Image from the Comics and Conflicts poster

The Comics and Conflicts Conference – Stories of war in comics, graphic novels and manga will take place on 19-20 August at the Imperial War Museum, London. It is aimed at comics scholars, practitioners and enthusiasts. Conference speakers and guests include: Pat Mills (Charley’s War); Martin Barker and Roger Sabin on Doonesbury; Garth Ennis (Troubled Souls, War Stories) and Francesca Cassavetti (Fabtoons). The programme includes talks, workshops, a free film screening and a comic art exhibition.

The Comics and Conflicts Conference is organised by Electric Sheep assistant editor Alex Fitch (and presenter of Panel Borders, the UK’s only weekly broadcast radio show about comics), Ariel Kahn (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Roehampton University) and Paul Gravett (Comica Director).

More details on the IWM website or Panel Borders website.

Electric Sheep contributor Tom Humberstone is also the publisher of Solipsistic Pop, an anthology designed to spotlight the best in alternative comic art from the UK. It features diverse, beautiful, twisted and peculiar comics that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Comic artists old and new are encouraged to contribute.

Each book of Solipsistic Pop has a specific theme and Solipsistic Pop returns this November with Book Four: Maps. Book Four will be the largest and most ambitious volume yet – with 80 pages, 30 artists, a larger print-run of 1,000, and extensive interactive material that makes full use of the joy of the printed artefact.

Each copy ordered online will receive the book in a specially designed envelope in keeping with the Maps theme. A large folder designed by John Miers will house the book and additional elements – including a series of postcards that have been specially printed to encourage the reader to travel with their comics. Glow in the dark printing and seeded papers will be used along with state-of-the-art screenprinting techniques. A wraparound book cover by Stephen Collins will be protected by a large A2 poster/dustjacket designed by Katie Green.

Featured artists: Takayo Akiyama / Kristyna Baczynski / Dan Berry / Joe Blann / Stephen Collins / Rob Davis, Paul Harrison Davis / Joe Decie / John Cei Douglas / Oliver East / Nick Edwards / Marc Ellerby / Paul Francis, Katie Green / Isabel Greenberg / Howard Hardiman / Ste Hitchen / Anne Holiday / Tom Humberstone / Joe List / Lizz Lunney / John Miers / Kathryn Newman / Luke Pearson / Philippa Rice / Jenny Robins / Edward Ross / Alison Sampson / Anna Saunders / Matthew Sheret

They Need Your Help

Due to the more ambitious nature of the fourth volume of Solipsistic Pop, they need help meeting the printing cost of the book and securing the collateral to establish a larger distribution model to the previous three volumes. The funding target is just over £5,000 which would go a long way to meeting the printing costs and allow for a more sustainable business model for future editions of the book.

What You Get

Depending on your ability to contribute and invest in Solipsistic Pop, there are several exciting incentives available – from signed, exclusive postcards and badges to pre-ordered copies of Solipsistic Pop 4, free tickets to launch events, digital downloads, original artwork, limited edition prints, a credit in the book and even extremely rare printing plates.

Everyone who donates will receive regular updates about Solipsistic Pop 4‘s progress before anyone else and will be invited to future Solipsistic Pop events throughout 2012.

More information on Solipsistic Pop. To donate, please go to indiegogo.com.