Dundee Comics Day 2012

Dundee Comics Day once again welcomed a stellar line-up of top industry talent, this year celebrating the comics of award-winning Scottish writer Grant Morrison (MBE). Guests included Grant Morrison, Dave Gibbons, Frank Quitely, Cameron Stewart, Frazer Irving, Rian Hughes and Peter Doherty. I’ve been lucky enough to cover a number of really interesting and entertaining comics events at the University of Dundee over the past year and this year’s Dundee Comics Day was no exception.

[Dundee Comics Day Photo Gallery]
[University of Dundee: Dundee Comics Day Information]

I have to admit that I’m not the greatest comics expert in the world but I always enjoy listening to the guests at these events who are very willing to share their experience  of working in the industry, working with each other and explaining how they go about creating their work.

As a photographer I quite often find some of the more technical discussion very interesting (an off-shoot from the round-table discussion about working in the digital age with RGB for digital display vs CYMK for printing was fascinating) and I would challenge anyone to listen to this group of people and not find something to engage them. This is perhaps best reflected by the audience at the event, from seasoned comics professionals to aspiring artists and writers, fans both young and old.

The turnout this year was fantastic with so much on that the event had to be split over two days, with Dave Gibbons appearing on the Saturday followed by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Cameron Stewart, Frazer Irving, Rian Hughes and Peter Doherty on Sunday (not to mention a screening of the documentary Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods at the DCA on Friday night). One of my favourite moments on the second day had to have been at the beginning of the round-table discussion when upon realising there was in fact no round table, a round plastic drinking cup was turned upside down as a substitute.

I’ve been to quite a few comic events over the past year or so and out of all of them I think the Dundee Comics Day offers something really unique. Despite the big names in attendance there are no big egos and there is a much more intimate feeling, with the creators really engaging with fans in a way that just isn’t possible at some of the other larger events I’ve been to. A massive thanks to all the creators and organisers for putting together such a great event (and a special thank you to Frank Quitely who very graciously agreed to pose for a portrait/headshot for an upcoming piece of work – which I will blog about in greater detail once I can).

Make sure and check out the full photo gallery for more photos from the day(s)!