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S C H O O L O F BI TC H ES / C A R D I F F CO M I C - CO N / S A R A H M I L L MA N / MIN I- CON
Comic-Cymru
Editor’s Letter I that he was dressed as Galactus. When Galactus thinks you’re crazy, it’s probably time to end the conversation. Probably. The comics industry that we love revolves around the medium of print. Although an increasing number of voices are calling digital comics on tablets the future of the industry, I can’t see most of us using our back issues as kindling for the fires of progress quite yet. With all the big comic book news coming to us from America, there is a real lack of tangible print
was at a con some years ago when I met an accountant who ran, in his spare time, a really comprehensive comics blog and forum. The quality of his mostly volunteer writers and the rabid fan community he had access to was quite impressive for a smaller site and it was clearly something he’d been doing for years. I asked, somewhat innocently, if he had anything in print. The guy looked at me like I was completely mad, despite the fact
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MATT EVANS This Tolkien fan brings you news from Cardiff Film and Comic Con. Page 3
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companions for local communities of fans and cosplayers. And that’s the burden we will have to shoulder. We want to see local events, cons and expos get all the recognition and returning audiences they deserve. We want to show you guys the best cosplayers on the convention floor, and give you the tools to beat them at their own game. We want to showcase Welsh comics born and bred, because as every fan worth their salt knows, it isn’t all about the Big Two. Welcome to Comic Cymru, created by and for the best folk in the world – the fans.
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LEMARL FRECKLETON Always on the go, Lemarl brings you the best events on the calendar. Page 3
STEW HUME
Our wolfy wonder enrols at Cardiff’s own School of
Bitches. Page 4
Matt Evams
JOANNA GRAVETT
SAM HOWLETT
The resident artist talks to Sarah Millman about her new webcomic. Page 6
Our green fist of fury gives you the lowdown on the mini-con craze. Page 7
SPOTLIGHT
ATTACK ON
CARDIFF CC VISITED NOVEMBER’S CARDIFF FILM AND COMIC CON. WORDS BY MATT EVANS
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ardiff Film and Comic Con is not about the comics. November’s offering was about this year’s trendy cosplay: Attack on Titan’s brown coated Survey Corps. The longbox to merch ratio was heavily one sided and there were of course vendors that didn’t have a clue what they were on about. But as a subculture celebration, there’s no denying CFCC is the biggest event on the Welsh calendar. It’s always very mainstream, but when this sheer volume of stuff was in one room, we may be excused for trading in elitism for giddy excitement. Here are a few snaps from our visit.
Harley strikes a pose. Above: the new set of Browncoats hit Cardiff.
WHAT’S COMING UP 28 December Cardiff Geek Party is launching its second Retro Gaming Night at Gwdihw. Contestants can enter the tournament for as little as £2 for a chance to win an original Gameboy, but we won’t be competing... we’ve still got Gladys, our ancient Gameboy Colour. 15 January CGP is also launching a ‘Geek Meal’ at Tastebuds Cafe, with gaming after. Places and spaces are limited to 40, so pick up a ticket from Tastebuds. 21-22 March The next CFCC. Media guests so far include Buffy legend James Marsters and Game of Thrones’ Ser Jorah Mormont, Iain Glen. Valar Morgulis!
HANDS-DOWN THE BEST SPIDEY COSPLAY WE’VE EVER SEEN.
school of
Bitches
WANT TO KNOW HOW THE WORLD ENDS? CARDIFF’S SCHOOL OF BITCHES WILL TELL YOU HOW. WORDS BY STEW HUME
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HE classic comic tales of superheroes defeating villains and saving the day is not something that School of Bitches buys into. This gritty series presents a new outlook to comic books. The graphic novel series explores a post apocalyptic world though the eyes of several survivors. With the simplicity of a black and white color scheme, this local publication is fiercely pushing the limits of sequential art. The story spans over three decades and follows a number of ‘heroes’ as each of their paths intertwine throughout this massive global event that is taking place. School of Bitches: Genesis is the creation of local artist Alan Stealth, who has spent over half of his life conducting experiments in narrative and artistic sciences to create
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the world of School of Bitches. All of this from the front room of his Cathays home. After being joined by writer and letterer, David Dhalia, School of Bitches’ first issue was released in March 2013 after being previewed at the Malta Comic Con in December. Since then this small group has produced three more issues with the most recent being released in the last couple of weeks. Reflecting on the last few years for School of Bitches, David says, “The response has been mostly positive from reviewers and audiences alike. We were shortlisted for ‘Best British Black and White Comic’ at the
Unknown global catastrophe, a collective of old friends seemingly bound by fate to reunite, make one last desperate stand to save mankind from extinction. True Believers awards and were also long list nominees at the British Comic Awards for ‘Best Comic’. ” It seems a lot of their inspiration comes from the stark nature of real world issues. David explains that, “I follow a lot of world politics and there’s a trove of inspiration amongst all that madness. It’s like a vast theatre in itself.”
In a world where fantasy dominates a large number of graphic novels, it is refreshing to see one that pulls so much from real life experiences.
A sample of issue one, as well as details of how you can purchase full editions. can be viewed on their website, www.schoolofbitches.com.
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BEHIND THE PEN
CARDIFF CRASHES THROUGH TIME AS DIGITAL COMICS THRIVE, WELSH AUTHOR SARAH MILLMAN TALKS VESPAS, VICTORIANS AND VIBRANT ART. WORDS BY JOANNA GRAVETT
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uck you’, gestures the girl with turquoise hair, as she rides down the streets of Tudor England, dodging the humdrum lolloping peasants in the way of her stolen Vespa. But Amelia doesn’t have time for mind-boggled Elizabethans - it’s time itself she needs to fix. Welcome to the wonderful webcomic by Cardiff-born illustrator Sarah Millman, creator of The Heart of Time. Loved by comic fans and cosplayers alike, HoT features trips across the Welsh capital, one of the many destinations that Amelia visits on the time travelling scooter she stole from her father. “Amelia is strong willed and can get a little angry, but her gender doesn’t define her. She just happens to be a girl and that girl is badass,” laughs 26-year-old Sarah. 06
The freelance author and illustrator feels a great connection to Cardiff; the Welsh capital with its wealth of history and architecture was ideal for a time travel plot featuring a lost girl crashing from era to era. Cardiff and its quirky
IMAGES:AMELIA AND HER PUG, GERTY, SARAH MILLMAN AND THE HOT FIRST EDITION COVER. inhabitants are brought to life digitally, and the pages flick from fierce blends of dark palettes and pastels, to black and white mise-en-scene for the 1800s.
Having studied BA Illustration at Bristol UWE, followed by an Animation MA at the University of Glamorgan (where she started HoT in 2012), Sarah is a dab hand at this. She publishes her work online to maximise reach, ensuring people can read it even if they can’t afford the printed A4 versions. But despite sharing her work this way, Sarah is still a firm believer in printed editions. “I doubt digital comics will ever fully replace their printed predecessors,” she says confidently. “There are still a large group of people that like the experience of physical copies and don’t want to stare at a screen.” HoT is now on its fourth edition and Sarah will be at Nos Da Hostel’s MiniCon on 13 December. The time is certainly right for this tenacious lady.
To read Sarah’s webcomic, visit www.heartoftime.co.uk
don’t miss
THE RETURN OF MINI-CON ALTHOUGH CARDIFF’S BIGGEST CON MAY HAVE BEEN AND GONE THERE IS STILL ONE LAST CHANCE TO WHACK OUT THE COSTUMES FOR ONE MORE TIME THIS YEAR. WORDS BY SAM HOWLETT
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he popular cons that take place throughout the year showcase talent from around the world. However they are usually incredibly busy and the mass of vendors can be hard to navigate. So where does that leave those who prefer to sample local talent in a more intimate setting? Praise be to Cardiff’s Mini-Con! Following on from the success of the first event in September, Mini-Con is making its return. More boutique than big business, the intimate setting that Mini-Con provides means visitors are able to get to know some of the UK’S flourishing underground scene. “We are opening the doors to cosplayers and connoisseurs looking for something a little bit different,” says the event’s coordinator Gavin Williams. Pi and Hash
Promotions are once again running the event at Nos Da Hostel on the banks of the River Taff. As well as showcasing work from creators and artists, there will also be folk & acoustic singersongwriters playing sets outside with the day, culminating with a gig in the evening. The 2014 event will also feature a retro gaming zone where visitors will be able to rediscover the games and consoles that defined generations (personally, we are always partial to a bit of N64’s Goldeneye). Tournaments run throughout the day. The Min-Con is completely
Search ‘Cardiff Mini-Con’ on Facebook.
admission free, and access to the retro gaming is just a fiver to play all day. Mini-Con takes place at Nos Da Hostel on Saturday 13 December.. above: mini-con hosts local vendors and talent below: some clawsome cosplay at mini-con