Anthology Five to be launched at DeeCon

Published On Mon 30 Mar 2015 by Grant Hill

Anthology Five, the newest collection of work by comics studies students at the University of Dundee, will be launched this weekend at Dee-Con, Scotland’s largest free anime and comics convention.

DeeCon 2015 will be held at Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA) on Saturday, 4th April, with doors opening at 12pm.

The 128-page comic showcases the best work of students from the undergraduate Comics Art & Graphic Novels Module at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, part of the University, and also the postgraduate degree in Comics Studies. A wide variety of subject matter and styles are on display in the anthology and follow a brief to produce eight pages of strip within a tight deadline.

Module Leader Phillip Vaughan said, “The work this year is of a very high standard, as commented upon by some of our visiting comics creators. We are lucky to have direct input to the comics courses from big industry names, and in the past we have had guest lectures from Frank Quitely, Dave Gibbons, Cam Kennedy, David Bishop, Colin MacNeil, Montynero and various DC Thomson creators, to name but a few.

“These visits are invaluable to the development of the work, and give the students an insight into the creative process of creating comics.”

The cover for this year’s Anthology was provided by Dundee-based artist Dan McDaid, who has worked on Doctor Who, Jersey Gods, Vandroid and is currently drawing Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for US publisher BOOM! Studios.

Chris Murray, who runs the Comics Studies Masters programme, said, “Once again we are very impressed with the work of the comics students on the DJCAD and Humanities courses. There is some exceptional talent on show here, as well as boundless imagination and enthusiasm. We hope that this volume will be a springboard to work in the comics industry for the students, as this has been a proven track to employment in the past.”

Saturday, 4th April will be a day of colour, fun and geekiness at DUSA with film screenings, board and video game tournaments, stalls, exhibitions, demonstrations and industry presentations. DEE-CON is organised predominantly by students and alumni of DJCAD. It is a fundraising event with all proceeds going towards the College’s animation degree show in May. The event has grown in stature year-on-year, and around 2000 fans, many of whom dressed in costume, took part in 2014.

The many events and activities taking place throughout the day including the Artists Alley, Comics Corner, Cosplaying, video games tournaments, table-top gaming and screenings of popular anime films. DeeCon plays host to a variety of guest speakers from the comics, animation, cosplay and academic worlds and the day’s fun will be rounded off at the after-party where DJ's Nanashi will be providing the beats.

Anthology Five is not the only comics titled that will be launched at DeeCon. Saltire, Scotland’s superhero, will make his return in Saltire: Annihilation Part Two, the sequel to the acclaimed debut.

More information about DeeCon 2015 can be found at http://deecon2015.blogspot.co.uk.  

To find out more about Comics Studies at Dundee, visit http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/pg/

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