It's been a while since I write a detailed personal convention report of the sort that used to appear in fanzines, and I know that these days it's all about brevity but here we go anyway. Hope you enjoy it...This year marked 11 years since the Macc Pow Comic Art Festival began and it was the best yet! Each year, organisers Marc Jackson and his wife Jane manage to improve on the previous one, and this time it was packed with goodness!
Although there were small connected workshops and the like taking place on days either side of the main event, most of the guests were there for Saturday 27th June, so it was an early start for me that morning, up at 4.30am and on the train to Macclesfield at 6.30.
Arriving at Macclesfield 90 minutes later, I was met by Tristan Maddocks, friend of the organisers, who drove me to the Town Hall well in time to set up for the show. Greeted by Marc and Jane at the venue, I was one of the first to arrive and soon set up my table.
By the time everyone else had arrived it was time for the traditional group shot of guests as we gathered on the stairs. The Mayor of Macclesfield gave a postive speech about comics to open the show and we were ready for the day to begin.
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Group shot photo by Tristan Maddocks.
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My table was situated between those of Rachael Smith and Sean Phillips, both good friends of mine and very successful comics creators in their chosen fields. Not too far away were other longtime friends such as David Leach, Laura Howell, Roger Langridge, Kev Sutherland, Gary Northfield, Sonia Leong and many more. As ever there was a friendly, upbeat vibe to the proceedings as we chatted to each other and to the visitors, some of whom were also familiar faces.
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Cartoonist Dicky Howett and writer Tim Quinn.
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It was very nice to see the great Dicky Howett again after several years, reuinited with his good pal and colleague Tim Quinn. You'll remember that Tim and Dicky worked together on many comic strips over the years at IPC, Marvel UK, and beyond.
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Dicky's wife, with Tim Quinn, Dicky Howett, me, Rachael Smith, and David Leach.
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Macc-Pow is a very family friendly event, totally dedicated to comics, with more of an emphasis on humour strips than other shows. Not that our friends of the more realistic comics are forgotten, with people such as Charlie Adlard, Michael Lark, and the aforementioned Sean Phillips in attendance.
For the third year running, Macc-Pow launched another issue of Goof, the 24 page full colour humour comic edited and published by Marc Jackson with all new content by Tor Freeman, Hilary Barta, David Leach, Rachael Smith, Jim Medway and many more (including a spoof Dracula strip from me). You can buy a copy from this link:
https://ko-fi.com/marcmakescomics/shop
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GOOF No.3, cover by Marc Jackson.
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Part of my page for GOOF No.3
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The festival concluded with a musical number about how cool comics are, written by star guest James Kochalka and performed by him and a group of children on banjos! Not something you see every day! The kids did really well.
Usually, I'm only at Macc-Pow for a day, but this year had a special event scheduled in the evening so Marc had generously booked a b&b for a few of us to stay over. This went down well with us as it gave us time to relax, wind down and have something to eat before...
...we set off to the local cinema for the world premire of the Oink! film Pigs, Puns, and Plops! Running to 25 minutes, this great documentary by Claire Bend and Rob Reed of Bread and Butter Films, featured some interviews that Claire and Rob conducted at last year's Macc-Pow, plus other interviewees that have been added since. Telling the story of the cult comic that celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, the documentary included interviews with contributors Patrick Gallagher, David Leach, Charlie Brooker, Jeremy Banx, and myself, plus those the comic inspired such as Laura Howell, Jamie Smart, Marc Jackson, and Oink! blogger and historian Phil Boyce.
After the screening, Alex Fitch of the radio show Panel Borders conducted a brief Q&A session with Claire, Rob, Patrick, David, and myself. The film was well received by those in attendance and it's hoped that some TV company will pick it up at some point in the future. Claire and Rob have done a great job. It was a pleasant surprise to meet Patrick Gallagher again after 40 years, the surviving editor and one of the key people behind Oink! (he designed the distinctive Oink! logo, to mention just one of his many accomplishments).
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Me, David Leach, Laura Howell, Marc Jackson, and Ché Michaels in the pub.
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After the cinema it was back to the pub for several of us to relax and chat for a while. Then Marc Jackson took Laura Howell, David Leach, and myself for a tour of his town centre art studio Room for Comics, which often hosts drawing classes for local children. we were very impressed with the studio and Marc's enthusiasm. He does a hell of a lot for Macclesfield promoting comics to a new generation and spreading the word about the artform.
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Room For Comics, the studio interior.
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Marc Jackson, David Leach, Laura Howell in Room for Comics.
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In fact, I was impressed by Macclesfield in general, with its many independent businesses. This isn't a town that's followed the usual spiral into having nothing but identical High Streets and corporate brands. It has its own identity.
After such a busy day it was time to turn in, but it had been a very pleasant experience and had cheered me up no end. The next morning was the monthly Treacle Market full of independent stallholders but the previous day was telling on me by then due to having a chronic illness (the usual crash after a hectic day) so unfortunately I skipped the market and caught a direct train home. Although tired, I felt content and happy that Macc-Pow had been another success, filled with positivity of friendship and like minds. My thanks to Marc and Jane for the invite, to Claire and Rob for the movie, and to friends too numerous to mention for the company. Long may it continue!
- Lew Stringer, July 2026.
https://maccpow.co.uk/
