Society of Strip Illustration

British comics networking group

Society of Strip IllustrationAbbreviation| SSI

|

Formation| 1977; 47 years ago (1977)
Founders| Denis Gifford
Dissolved| 2008
Type| Comics creators organization
Legal status| Defunct
Purpose| Networking, presentation of annual awards for achievement in the comics field
Location|

* London

Region served

| United Kingdom

Membership

| UK comic book creators

Chairman

| David Lloyd (c. 1982–1983)
Mark Buckingham (c. 1988)
Nicholas Vince (1992–1993)

The Society of Strip Illustration (SSI), later known as the Comics Creators Guild, was a British network for all those involved in any stage of the creative process of comics production. The SSI, which was co-founded in 1977 by Denis Gifford,[1] met monthly in London,[2] published a newsletter, and distributed annual awards for achievement in the field. Despite the organization's name, most members were comic book creators, as opposed to those of comic strips like those found in The Beano and The Dandy.

SSI members included Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Paul Neary,[3] Jim Baikie, Arthur Ranson,[4] Tony Weare,[5] Keith Watson, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Alan Grant, Bryan Talbot, David Lloyd, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Mark Buckingham,[6] Nicholas Vince, and John Maybury. For a while in the 1970s, the SSI met at the London Sketch Club in Dilke Street, Chelsea.[7]

## History[edit]

In November 1980, the SSI hosted a conference which resulted in the publication of Strips '80, an introduction to the Society and a directory of its members.

According to Brian Bolland, in the early 1980s, scouts from DC Comics came to SSI meetings to recruit British creators to work on DC titles,[8] leading to the so-called British Invasion.

The 1981 Society of Strip Illustration Awards were distributed on Saturday, October 31, at Comicon '81, held at the Regent Centre Hotel, London.[9]

In October 1982, the SSI sponsored a "Teach-In and Work-In" at the Westminster Comic Mart, with a number of creators from 2000 AD and Warrior talking about and presenting their work.[10] David Lloyd was chairman of the SSI, and editor of the newsletter,[11] at this time.[12] A later chairman was Mark Buckingham.[13]

The SSI became the Comics Creators Guild in 1992;[14] Nicholas Vince was secretary and then chairman of the Guild from 1992 to 1993.[15] The Guild's newsletter became known as Comics Forum; it was published quarterly from 1992 to 2004, and then annually until c. 2008\.

The Guild appears to have dissolved some time after 2008.

## Awards[edit]

The SSI distributed awards from 1977 until at least 1989; in 1988 the awards were renamed The Mekon Award (in honor of The Mekon of Mekonta, the arch-enemy of the British comic book hero Dan Dare).[14] When the SSI became the Comics Creators Guild in 1992, the award name was again changed, this time to the Comics Creators Guild Award.

1977

* Best Newcomer — Brian Bolland

1978

* Cartoonist of the Year — Ken Reid
* Humorous Script Writer — Ken Reid

1982

* The Frank Bellamy Award for Lifetime Achievement — Dez Skinn
* Best Writer — Alan Moore
* Humorous Cartoonist of the Year — Hunt Emerson

1983

* Best Writer — Alan Moore
* Best Humour Strip — Danger Mouse, by Arthur Ranson[16]
* Best British Adventure Artist — Jim Baikie[17]

1988

* The Mekon Award for Best British Work — Violent Cases (Titan Books), by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

1989

* The Mekon Award for Best British Work — The Adventures of Luther Arkwright (Valkyrie Press), by Bryan Talbot[18][19]

1992

* Best Ongoing Humor Series Award — The Desert Peach by Donna Barr[citation needed]

1995

* Comics Creators Guild Award for Best Graphic Album in the UK — Stuck Rubber Baby, by Howard Cruse[20]

## See also[edit]

* Association of Illustrators
* British Cartoonists' Association
* The Cartoonists' Club of Great Britain

## References[edit]

1. ^ Gifford entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
2. ^ "INTERVIEW: Watchmen legend Dave Gibbons," Creative Bloq (Aug. 09, 2012).
3. ^ Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," DezSkinn.com. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
4. ^ Ranson, Arthur. "RIP Jim Baikie," ArthurRanson.com (January 2018). Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
5. ^ "David Lloyd Interview (08.14)," The Comic Book Gazette (August 2014). Archived at Freewebs.com. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
6. ^ Rappaport, Adrienne. "Bucking the Trend: Mark Buckingham," Sequential Tart (February 25, 2008).
7. ^ "Page 45’s Bryan Talbot Interview," Page 45 website (April 2007). Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
8. ^ Joe Pruett (ed.) "The 1970s – The European Invasion," in The Art of Brian Bolland (Image Comics, 2006), ISBN 1-58240-603-0, p. 103.
9. ^ "Comicon '81 advertisement". Fantasy Advertiser. No. 70\. November 1981. p. 17.
10. ^ Comic Mart advertisement, The Comic Book Price Guide for Great Britain. Archived at My Little Underground blog.
11. ^ Parkin, Lance. "Realisic Weird Warrior," Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of Alan Moore (Aurum Press, 2013), p. 75.
12. ^ Guests @BCF 2017!", Birmingham Comics Festival official website. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
13. ^ Bentley, David. "Birmingham Comics Festival: UK artist Mark Buckingham and US writer Jonathan Maberry attending," Birmingham Mail (10 APR 2015).
14. ^ a b "Other American [sic] Awards," Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
15. ^ "Past Guests," Cult Screenings UK Ltd. website. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.
16. ^ Mackay, James (September 4, 2004). "Arthur Ranson Interview". 2000 AD Review. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
17. ^ Khoury, George (June 2003). "The First Orkadian: Jim Baikie Talks About His Long Comics Career and Alan Moore". Comic Book Artist. No. 25.
18. ^ Johnston, Rich (August 21, 2019). "After Twenty Years, Bryan Talbot Returns With 'The Legend of Luther Arkwright'". Bleeding Cool.
19. ^ Freeman, John (29 July 2012). "Timelord Talbot!". DownTheTubes.net.
20. ^ Freeman, John (Dec 30, 2019). "In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part Two". DownTheTubes.net.

* v
* t
* e

British cartooning and comics industry awards

Est. 1970s|

* Ally Sloper Awards (1976–1982)
* Eagle Awards (1977–1990)
* Society of Strip Illustration Awards (1977–1983)

Est. 1980s|

* Mekon Awards (1988–1989)

Est. 1990s|

* UK Comic Art Awards (1990–1997)
* Comics Creators Guild Awards (1992–1995)
* Mel Calman Award/Young Cartoonist of the Year Award (1995–present)
* Cartoon Art Trust Awards (1997–2017)
* National Comics Awards (1997–2003)

Est. 2010s|

* Eagle Awards (2000–2014)
* British Comic Awards (2012–2016)

## External links[edit]

* Excerpts from the SSI Newsletter of May 1979 (issue #16)
* Excerpts from the SSI Newsletter of May 1981 (#40), featuring a writers round table with Alan Moore, Pat Mills, Steve Moore, Steve Parkhouse, and Angus Allan
* Comics Forum issues at MyComicShop.com

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