Holy smokes, Batman! An entire weekend devoted to comics? That’s exactly what Copenhagen Comics has in store for the first weekend of June, and the two-day festival is jam-packed with workshops, panel discussions and an array of exhibitions all devoted to the world of illustrated storytelling.
Copenhagen Comics, previously running under the name of Komics.dk, is a biennial international festival, and it is the biggest comics event in Denmark. Started a decade ago, the festival has grown in size and popularity with each edition.
In the past, the festival has played host to a slew of famous names in the comic book world, including Kurt Buseik, a writer for Marvel who, for four years, wrote Avengers; Don Rosa, the illustrator and writer behind the stories of Disney’s Donald Duck and his uncle Scrooge McDuck; and Marv Wolfman, the writer of Marvel’s The Tomb of Dracula and DC Comics’ The New Teen Titans.
This year’s festival will feature a handful of greats, all highly skilled and widely-read, as well as a few esoteric names from Scandinavia and around the world. For starters, Frazer Irving, an English artist, will be in attendance. Irving takes credit for the illustrations for Uncanny X-Men, a revived take on the Marvel universe for a series called MARVEL NOW. Japanese anime connoisseur Mel Kishida will be showcasing his widely-recognised artistic stylings. Cartoonist Jill Thompsan is known for her work on DC Comics’ Wonder Woman for some years, and she has also illustrated for ten of Neil Gaiman’s ever-popular series Sandman. Additionally, Frode Øverli, widely regarded as the most successful cartoonist in all of Scandinavia right now, will be in attendance. Perhaps most famous, however, is Charlie Adlard, the British comic book artist who has worked on The Walking Dead comic series since early 2004.
But perhaps meeting these illustrators and writers aren’t enough. Do you have work of your own? Maybe you’vealways wanted someone to take a look at it? This is your chance! The festival is giving aspiring artists the chance to have their portfolios reviewed by several of the published professionals in attendance. From noon to 16:30 on June 1, you could have the chance to sit with these comic creators. Note that space is limited, so be sure to sign up by email (lars.boyer@copenhagencomics.dk).
The official programme is yet to be set in stone, but suffice it to say there will be plenty to explore. Both fair-weather fans and fanatics alike can enjoy the array of comic book goings-on. The sun will be shining, so get your spider-senses tingling and prepare to unleash your inner geek!
Copenhagen Comics
Øksnehallen, Halmtorvet 11, Cph V; Sat & Sun 10:00-18:00; one-day tickets: adults 80kr, under-15s 50kr, two-day tickets: adults 120kr, under-15s 60kr, tickets available at door; www.copenhagencomics.dk
