After discussion, noting the recent lockdown and that many creators’ focus will have been elsewhere in response to the global Pandemic, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has decided to extend the deadline of its “Race into Space” Challenge to create a new space-inspired comic strip story until Tuesday 8th September 2020.

The top prize for the winning entry is £500, with Festival goodies, including a copy of Carrots to the Stars by Regis Lejonc, Thierry Murat & Riff Reb's, for runners up. The winning entry and other strips will also appear in a digital anthology comic published by the Festival.

“We didn’t make this decision lightly, conscious of those who have submitted entries by the previously announced deadline,” said one of the competition judges, John Freeman. “But we’re also keenly aware that in the very difficult times, many people’s minds have been elsewhere, adjusting to the new “normal”, and may not have had chance to complete their entries - or even consider entering, given circumstances.

“We’re particularly keen to see new talent try their hands at this Challenge, but there are no restrictions on who can enter, although the theme is perhaps more geared toward teenagers and older.”

• Full details of the Race into Space Challenge are here of the Festival web site

• Carrot the Stars is also available from Page 45 here

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