Dundee’s first Free Comic Book Day will encourage children to explore the original characters behind some of the world’s most famous films.
The national event will be held on Saturday at Dundee Comics Creative Space in the Vision Building in the city’s West End.
Organised in conjunction with comic book publisher and video game developer Rebellion, the event will see experts teach youngsters how to create their own characters and comic books.
Rebellion owns 2000 AD, a magazine which publishes comics featuring world-famous characters such as Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper.
Similar events will be held in London and Glasgow with free copies of comics handed out at all the workshops.
It is the first time the workshops will be held in conjunction with Rebellion, however Dundee Comics Creative Space have been holding similar seminars for the past four years.
The sessions will also encourage kids to visit their local comic book store.
Phillip Vaughan, Art Director of Dundee Comics Creative Space and Msc Animation Course Director at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, said: “The event is all about promoting the industry.
“It will put a spotlight on the physical comic books where all these ideas for major films came from.
“We have been putting on these kinds of workshops for the last four years through the Rank Foundation charity but this will be the first time we have teamed up with Rebellion.”
Free Comic Book Day originally started in the USA before eventually making its way to the UK.
The day has never been marked with any events in Dundee until this year.
Phillip says this has has long been a frustration considering Dundee-based DC Thomson has produced some of the UK’s best-loved comics such as Oor Wullie, The Broons, The Beano, The Dandy, and Commando.
“Unfortunately all the city’s comic book stores are closed now,” he said.
“But Dundee, I would say, is unique in the world in that there is so much comic history here.
“In many other places the companies which produced them have long moved away or shut down.
“But there is so much still here and a huge amount of collaboration is going on in the city — from freelancers to education and employers.”
The events will mark the release of Rebellion’s ‘Funny Pages’ and ‘Cor!! & Buster Special’ titles.
The workshop will run from 1.30 to 3.30pm with no prior booking required.
