Comica

Comica
StatusDefunct
GenreComics
FrequencyAnnual
VenueInstitute of Contemporary Arts (2003–2009)
Location(s)London
CountryU.K.
InauguratedJune 2003; 21 years ago (2003-06)
FounderPaul Gravett and John Harris Dunning
Most recent2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Filing statusNonprofit
People"Team Comica": Gravett, Megan Donnolley, Peter Stanbury
Websitewww.comicafestival.com[dead link]

Comica, the London International Comics Festival, was a comics festival held in London. Organized by Paul Gravett, the festival generally took place over a number of weeks. In the beginning, the festival's main venue was London's Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA);[1] thus the name, "ComICA".[2]

Comica was held in the spirit of European conventions like the Angoulême International Comics Festival. As such, it was focused on the art and literature of the comics form, and only minimally on related pop-culture expression and merchandising. Comica featured panel discussions, graphic novel release signings, workshops, art exhibits, and film screenings, as well as a one-day small press fair (called Comica Comiket). British and North American comics were the main focus, but each festival highlighted work from other countries, including France, Japan, Korea, Italy, and comics from Eastern Europe.

Another recurring feature of Comica was the awarding of the Comica Graphic Short Story Prize, sponsored by The Observer newspaper, initially in association with publisher Jonathan Cape.

In addition to the festival itself, Comica occasionally produced other comics-related events during the year.[3][4]

  1. ^ Freeman, John (Oct 30, 2009). "Matters of Convention: ComICA". DownTheTubes.net.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference BleedingCool2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ White, Matt (Mar 24, 2014). "Upcoming Comics Events: March 24, 2014". Publishers Weekly. As part of the Comica Festival, Award-winning cartoonist Ben Katchor will be presenting his strips and discussing his work with singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Peter Blegvad at on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:15 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Gallery at Foyles Flasghip Bookshop in London, United Kingdom.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference BF20141006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).