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Macclesfield Welcomes the World Of Comics in a Week-and-a-Half…

Published Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:00:44 -0500

Marc Jackson, small press comic book creator of Macclesfield is an occasional contributor to Bleeding Cool but in a couple of weeks, the comic book world is coming to him. He writes; Saturday June 22nd sees the 4th MACC-POW! Macclesfield's (in Cheshire) day of comics returning to the Town Hall. I'm thrilled to be welcoming creators from all around the world to my hometown, giving the locals and comic book fans from further a field, a great day celebrating comic art for the 4th year in a row. This year the event is fully supported by the Town Council who have really embraced what the event is all about, bringing something unique to the town and showcasing my love of the medium of comics.

This year is the biggest one yet and in addition to a feast of funny book creators such as returning heroes Lew Stringer, Tor Freeman, Emmeline Pidgen and David Leach, we're also welcoming new names such as Hannah Berry (crowned comics laureate at last year's Lakes international comic art festival) and Flimsy Kitten creator Rachael Smith, alongside Muppets and Popeye artist Roger Langridge plus Beano chums Nigel Parkinson and Hunt Emerson! We also have a great line-up of diverse up-and-coming talent exhibiting their work, some for the first time, getting the chance to show visitors the rich mix of just what a comic can look like. With that in mind, I've also been running a weekly comics class in the local Tytherington High School and I selected a small group of promising talent to create a comic that they will be bringing to the event, giving them their first taste of showcasing their work to a comics audience.

We also have a full program of events to enjoy during the day, such as a chat with Star Wars adventures writer/artist Nick Brokenshire (live from a wedding via Skype) talking about working on Star Wars comics and just how cool that is, hosted by An Englishman in San-Diego. Jacob Phillips (ace colourist and son of the mighty Sean Phillips) will be conducting our Dynamic life drawing outside the Town Hall building with our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man! Plus there will be live panels and live drawing challenges for some of our creators, so lots to enjoy!

This year the Macclesfield O2 shop will be joining the event by offering visitors the chance to try out iPad pros and iPencils throughout the day and running a competition where the first prize will be an assortment of goodies including an iPencil!!! This is a great chance to win something amazing that could really enhance a young creators desire to create and I'm thrilled that they have offered this. The prize will be awarded at the end of the day, so reason to stick around!

Additional support comes from The Phoenix comic who have donated 100 back issues for the 3rd year in a row, Comics Scene who have done the same and you can pick up an exclusive copy of To the Death from Simon Furman and Geoff Senior from our welcome desk, holy cow, this is amazing!!!!

On the morning of the event, between 9.30 and 11.30am, comic artist Jessica on Paper will be in residence at the local Library offering a 'Just ask Jessica' drawing challenge where you can sit and draw with her and challenge each other to create something on the spot. This helps to grow the event outside of the main hall even more and connect with the Town's folk who might not realise just what is taking place in the Town Hall. It also adds a unique activity to our busy library.

MACC-POW! is a totally free and totally inclusive event for all ages. Those new to comics can discover this amazing world and those well versed, get chance to chat and be inspired by their heroes. What more could you want?

Here's the full line-up of creators:

Lew Stringer, Hannah Berry, Rachael Smith, Hunt Emerson, David Leach, Roger Langridge, Nick Brokenshire, Emmeline Pidgen, Jessica Kemp, Tor Freeman, Jacob Phillips, Nigel Parkinson, David M Barnett, Marc and Nancy Jackson, Leonard Sultana (The Convention Collective/An Englishman In San Diego), Zoom Rockman, Scene and Heard, Bog-eyed Books (Gary Northfield and Jim Medway) Dan Whitehead, Sarah Spendlove, Fox Hat, Chris Askam, Laura Crow, Dick Vincent, Mister Hope, Jessica on Paper, Dr Sarah, Rick Eades, Emma Donnelly, Maisy Summer, Cog Life comics, Drew Herd, Asia Alfasi, Victoria Skellan, Nicole Bates, Comic Art podcast, Tytherington High School students (launching their first comic) and WOW comix!