The Big Alphabet Comic Draw of 2015

Recently I did something I thought I would ever do... I visited a comic convention.

This si not the first time I have ever been to one. I visited a memorabilia convention in the SECC back in 2001 and 2002.

I didn't plan it. It was prompted by an event advertised in the flyer advertising Glasgow Comic Con I collected form Forbidden Planet in June.

Glasgow Comic Con flyer (June 2015)

What made me go to it this year was one five-day event that took place on the second floor of the CCA.... The Big Comic Draw.

"Help make the biggest alphabet comic book ever made, with our Comic Artists in residence" it said.

I took it as a challenge and a call for arms. 

And so, on Wednesday 1st July I went to Glasgow, walked passed the scaffolded charred remains of the School of Art, entered the CCA and climbed the stairs to the "dealer's gallery" where the record attempt took place, not knowing what to expect.

It was modest-sized rectangular room with white walls and a bare-wood-beam floor painted in lilac. In the centre set up were six folding tables with drawing boards on each of them (like the ones I encountered back in high school, doing Graphics Communication). On one side of the room were a supply of both A4 and A3 paper, pencils, pens and rubbers. In the corner was another desk with a drawing board, this one occupied by the main comic artist-in-residence Clare Forrest. On the walls of the gallery to begin with was her illustrated alphabet of female scientists and their massive contributions to our world. Other subjects for alphabets were written up on a sheet in the corner with boxes to tick off for every letter you completed. By the time I got there (sometime between 11:30 and noon) the first dozen drawings had been added to the walls. I looked a the check-list choose one (E in the "Toys" category) and started to doodle.

Before I go on, let me explain my reasoning of the subjects I choose. I could have easily ruin this event by drawing the first thing I can think of, so to give other visitors a chance to draw I followed this rule...

If it can be easily thought of, don't do it. 

By following this rule I choose to do the more difficult letters to do. The ones I imagine most people can't think of answers for, most notably "X". How many things can you think of that begin with "X"? Excluding comic book characters, there is little to choose from, and Clare had already done the most obvious - X-rays (to cover Marie Curie). The next obvious one would be xylophone, but I didn't do that one because anyone else could have thought of it for "Toys." However, unlike most people I knew of other things that begin with X. That is why, instead of drawing a xylophone, I did xylem for "plants" (sorry of anyone who wanted to do xanthiums), the chemical element xenon for "science" and the Jaguar XJS for "cars." Now, worried about repeats, I did a Jensen Interceptor for J in "cars" to prevent another Jaguar entering the alphabet. I case someone was confused which letter that car was in, I did a Hillman Imp for "I". As for "H" I left it clear for anyone wanting to do a Honda. 

By 4pm I had added five "frames" to the walls. and about a dozen or so more were added by others.

I returned the next day. But this time I bought some reference material with me on my tablet and some ideas bought on by reading a few books the night before. During that day I added another 15 "frames" to the walls. The last one I did (the four universal forces for U in "science") was the first new "U" frame added to the walls, meaning that every letter now had at least one guest frame. 

After doing 20 frames for the comic, I decided that I overdid my welcome and went home...

Until Sunday. I came back as a proper guest. Bought a ticket at the desk, got the wristband, explored the stalls and bought a few things (with three of them signed!). Also, I returned to the room and found the room busy. The walls were also covered with "frames." It was chaotic. I noticed doubles. People were ignoring the check-list. I loved what I saw. Kids and grown adults of various levels of talent drawing together. I hope the result gets published. It'll be amazing.

In the end, I can say with confidence that (except for Clare's original alphabet) I did more frames for this comic than any other artist.

Here's all 20 of my frames (in no particular order)...

Please excuse the fact that they were rushed.

Additional note: One thing I bought was a copy of Clare's alphabet book and I got her to sign it.

My signed copy of The Mighty Women of Science Alphabet Book (2015)

(Excuse the low resolution. I would usually scan this, but I'm in a hurry)

Thank you for coming up with this massive project for Comic Con.

I hope other projects like this happen again in future.