Bobby Joseph Announced as UK Comics Laureate

Bobby Joseph has been announced as the new Comics Laureate at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival earlier this month. The appointment as the first UK Comics Laureate of colour is a significant milestone in the world of comics.

Bobby follows comic creators Dave Gibbons, Charlie Adlard and Hannah Berry, and comic shop owner Stephen L. Holland in the role promoting the UK comics industry.

One of the key things I want to do is change things with regards to diversity, representation and the unheard voices of comics

The role of Comics Laureate was created by Paul Register, a librarian and current director of the School Library Association, and further developed by the LICAF arts organisation, which is funded by the Arts Council England. This position serves as an ambassadorial and educational role, with the goal of promoting awareness of the positive impact that comics can have on literacy and creativity. The Comics Laureate is appointed every two years.

“This award is a huge achievement. I am very honoured to get it. That said, one of the key things I want to do is change things with regards to diversity, representation and the unheard voices of comics. This is my main focus. There is no point being in this role unless I am able to help others,” he said.

“If we look at the history of representation in comics, there has always been negative portrayals of people of colour. This is mainly down to the stories not being written by people of colour, but instead, stereotypes that have been pushed as the narrative of black and Asian communities. It is time to change that. It is time to control the narrative, and let people tell their stories, whatever they may be.”

Joseph created the first black satirical comic book, Skank, published in 1994, which featured the south London locations of Peckham, Brixton and Lewisham. He published its sequel, Black Eye, in the early 2000s and went on to co-create the graphic novel Scotland Yardie, based on a character from Skank.

Julie Tait, director of LICAF, expressed delight in Joseph taking on the role.

"The comics laureate has been and continues to be a vital role for the comics art form. It isn’t just a title. It’s part and parcel of our wider objectives as a festival, to reach out to new audiences and raise the profile and the understanding of the importance of comics for education, inspiration and literacy."