Cardiff Comics Carnival 2020: Self-Isolation Edition!

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/0dks7l7cawncs45/StMarys.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> It's a Sunday afternoon in March. You walk down Cardiff's bustling Saint Mary Street. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and not a single rapidly spreading megavirus is descending upon the country. Everything is great and fine. You notice a crowd of people heading towards a bar named *Kongs.* [[Follow them to Kongs->Kongs, Cardiff]] [[Carry on walking->Goodbye]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dw4qqgwks8lfrwe/Kongs.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You enter Kongs. It is a dark bar, filled with retro arcade cabinets. You spot the bright lights and flashing screens of *Outrun 2, Mortal Kombat* and *Donkey Kong,* among others. You also see brightly coloured posters leading you to a side room. The posters read **'CARDIFF COMICS CARNIVAL 2020.'** There's something about these posters that calls to you. A deep and primal urge, one that you barely understand but starkly recognise, pulls you toward the side room. [[Follow posters to the side room->Cardiff Comics Carnival]] [[Play Outrun 2->Outrun 2]] [[Go to bar->Bar, Kongs]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rkp61taifh6exsz/tea.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You have not attended Cardiff Comics Carnival 2020, and have presumably opted to go home instead. Have a great day! [[Play again?->Saint Mary Street, Cardiff]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b2wgh3af9ch5rnl/floorplan.png?dl=0" width="500px" height="322px"></center> You follow the posters and enter the side room of *Kongs*. You are greeted by a wondrous sight. The venue's white brick walls are lined with table upon table of some of the finest illustrators and cartoonists from Wales and the surrounding area. The room is clean, spacious, and brightly lit. The dream. A bustling crowd of people flock from table to table, buying goods from artists, talking enthusiastically about the comics medium and generally just not spreading infectious diseases of any kind. You look upon this newfound paradise, wherein a visiting professor of comics literature stands shoulder to shoulder with a person dressed as a wolf, and decide what you should do first. [[Start walking around the room clockwise->Abs Bailey]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] (link-goto: "Pick a staller at random", (either: "Abs Bailey", "Alice Urbino", "Good Comics", "Decadence Comics", "Joe Glass", "Arabella Simpson", "John Tucker", "Awesome Comics", "Pigeon", "Carp Publishing Endeavours", "Peter James Maggs", "Arthole", "Raechel Leigh Carter", "Catfood Comics", "Wine & Zine", "Big Brown Eyes","Deadstar Publishing","Matt Riste", "Jason Garrattley", "Simon L. Read", "Arabella Simpson", "Thunderchair", "Annarose Smith", "Celyn Davies", "James Nutting", "Toilet", "Fellow Patron", "Nicolas Cage fans", "Change"))

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/1grbcbd5qnq2icp/Outrun2.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You walk towards the *Outrun 2* machine, and spend £1 to play it. You run out of time almost immediately, and are reminded that there are many things that become more difficult with age, and that *Outrun 2* is one of them. [[Walk away from Outrun 2->Kongs, Cardiff]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/stx1sqeu22y84u0/Beverage.png?dl=0 " width="500" height="500"></center> You head towards the bar. A young man is stands there, ready to accept your order. You get a drink - either soft, alcoholic, or a mixture of both. [[Walk away from the bar->Kongs, Cardiff]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/1on0qbj67egxlse/abs_bailey.png?dl=0"> You walk over to the table of **Abs Bailey**, also known as **Barbawk**. Abs' table overflows with prints and minicomics - she's even selling custom Magic The Gathering tokens! <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/barbawk?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=662485726" target="_blank">Buy something from Abs!</a> [[Carry on walking->Decadence Comics]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ebuzac9kyri6089/decadence_comics.png?dl=0" width="1000" height="500"> You access the **Decadence Comics** table, which is manned by an anthropomorphic lizard in a cap. The table is filled with comics by artists Lando and Stathis Tsemberlidis - all science fiction stories featuring psychedelic altered states and dystopian visions. There seems to be weird, otherworldly fungus growing out of the table. <a href="http://www.decadencecomics.com/Home" target="_blank">Buy something from Decadence Comics!</a> [[Eat space fungus->Fungus Space]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Fellow Patron]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b2wgh3af9ch5rnl/floorplan.png?dl=0" width="500px" height="322px"></center> You take a look at the Cardiff Comics Carnival 2020 floorplan. The list of creators are laid out in clockwise order, displayed here from top left to bottom right. |== [[Abs Bailey]] [[Alice Urbino]] [[Good Comics]] [[Pigeon]] [[Wine & Zine]] [[Carp Publishing Endeavours]] [[Awesome Comics]] [[Big Brown Eyes]] [[Thunderchair]] [[Simon L. Read]] [[Matt Riste]] [[James Nutting]] ==| [[Decadence Comics]] [[Joe Glass]] [[John Tucker]] [[Peter James Maggs]] [[Arthole]] [[Raechel Leigh Carter]] [[Catfood Comics]] [[Deadstar Publishing]] [[Annarose Smith]] [[Jason Garrattley]] [[Celyn Davies]] [[Go back->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zt4fjxdo2hx3rbx/joe_glass.png?dl=0"> You move to the table of **Joe Glass**, writer of LGBTQ+ comic series *The Pride*. Joe's selling copies of the first *The Pride* collected edition, as well as single issues of *The Pride Adventures* and the one-shot *Acceptable Losses*. He's also brought with him a variety of *The Pride* pins! <a href="https://www.joeglasscomics.co.uk/shop" target="_blank">Buy something from Joe!</a> [[Carry on walking->Good Comics]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mltwbikhhnj00al/fan.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You move to the next table, determined to scope out the other artists here. In your excitement, you bump into a fellow patron. The potential for tension lasts all but a second, as you both smile and laugh it off. Oh, to be at a comics show. [[Carry on to the next table->Alice Urbino]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/x1o5czsd6kvwi9h/good_comics.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the **Good Comics** table. Good Comics is one of the UK's finest publishers & distributors of independent comics and zines. Their table is full to the brim with top-quality titles, including Gareth A. Hopkin's *Petrichor*, Olivia Hicks & Emma Oosterhous' *Grand Slam Romance* and Mohar Kalra's *Novelty*. The table is manned by Good Comics' Sam Williams and Rozi Hathaway. The third member of the Good Comics team, Paddy Johnson, is not physically present, but is Skyping in and represented by a high-tech video drone. <a href="https://www.goodcomics.co.uk/bookstore" target="_blank">Buy something from Good Comics!</a> <a href="https://anchor.fm/good-comics" target="_blank">Have a great chat with Sam, Rozi and Paddy!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->John Tucker]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/xlba66lccyb0bzf/john_tucker.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of Welsh legend **John Tucker**. He greets you and asks if you'd like to pay him to draw a picture of you being killed. He has, he says, an elaborate spinning wheel device that will dictate your method of death. You think about it, and in the meantime peruse the many fine comic books he has on display. <a href="https://johntucker.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from John!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Toilet]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/d6fpyg6qz6depv4/title.png?dl=0" width="500" height="448" > [[Begin!->Saint Mary Street, Cardiff]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mo79qpuu2so6uew/pigeon.png?dl=0"> You politely pass through a crowd of show-goers to get to **Pigeon's** table. Pigeon is a Polish illustrator and cartoonist currently working out of Cardiff. The work on her table is dreamlike and surreal, and you can detect a varied range of influences, from contemporary pop culture to slavic folklore. She also has amazing handmade paper puppets on her table. You deeply want to play with them, but are scared that you will accidentally crush them in your brutish hands. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/pigeonmakesart" target="_blank">Buy something from Pigeon!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Peter James Maggs]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eonhe08z25loiwf/alice_urbino.png?dl=0"> You come across **Alice Urbino's** table. Alice's comics specialise in body-horror and graphic medicine. Her books and prints are arranged in a grotesquely sculpted display stand that looks to be made from human flesh. Cool!! <a href="https://fleshpress.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from Alice!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Joe Glass]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/tst26ytbtddjxu1/space_fungus.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You ingest the strange fauna, and before long you begin to experience a pronounced psychic shift. Objects feel both near and far away, and the universe feels at once knowable and mysterious. Before long you come to your senses, left only with the feeling that a) you've touched upon some ancient, innate knowledge within yourself and b) you really want to buy some comics. [[Go Back->Decadence Comics]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4wi84lzxci7ixlk/toilet.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> While making your way to the next stall, you decide that it would be prudent to make use of Kongs' excellent facilities. The toilets are clean and the task goes without incident. You thoroughly wash your hands and go back to the show. [[Carry on to the next table->Pigeon]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/wz51ov241yuizqx/peter_maggs.png?dl=0"> You reach the table of Swansea cartoonist **Peter James Maggs**. Peter's stock includes a minicomic adaptation of *The Jabberwocky*, a comprehensive zine of werewolf-based illustrations, and collected print editions of his ongoing Webtoon comic, *The Many Strange Cases of Ghost Jones*. You notice that one of the *Ghost Jones* collections is gently floating in the air, its pages turning by themselves. <a href="https://peterjamesmaggs.com/store" target="_blank">Buy something from Peter!</a> [[Investigate floating comic->Floating Comic]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Wine & Zine]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4uy3hrlg8gxqa0u/Wine_Zine.png?dl=0"> You approach the **Wine & Zine** table. Wine & Zine are a female comics collective based all over the UK. The group is made up of five artists and cartoonists - Bryony, Claire, Gemma, Jess and Zara. It's asking a lot of the cramped space behind the half-table but they're making do. They have with them a wide collection of zines and comics -- some of them solo efforts, some of them anthologies. It all looks great! <a href="https://wineandzine.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from Wine & Zine!</a> <a href="https://wineandzine.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Have a great chat with Bryony, Claire, Gemma, Jess and Zara!</a> [[Ask how they're pronouncing 'Wine'->Bryony]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Arthole]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

You take a closer look at the floating copy of *The Many Strange Cases of Ghost Jones*, and with further inspection can spot a faint, glimmering shape behind it. You take this to be a telltale sign of a rare spectral comic fair attendee. You're not surprised, as it is well known that ghosts struggle with operating digital comics apps and do much better with physical media. [[Go back->Peter James Maggs]]

'How do you pronounce Wine? Or Zine?', you ask. Bryony stares at you and says 'Ween.' You feel like you've asked a silly question. Maybe you should buy something. [[Go back->Wine & Zine]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/03h66sp5ak8j295/Arthole.png?dl=0"> You reach the **Arthole** table, which is filled with tees and prints and garnished with papier-mâché sculptures that, unfortunately, are not for sale. Manning the stall are two artists with giant, spherical yellow heads. Arthole are a Cardiff-based art collective. They put on lots of vital illustration events in the city, including a number of fairs in this very venue! They're also in the process of editing a magazine. <a href="https://artholecardiff.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from Arthole!</a> [[Look more closely at the yellow heads->Arthole Heads]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Nicolas Cage fans]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/42k4xwfmik1q8mw/arthole_head.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> The Arthole representatives stare back at you, with matching blank expressions. You want to ask about the heads, but from this distance you can't tell if they're the the result of papier-mâché experimentation or a serious medical condition. You think better of it. [[Go back->Arthole]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/hdvgvvax7ty4zv9/catfood_comics.png?dl=0"> You continue to the table of **Catfood Comics**. The stall is manned by Mark Hughes and Pete Taylor. They're primarily selling their latest book, *'The Seven Sagas of Silverbeard'*, and the all-ages title *Monster Kids*. The main character of the Seven Sagas of Silverbeard (presumably, Silverbeard) looks oddly familiar. <a href="http://catfoodcomics.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from Catfood Comics!</a> [[Ask about the history of Catfood Comics->Catfood History]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Big Brown Eyes]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/pl8fvdzazewm03g/cageplayers.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> As you move to the next table, you see a group of excited comics enthusiasts buzzing together. You immediately recognise that their choice of outfits represents a co-ordinated Nicolas Cage cosplay effort - there's a Ghost Rider, there's a Raising Arizona, there is, inexplicably, a Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (complete with iguana). You decide that this is interesting, and continue on. [[Carry on walking->Carp Publishing Endeavours]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/xvss8hf93qlih4q/rachael_leigh_carter.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of illustrator and zine-maker **Raechel Leigh Carter**, also known as **Tinynoggin**. She has a variety of zines on sale, and their subject-matter runs the gamut from Nicolas Cage to Morrissey to French pop-culture. Now that you think about it, there's a lot of Nicolas Cage stuff on this table. Actually, now that you double-think about it, Nicolas Cage is sat behind the table with Raechel. It's definitely him. How wild. Those Cage cosplayers (Cageplayers) now make a lot more sense. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/tinynoggin" target="_blank">Buy something from Raechel!</a> [[Chat to Nic->Nicolas Cage]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Awesome Comics]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/txduyws2fa7cwtg/catfood_history.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You ask about the history of Catfood Comics, and mention that you think you've seen Silverbeard somewhere before. Pete explains that Catfood Comics was originally a New York-based publisher that put out such cherished titles as *Catfood Confidential* and *Catfood Attack* in the 1940s, before releasing *The Savage Silverbeard #1* in the 1960s. The company closed in the mid-90s, and Mark and Pete ran a successful Kickstarter to bring back Catfood and Silverbeard in 2019. You nod. How interesting. You also notice that Pete has been winking at you incessantly throughout the telling of this entire story. You can't tell if he's trying to suggest that it's all made up or if he just has some dust in his eye. [[Go back->Catfood Comics]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dmep6cd8v6n4bxx/nicolas_cage.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You politely address Nicolas Cage, and in turn Nicolas Cage glances up from the independent Welsh comic book he is reading. You chat at length about how much he loves comics, and about how many comic books he has. They all sound very expensive. You compliment him on the aspects of his work that you like, and do not mention the aspects that you don't, and then say your goodbyes and leave before the Cageplayers arrive. [[Go back->Raechel Leigh Carter]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/x2igrn4rd4x3ttc/awesome_comics.png?dl=0"> You move on to the table of the **Awesome Comics Podcast**. The ACP is the UK's premiere podcast about the small press comics scene. Hosts Tony, Vince and Dan are all sat behind the table in deep conversation with one another. You can't hear what they're saying but from their expressions you get the sense that they're either talking about something disgusting or the X-Men. It's fifty-fifty. Each host is an independent comic creator themselves, and so the ACP table is full of comics. ACP put out their own title -- *Awesome Comics* -- which features strips variously drawn and written by the guys. <a href="https://awesomecomicpod.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from the Awesome Comics Podcast!</a> <a href="https://awesomecomics.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Have a great chat with Tony, Vince and Dan!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Catfood Comics]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w8e7959p2tw8ys5/big_brown_eyes.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of **Big Brown Eyes**. They're a three-person collective run by sisters Freya, Karis and Emily. BBE specialises in independent comics, and their work draws from folklore and mythology, travel and real-life dramas. They also make prints and handmade jewellery. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BBEcollective" target="_blank">Buy something from Big Brown Eyes!</a> [[Check the colour of the sisters' eyes->Eyes]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Deadstar Publishing]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

Their eyes are brown. [[Go back->Big Brown Eyes]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cu54e7zvb5mjj7o/dead_star.png?dl=0"> You reach the **Deadstar Publishing** table. Deadstar are a Cardiff-based publisher of genre comics. Their flagship books are Jamie Lambert and David Clifford's *Dexter's Half Dozen* and Danny J. Weston's sea-mammal epic, *Dolphin Squad*. You now recall seeing somebody dressed like a dolphin earlier in the day. You are unsure if the two are related. <a href="https://deadstarpublishing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Buy something from Deadstar Publishing!</a> <a href="https://deadstarpublishing.co.uk/submissions/" target="_blank">Hassle them to publish your book!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Change]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/7qpo74hf2jtwoo7/change.png?dl=0 "></center> You continue walking around the show floor. A cartoonist runs up to you with a twenty-pound note. He is out of change. He begs you to run to the nearest Tesco Express, buy six packets of chewing gum (Tesco Express' cheapest item) in six different transactions, and then return with the resultant £19 worth of small change. To sweeten the deal he says you can keep five of the six packs of chewing gum. [[You tell him you're too busy checking out comics, but applaud his commitment to the hustle->Thunderchair]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/l3dlxeufb6j5zrn/thunderchair.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of **Thunderchair** (Thundertable). Thunderchair is an intergalactic comics hivemind based in Bristol and Brighton, UK. Today the hivemind has taken corporeal form in the shape of three human men. It is unclear whether they have arrived in Cardiff via cosmic means or mere public transport. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thunderchair/" target="_blank">Peruse the work of Thunderchair!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Annarose Smith]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jvl6kwdo7rgqlje/Annarose.png?dl=0"> You reach the table of **Annarose Smith**. Annarose is an illustrator from South Wales who draws and paints people, animals and still life. You notice that she has an eclectic style that uses a variety of materials. You also notice that she has a lot of prints that you can buy. You think that they would might nice on your living room wall. <a href="https://annaroseillustrates.com/" target="_blank">Peruse Annarose's work!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Simon L. Read]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/vbv1ewfetj1xhz6/celyn_davies.png?dl=0"> You arrive at **Celyn Davies'** table. Celyn works from Cardiff as a freelance artist. The goods on her table comprise a series of illustrated greetings cards - the art on which tends towards the expressive and interpretive, rather than the literal. The objects themselves, however, are very much literal greetings cards. They serve their purpose well, in that they are small folded pieces of card into which you can write messages, and they look beautiful while doing so. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CelynDavies" target="_blank">Buy greetings cards from Celyn!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->James Nutting]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/j641408t8t7kijr/arabella_simpson.png?dl=0"> You have reached the table of **Arabella Simpson.** Arabella is an illustrator currently based in Ludlow, Shropshire. Her table is filled with zines, comic books, sticker sheets, postcards and prints. There is a lot of delightful fruit-based imagery on Arabella's table. Just seeing a tangerine in sticker form has you craving Vitamin C. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ArabellaSimpson" target="_blank">Buy something from Arabella!</a> [[Try to eat one of the fruit stickers->Fruit Sticker]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Jason Garrattley]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/8hkc3tzfh5n0llm/carp_publishing_endeavours.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the **Carp Publishing Endeavours** table, which is being manned by Cardiff-based artists **Ioan Morris** and **Josh Hicks**. CPE are selling Josh's *Glorious Wrestling Alliance: Premium Special* and issue one of Ioan Morris' 60s-TV documentary comedy comic *Biggol*. <a href="https://www.cpebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Buy something from Carp Publishing Endeavours!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Raechel Leigh Carter]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/z66ov8jkuvql6os/simon_read.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of Cardiff-based cartoonist **Simon L. Read**. His comics look to be an absurd blend of the lewd, ridiculous and daft. You notice the analogue DIY ethic behind his work and feel that it should be applauded. <a href="https://shopslr.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Buy something from Simon L. Read!</a> [[Vocally applaud the analogue DIY ethic behind Simon's work->Vocal Applause]] [[Silently applaud the analogue DIY ethic behind Simon's work->Silent Applause]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Arabella Simpson]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

On your way to the next table you pass the booth of CCC co-founder and resident **DJ Andrew Rhys Lewis.** [[Ask him what he's playing->]] [[Carry on walking->Raechel Leigh Carter]]

[[Hello->(either:"Song 1","Song 2","Song 3","Song 4","Song 5","Song 6","Song 7","Song 8","Song 9","Song 10","Song 11","Song 12")]]

Andrew is playing SONG by SONG.

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You vocally applaud Simon L. Read's adherence to the analogue DIY work ethic. He thanks you. [[Go Back->Simon L. Read]]

You silently applaud Simon L. Read's adherence to the analogue DIY work ethic, doing most of the work using your eyes. He glances back and nods gratefully in recognition of your respect for the cause. [[Go Back->Simon L. Read]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b2wgh3af9ch5rnl/floorplan.png?dl=0" width="500px" height="322px"></center> You stand in the center of the Cardiff Comics Carnival. Around you buzz excited show goers, and tables full of exhibiting cartoonists and illustrators stretch as far as the eye can see (i.e: they line the walls of a medium-sized room). What do you do? [[Start walking around the room clockwise->Abs Bailey]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] (link-goto: "Pick a staller at random", (either: "Abs Bailey", "Alice Urbino", "Good Comics", "Decadence Comics", "Joe Glass", "Arabella Simpson", "John Tucker", "Awesome Comics", "Pigeon", "Carp Publishing Endeavours", "Peter James Maggs", "Arthole", "Raechel Leigh Carter", "Catfood Comics", "Wine & Zine", "Big Brown Eyes","Deadstar Publishing","Matt Riste", "Jason Garrattley", "Simon L. Read", "Arabella Simpson", "Thunderchair", "Annarose Smith", "Celyn Davies", "James Nutting", "Toilet", "Fellow Patron", "Nicolas Cage fans", "Change")) [[Go home->Home]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/nom1l2awqoq216o/jason_garrattley.png?dl=0"> You arrive at the table of **Jason Garrattley**. Jason is a Birmingham-based designer with a sideline in music and pop-culture inspired illustration. The goods on his table include the *Drunk Beatles* zine and *Kirby-Vision*, a collection of collages & artwork produced for the Kirby tribute blog, *Kirby Museum*. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PLAYRECORD" target="_blank">Buy something from Jason!</a> [[Thank Jason for coming so far to be here->Thank Jason]] [[Carry on walking clockwise->Matt Riste]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

Famished, you stuff one of Arabella's apple-themed stickers into your mouth. Though aesthetically pleasing, the sticker does not bear the flavour of the real thing, and you now have a mealy piece of adhesive paper stuck to the roof of the mouth. You somehow manage to swallow it down and privately admonish yourself. You fool. [[Go back->Arabella Simpson]]

You thank Jason for coming all the way from Birmingham, and he says that Cardiff Comics Carnival is worth the trip. You agree, but wonder if he says that about all the shows. [[Go back->Jason Garrattley]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/t1tjfyxg8qafrt5/james_nutting.png?dl=0"> You get to the table of **James Nutting**. James is a UK based freelance animator. James' personal work focuses on retro and vintage sub-cultures -- Pin-up, Burleqsue, Hot-Rods -- and he is currently working on *Marmalade is Missing*, an animated burlesque extravaganza that is now three years in the making. James has also worked on films for HBO, BBC and Channel 4. His table is full of prints! With James, you've reached the end of the room! What will you do? <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JamesNuttingArt" target="_blank">Buy prints from James!</a> [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b45pc39qrjurkab/Matt_Riste.png?dl=0"> You approach the table of illustrator **Matt Riste**. Matt draws a lot of t-shirts for professional wrestlers, which is presumably why the Cardiff Comics Carnival team have given him a big regal throne to sit in. His work draws heavily on horror imagery and often features bright neon colours and detailed pointillist shading. He's also drawn a big Godzilla! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattristeillustration/?hl=en" target="_blank">Peruse Matt's work!</a> [[Carry on walking clockwise->Celyn Davies]] [[Look at floorplan->Floorplan]] [[Go back to the center of the room->The Centre of the Room]]

<center><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rkp61taifh6exsz/tea.png?dl=0" width="500" height="500"></center> You go home and have a nice cup of tea, having left Cardiff Comics Carnival 2020 greater in spirit, lighter in wallet, and heavier in comic books. What a day. [[Play again?->The Centre of the Room]]