A COMICA REVIEW BY:
MIKE LEADER
Mike Leader attended the 2008 Comica Comiket event. The following review appeared on his blog Wild Tyme.
Yesterday I shuffled down to the ICA to check out the ‘Comiket’ (I only realised afterwards that it was a portmanteau of Comic and Market) put on as part of the Comics mini-festival.
It was packed to bursting with enthusiastic, earnest artists hustling their work. I was painfully aware of my lack of funds, so decided to take a lot of cards, flyers and online details in place of proper financial support. I’d given myself the budget of ‘the change in my pocket’ (~ £4), and was a little dismayed that it wouldn’t take me too far.
Nevertheless, I managed to have a chat with some of the artists, and compiled a huge list of small press comics to check out in the future. I also met up with Dom from London Loves Comics, and we proceeded to talk about comic-y things in the bar. It was good to have a drink with a like-minded chap, and helped tone down the overwhelmingness of the situation.
In the end, I ferreted out some bargains, mostly old issues or modest collections, and left with 4 comics.
I will probably write more on them in the next few days, but here’s a quick run-down of what I bought.
- A Music Paper, by Alastair Maceachern (‘AM’). A collection of strips based around music fanzines, indie subcultures and amateur journalism.
- I Was a Teenage Bookbinder #2, by Alicia Pang. A short collection of observations about London.
- Morgenmuffel no.16, by Isy. A politically-charged zine that features cartoons and rants.
- Paper Tiger Comix #1. A pretty huge collection of varied comics by various people.






