Hull Libraries are hosting a celebration of comic books and graphic novels this August, with a host of workshops and panels throughout of the week starting on the second of August. The entire event is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance (which you can do, here). The only part of the week long festival that does not require booking, is the David Lloyd book signing on Saturday, the seventh of August. The event marks the BBC’s 100 Novels that Shaped Our World, with Hull Libraries concentrating on graphic literature in particular.
The book signing will take place between 10am and midday on the Saturday, at Hull Central Library in Hull’s city centre. Lloyd will be selling volumes of his online comics art magazine, Aces Weekly. The artist will no doubt be signing hundreds of ‘V for Vendetta‘ books, for which he is best known, at the event.
David Lloyd
V for Vendetta is generally regarded as being one of the greatest graphic novels of all time, and easily one of the best by both David Lloyd and writer Alan Moore. It was originally published in black-and-white in the British comic Warrior, between 1982 and 1985 when the series abruptly ended with the comic’s cancellation. DC Comics managed to convince Moore and Lloyd to reprint the unfinished story in full colour, and finally publish the final missing issues. The comic has been in print ever since, formally under the DC Vertigo brand and more recently under DC Black Label, with the latest edition of note being a gorgeous oversized hardback ‘deluxe edition’ edition to mark the thirtieth anniversary.
“Hull Libraries has, once again, put together an incredible programme. David Lloyd is royalty in the comic book world, with his V for Vendetta illustrations having become iconic. I’m delighted that we are able to host such a fantastic event next month.” – Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure
V for Vendetta enjoyed mainstream success with the Wachowskis and frequent collaborator James McTeigue in their 2005 epic movie of the same name. The film, the first to be fully directed by McTeigue after working with the Wachowskis on The Matrix trilogy and George Lucas on Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, starred Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry, Stephen Rea and John Hurt. The film popularised the comic, now published as a graphic novel, and the Guy Fawkes mask.
The film made many changes to the original source material, Americanising the story and adapting it to a global audience. The graphic novel centred on anti-Thatcherism in the early eighties, pitting fascism and anarchism against one another, while the film adaptation afforded the Wachowskis an opportunity to highlight neoconservatism against liberalism. The film proved to be very popular in the States, but is often criticised by British fans, and comic book readers in particular, for the changes made.
Other events of note during the festival include:
Mason Mooney: Paranormal Investigator Story Time. Monday, 2nd of August, East Park Library, 10am until 11am; Tuesday, 3rd of August, Freedom Centre Library, 10am until 11am; Tuesday, 3rd of August, Avenues Library, 2.30pm until 3.30pm; Thursday, 5th of August, Fred Moore Library, 10am until 11am; Thursday, 5th of August, Ings Library, 2.30pm until 3.30pm.
Three Little Vikings with author and illustrator Bethan Woollvin. Monday, 2nd of August, Bransholme & Western Libraries, 2.30pm until 3.30pm; Wednesday, 4th of August, Gipsyville & Greenwood Avenue Libraries, 2.30pm until 3.30pm.
Meet Mason Mooney author and illustrator Seaerra Miller. Thursday, 5th of August, online (Zoom), 6pm until 7pm
V for Vendetta Book Club. Monday, 2nd of August, online (Zoom), 7pm until 8pm.
Making Marks @ Hull Makerspace. Wednesday, 4th of August, Makerspace, Hull Central Library, 4pm until 7pm.
David Lloyd talks V for Vendetta. Friday, 6th of August, Hull Central Library and online (Zoom), 7pm.
Tickets for the other parts of the event may be booked here. Paul Eke, owner of Hull’s own local comic book shop Amazing Fantasy, has plenty of copies available instore of V for Vendetta. Amazing Fantasy can be found on Anlaby Road, opposite the train station car park, and online here. Amazing Fantasy is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and enforces mask coverings during visits.
Words: Graeme Small
