Shane Chebshey is the founder of Smallzone; a small press distribution company that sells UK (and other countries) small press/indie titles all across the world. Before Across the Pond went on hiatus I asked whether he’d be interested in giving us a guided tour of the UK Small Press Scene…here it is)
Will Cooling
The Small Press Renaissance
By Shane Chebsey
When many people talk about British comics they are referring to titles like 2000ad or Judge Dredd Megazine. Or they could be just being nostalgic and thinking back to classic titles like Warrior, Misty, or Scream.
The reason for their nostalgia is probably an idea that British comics are on the decline due to talent going overseas, or the brick wall of the general public’s perception of the medium.
However, these people are completely unaware of a thriving comics movement that has returned to these shores after a short time in hibernation during the early nineties.
The huge success of US titles like X Force and Spiderman during this period seemed to overshadow and perhaps frighten away this movement as fans and readers scavenged frantically for a chance at the big time.
But once the feeding frenzy had ended and the carcass of the English speaking comics industry simply shuddered as a nerve response, this shy creature started to wake from its long slumber.
I am – of course – referring to the British and Irish Self Publishing scene, which I first came into contact with around 1994 while publishing my own anthology.
Back then everything was still pretty much cut and paste and photocopiers, with the odd loony like CM Comics (remember them?) splashing out on professional printing in US format.
I don’t know whether or not they sold the thousands of comics they claimed to, but they disappeared with the last remnants of the early nineties investment boom.
Things seemed to change around 1999 when the first UK Comics Festival rose from the ashes of The UK Comics Art Convention. While trying to sell my wares at a table, I noticed that many other publishers were doing the same, and that the production quality of many of the comics on display was very high.
The age of Comics DTP was dawning!
Marvel UK had all but disappeared, 2000AD was going through a slump, and the kids were into Playstation and Pokemon. There was, and still is, a growing demand for good UK comics, and now they are easier and cheaper to produce.
Today I know of over 200 UK self-publishers producing comics, mostly on a regular basis, and I’m discovering more every week. The nostalgia seekers and matured readers who were once unaware of these diverse and often beautifully crafted books are now discovering them.
Even retailers who would once tell a small presser to “kindly go away with your amateur comic” are starting to take notice of the growing awareness and demand for original self published material.
So what’s on offer?
What would you like to read?
Crime stores, science fiction, westerns, soap operas, urban fantasy, war comics, humour, even those pesky super heroes. Every type of genre, a myriad of subjects, formats and art styles are on offer to the aspiring small press reader.
It’s true that some of the material is lacking in substance and technical ability, but it’s also true that some of the most thought provoking and innovative comics being produced today are being published by one-man bands or small collectives of like minded creators.
One such collective is the Accent UK group, who publish the excellent Red Eye Magazine, and who, this year, brought out the stunning Pirates Anthology.
Then there are the scores of creators who publish by themselves. It’s no mean feat to take on every aspect of publishing a comic book, from the creative through to marketing, distribution, and sales. Yet over a hundred creators are doing it every year.
People like Malcy Duff, Gary Northfield, Tony McGee, Martin Eden, Ed Traquino, and Roger Mason to name just a few. All producing work of the highest standard, and all distinctly different from each other.
All have received critical acclaim, and all share a common quality: They work really hard, and publish on a regular basis. Some of them almost monthly, while holding down full time jobs.
So next time you think of British comics and wonder what happened, or your shaking your head at the small choice of British mainstream comics, type “small press comics UK” into your search engine.
You may be surprised at what you find.
A big thank you to Shane for that illuminating look at the UK Small Press scene. You can find out more and order some excellent comics over at www.smallzone.co.uk.
Also may I use this opportunity to apologise to those who have given me review copies and are still waiting for reviews. Personal problems caused me to take a hiatus from reviewing for The Nexus…however, I’m back so look forward to those reviews very soon.
As for Across The Pond it returns next week as a single writer column for the one, the only Floyd Kermode.
