Caption (comics convention)

CAPTION is an annual comic convention specialising in British small press comics. It was first held in Oxford in January 1992, subsequently being held in summer each year. Loosely based around a theme, each year's event offers panels and workshops related to small press comics along with the opportunity to buy and sell them. There is also a significant social aspect.

CAPTION has differed from other conventions by breaking down the distinction between named guests and other attendees, avoiding segregation or special treatment of guests. In addition it prioritizes the social interaction of attendees by encouraging comics creators to place their publications on the CAPTION stall, managed by a rota of volunteers.

History

Founded in 1992 by Adrian Cox, Damian Cugley, Jeremy Dennis, and Jenni Scott, CAPTION is currently the longest-running comic convention in Britain. It has undergone a number of changes of organizing committee during that time while continuing to be run by a core of Oxford-based comics creators, fans, and connoisseurs.

Between 1992 and 2003 CAPTION took place in the Oxford Union Society, subsequently moving to Wolfson College for 2004 and 2005. It is currently held at the East Oxford Community Centre.

Themes and guests for the individual years include:

• 1992 No specific theme
• 1993 Comics: Art or Trash? Debating the status of comics within culture
• 1994 Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll Including Hunt Emerson, Pete Loveday, Bryan Talbot as guests
• 1995
• 1996 Lazy CAPTION
• 1997 EuroCAPTION' Including France's David B, Spain's Max, and the Netherlands' Maaike Hartjes as guests
• 1998 The Death of CAPTION
• 1999 SpaceCAPTION1999 Including Bryan Talbot as guest.
• 2000 You cannot kill that which is already dead
• 2001 Love is ... CAPTION 2001
• 2002 CAPTION Noir
• 2003 CyberCAPTION Including Carla Speed McNeil as guest
• 2004 CAPTION is History Including Al Davison and Pat Mills as guests
• 2005 Bargain Basement CAPTION
• 2006 CAPTION Remix
• 2007 Dreams and Nightmares
• 2008 Timewarp CAPTION
• 2009 CAPTION is away with the fairies

Other associated British small press names

• Ed Pinsent was an early star of Caption conventions selling his Fast Fiction on his stall.
• In 1993 Andy Roberts moved to Oxford and was able to lend his considerable experience in art and design to the convention^[1].
• In 1994 Peter Pavement started selling zines from around the world as well as repackaging other small press comics, and his zine Pavement Pizza became Ground Level^[2].

References

External links

• Caption website including archived websites for previous years
• Judge Dredd Megazine small press article by Matthew Badham
• Jenni's report the death of Caption
• Alleged Literature by Jeremy Dennis
• Cleanskies
• Flickr about Caption comics convention