Manga MashUp Workshop, Vault Comics, Traveller: Far Trader & Dying Inside
Lakes International Comic Art Festival, GlobalComix & Markosia,
Recent comic news including:
A new workshop programme for young creators
Somewhere new to read Vault Comics.
A new issue of Traveller: Far Trader.
From Vault Comics Headshell imprint, it’s Dying Inside with a 10% discount will be available for the first 24 hours.
A new partnership to encourage new young creators at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Working in partnership with Barrow and Kendal Libraries, supported by Westmorland and Furness Council, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce a number of “Manga MashUp” workshops for young people.
Running in Barrow Library, also location to the final UK appearance, for now, of the Make Mine Manga exhibition until 31st May, and Kendal Library, the workshops are perfect for young people curious about manga as well as the avid fan. Curious and aspiring creatives are invited to explore the creative techniques behind the art and discover the wonder of manga and anime.
Three professional artists – Chie Kutsuwada, Sonia Leong and Inko Ai Takita – will lead different aspects of the workshop programme, the sessions open to 15 participants per workshop, aged 11 to 16. Each workshop is two and a half hours long, with a half break between sessions, where refreshments will be provided.
The workshops will be great and fun opportunity to find out more about Japanese manga culture, and try drawing manga characters with a professional manga artist.
“We are delighted to be working with the team at Kendal and Barrow libraries to offer these workshops, led by professional manga artists who work in the UK today,” says LICAF Festival Director Julie Tait. “This is such as popular form of comics, and all our libraries have great collections of manga to borrow. We hope these workshops inspire young people to continue to make manga comics in the future”.
• Full dates for the Manga MashUp Workshops Below | To browse or book, search the Westmorland and Furness Eventbrite page
• Make Mine Manga Exhibition – Barrow-in-Furness Central Library
Runs until 18th May 2024, Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 1LL
Web: westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Lakes international Comic Art Festival: Online Make Mine Manga Resources
GlobalComix has added a new publisher. Vault Comics is now available to read, and there is a great selection to explore.
GlobalComix, the digital home for the top independent publishers and emerging creators, has added acclaimed indie publisher Vault Comics’ story catalog to its growing library of digital graphic fiction. Also available today, GlobalComix has translated six of Vault’s most popular titles, Michael Moreci’s action-fantasy Barbaric, Justin Richards’ YA superhero epic Finger Guns, Christopher Cantwell’s sci-fi superhero series The Blue Flame, Tim Seeley and Sarah Beattie’s sexy space adventure Money Shot, David Andry’s sci-fi epic Resonant, and Si Spurrier’s horror western The Rush, into the mobile-optimized vertical scroll format preferred by today’s growing digital native audience, marking the first time that Vault’s biggest titles are available as vertical scroll episodes.
The debut of Barbaric, Finger Guns, The Blue Flame, Money Shot, Resonant, and The Rush in vertical scroll is just the beginning of a larger initiative by GlobalComix to reformat comics from their original standard print format to the more mobile-friendly style to revitalize classic titles and reintroduce them to digitally native readers.
“Vault consistently puts out some of the most exciting horror, fantasy, and science fiction titles in the market and we know our subscribers are going to love diving into their stories,” said Christopher Carter, CEO of GlobalComix. “There is a lot of potential in turning traditionally printed comics into vertical scroll for new digital-native audiences. We’re thrilled that Vault trusted us with translating some of their biggest stories to this format and look forward to readers’ reactions whether they are coming to these titles for the first time or are longtime fans.”
Damian Wassel, CEO of Vault, added, "We are excited to be partnering with GlobalComix to bring readers everywhere a new way to discover and enjoy Vault comics. The GC platform is on the bleeding edge of webcomic presentation and we're proud to have our catalog offered on it."
Vault Comics is an acclaimed publisher of bold science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics known for its hit titles including Barbaric, Money Shot, and Heathen. Vault joins the robust roster of independent publishers available on GlobalComix, including Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Oni Press, AWA Studios, Mad Cave Studios, and others.
To celebrate Vault joining GlobalComix, the platform is running a promotion on its website to receive 50% off a 12-month subscription with the code VAULT50.
Incredible titles from Vault Comics and many more are available in the GlobalComix App for iOS and Google Play and on the web.
This week, Markosia released Traveller: Far Trader #2, which includes some extras for the game it is linked to.
Aramis Subsector. The Imperial frontier. This isolated and volatile region is where the brave crew of the Nelanaak, or “Slowhand” as they call her, make their way as tramp traders. Buying low and selling high is the name of the game. Sometimes a single trading ship can make all the difference in a backwater place like Aramis, but sometimes such a ship is unwelcome. Traders must tread carefully.
Traveller is the role-playing game of the far future, first published in 1977, now brought to you by Mongoose Publishing. Traveller: Far Trader is a foray into Traveller’s celebrated Charted Space setting, where ordinary spacers take on extraordinary challenges.
This issue also includes bonus material for the game that describes Carsten Station, an orbital space station on the Imperial frontier, a place your Travellers can visit, engage in trade, have adventures, and brave the dangers of a wild frontier starport.
Written by Chris Griffen and illustrated by Xavier Bernard, Traveller: Far Trader #2 is out now in prestige format print and digital editions and is available to order now from the links on our website:
Check out markosia.com for more information on Markosia and all of our releases.
About Traveller:
Traveller is the role-playing game of the far future, first published in 1977, now brought to you by Mongoose Publishing.
Traveller is a tabletop game where characters journey through star systems, engaging in exploration, ground and space battles, and interstellar trading. Players assume various roles, such as humans, robots, aliens, or genetically engineered species. The game is influenced by various literary works and emphasizes commerce, sociological stratification, and a mix of low and high technology. The setting is centered around the human-dominated Third Imperium, a feudalistic interstellar empire. Despite the focus on humans, the Traveller universe is cosmopolitan and features various races, including major races like Aslan, Droyne, Hivers, K'kree, and Vargr, as well as numerous minor races. The game's history also features the Ancients, a highly advanced race that left behind ruins and artifacts scattered throughout the universe.
Traveller is highly regarded for its production value, sophisticated character generation system, and consistent rules. It has received positive reviews across various editions, with some critics calling it the best science-fiction RPG.
With Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, Hannah Klein, and Lisa Sterle, Vault Comics has announced a new graphic novel for their Headshell imprint - Dying Inside.
Vault Comics is thrilled to announce the first graphic novel from the Headshell imprint, Dying Inside, by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, Hannah Klein (Everything’s Fine), and Lisa Sterle (The Modern Witch Tarot, Witchblood) will kick off promotions with a collection of limited deluxe editions and an exclusive merch line, which are available for pre-order now at Vault Comics.
A 10% discount will be available for the first 24 hours starting May 1, 2024, with the first 10 customers receiving a free set of custom Skullcandy headphones and the first 100 customers receiving a free gift or upgrade.
Additionally, catch a sneak preview of Dying Inside during this year’s Free Comic Book Day celebration on Saturday, May 4th with an exclusive selection available to participating local comic shops. Dying Inside will be available September 2024.
“So psyched to be releasing Dying Inside. Hannah is one of my favorite contemporary writers, kind of if Larry David and Elliott Smith had a kid, and Lisa‘s an excellent addition to help bring this to life with her artistry. Can’t wait for it to be out in the world," said Pete Wentz.
Co-writer Hannah Klein stated, “When the idea sparked for Dying Inside, I had no idea what form it would end up taking. The fact that it started my foray into the world of graphic novels is one of the most exciting and surprising series of events and I’m so incredibly grateful. I’ve been working with Pete on various creative endeavors throughout the years, and I feel like our separate styles and shared vision really came through on this project especially with the absolutely singular and incredible art by Lisa Sterle, and the steady and supportive hand of Vault to guide the way. I feel so lucky that our vision was met with open arms and a million “yesses” to create the exact project we were hoping to achieve.”
Today is Ash’s big finale. And by finale, she means exiting the stage permanently. Ash is a sixteen-year-old girl with more angst than Ian Curtis and Elliott Smith combined (her two idols). She’s apathetic and therefore believes death is the easiest route to relief. But nothing is more embarrassing than a lame death. Unfortunately, her meticulous plans are all ruined when the beautiful knife she buys off a webstore turns out to be charmed with a protection spell. Now, Ash has to track down the witch who transformed her clocking out attempt into the worst gift imaginable: immortality. Turns out, the witch responsible is another sixteen-year-old-girl named (get this) Liv. The two vow to undo the charm together and fight for Ash’s death…even as things get increasingly entangled with a strange new antidepressant called Somnia and her mom’s gross boyfriend, Greg.
From Vault Comics CCO and editor-in-chief Adrian Wassel, “Sometimes, a perfect team comes together, and they share in the joy of making a story so much that it reminds me in a visceral way why I love editing. That’s been my experience with Hannah Klein, Lisa Sterle, and Pete Wentz as we created Dying Inside. We make comic books because we care about the stories and the medium, from literal rockstar Pete Wentz down to lil’ ‘ol editor me. Being in the room with two of my favorite creators, Hannah and Lisa, while a whole other side of artistry poured out of Pete has been one of the greatest joys of my career.”
Wassel further added, “Daisy Grenade even recorded original music to debut in the book at the concert our main characters attend. We can honestly say we took comic books and music and wove them together.” Dying Inside is a musically immersive experience, featuring original lyrics and poetry from Pete Wentz, an integrated playlist available now on Spotify, and never-before-heard music from Daisy Grenade.
The editions of Dying Inside include three alternate colorway editions with cover art by Lisa Sterle, including glitter, glow-in-the-dark, and “dark mode” covers, as well as collector’s editions with variant coverwrap art. Kicking off the merch collection for Headshell, featured Dying Inside art will be available on custom Skullcandy headphones, graphic t-shirts, hoodies, beanies, and print canvas tote bags, as well as enameled pins, stickers, and more.
And for artist Lisa Sterle, Dying Inside offered an opportunity that felt like fate. “I feel like I’ve been destined to draw this book. The art of Dying Inside is truly a reflection of all the things I am passionate about. I hope reading this book feels like listening to a heartbreaking song on a sunny day. I hope it feels like blue shadows in a dim bedroom, staring at the ceiling fan. I hope it feels like screaming your favorite lyrics back at your favorite band. I hope it feels like texting your best friend in the middle of the night because your thoughts won’t let you sleep.”
Wassel concluded, “[Dying Inside] is a testament to our love of storytelling, across mediums, across artforms, and a first look at the future we’re building at Vault and Headshell.” A darkly funny tale of life, music, and overcoming loneliness, Dying Inside is available for pre-order now and will be available in stores and online September 17, 2024.
WARNING: This book includes discussion of suicide and depiction of self-harm. While we hope this book will help some readers feel less alone, its content may be triggering. Please only read ahead if you are safe and supported. If you are struggling, it's important to share your feelings. The suicide and crisis lifeline is 988.