An Arts Council funding stream which has helped to deliver free comic-making workshops to children and young adults in Gloucestershire will soon turn the page for an exciting graphic art exhibition opening in Gloucester next month.
Showcasing the talents of some of the leading names in contemporary comic art, the Afterlife Inc. Volume 7 exhibition, from Saturday March 15 to the following Friday 21, will be staged at Jolt Studios and will provide a free opportunity for visitors to get up close to a cross-section of some of today’s best UK comic creators working in the industry.
Alongside a glittering selection of emerging talent, featured works will include comic artists Raffaele Ricciardi, JP Jordan, V.V. Glass and Will Tempest, along with Jon Lock, the Gloucester-based comic writer who works from the Jolt studios.
Jon told Punchline-Gloucester.com: “The exhibition celebrates the release of my new graphic novel, Afterlife Inc. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded creators and fans and discover amazing artwork here in the heart of Gloucester.”
He added that the event had been made possible through a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England, the UK’s national development agency for creativity and culture.
Having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, Jon’s Afterlife Inc. series has gained recognition as one of the UK’s most acclaimed independent comics. The series follows the misadventures of Jack Fortune, a con-artist who dies, discovers an afterlife in chaos – and decides to take over and run it like a business.
As the co-founder of independent publisher Big Punch Studios, Jon has written and edited numerous titles over the last decade. His work has been featured in 2000AD Magazine (the home of characters such as Judge Dredd) and he is also the writer of Tiny Hercules, a new series of graphic novels published by Macmillan Children’s Books, who signed Jon up for a four-book deal in September last year.
Beyond his work in comics, Jon has also written for multiple video games, including Toxic Crusaders, based on the cult Toxic Avenger movie franchise from Troma Entertainment.
He added: “Bringing this story to life over the past year has been an incredible opportunity, and I’m immensely grateful to Arts Council England, the team at Gloucester Culture Trust, and my talented collaborators for their support in making this possible.
“This project has also helped fund free comic-making workshops for children and young adults in Gloucester, who I hope will be inspired to make their own comics and stories a reality in the coming years.”
● Free tickets for the event can be booked by visiting here, while Jolt Studios can be found at 27 Saint Aldate Street (first floor) GL1 1RP.
