One Issue, Many Minds

As much as I love Black Hearted Press, I hope that they haven't placed too much confidence in me. My own insecurity notwithstanding, the panel they've lined up for tonight's discussion (along with SICBA, and Stirling Maxwell Centre at Glasgow University) represents the breadth of comic book appreciation in Scotland, from the intellectual (Dr Laurence Grove and Dr Chris Murray) through to the financial (Maria Welch from DC Thompson). And of course, the critical - I am hosting the panel.

Issue One is a response to 'the boom in comic book creators from Scotland making an impact on the world stage.' Names like Mark Millar and Grant Morrison are familiar for their tenures on the Big American Comics (Ultimates, X-Men), but there is another, dynamic comics industry - probably well explained by a quick look at BHP's catalogue - of artists and writers who are reaching wider audiences while playing a more sophisticated game. 

There are a selection (six) of questions that will focus the conversation: they concentrate on how comics are perceived and how artists can sustain a career in the industry. Perhaps the biggest battle is to insist on the legitimacy and status of the comic book: in recent years, it has become an academic concern in the UK and, as Dr Grove can point out, this only follows the trend in Europe. 

Like everyone over the age of twelve who still reads comics, another round of the 'comics grow up' headlines would make me wince - frankly, it's the journalists who write this stuff that need to grow up. But the quality of the work being produced in Scotland - in fact, even in the CCA, to give more props to BHP - grapples with ideas and content in a way that most novelists would envy.

Besides, there is an exciting pair of aims: developing a sustainable industry and aspirations of creating a National Comics Academy and Art Gallery in the unused McLellan Galleries. I want to be able to nip into an exhibition of Kirby on Sauchiehall Street... one day.

Hosted by Gareth K Vile (Theatre Editor of The List), the event is in a 'question time' format, with everyone participating, including the question panel:
Dr Laurence Grove, director, Stirling Maxwell Centre, Glasgow University
Chris Murray, lecturer, University of Dundee
Sha Nazir, art director and publisher, Black Hearted Press Ltd
Jenny Niven, portfolio manager – literature, Creative Scotland
Kevin O'Donnell, retail manager, Forbidden Planet International
Phillip Vaughn, lecturer, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
Maria Welch, publisher (Children’s Entertainment), DC Thomson Ltd