Society of Strip Illustration

Society of Strip Illustration
AbbreviationSSI
Formation1977; 47 years ago (1977)
FoundersDenis Gifford
Dissolved2008
TypeComics creators organization
Legal statusDefunct
PurposeNetworking, presentation of annual awards for achievement in the comics field
Location
Region served
United Kingdom
Membership
UK comic book creators
Chairman
David Lloyd (c. 1982–1983)
Mark Buckingham (c. 1988)
Nicholas Vince (1992–1993)

The Society of Strip Illustration (SSI), later known as the Comics Creators Guild, was a British network for all those involved in any stage of the creative process of comics production. The SSI, which was co-founded in 1977 by Denis Gifford,[1] met monthly in London,[2] published a newsletter, and distributed annual awards for achievement in the field. Despite the organization's name, most members were comic book creators, as opposed to those of comic strips like those found in The Beano and The Dandy.

SSI members included Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Paul Neary,[3] Jim Baikie, Arthur Ranson,[4] Tony Weare,[5] Keith Watson, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Alan Grant, Bryan Talbot, David Lloyd, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Mark Buckingham,[6] Nicholas Vince, and John Maybury. For a while in the 1970s, the SSI met at the London Sketch Club in Dilke Street, Chelsea.[7]

  1. ^ Gifford entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "INTERVIEW: Watchmen legend Dave Gibbons," Creative Bloq (Aug. 09, 2012).
  3. ^ Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," DezSkinn.com. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Ranson, Arthur. "RIP Jim Baikie," ArthurRanson.com (January 2018). Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
  5. ^ "David Lloyd Interview (08.14)," The Comic Book Gazette (August 2014). Archived at Freewebs.com. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Rappaport, Adrienne. "Bucking the Trend: Mark Buckingham," Sequential Tart (February 25, 2008).
  7. ^ "Page 45’s Bryan Talbot Interview," Page 45 website (April 2007). Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.