Now more than ever we REALLY need a British Comic Awards.

iandsharman:

A set of awards that actually celebrates and promotes the UK comic industry.

Because, seriously, what credibility does an award have if it’s run by a convention that actively bans large chunks of the UK industry from attending the show? How can that be in any way impartial or promote the industry as a whole?

No, we need a British Comic Awards, and we need it now.

There needs to be one that is moderated by a select panel of judges who know their stuff, won’t play favourites with their colleagues. These people would police the public’s suggestions and pick the worthy few for the final round.

None of this ‘what is Alan Moore doing in the favourite newcomer section’?

We need awards that will matter because they’d recognise the hard craft that goes into creating these pieces.

Si Spurrier on LSCC Events

Furthering on from my earlier post with regards to gender parity in comic convention panels, here’s a follow up from Si Spurrier who have up his panel seat at last week’s London Super Comic Con to Tammy Taylor. It’s an interesting read, especially since his intentions are positive, though ‘low risk’ by his own admission.

Random Ramblings of a Ragamuffin: A thought on gender parity at comic cons...

iandsharman:

I have to say that it’s always going to be very tricky for any convention organiser to achieve gender parity on convention panels while the industry as a whole remains incredibly skewed towards male creators. That’s not to say that I don’t admire the principle of male creators stepping off panels…

There will be resistance to change and accusations of tokenism, I’m sure. The gesture’s sentiment is appreciated, but the approach should be less sensationalist. Conventions, their organisers and attendees will benefit more positively if the panels and guests are decided well ahead of time, rather than as a last-minute announcement (possibly disappointing and frustrating some fans).

From my experience working at Orang Utan Comics and Markosia, there’s never ever been a hint of being judged by anything other than my skill. The Indy comics community also seems to be very positive and supportive of anyone willing to prove their commitment. I count myself fortunate to be in such educated and gender-positive company, both male and female.

Encouraging more female creators to take part in panels is a great idea, not only as an encouragement for the next generation of artists and writers, but also for another perspective on the business. Should there be a seat available on a panel discussing my particular area of expertise – art and colour - I will gladly accept it and represent. ;)

yayponies: It’s a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings – one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. Today, for the first time, the happily reunited couple was gay. The dock landing ship Oak Hill has been gone for nearly three months, training with military allies in Central America. As the homecoming drew near, the crew and ship’s family readiness group sold $1 raffle tickets for the first kiss. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 - which is actually fewer than many people buy, she said, so she was surprised Monday to find out she’d won. Her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was waiting when she crossed the brow. They kissed. The crowd cheered. And with that, another vestige of the policy that forced gays to serve in secrecy vanished. By Corinne Reilly The Virginian-Pilot© December 21, 2011  This made the front page of the Independent. Made my morning. Though the road to acceptance of gender and (a)sexuality, in all their rich varieties, is a long and difficult one, these are a few of the first, positive steps. :)
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yayponies:

It’s a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings – one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one.
Today, for the first time, the happily reunited couple was gay.

The dock landing ship Oak Hill has been gone for nearly three months, training with military allies in Central America.

As the homecoming drew near, the crew and ship’s family readiness group sold $1 raffle tickets for the first kiss. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 - which is actually fewer than many people buy, she said, so she was surprised Monday to find out she’d won.

Her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was waiting when she crossed the brow.

They kissed. The crowd cheered. And with that, another vestige of the policy that forced gays to serve in secrecy vanished.

By Corinne Reilly
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 21, 2011 

This made the front page of the Independent. Made my morning. Though the road to acceptance of gender and (a)sexuality, in all their rich varieties, is a long and difficult one, these are a few of the first, positive steps. :)

Watched ‘The Ides of March’ today.
Was entertaining enough, if a little linear. The movie was clearly aiming for a more complex political thriller, but idled instead in the fairly straightforward ‘everyone will eventually screw you over both literally and figuratively’. The plot could have benefited from further layering, which may have added to what felt like a short movie.

A few interesting thoughts to be had such as the corruption of the idealistic and of the innocent and of secrets hidden beneath shallow masks.

Directing was good, though I found the tender, lingering shots of Gosling a little too curious but not unpleasing. The film both starts and ends on his face, so perhaps there was something else to be gleaned there.

~YZ