Comic Book Illustrators on Creating Irish Comics: DCC March 2023

On Saturday 11th March 2023, it rained in Dublin City Centre. It rained a lot. Those entering the doors of Spring 2023 Dublin Comic Con did so with wet shoes, whether they queued with an umbrella or not. Yet still, the rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of DCC attendees who wanted to celebrate comic books and pop culture. Limit Break Comics were on hand once again to help celebrate the comic book side of DCC by delivering another panel on the process of creating comic books.

Working on the theme of Comic Book Illustrators on Creating Irish Comics, moderator Seamus Kavanagh of Limit Break Comics was joined by Mari Rolin (Turning Roads and Down Below), Eoin Barclay (Irish Comics.ie) and Rebecca Reynolds (Valerie and Old Game Plus) who are all Comic Book Illustrators with their own bodies of work to draw from. The focus of this panel was comic books from the Illustrator’s perspective and each panellist gave insight into their own creative process and also some tips and areas to consider when working as part of a team.

Mari Rolin began the panel by speaking about an Illustrator’s need to establish their level of creative freedom at the outset, which will be dependent on whether they are working as part of a team or creating a project that is entirely your own work. With a comparison of the avenues of digital vs traditional comic page creation, Mari was able to showcase the aesthetic differences between both but with a focus on key areas such as the ability to make changes or updates, which could be quite important if there are other creatives who may request alterations (if practical).

With respect to work flow, Mari highlighted that planning ahead what materials she will need helps her to focus on the story and the necessary steps. There are many stages involved in the comic creation process and getting stuck at one stage is a very real roadblock which can stall projects. The idea to plan ahead and have an overview of the process across the project was certainly great advice as this can help with avoiding tunnel vision and opening up the idea to skip to another part of the project and return to a difficult area at a later stage.

Eoin Barclay was next up and he began by speaking about the tools of the trade, the physical items and technology he uses to create his comics. Eoin was keen to highlight that the cost barrier to creating comics should be low. Illustrators get better by practising and making mistakes so a steady supply of lots of cheap paper and pencils would serve far better than expensive materials which will wait only for perfection.

This theme of practicing and improving was a focal part of Eoin’s section of the presentation. As a fan of web comics, Eoin highlighted some web comics that he was a fan of and encouraged any who enjoy web comics to return to them and compare the latest page to page 1. It is very clear to see how Illustrators improve as they put out more work and that was a lesson which gave Eoin his own motivation to create his own web comic, BARCS. Eoin then closed his section quite well with a side by side comparison of his own work from 2019 to a recent page from 2022.

Rebecca Reynolds focused her presentation on what it’s like to work with a Writer on a project. She spoke about reviewing a script, gathering references and the layout process. Rebecca was able to demonstrate the process in full by showing an example of a page from Shine (Limit Break Present’s #1), starting with script, moving to thumbnails, on to initial sketch, line art, the stage of flat colours and then adding shadows and effects, thereby finishing the page.

A highly practical element of Rebecca’s presentation was how the Reader’s eye should follow movement across the pages of the comic. Illustrators can plan their pages to set the flow for Readers to follow through character movement across the panels and pages. She also touched on an area Eoin also highlighted, which is that colouring can add its own layer of storytelling to a comic. An appropriately planned and well deployed colour scheme can really add to the atmosphere and world of the story and its certainly worth consideration as part of the preparation process.

While all Panellists were given the same brief of focusing on the Illustration part of comics creation, each of the Panellists covered different areas and, their individual presentations complimented one another quite for a practical and informative session. Those in attendance who sought tips and inspiration certainly found lots of it during this panel.

To close out this post on the Spring 2023 DCC Comic Creators panel, we’ll feature one creative tip from each of the Panellists from their presentations. Mari highlighted that ideas should be a kept in a notebook, giving reference to a situation whereby she discovered a solution to a problem by casually flicking through old notes and unexpectedly finding a solution waiting for her. Eoin has keen to encourage creators to just keep going. Eoin referenced that even one panel of a comic a day is 7 panels at the end of a week, leaving you with a full page over that period. Rebecca empathised that creating comics is fun, whether that be working with a Writer of creating your own fan art. Creatives should create what feels right for them and the more they do, the better their skillset will evolve.

Limit Break Comics are thankful once again to Dublin Comic Con for facilitating an opportunity to host a panel at their show. We are also grateful to Mari, Eoin and Rebecca who put a lot of work into creating engaging and constructive presentations, sharing their own insights for the benefit of future Irish Comic Book Illustrators.

Left to right, Eoin Barclay, Mari Rolin, Rebecca Reynolds

Written by Seamus Kavanagh

Dublin Comic Con Round-up (August 2022)

This past weekend, the Limit Break Comics team assembled at Dublin Comic Con. This was our second major Irish convention since 2019, and it highlighted a few things for us as a collective as we continue to publish new titles.

Friday Set-up

When we first set up Limit Break Comics, all three founding members were based in Dublin. Now, Gareth lives and works in the UK, and Gary has a baby. This left the setup of two tables to one person. Thankfully, we’re experienced at this, but it did mean it took three hours and a significant amount of planning in terms of how much stock to bring to the convention.

New additions to the table included our new zines and Paul’s bookmark corner. (Side note: the zines will be available through our store from next week – Paul is currently working from home as a Covid preventative measure post-con, and won’t be making post office visits.)

We also had, for the first time at an Irish show, Twisting Time, a collection of science fiction stories about time travel that Paul Carroll and James Killian contributed to. Add to that the fact that Paul also works with Cupán Fae on a number of anthologies – our table space is becoming more limited!

Saturday – The Con

For us, Dublin Comic Con is a vital part of getting our books in front of people. The key difference between March and August this year was the number of new books on the table. More to the point, we didn’t have five new titles to launch this time. This was our first chance to see how the table would manage with readers when there wasn’t a whole lot of new stories to pick up.

We were, thankfully, aided by having a panel to speak on, and a mighty team assembled.

Seamus Kavanagh will be doing a complete write-up on the panel later this week. In the meantime, we’re delighted to report that it helped us reach new readers, and provide some advice based on our own experiences. We focused on the production of short comics, and ended up speaking to several people in one-on-one sessions later over the weekend.

One of them even bought every single comic we had available.

It’s always a delight to be able to help others on their comics journeys, and to meet new creators who are one opportunity away from entering the Irish comic scene.

Saturday – The Socials

One thing we missed about conventions and noted from Glasgow Comic Con was a strong social aspect. When artists are hiding behind tables all weekend, it’s difficult to get talking to people, especially those who aren’t already within our social circles.

To counter that, we organised a small gathering to get to talk to people outside of the convention in the evening. The big highlight for me was getting to introduce people to folks they’ve only ever seen on Twitter.

Sunday – The Con

Sunday at DCC is usually quieter. It’s also usually the day people show up late, thanks to issues with Sunday transport in Dublin.

The one big issue we faced on Sunday was stock levels. We sold out of Lens early in the day, and sold out of Meouch #1 completely, with no more stock left in reserve. We’ll need to do another print run before the next one!

On the bright side, we cleared our last stock of The Wren, and sold out of Twisting Time, so getting home was easier. We also had a visit from the littlest member of the LB Family, Baby Moloney.

Sunday – The Dead Dog

We don’t call it this, officially, but it’s a term from fandom cons – the post-con socials when no one can move and words are hard to find and all you want to do is go home, but also not leave.

We were joined by a few of the Octocon folks who had been about on the Sunday at the convention, which resulted in stories about conventions, clowns and Star Trek. There will be no context for the clown talk.

The Accidental Uniform

What happens when people don’t communicate over what they’re wearing to a convention? This:

This is the new unofficial Limit Break Uniform now (we will never do this again). Artists in salmon pink shirts, writers in the exact same shirt from Next, and the lads from outside Dublin with their hands on their hips.

We didn’t plan the outfits, or the poses, but we couldn’t pass up on the photo op.

What’s next?

We have a few more events for the rest of the year, and some work to do on various other projects. For now, here’s a quick glance at the rest of the year’s confirmed details:

  • August 13th, Small Press Day
  • September 10th, DCAF
  • October 15th and 16th, Octocon
  • November 12th and 13th, Thought Bubble

The last event also marks the official launch of Down Below, which will pair nicely with Turning Roads at conventions. We’ll also have details on the next anthology around that time, too. No rest for the wicked!

The Zine Scene

Dublin Comic Con is this weekend, and Limit Break Comics has been busy behind the scenes working on a new addition to our convention circuit: zines!

What’s a Zine?

The word ‘zine’ is an abbreviation of ‘magazine’, but that’s about as far as the connection goes. Zines are one-topic publications, sometimes hand-made, other times printed and bound professionally, sometimes a mix of professional printing with a hand-made finish. In our case, we went to our trusty printers with four zines, created by Paul Carroll and Gary Moloney, with design work by Paul, and a cover by Gareth Luby. (You’ll know it when you see it!)

How to Thrive & Survive in a Horror Movie

Paul’s a big horror fan, binging franchises in his spare time, writing horror stories for comics and prose, and generally diving into the spookiness of Halloween as soon as possible. In How to Thrive & Survive in a Horror Movie, Paul shares the rules of the Scream franchise with additional commentary.

The zine is meant to be a fun collection of the many rules the characters in the franchise must remember to survive – provided they have a horror expert to explain the rules first!

The Daredevil’s Advocate

Cover by Gareth Luby

When Paul and Gary first started talking about the zines, the first one on Gary’s line-up was a zine adaptation of his article The Daredevil’s Advocate. The conversation quickly turned to asking Gareth to draw the cover.

Gary takes a hard look at Charles Soule’s Daredevil: Supreme, its place in the series and how it addresses the law. One part academic, one part entertainment, The Daredevil’s Advocate is for fans of comics who like to read a little bit into the subject matter.

What’s It Like Being a Twin?

If you didn’t already know – and you will when it comes to Dublin Comic Con, at least! – Paul’s a twin. His identical twin brother, Conor, is an artist in the convention scene in Ireland. And they’re always asked one question: What’s it like being a twin?

This zine is designed to answer that question, and address the many other questions and topics that come up as a result of having an identical twin brother. It also features a centerfold of the dumbest question they have ever been asked. More than once. By several people.

A Novel Murder

To round off the first wave of zines from Limit Break Comics, we have a prose story from Gary Moloney. A Novel Murder is accompanied by some work by Paul to create a designed narrative approach to the story.

Interspersed throughout the zine are pull-quotes with a punch, looming steadily closer to the reader as the story progresses. We’re keeping the details of the mystery hidden, though – you’ll have to pick up the story to find out what happened!

Where Can You Get One?

Our magazine rack has seen better days, but it’s still perfect for housing our new line of titles alongside Paul’s enamel pin collection – before either one grows, that is. The first set will launch at Dublin Comic Con on Saturday and Sunday, August 6th and 7th 2022. We’re in the Artist Alley on the First Floor, tables AA15 and AA16.

Come say hi! And if you like our zines, let us know if we should make more!

Dublin Comic Con: Comic Creators on Creating Short Comics

This Saturday, Limit break Comics is entering the world of convention programming with a specially curated panel for Dublin Comic Con: Comic Creators on Creating Short Comics.

The panel will be moderated by Seamus Kavanagh, whose latest title Old Game Plus marks his debut with Limit Break Comics. Seamus has previously run panels on writing for comics at Dublin Comic Con.

This weekend’s panel will focus on the craft of creating short comics, with a specific focus on the teamwork involved. Seamus will speak as a contributing writer.

Joining him are James Killian and Alice Coleman, the artist and letterer respectively of their forthcoming story Strength in Numbers, to be published in Down Below later this year. Alice has previously worked with Seamus on his stories for Old Game Plus and Limit Break Presents #1. This story marks the first time Seamus and James will have worked together.

Paul Carroll will be on the panel as an editor, speaking on the ways in which anthologies come together, the sort of things editors look for in submissions, and how creating teams like that of the other panellists can serve to strengthen an application.

The panel will take place from 2pm-3pm in the Geek Ireland Panel Room on the 1st floor in the Convention Centre – outside the entrance to the Artist Alley.

[Press Release] Limit Break Comics to Release Range of New Books for Dublin Comic Con

Limit Break Comics is set to launch five new books at Dublin Comic Con this coming weekend, March 12 and 13. Among the new releases are second issues to the collective’s 2019 titles, Meouch and Plexus, and the introduction of a new creator.

The five books to be launched at Dublin Comic Con consist of: Meouch #2, an action comedy for grown-up kids; Plexus #2, a science fiction anthology series focusing on human connection; LENS, an espionage thriller collected in print for the first time; Old Game Plus #1, a collection of shot comics inspired by video games, and; Limit Break Presents #1, a new anthology series of stories connected by a theme. The new titles serve to re-introduce the collective to the Irish convention scene following the cessation of events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meouch #2 picks up where the 2019 issue left off. Creators Gareth Luby (Artist) and Paul Carroll (Writer) teamed up with Rebecca Nalty (IDW, Boom!) on Colours and PanelXPanel Editor Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou on Letters to bring the next chapter in the story to press.

Plexus #2, written and lettered by Paul Carroll, features three stories illustrated by Irish artists: Leeann Hamilton, Barry O’Sullivan, and Donna A Black. The stories focus on human connections, and the monsters we meet along the way.

LENS, written by Gary Moloney with art by Raquel Kusiak, is a one-shot following Jane Danner, an award-winning photojournalist by day, assassin by night. The first chapter of LENS was published in Bun&Tea, with the whole story collected in print for the first time.

Old Game Plus #1, written by Seamus Kavanagh, introduces Kavanagh as a creator for Limit Break Comics. Kavanagh’s stories – illustrated, coloured and lettered by an all-star collection of creators – are inspired by a range of video games across multiple genres.

Limit Break Presents #1 collects three stories, written by Gary Moloney, Paul Carroll and Seamus Kavanagh. The trio of writers are joined by John McGuinness and Rebecca Reynolds on art, Ellie Wright on colours, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and Alice Coleman on letters. The book serves as the first issue in a series, with stories connected by a single theme.

Along with its new titles, Limit Break Comics is bringing Turning Roads to an Irish convention for the first time. The book was featured in the Irish Times list of Graphic Novels 2021 and awarded the Irish Comics News Award for Best Anthology 2021. It contains 18 short stories by 35 creators, telling stories inspired by Irish folklore.

Limit Break Comics is a Dublin-based comic publisher, formed on the back of a shared desire to see small press comics grow in Ireland. It was founded by Paul Carroll, Gareth Luby and Gary Moloney.

Thoughts from Thought Bubble 2019

Last year was the first time Limit Break assembled at an international convention. Then, as last weekend, it was Thought Bubble. We weren’t tabling, but we did have comics with us to pass along to friends and other interested parties, and we were afforded the opportunity to meet up with some friends we know the Irish comic scene and from Twitter.

With its new venue in Harrogate, Thought Bubble was all under one roof. This has its pros and cons, of course – the biggest con being that the ATM outside ran dry fairly swiftly and it was a walk to the next nearest! All in all, we were impressed, both with the convention organisers and with the comics and other assorted wares on show. (Ask Paul about his enamel pin haul!)

There’s something special about a convention dedicated to comics. No movie stars, no media guests at all. If you were getting something signed, it was by a storyteller in the industry. Almost every trader had comics to look over. There was an Irish Aisle in the Comixology room.

All in all, it felt like home.

We all take something different away from a convention like Thought Bubble. Some of us got to meet our heroes, some of us upped our game on socialising (while Paul demonstrated a capacity to sleep through almost everything), and all of us had a blast.

We don’t have many photos from the weekend, but Gareth was able to snap a few from inside and outside the convention. The incredibly lovely Kerrie Smith also took a group shot for us at the mid-con party.

Thought Bubble 2019 was a blast. It remains one of the best conventions out there. We’re already looking forward to next year, when we hope to be setting up shop in the trading halls.

Until then, we’ve got some reading to do.