Link: http://www.panelborders.com/events

I'm sure I've blogged about this event before but a quick trip through the archives shows nothing, so here we go again for the very first time. Comics and Conflicts is a comprehensive look at the role of comic books in war and war stories starting on Friday 19th August and running through to Saturday 20th August at the Imperial War Museum London.

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Link: http://www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk/collaboration/comica

By now anyone that actually reads this blog must know me and what I like pretty well, I like fun comics, stuff steeped in contiuity, I like capes and tights and generally just a good yarn. The thing is once you focus on an area of interest like comic books you can't help but be changed by it and in the past two years my comic book appreciation has grown and evolved, I still love all the stuff I used to but now I understand there is so much more out there. Pauline R. Kezer, a politician and teacher in the U.S. said it best with:
"Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights."
So here I am stretching and growing and in turn passing that onto you guys. Ctrl.Alt.Shift is a UK based experimental initiative politicising a new generation of activists for social justice and global change. Friday 6th November see's them launch their Ctrl.Alt.Shift: Unmasks Corruption comic book anthology at their exhibition of the same name as part of the COMICA festival going on this weekend in Soho. The anthology book attempts to expose examples of corruption in our world and features work by Dave McKean, Pat Mills, Peter Kuper and Dan Goldman amongst others. The exhibition will be held at Lazarides Gallery, 8 Greek Street, Soho, London, W1D 4DG and runs from 6th - 28th November, it will feature displays of 'worthy' comics, strips and graphic novels aswell as some examples of those posing as 'worthy'.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't gone all political and thrown off my capes and tights roots, 'worthy' comics could mean a lot of things but in this case we're talking about comics with a purpose more than just to entertain. The comic book medium is such a vital and powerful form that it's worth exploring more than just the usual genres. This is of course not a new concept far from it but there are too many people out there that just think og comics as 'for kids' or 'all about superheroes', this book and exhibition is just a good example of some of the other work being produced in the comic and graphic format.