Dundee lecturers return to comic book event

Dundee University representatives are peddling their wares at the biggest celebration of comic book culture.

Lecturers from the Masters degree in comic book studies left for the sunny shores of San Diego to take part in the Comic Con International.

Dundee is the only university in the UK to offer unique courses in comic book studies and a brave team of intrepid lecturers and course leaders are attending the American mega event once again this year.

This year the group is being joined by world-leading artist Dave Gibbons, who regularly collaborates with the university giving lectures and advice to pupils.

Mr Gibbons was also the inspiration behind the Dr Manhattan Oor Wullie sculpture which was bought and donated to the university by entrepreneur Chris Van Der Kuyl.

Senior lecturer and programme director Phil Vaughan said comics and graphic novels were becoming evermore prevalent in mainstream culture and could be used to communicate complex ideas to a mass audience.

He said: “Comic Con is the biggest premiere event in the world and we have been lucky enough to go through for two reasons. We will be attending a lot of academic conferences, sharing ideas with some of the leading thinkers in the industry and we will also be there to showcase the university’s unique comics course.

“It will be a fantastic opportunity to promote what Dundee has to offer, the university has this unique course and the city has a rich history of comic characters too.

“What we do at the university only really scratches the surface of the potential comics and graphic novels can offer to the world, so it is important we showcase what we have at this hugely successful and highly important event.”

Dave Gibbons is at the San Diego Comic Con event.