Sergio Aragonés, the world’s fastest cartoonist, will be making a rare appearance as part of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (13th – 15th October in Kendal, Cumbria).
One of the most famous and influential living cartoonists, Sergio, perhaps best known for his work on MAD Magazine, is world renowned for his fast and witty cartooning style. He has won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award.
Sergio will be announcing the first ever recipient of The Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art as part of the festival opening night on Friday 13th October. The new award has been established by The National Cartoonists Society, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. This honour will be presented annually at the festival to an exceptional comic artist, animator, or cartoonist.
Born in 1937 in Castellon, Spain, Sergio Aragonés now lives and works in Ojai, California. His professional career started in Mexico at the age of 17 but he is most famous for his work on Mad Magazine after he arrived in New York. Sergio’s first contribution, “A Mad Look at the U.S. Space Effort”, appeared in Mad #76. His work has since appeared in every issue of Mad except for one, due to a post office error.
In the early 198s, Sergio teamed with wordsmith Mark Evanier to bring forth the adventures of Groo the Wanderer. Sergio and Mark have also produced many other comics, including Fanboy, Sergio Aragonés Massacres Marvel, Sergio Aragonés Destroys DC, and Sergio Aragonés Stomps Star Wars. For their comic book work, they have received multiple Eisner awards.
His artwork has appeared on hundreds of adverts and editorial features and his animation has been featured on numerous TV shows.
“It’s an incredible honour to welcome Sergio Aragonés to the UK and to be creating a new international award in his name,” says Julie Tait, Director of the Lakes Festival.
“Sergio is an icon and inspiration to cartoonists across the world. Our festival aims to be truly international, to celebrate all genres of comic art and to encourage people to recognise comics as representing great art for everyone. This new award is a major new step towards our goal and we are extremely honoured and grateful to the National Cartoonist Society for this opportunity”.
“As a US based cartoonist for MAD Magazine and also my own comic books I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries and to meet so many wonderful cartoonists and comic artists,” says Sergio. “I am very pleased and proud that this new award will recognise the accomplishments of the best cartoonists in our profession, not only from North America but from the entire world.”
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns for its fifth year to Kendal, Cumbria, from 13th to 15th October 2017. Celebrating comic art from across the world, the weekend festival takes over the town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District.
The festival brings the biggest names in comic art to Cumbria with over 70 special guests from across the comic world. This year, artists, creators and writers from Japan, the US, Canada, Australia, Finland, as well as European comic creators will take part in the festival.
Sergio will also be showcasing his speed and cartooning talent as part of the opening night event ‘Quick on the draw’ (Friday 13th October, 7.30pm) – an evening of spectacular live drawing featuring some of the world’s fastest and funniest cartoonists. The evening will feature superstars from the USA’s cartooning scene – Luke McGarry, Rick Stromoski and Tom Richmond, with the evening MC’ed by Steve McGarry.
• The full programme of events is now live on the Festival web site, along with details about its new Weekend Pass.
• Buy your tickets for the fifth Lakes International Comic Art Festival here
• Web: www.comicartfestival.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Podcast | View the Festival Programme on Issuu | Download the Programme (PDF)
