Most people’s comic book obsessions once ended at a relatively young age – but that’s not necessarily the case these days.
The storytelling art form has developed from one that was almost exclusively consumed by children to a major industry that equally relies on an adult fanbase with significant spending power.
On the comic map
OnFife’s latest exhibition sketches its own narrative. It makes a case for some of the area’s most talented residents over the past 140 years, who were crucial to Scotland’s success in exporting its own versions of the format to an international audience.
The cultural trust’s Ross Christie oversees the running of community spaces. After reading about Dunfermline-based Commando writer Colin Maxwell devising last year’s inaugural Scottish Comic Book Day, he invited him to organise a display in the town’s Carnegie Library and Galleries.
Aimed at comic geeks and nostalgia-seekers alike, Comic Kingdom opened its doors on October 31 – it runs for two and a half months – and displays a broad range of strip cartoons credited to artists and writers with Fife ties.
Creativity happens here
“People forget that creativity does happen here, even if it’s directed towards the surrounding cities, with comic books really indicative of that,” says Ross, adding that Colin’s industry contacts freed up items that might otherwise have proved awkward to source.
Staff at Dunfermline comic book shop Little Shop Of Heroes also offered advice. “Collecting things together was quite straightforward,” he reveals.
“There are original drawings from some local comic book creators, but there’s also printed covers and other things from elsewhere, so it’s a mixture of different materials and processes, plus actual comic books which are on display.”
For the history buffs
There’s plenty at OnFife’s disposal to offer a worthwhile visit for history buffs. “We’ve some work from Martin Anderson, whose pen name was Cynicus,” explains Ross.
“He was from Leuchars and was the first artist to be employed by a British newspaper in 1880 – he illustrated articles for publications like the Dundee Advertiser and the People’s Friend.
“He gets a mention, as do artists from the ’30s and ’40s who drew comic strips for national titles like Triumph adventure comic and Red Star Weekly.
Big names
“More recently, we had people like John Wagner and Pat Mills who worked for DC Thomson and went on to publications like 2000 AD and Action and Battle comics.
“We’ve also mentioned authors like Ian Rankin and Val McDermid who’ve created graphic novels, although sadly we don’t have any of the original drawings.”
Bringing things right up to date is recent illustrative work by Fife-based trio Graham Manley – he was behind Commando’s latest issue – nature-themed comic creator Julie Campbell and Catriona Laird, whose publications include My Monster Ex-Girlfriends and Nasty Girls.
“A lot of different comic book creators, especially working in Fife, are touching on elements of their own life as well,” says Ross.
“It’s not just the sort of fantastical superheroes you might be expecting. There’s a real variety out there at the moment, with stories and styles that cover all sorts of personal dramas and insights into people’s lifestyles, so it’s quite interesting.”
- Comic Kingdom is open daily until January 14, admission is free.
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