DC exclusive artist Mike Perkins has created the artwork for our stunning new flyer this year. Mike will be joined by a host of other top comics creators signing with…

Before anyone can create any art there has to be a script. And this huge life size comic is no exception. We are delighted to announce that the story for the trail has been written by none other than the legendary 2000ad writer and Judge Dredd co creator John Wagner! We are absolutely thrilled that John could be Our writer on the Comics Trail, weaving a time hopping and inspiring yarn that delves into the history of Shrewsbury as well as looking ahead to the future.

The Eisner’s are the most prestigious awards in the comic industry and five of the guests attending the festival in the beautiful town of Shrewsbury for a weekend celebration of the comics art form, have been nominated.

The high standard of events being announced for the first Comics Salopia Festival in Shrewsbury is pretty staggering, but the latest event announcement is hitting another level of the creative stratosphere as legendary writer, book designer and public speaker Chip Kidd is confirmed to be delivering an inspiring talk to festival attendees at the University on Saturday 1st June at 14.45 pm.

He has also done a plethora of TV shows including The John Bishop Show, Live at the Apollo and 8 out of 10 Cats and Dara O’Brien’s Go 8 Bit. He has since been asked to host Live at the Apollo for this year’s series.

Today we visited the Debate-Ed event organised by our sponsors Lanyon Bowdler. Our Directors were invited to be judges, as school children from all over Shropshire were tasked with putting across their arguments on topical issues. Prizes were awarded for best individual debaters and best groups. It was inspiring to see so many bright and intelligent children and young people engaging in so many issues and speaking with such confidence and eloquence.

We are very proud to announce that we have now confirmed super star artist FRANK QUITELY as our headline guest for the festival joining our other big headline names. Of course the artist known as Frank Quitely is now one of the most sought after comics artists in the business but he started out writing and drawing his own strips in indy comic Electric Soup.

It’s been quite some time since DC Thomson have been involved with a major Comics Festival in England. In fact if you cast your mind back 20 years to the now famous “Comics ’99” festival in Bristol you will possibly be remembering the last time. We are therefore absolutely thrilled that the iconic publisher will be bringing the mischief and fun of their flagship comic The Beano to Comics Salopia this June as they join our partners Redan Publishing in making the free Kids Zone at the Library the go to destination for younger readers.

An Interview with Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard and Kid's Comic Art workshops with Sarah McIntrye are the first of many events to be rolled out for Shrewsbury's new International Comics Art Festival.