The UK independent comic scene has seen an explosion in quality and quantity over the last few years, and its presence is being increasingly felt in comic shops, on websites and in magazines, like
Comics International's very own
Panel Beaters.
Now the Engine Comics editor of
The Rough Guide to Self Publishing and
Redeye Magazine, Barry Renshaw, is taking another ambitious step further to bring together and promote the best of UK self publishing talent in
Anthology 05.
"It is essentially a project to show a snapshot of what is happening in small press and self publishing today," says Barry. "The concept grew out of a discussion online, where we realised how simple it should be for creators to all contribute work to one source, chip in a tenner or two to cover costs while the editor and moderators do all the leg work with printers and distribution. But I know the mailing lists and websites represent only a fraction of the SP community in the UK and Ireland, so I wanted to be sure that everyone who might be interested in contributing would be aware of it."
One of the anthology's moderators, Jay (
The Girly Comic) Eales adds: "We also want to strengthen ties between self-publishers. There's a lot of experience out there, but a lot of it is in little pockets, with each creator or group beavering away in isolation, learning the same lessons and making the same mistakes, without the benefit that sharing their experience
can bring.
Although there are no restrictions on genre, themes or style, there are basic guidelines available from the editor, and creators should be aware that the collected US format, square-bound book could be the first time someone sees their work. Interested creators should contact the editor direct before submitting. With a 1st March deadline for submissions,
Anthology is aiming to launch at Bristol 2004, where the sp presence has doubled each and every year and panels on self publishing have proven a big hit with attendees.
"I'm aiming for
Anthology to be an annual event with rotating editorship; to be a cross-section of what's out there today, to get it seen beyond the usual comic and indie channels, and even into places that 'mainstream' comics may not get to," Barry adds. "But it all comes down to the creators themselves. They have the collective power for it to work, they just need to talk to each other and take the opportunity to do something about it."
Contributors should contact
this address.
Anthology 05 will be released May 2004. Page count and price to be confirmed.
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