X-Mas SCC Meeting - 16th December, No Sign Bar, 8pm

The third Swansea Comics Collective meeting and the last of 2008 will be held at the No Sign Wine Bar on Wind Street on Tuesday 16th December from 8pm. We've tried to move the days around to catch as many interested people as possible and started the frequency at bi-weekly, mail us if you've not managed to attend yet and we'll see what we can do.

Last meeting (1-12-08) round-up: The Collective is really starting to heat up, we had four comic stories discussed at the latest meeting. All in various forms from rough concepts and character ideas to written page breakdowns. Most of the ideas have been posted on the SCC Google Group, and some of the artists have already started collaborating and sketching. If you want to read them or post your own thoughts, join up and head on over here.

Hope to see you there, if not, Merry X-mas!

The journey commenced

Hey, we did it!
18 members made it to the Brunswick for the first meeting. It was an enthusiatic affair, members introduced themselves, got to know each other and chatted about comics. There was a good mix of writers and artists, Dan, Lee and Pietro brought along their sketchbooks to show them around.

If you can't attend the meetings sign up to our Google group we've set it up so members can discuss and post directly with each other. We will continue to post info on the blog but mainly to advertise our existence and inform interested parties who've seen our posters.

We want to keep the momentum going and everyone at the first meeting seemed keen so we're having the next meeting on Monday 1st December from 8pm at the Brunswick Inn.

First Meeting Date Announced

About bloomin' time an' all!
Yes, your patience has been rewarded, the first meeting is taking place on Wednesday, 12th November at the Brunswick Inn, 3 Duke Street, Swansea from 8pm. Brunswick map and directions are here.

This first meeting will be about establishing the group goals and getting to know the members so there is no need to bring anything but yourselves. If you can't make this meeting, don't worry we will hold meetings every month.

Can't wait for the meeting? Want to get started now? Head on over to the new SCC google group at groups.google.com/group/swanseaComicsCollective/ . Here you can discuss your ideas with other members and post up sketches, pics, files whatever you need to get those comic ideas flowing. The group is just for SCC members so you will have to request membership but once you have joined you use the same login info as this blog.

Hope to see all there!

MC2 sets the bar

Let's be clear we're not going to be breaking new ground here. There's a lot of British small press comics out there and a few comics collectives currently running in the UK. After a quick search, one group really stands out, the Midlands Comics Collective or MC². Established for several years, their ranks include professional & amateur artists and writers. They have produced a 96 page anthology and 3 comics and they are very, very good. Their current Chair, Laura Howell has been really helpful and generous with her advice which has given us an invaluable assist in setting up. These guys have shown us the way so as a huge thanks to Laura and MC², I would encourage everyone to visit their site comicscollective.co.uk, check out their activities and buy some of their comics!

Thanks for the support

Thanks to everyone who has shown interest and support for the group. Special thanks to Simon at the Comix Shoppe for letting us clutter up his walls and kudos to those who have distributed posters around the city.
We will be emailing the first meeting info very soon so make sure we have your email address.
If we don't already have it, try one of the following:

• email SwanseaComicsCollective@gmail.com
• Become a follower of this blog
• Sign up on the poster in the Comix Shoppe

Thanks again and we'll see you real soon!

Launch Party

Pete, Mark and some new shelves.

We've got the posters done and they're up in the Comix Shoppe and a few other select places around town. So we're gonna see how much interest we get in a coupla weeks an then organise the first meeting.

Origin Story

How did it all start? Two blokes moaning in the Comix Shoppe about how they wished they had time to do some comics of their own.

Mark 'Son of Ken' Hughes and Pete 'Meanwhile' Taylor had been here before, well Mark worked there. Then the idea struck, it struck Pete first he being slightly taller. They would set up a group for people in Swansea who want to write and draw comics. It's goals would be:

• To create original comics, in all its forms and genres
• To encourage and support its members in creating comics
• To meet & socialise with people who share these goals
• To share resources & publish the group's comics

That had to help they thought. Let's do it.

Interested? Email us at swanseaComicsCollective@gmail.com and we'll send you details of the first meeting.