New anthology launch 14th March 2026: Growing Up ...And That

 After the hubris of getting two anthologies out in 2024, we then took ages to work on our next one and only finished it at the end of 2025, then ofcourse no one can be bothered to do stuff in winter AND SO here we are with our 22nd 'And That' anthology Growing Up ...And That. But it's worth the wait.

It's a reflective collection of strips inspired by the fact that in January 2025, Paper Jam itself turned eighteen years old. Eighteen! People literally NOT BORN when it started are now old enough to join it. The passage of time is a funny old business.

Featuring work from: Aaron, Andrew Gardner, Andy Houghton, Ben Clark, Bex Foster, Britt Coxon, Calum McCaig, Chris Longstaff, Dylan Lloyd-Davies, Grace L, Jack Waugh, James Kerry, Jenifer C. Wilson, Leo Healy, Michael Dodsworth, Michael Duckett, Oscillating Brow, Paul Thompson, Sara Qaed, Sid Phoebus, and Torgo Wells, it's a bumper collection of over forty pages of comics for a mere four quid. YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT VALUE. Barely changed from 2007 prices frankly.

We're launching it with a little party at Newcastle City Library on Saturday 14th March 10.30am-1.30pm on level 3 - there'll be drawing games running throughout the day, drop in whenever. This comic's not really suitable for kids but kids are very welcome at the launch (and of course we still have our lovely cheery all-ages anthology The Great Jam Parade ...And That still available).

After the launch, we'll have copies for sale in Travelling Man Newcastle and our online shop (plus whatever various events we have stalls at in the future).

Small Press Fair 19th October 2025 at Travelling Man

On Sunday 19th October, downstairs (sorry, only stair access) at Travelling Man Newcastle, 11.30-4.00ish, there will be a tremendous SMALL PRESS FAIR - with comics, zines, art, merch, prose, poetry, games, etcetera available from some local creators who are part of Paper Jam.

Free to get in, everyone is nice, there'll be a load of fantastic stuff, probably some freebies. Come along and support local arts.

Featuring:

the perennial Paper Jam Comics Collective (themed anthology comics), the jovial Jennifer C. Wilson (historical fiction/romance novels, writing 'how-to' books, North Tyneside Writers' Circle anthologies), the awful Alexi Conman (comics, illustrated puzzles, one-page RPGs, terrible drawings of pikachus), the mercurial Mike Duckett (likes drawing and makes zines; there is a scary wolf in one of them), the luminous Lucky Moth Studio (black and white artwork: zines, pins, stickers, tote bags etc), the likeable Leo Healy (two comics with Torgo Wells: found document/CYOA sci-fi So You've Been Conquered by the Human Race (shortlisted for the Minicomics Awards 2024!) and all-ages sci-fi comedy Uncle Zaxlor's Robot Repair Shop, plus Pokémon and wrestling zines!), the benevolent Britt Coxon (zines on peculiar topics such as tomatoes and strange questions that strangers have asked, plus stickers, greeting cards, upcycled paper handmade notebooks (unique, for your most or least precious notes) and 3D paper craft activity kits), the laudable LJ Matthews Art (prints, badges, stickers, original art, artbooks and hopefully some zines!), the magical Masked Emerald (books, some zines, stickers and upcycled badges), the stupendous Michael 'Stiv' Stephenson (a selection of Sonic the Hedgehog prints and original sketches), the amazing Andrew Gardner (the brand new Stick It - a spooky/humorous collection of cartoons drawn on sticky notes), the barbaric Ben Clark (many tiny but powerful comics), the tenacious Torgo Wells (highly detailed sci-fi comics), the pugilistic Paul Thompson (great mystery).

AND MANY MORE TBC

Small Press Day 2025 - Jam With The 'Jammers

 For Small Press Day this year (Saturday 19th July), some of us will be hanging out in our birthplace, TRAVELLING MAN NEWCASTLE from 1pm encouraging the drawing of comics - focusing on collaborative jams, but it's not obligatory if you want to do your own thing.

No skill required, no booking required, if you feel like it, just turn up whenever and help make some daft comics, for a laugh.

Maybe see you there?

Better Late than anything

Newcastle's annual delightful culture crawl THE LATE SHOWS is upon us once again. If you're unfamiliar, you really owe it to become familiar. Loads of interesting, fun stuff to do, largely free, places to visit you can't get to other times of the year, supporting local art and creativity? YES. Very good.

Paper was actively involved in it eleven years ago when we were launching Newcastle ...And That (at the Holy Biscuit as was - Sheildfield Art Works now). We had a lovely time. The fact we haven't been involved doing stuff since then is more a testament to us not being organised enough (to partner with a venue in time to pitch an event etc etc), rather than any lack of enthusiasm.

Well, we are remedying that in 2025, when we'll be helping (haranguing people to make comics, as we do) at an event organised by Make & Mend Market at St Oswald's Hospice's THE SPACE venue in Ouseburn on Friday 16th May 6pm-10.30pm. All the details are here. We'll also be hawking our comics and usual ephemera if anyone feels like making a purchase.

If you're doing the Late Shows, come and say hi, do some drawing, no skill required. If you're not doing the Late Shows, change your plans so you're doing the Late Shows.