Artists from Marvel to Beano to set up shop at MCM Comic Con's Artist Alley

MCM Comic Con is just a few weeks away, and the popular Artist Alley area is making a comeback! Artist Alley is the perfect spot for fans who wish to meet, chat with, and purchase art from independent artists and creators. It's a must-visit destination at MCM Comic Con.

Prints, sketches, original artwork, comics, and the opportunity to commission custom artwork are featured throughout. 

Artist Alley is set to feature a wide range of talented artists who have worked on popular webtoons as well as the biggest Marvel and DC comics. It's the perfect destination for budding artists to discover and learn from the best in the business and the ideal opportunity for comic book fans to get up close and personal with their favourite creators.

Artist Alley will also be the hotspot for all comic-related panels and workshops, helping aspiring comic book writers and artists to learn from the bet and break into the industry.

Don't miss out on the chance to meet your favourite comic creators and artists - secure your spot at MCM Comic Con by getting your tickets now at the official ticket page!

Comic workshop/panel highlights

Here are some highlights, but you can find the complete list below if you're interested!

Comic Book Layout 101 (with Clip Studio Paint) @ 1 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Panels, gutters and page flow – where do you begin when creating a comic? Join comic artists as they guide you through planning and laying out a comic to tell your story using unique comic and manga industry features on offer with Clip Studio Paint.

Workshop: Want to Write Your Own Comic? Let's Do it With Tpub! @ 5:15 pm, Platinum Suite.
Join Neil Gibson (Twisted Comics, Dark Horse Comics) as he runs a workshop where we will write a comic script from scratch. Who knows - it might even turn into a comic.

Cyanide & Happiness: How to Make a Funny 2 pm @ Artist Alley Stage.
Look behind the curtain and learn how Cyanide & Happiness came to be what it is today. Hear from the minds themselves on what makes them tick while also watching behind the scenes and some early exclusive and never before seen footage. Think you know funny?

Recognisable artists attending 

Alison Sampson
Alison is an award-winning London-based artist, drawing comics and illustrations in horror, fantasy, science fiction and adventure. Fans will be able to meet Alison and chat about Hellboy, Sleeping Beauties, Department of Truth and many more!

Hamish Steele 
Hamish, the brilliant mind behind DeadEndia, has taken his work from graphic novels to the big screen. Fans will also recognise Hamish from his Netflix adaptation of the series in "Dead End: Paranormal Park" starring Spider-Man actor Zach Barack.

Laura Howell
From Beano to the Regular Show comic, Laura's fans stretch far and wide. The creator of Minnie the Minx, Laura, has been working for the Beano since 2007 and has contributed to Ratz, Johnny Bean from Happy Bunny Green, Beano Manga, and Billy the Cat, just to name a few.

Khary Randolph
Best known for Sirens of the City, Excellence and Teen Titans, Khary is attending his first artist alley since March 2020 at MCM this year. Fans of anything superhero know Khary through his unique and engaging art style, which has landed him on the pages of both DC and Marvel comics.

Full MCM comic workshop/panels

Friday

Comic Book Layout 101 (with Clip Studio Paint) @ 1 pm, Artist Alley Stage. 
Panels, gutters and page flow – where do you begin when creating a comic? Join comic artists as they guide you through the process of planning and laying out a comic to tell your story using unique comic and manga industry features on offer with Clip Studio Paint.

Gary Erksine: Character Design @ 2 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
A short presentation with familiar examples of how to create your own Character Design using six simple steps that work with every genre. The trick is that EVERYONE knows how it works when they recognise a new character in their favourite show or a new game from the visual clues decided upon. The presentation will show how to create your own character by making those choices for yourself for your comic game or D&D avatar, creating your own unique character!

Tpub: From Niche Comics to Mainstream @ 3 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
From short stories to longer forms and from inspiration to perspiration, Neil Gibson (writer at Dark Horse Comics and producer at Twisted Comics) discusses how his comic book and screenplay writing has evolved over a decade and what he's learned along the way. This panel will give you a summary of his lessons learned so you can avoid the same mistakes he made!

The Art of Grading Comics @ 4 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Join Shawn Caffrey, CGC Comics' Vice President and head grader for modern comics, for an exciting dive into the art of grading and preserving your comic books! Learn what to look for when collecting comics and the many benefits of grading from one of our top experts. Plus, audience attendees will have a chance to win fun CGC Comics prizes!

Saturday

Workshop: Character Creation in Comics @11:15am, Platinum Suite.
Ever wanted to produce a comic and sell it? BA Hons Cartoon and Comic Arts students do this as part of their course at Staffordshire University. In this session, we look at their work and how they go about working together putting their knowledge to good use in the creation of characters' stories and artwork, and producing their final comic.

How to Make a Webtoon (with Clip Studio Paint) @ 1 pm @ Artist Alley Stage.
From developing your story and characters to finding the right format and publishing your work online, join comic artists for their top tips on creating webtoon comic books and how to make Clip Studio Paint's webtoon tools work for you.

Authentic and Effective Social Media Marketing @ 3 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Using social media to help sell you, your work and other projects is a huge tool in the industry today. Join experts as they discuss using online platforms to advance your career. 

ReedPop Artist Alley Application, How to Stand Out @ 5 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Join Comic Publishing Talent Manager and Artist Alley Coordinator for ReedPop, Alex Rae, as he explains how to fill out the Artist Alley application with a few do's and don'ts.

Workshop: Want to Write Your Own Comic? Let's Do it With Tpub! @ 5:15 pm, Platinum Suite.
Join Neil Gibson (Twisted Comics, Dark Horse Comics) as he runs a workshop where we will write a comic script from scratch. Who knows - it might even turn into a comic.

Extraman: Nothing Less Than A Hero @ 6 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
The creators of Kindred Comics, Jermaine Riley and Glen Murphy, talk about their heroes, the villains they have developed and the world of Extraman they have created. Come and find out what makes Extraman a cut above the rest.

Sunday

Drawing Hacks (with Clip Studio Paint) @ 12 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Blank pages can often be overwhelming when you start a project! Learn about some Clip Studio Paint tools that will get rid of your art block. Whether you're looking for inspiration and ideas to keep sketching, join this panel of creators for their tips and tricks for trying new processes and techniques and staying creative.

AI Ethics in Comics 1 pm @ Artist Alley Stage.
AI in art is being used more and more in today's world. From popular TV shows like Secret Invasion to prints and conventions. Join experts as they discuss the ethics behind using AI in today's world.

Cyanide & Happiness: How To Make a Funny 2 pm @ Artist Alley Stage.
Look behind the curtain and learn how Cyanide & Happiness became what it is today. Hear from the minds themselves on what makes them tick while also watching behind the scenes and some early exclusive and never before seen footage. Think you know funny?

Stone Tablet to Digital Tablet: The Growth of Digital Comic Art @ 3 pm, Artist Alley Stage.
Drawing with a tablet is a huge part of the art community these days. While this technology is not new, it is being used predominantly in the art world. Join experts as they discuss what they use, what programs they use, and how technology helps them in their art.