Catch a lively conversation that traces queer comic storytelling from coded strips to webcomics , who’s speaking, where to go, and why this evening at the Quentin Blake Centre matters for fans and newcomers alike.

Essential Takeaways

  • When and where: The event runs 6:30–8:30pm (doors 6pm) at Deeney’s Café, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, London; book early as places are limited.
  • Who’s on stage: Pioneering cartoonists Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton join contemporary creators Leo Fox and Ollie Hicks for two conversations exploring queer comics and fantasy.
  • What you get: Ticket includes after-hours entry to the Queer As Comics exhibition from 5:30pm , a chance to see trailblazing work in context.
  • Price and format: Tickets cost £15 for adults (exhibition entry + talk available); the programme runs about two hours with a short interval.
  • Why it’s special: The evening links historic queer press and underground comix to today’s zines and webcomics, offering both nostalgia and fresh perspectives.

Why this one-night talk feels essential

The strongest draw here is the pairing of generations; you’ll get the warm, lived-in voice of artists who helped shape queer cartooning alongside younger creators pushing the form. There’s a human, tactile quality to the evening , the café setting and intimate gallery space make it feel like a conversation rather than a lecture. According to the Quentin Blake Centre listings, the format is two conversations with a short interval, so expect plenty of chat, anecdotes and a few surprises.

Meet the speakers , pioneers and new voices

Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton are names with history in the UK’s queer press and underground comix scenes, while Leo Fox and Ollie Hicks represent contemporary directions in queer storytelling and fantasy. This mix matters: you’ll hear how the coded strips of the mid-20th century evolved into bold graphic novels and self-published zines. Art and comics sites covering the exhibition note that the show traces work from the 1940s to today, which is the context these speakers will be drawing from.

See the show that frames the conversation

The talk accompanies the Queer As Comics exhibition in the Coal Stores Gallery at the Quentin Blake Centre, open from 5 June to 4 October 2026. The exhibition showcases milestone works , including early British gay strips and the first gay Black superhero , and contemporary webcomics and self-published zines. Attending the talk gives you after-hours access from 5:30pm, so you can wander the displays before seats fill up and the conversation begins.

Practicalities: tickets, timing and tips

Tickets are £15 and include exhibition entry if you choose the combined option; doors open at 6pm and the programme starts at 6:30pm. Expect a run time of around two hours with a short interval, and note the venue , Deeney’s Café within the Quentin Blake Centre , is compact, so book early. If you want photos or to browse the gallery quietly, arrive with enough time to take it all in before the discussion starts.

What to expect from the conversation itself

The evening explores queer comics through the lens of fantasy and creative practice: how creators use genre, humour and form to tell queer stories. Organisers and coverage of the exhibition suggest the tone will be celebratory and reflective, with personal histories and industry insight. If you’re a reader, artist or simply curious, you’ll come away with recommendations, a clearer sense of the medium’s evolution, and perhaps a desire to seek out older, overlooked work.

It's a small cultural night that promises big stories , worth booking if you want to see queer comics discussed by the people who made and are remaking them.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: