Charlie, who is in the region for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF), sponsored by Lancaster University, has teamed up with the University for two city centre events which are open to the public, schools and those who work in all things comic.

On October 12 Lancaster University will host its first Public Lecture of the new season at the Grand Theatre in Lancaster when Charlie will talk about life, art and zombies at 4pm.

Charlie, a veteran of the comic industry who has been drawing for more than 20 years, will be in conversation with Dr Andrew Tate, from Lancaster's Department of English Literature and Creative Writing, about his work as the illustrator for major comic series including The Walking Dead, Batman, X Files and Judge Dredd, before a Q&A session with the audience.

He became the UK Comics Laureate, a role sponsored by Lancaster University, in October 2016, working to raise awareness of comics as a tool for increasing literacy and encouraging creativity in young people.

Reserve your free ticket for this event at: https://comicartlecture.eventbrite.co.uk

Earlier in the day, at 1.30pm, Charlie will take part in a networking event for schools and comic authors/illustrators/artists, which has been organised by Dr Natasa Lackovic, a lecturer in the University’s Department of Educational Research. This will take place in the Auditorium at The Storey.

The event is a networking opportunity aiming to forge and promote creative work and partnerships in the region between schools, Lancaster University and LICAF and participating artists to build future collaborations.  Charlie and Natasa will co-present at the event and comment on what they see as the power of comics and graphic novels.  

For further information about this event and to sign up go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-graphic-novelscomics-tickets-37984623030

As part of the Kendal-based LICAF (from October 13 to 15), Dr Tate and Dr Lackovic, together with Dr Erika Fulop, a lecturer in French, will take part, along with academics from Scotland and Manchester, in academic sessions on October 13 from 12.30pm to 9pm at the Brewery Arts Centre.

They will speak about ReOPen, a new network at Lancaster University, which brings together scholars from different disciplines with a shared interest in comics, graphic novels and illustrated books.

Charlie Adlard will undertake a special signing session at the Factory Tap in Kendal from 2pm to 5pm on October 14.

And Benoît Peeters, the world’s first ever Professor of Graphic Fiction and Comic Art at Lancaster University, will also attend the festival.

“This is an exciting week for our research group,” said Dr Tate. “We're thrilled to be working with Charlie Adlard and the two events, at the Storey and the Grand Theatre, are a great opportunity to come and ask questions of one of the world's leading illustrators.

“The academic session at the Brewery will showcase the ways in which comics and graphic novels are a vital part of teaching and research at Lancaster University.”