The other week I was lucky enough to volunteer at the wonderful Yo Comics! – “a comic fair for kids and by kids”. Organised by comics advocate and educator Helen Jones and small press creators Hannah Lee Miller and Lauren O’Farrell (Deadly Knitshade), it took place at Stanley Arts in South Norwood – the site of the utterly joyous (but currently resting) South London Comic & Zine Fair. The exhibitors ranged from A-list creators to local school and community groups, and the all-day programme of workshops was full-up within minutes of bookings going live.
Yo Comics! poster by Tor Freeman
Even while we were getting under people’s feet during set-up, we could feel the buzz growing, as eager punters arrived ahead of the official 11am start time. People soon started to pour in, and it didn’t let up all day. One of my VERY IMPORTANT responsibilities was to stand outside with a sign (below); every bus that pulled up at the adjacent stop discharged a swarm of eager kids and their grown-ups, all heading straight into the venue. The main hall and workshop area were abuzz with activity. In the calm oasis of the comics library, there was a hum of engagement as readers of all ages sat round on beanbags and dug into the rich fare on offer. Then, as 5pm approached and people eventually tore themselves away, with bulging piles of comicy goodness under their arms, pretty much everyone took the time to stop and tell us what a wonderful day they’d had.
The mainstream “comics media” currently seem to be filled with doom and gloom, from distributors going bust to the apparent creative poverty of the big companies. But here’s another story, one that needs to be shouted from the rooftops: kids love comics! They love reading them! They love making them! They love talking and learning about them! And events that celebrate this fact should be on everyone’s lips. If you were at Yo Comics!, you couldn’t help but be swept up in the excitement and engagement, as exhibitors and visitors fed off each other’s energy. But if you don’t believe me, try this lot …
Comics Youth CIC
At the Yo Comics! fair we were reminded why comics have the power to change lives. From the moment we stepped into the space, we were surrounded by creativity, passion, and the sheer joy of storytelling. This wasn’t just a comics fair; it was a celebration of imagination, of diverse voices, of stories that make young readers feel seen, heard and valued.
We spoke to hundreds and hundreds of people at the event – aspiring creators, educators, families and readers of all ages – who told us how much they believe in Comics Youth, how much they needed something like this when they were younger, and how excited they are to see our work take shape in London. And honestly? That hits us every single time. Because comics aren’t just books. They’re worlds waiting to be explored. They’re lifelines for young people who feel different. They’re a way to dream beyond the boundaries the world tries to set.
The energy in the room was electric. We saw comics that made us laugh until our faces hurt, stories that made us pause and think, and young creators brimming with ideas that deserve to be shared with the world. It was proof – again – that comics are more than entertainment. They’re empowerment. They help young people understand themselves and each other in ways nothing else can.
The freebies/swaps table with A.J. O’Neill (above)
And wow!!!!!! We can’t believe how many comics and zines we sold today! London is hungry for comics-led wellbeing spaces for children and today made us even more excited for the future. Our work with The Cartoon Museum is just beginning, and we cannot wait to build something truly transformative here.
Huge thank you to Yo Comics! for creating such a magical space, and to everyone who stopped by, shared their stories and reminded us why we do what we do. It’s hard out there doing our work right now, and this has filled our hearts with righteous rage to make the world a better place through comics.
Find out more about the work of Comics Youth CIC here
Marc Jackson, cartoonist (Beano, The Phoenix) and organiser of MACC-POW Comic Art Festival
I was so pleased to have been asked to be involved with the first Yo Comics! fair. As a comic festival organiser myself, I love to see more of them pop up – particularly those run by likeminded people who all put the greater good first. Yo Comics! had such charm and warmth, even ahead of the event, that it would have been hard to not have carried that into the day itself. It oozed creativity, comics community spirit and FUN. Comics for kids are here to stay, and thanks to events like this, more people know that!
Visit Marc Jackson’s site here
Visit the MACC-POW website here
Above – the Comics Library at Yo
Steve Marchant, Learning Co-ordinator, The Cartoon Museum
Most comics events these days appear to be solely aimed at 20-something Marvel fans who like dressing up. Walk around any of the big cons and you won’t see a single copy of Beano or The Phoenix – the gateway drugs for the budding comics enthusiast. Which is why Yo Comics! was such a pleasant surprise: dozens of mums and dads with their children, meeting their favourite creators of children’s comics. And not a cosplayer in sight.
I ran a table for The Cartoon Museum, where we had cartoon activity sheets and free comics by schoolchildren we’ve worked with, and I drew cartoon portraits of any child that wanted one. I completely under-estimated how popular the event would be, bringing along 40 of each item, which I thought would last the afternoon. Within an hour, all of our worksheets and comics had gone, and I had a long line waiting for portraits (above) until my wrist packed in at 4pm. To see the excitement and delight on the children’s faces and the warm engagement of parents renewed my dwindling hope for the future of children’s comics.
I look forward to attending next year, and I’ll be bringing a lot more comics and activity sheets.
Find out more about the Cartoon Museum’s work here
Neill Cameron (Mega Robo Bros, Donut Squad, The Phoenix)
From my perspective it was such a great event: so busy, so buzz-y and so wonderful to see all the young comics creators getting that experience of not just writing and drawing their own comics but putting them out into the world and sharing them with readers. I think it’s such an incredibly valuable thing. I brought along my own young comics creator – my son – with a small press comic we made together just for the occasion, so he could get that experience for himself. It was such a joy, and I’m so glad that his first real experience of being part of the comics community in that way was at such a friendly, warm and positive event.
And good lord, so many visitors! That was my only complaint really – I would have loved to have more of a chance to check out the other tables and chat to other creators, but we barely had five minutes all day where our table wasn’t absolutely mobbed. To say the least, this is not my usual experience at comics cons!
Visit Neill Cameron’s site here
Jim Medway (Crab Lane Crew, Playing Out, Sgt Chip Charlton and Mister Woofles)
Having been slightly removed from making comics since Covid threw me into full-time work, I really enjoyed being back as part of the buzz of an event like this. Reconnecting with comic and kids’ book creators that I’ve come to know and love over the past ten years or so was a real treat. When the doors opened at 11am, it was brilliant seeing families flood in; it was buzzing beforehand and lively by five-past. So many people seemed to stay most of the day, whether chatting with friends, meeting creators or attending the free workshops.
I delivered a session at 2pm encouraging young artists to consider clarity when drawing. All were given prompts of different animals and jobs to combine into an image clear enough for the rest to guess easily. Some brilliant characters came out of this, which I hope might find some life beyond the workshop!
It was refreshing to attend an event focused solely on kids’ comics, and for that to include comics made by kids themselves, proudly sharing the space alongside their favourite professional comic artists. I hope that the excellent organisers are able to continue putting together such a great group of artists with such a great group of enthusiasts. With the exception of Marc Jackson’s fantastic MACC-POW festival in Macclesfield, there’s a distinct lack of child-focused events in the UK comics calendar. Treats such as Yo Comics! ought to occur far more frequently and beyond the capital, to reach young readers and cartoonists across the country.
Mateo ‘Mickey’ Durante, 53rd Croydon Brownies
I found the premise of Yo Comics! so important. One of the hardest things to deal with as an artist is feeling like you’re not good enough to put your work out there, to show it or sell it, or even attempt big projects like a book or comic. Having this fair was so amazing to show so many kids that what you make doesn’t have to be amazing or a masterpiece. It doesn’t even need to be “good art”. All it has to do is send a message, whatever that message might be.
Communication is all art is. A way to communicate feelings or situations, a way to relate to one another. It’s so important that kids see this and don’t get obsessed with the details and perfectionism of it all. To take a step back and to be able to say, “I thought of this story and now I get to tell that story to whoever will listen”. It’s invaluable.
Find out more about girlguiding in Croydon here
Josh Knowles
I thought Yo Comics! was a brilliant experience, full of great energy and positive vibes. My work is often situated between live events and graphics, so this was a perfect opportunity to make something in that spirit, which was interesting and fun for all ages. I love comics and live art, so combining them is a wonderful thing for me!
I’m a great believer in making work that is open and collaborative, which I hoped to achieve with the Mega-Mural (above). The mural is essentially a giant multi-directional 3D comic, drawn by the public, which can be read in any direction to make a new storyline every time. It was great to see adults and children alike enjoying the existing panels, then working out what their contribution could be. The nature of the format proved quite intuitive, which helped to break through the barrier to participation.
Making space for audiences to take part and build a dialogue together feels an important part of cultural exchange. If people feel welcome and included in the concept, it builds a confidence that is essential for creative expression to flourish. This feels especially important for people who don’t usually identify as “artistic”, who I hope felt the connection and joy of collective expression while engaging with our project.
UK comics legend Woodrow Phoenix at Yo Comics!
I set up Megaphone Comics in 2019 as a story exchange and reportage illustration project for the journalism festival Byline. With a variety of amazing collaborators, we have now made several projects for all kinds of age groups, with public participation always central to what we do. It’s great to see people get involved and surprise us and each other with their stories and ideas. Being able to share in that process is funny, fascinating, emotional and energising. I look forward to the next MC project and the next Yo Comics! event!
Find out more about Megaphone Comics’ work here
Photo credits: Lana Lé, Linzie Hunter, Simon Aldridge and Jane Gibbens Murphy
Article by Tom Murphy
