John McCrea at MCM Expo Manchester

The first MCM Expo in Manchester, taking place tomorrow (Saturday 30th July) has gathered a strong line up of comic creators alongside its TV and film guests.

Warpaint artist John McCrea will be appearing at the event, and you might also catch Andrew Chiu, who we hope to get started on a new strip for late 2012 soon, written by Jasper Bark.

Andrew's currently working on a new strip for ROK Comics, which will debut soon online.

Among the comic creators at the event are artists Leigh Gallagher, Stephen Downey, Al Davison and writer Antony Johnston, along with indie creators such as Lizz Lunney, Sergeant Mike Battle creator Graham Pearce, Rob Jackson and Adam Cadwell.

Joining them will be independent publishers such as Time Bomb Comics , publishers of Stephen Walsh and Keith Page's London Calling, and Accent UK.

Taking place at the Manchester Central venue, the event will also see appearances by Red Dwarf star Craig Charles; Sarah Jane Adventures actress Anjili Mohindra and actors Warwick Davis and Kenny Baker.

• There's more info on the event at: www.manchestermcmexpo.com

Strip Spotlight Challenge - Sending Your Entries

We're getting a lot of entries for our first STRIP SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE - but some behind the scenes technical glitch means the email delivery address - stripspotlightATprintmediaproductions.com - is not currently working.

(We're in the process of bringing the full printmediaproductions.com web site online and that's thrown an electronic spanner in the mail forwarding works)

We're working to fix this as soon as possible, but in the mean time if you have an entry for the challenge, please send it to johnfreeman6-stripchallenge@yahoo.co.uk

Our apologies to everyone who's had problems sending in their entry, and thanks to everyone who's brought the problem to our attention.

We have extended the deadline for entries to 12 noon BST 23rd July 2011 because of this issue.


• Full details of the Strip Challenge are here

Mirabilis artist Bikes It in aid of Cancer charity!

Mirabilis artist Leo Hartas has signed up to do a 100 mile cycle ride in a day in aid of Devon-based chartity Force Cancer.

"Yes! It’s stupid!" he admits, but "It is for a good cause."

If you' like to sponsor Leo on line go to Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/Leo-Hartas.

"I've had so many donations that my initial target of £100 was whizzed past faster than a tortoise on a race bike," he reveals. "I've now upped the target to £200!

"Thank you so much for your donations, and there's still plenty of time to give to this great charity."

Based in Exeter, the FORCE Cancer Charity has played a vital role in local cancer services for nearly 25 years. It holds the belief that anyone diagnosed with cancer deserves the best possible treatment and professional support close to home.

Their work finances improvements in patient care through research, the purchase of advanced equipment and their Cancer Support and Information Centre located in the grounds of the RD&E Hospital.

Mirabilis: Year of Wonders Volume 1 was solicited by Diamond (Order Code FEB111949), joining Keith Page and Stephen Walsh's Iron Moon title as the first graphic album projects from the British comics company Print Media Productions. Both albums will be re-solicited in July Previews.

• Advance copies of Mirabilis: Year of Wonders Book One are still available now only from First Age Comics, The Assembly Rooms, Lancaster; order it online from the First Age eBay Store

• More about Mirabilis: Year of Wonders on the STRIP Magazine blog

• Mirabilis on iTunes

• Learn more at www.mirabilis-yearofwonders.com

Mirabilis: Year of Wonders advance copies on sale now

We're delighted to announce that advance copies of Print Media Productions hardcover edition of Mirabilis: Year of Wonders - Winter Book 1 are now on sale exclusively from First Age Comics, Lancaster.

A huge graphic novel project by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas, Mirabilis is a fantasy adventure story for young adults which opens New Year’s Day 1901, when a green comet appears in the sky. As it gets bigger, the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Soon there are mermaids in the Thames, elves in Parliament and a dragon roosting on Big Ben. But then the comet rounds the sun and starts to fade. Will the world be able to go back to a life without magic?

The full-colour graphic novel was originally serialized in The DFC, the weekly print comic published by Random House UK, who financed the production and has been released as a digital edition for iPad.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the production design on these books," says Dave Morris. "Typography, colours and layouts all add to the reading experience, and Print Media have carried all that through with professionalism and a real eye for detail.

"The end result is not simply our comic between hard covers, but a beautiful work that we think readers will treasure."

Mirabilis: Year of Wonders Volume 1 was solicited by Diamond (Order Code FEB111949), joining Keith Page and Stephen Walsh's Iron Moon title as the first graphic album projects from the new British company. Both albums will be re-solicited in July Previews.

• Advance copies are available now only from First Age Comics, The Assembly Rooms, Lancaster; order it online from the First Age eBay Store

• More about Mirabilis: Year of Wonders on the STRIP Magazine blog

• Mirabilis on iTunes

• Learn more at www.mirabilis-yearofwonders.com

Ignore this, it's for robots

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