1.30pm - Alan Davis
- 2.00pm - Questions
- 2.15pm - Break/book signing
- 3.00pm - Opening of exhibition/talk on Bill Ritchie
- 4.30pm - Questions
- 4.15pm - Break
- 5.00pm - Dez Skinn
- 5.30pm - Questions
- 6.00m - Pat Mills
- 6.30pm - Questions
- 7.00pm - Concluding remarks
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
