Never Iron Anything!: True Believers 2019 - Spotlight on some Little Heroes.

This year at the True Believers Comic Festival we'll have returning publisher Fair Spark Books with their Little Heroes imprint.

Little Heroes is a UK based charity that produces comics and drawing kits and then distributes them to children through hospital trusts and healthcare organisations. During the life of this great charity project they have formed through their illustrious leader Aaron Rackley as the fast growing publishing house Fair Spark Books. I've seen this organisation grow over the last year or so and they are really pushing out some brilliant product.

Here's just a small portion of what Fair Spark have produced and distribute with many more on their way soon...

The charity started in March 2017 when Aaron wanted to give back to the hospital and healthcare professionals that helped him through his own battle with cancer back in late 2013. So along with the burgeoning UK comics community he went about creating the anthology series Little Heroes that lead on to more great comics. Buying a comic helps to supply those drawing kits that will keep sick children occupied in some pretty boring circumstances. Aaron and numerous artists, writers and letterers have given freely of their time to produce some great books. I'm proud to be part a small of this project.

Some of the creators to name but a few include, Susie Gander, Andy Hanks, Darrell Thorpe, Ross Burt, Kev Brett, Tom Curry, Simon Russell, Nick Prolix, Aaron Rackley, Andy Bloor, Mo Ali, Rob Barnes, Claire Spiller, Adam Foreman, Mark Adams, Matt Warner, Israel Huretas, Stu Perrins, John Celestri and more.

Keep reading.

One of my favourite books at the moment is the all ages adventure series 'Gallant and Amos'. This is a series about a Knight and a very talkative Dragon travelling about a medieval world and getting into all sorts of troubles. The pages add some buddy cop style snappy and funny dialogue to a fantasy world that's full of angry warriors, sea serpents, sentient snowmen, alien visitors and much more.

Single issues are available and written and drawn by Rob Barnes. The art is clean and fresh and pacey and very readable. There's just a glint of the Asterix in the art and writing with little asides and in-jokes for the reader to enjoy.

Fair Spark are currently running a Kickstarter for the collected edition of the first four issues of Gallant and Amos and it is well worth pledging to. (I know that I have). It runs for about another twenty-five pages at the date of posting this blog. Get on it.

Here's the link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/174026540/gallant-and-amos-collected-adventures-1

Bringing some kids to True Believers who are aspiring artists or comics makers? Or even got some tiny terrors who are screaming the hall down and just need something that will occupy their brains for a couple of hours then this may be right up your street and is getting it's official launch at the festival.

'How To Make Comics With Springworth' tells of a world of superheroes, plucky side-kicks, monsters and most importantly a robot butler called Springworth who will guide you through the story and help you draw costumes, explosions, monsters, underground hideouts, origin stories and exciting battles. There will be pencils and colouring pens so that you can fill in all the details needed to help General Punchy, Emily and Evan succeed in their mission.

The art is by Andy Hanks who is an absolute revelation on this his first sequential work. I've written this book and the collaboration between myself Andy and Aaron has been some of the most fun I've had in comics. We'll all be there to sell you and copy and sign the book. Andy might even give you a few tips on how to draw and design characters and action.