Check out this months LGNN comic book / graphic novel monthly meetup groups happening across London in February
Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group
Monday 3rd February
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Brompton Library, 210 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0BS
The reading group usually takes place on the second Monday evening of every month, but we’re holding it early this month. There may be a pub quiz afterwards if you want to join in!
For the next session on Monday 3rd February we will be discussing the absolutely bonkers dark genius of ED THE HAPPY CLOWN, by the Canadian cartoonist and illustrator Chester Brown.
In the late 1980s, the idiosyncratic Chester Brown began writing the cult classic comic book series Yummy Fur. Within its pages, he serialised the groundbreaking Ed the Happy Clown, revealing a macabre universe of parallel dimensions. Thanks to its wholly original yet disturbing story lines, Ed set the stage for Chester Brown to become a world-renowned cartoonist. Ed the Happy Clown is a hallucinatory tale that functions simultaneously as a dark roller-coaster ride of criminal activity and a scathing condemnation of religious and political charlatanism.
“In the late 1980s, the idiosyncratic Chester Brown (author of the much-lauded Paying For It and Louis Riel) began writing the cult classic comic book series Yummy Fur. Within its pages, he serialised the groundbreaking Ed the Happy Clown, revealing a macabre universe of parallel dimensions. Thanks to its wholly original yet disturbing story lines, Ed set the stage for Chester Brown to become a world-renowned cartoonist. Ed the Happy Clown is a hallucinatory tale that functions simultaneously as a dark roller-coaster ride of criminal activity and a scathing condemnation of religious and political charlatanism. As the world around him devolves into madness, the eponymous Ed escapes variously from a jealous boyfriend, sewer monsters, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and a janitor with a Jesus complex. Brown leaves us wondering, with every twist of the plot, just how Ed will get out of this scrape. The intimate, tangled world of Ed the Happy Clown is definitively presented here, repackaged with a new foreword by the author and an extensive notes section, and, as with every Brown book, astonishingly perceptive about the zeitgeist of its time.”
Shoe Lane Comic Forum
Tuesday 4th February
5:30pm – 7pm
Shoe Lane Library, Hill House, 1 Little New St, London EC4A 3JR
A fun and informal book group dedicated to the understanding and enjoyment of the multifaceted medium of comic books and graphic novels. Make friends, converse, get recommendations and choose from a wide selection of books to borrow and take home. From novices to fanatics: open to all.
For more info please get in touch
Islington Comic Forum
Tuesday 4th February
6:30pm – 7:30pm
North Library, Manor Gardens N7 6JX
Like comic books / graphic novels? On the first Tuesday of every month Islington Comic Forum have the pick of the best of the Islington library comic book stock for your selection. Meet and talk with other members. Hear recommendations. Tell us what you think. Borrow titles to take home.
For more info: facebook page here
WIP Comics
Saturday 8th February
11:30am – 3pm
5th Floor Foyer/Bar of the Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX (map)
This month it’s on the 1st Saturday of the month! Originally known as Graphic Novels and Comics, Critique and Collaboration Meetup was established by Michal Ingram in July 2011 who came up with the idea of bringing comic creators together for the purpose of collaborating and giving each other feedback.
Church Street Library Graphic Novel Club
Monday 10th February
6:30pm – 8pm
Church Street Library, 67 Church St, Marylebone, London NW8 8EU
An opportunity for new readers and veterans of the medium to meet, discuss and share knowledge and opinions on anything related to the Graphic Novels.
WIP Creating Comics
Saturday 15th February
11am – 1pm
Third Saturday of every month
Upstairs of the Westminster Reference Library
35 St Martin’s St, London WC2H 7HP, UK (map)
FORMERLY VISUAL STORYTELLING STUDIES.
Creating Comics is a monthly meetup, where we study the craft of drawn narratives with the goal of helping people create their own comics.
This session is on new ideas and inspiration.
We’ll be…
-Doing creative exercises to help generate ideas.
-Discussing where people find inspiration for their comics.
-Sharing resources so people can continue to learn after the session!
This group will meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Share what you want to learn about creating comics with this padlet!
Barbican Comic Forum
Thursday 20th February
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Barbican Library, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
The Barbican Comic Forum is an informal group dedicated to the understanding and enjoyment of the multifaceted medium of comic books and graphic novels. Make friends, converse, get recommendations and choose from a wide selection of books to borrow and take home. From novices to fanatics: open to all. Three things to note: 1. If you don’t have a City of London library card you can now join online (Anyone can join – you don’t have to live or work in the city to be a member: so come on – what’s stopping you?). 2. If you’re a little late – don’t worry about it. You can still just grab a chair and join in. 3. For those of you old enough: when the session finishes there will be a few of us heading to the pub.
For more info: Facebook / Email
Dalston Comic (creators) Club
Monday 24th February
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Lane, E8 3BQ
Dalston Comic (creators) Club: A monthly meet up for adults who make comics, or are interested in starting, hosted on the last Monday of every month, 6:30pm – 7:45pm at Dalston CLR James Library, Dalston Lane, London, E8 3BQ. The mission of the Dalston Comic (creators) Club, is to provide an environment that fosters creativity and an open community, where every session can be someone first, where participant learn from each other, in order to develop their storytelling and sequential narrative chops.
For more info: Facebook / Tumblr / Instagram / Twitter / Email
Comica Social Club
Wednesday 26th February
6:00pm – 10:00pm
Central Bar, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
The Comica Social Club is a monthly meetup for people interested in comics, manga and graphic novels. It is informal. You can chat, greet, gossip or network. Talk about your stuff, your big plan, your collection list (but we may run away) or what awaits in the reading nook?The Comica Social Club is every last Wednesday in the month—except December. We all look forward to meeting you. Come and Have Fun and Make New Friends!
For more info: Facebook Group
London Graphic Novel Network 