As David Lloyd packs his bags and heads for next weekend's Derry's 2D Northern Ireland Comic Festival, he speaks exclusively to the 'Derry Journal'.

With decades of experience in the industry and a reputation for quality illustration, David Lloyd has already carved out a staggering legacy.
But is there a particular piece of work he favours among all others?
"My favourite pieces of work would be 'Kickback' for sheer unmitigated pleasure of creativity and unhampered freedom of artistic expression," Lloyd told the 'Journal' this week, "And 'Vendetta' for giving me the opportunity to reach to out to a wide and appreciative audience with a valuable and life-enhancing message. "

Speaking of 'V for Vendetta', Lloyd says he wasn't surprised at the world-wide success of the graphic novel - which spawned not only a multi-million pound Hollywood movie but countless Hallowe'en costumes every October on the streets of Derry.

He hopes that such high-profile exposure will help get graphic novels out to a wider audience.

"No, I wasn't surprised at Vendetta's popularity. It's about universal issues in an entertaining wrapping which seems to appeal - as we designed it to - to a wide range of people," he said.

"I was initially surprised by its success in the US, however, because V is such a strange-looking character in comparison with the usual tights-wearing superhero crew who dominate American comic books!"

Having already achieved so much in the industry, Lloyd is now hoping to work on more personal projects: "I want to create more projects of my own - something I haven't had enough time to do up until now," he admits.

Most recently, he has created a story about a poker game showing there's always a joker in the deck of life. "Something we must always remember," he says.

"At the minute I'm working on nothing but a two-page strip for a charity book supporting the Heroes Initiative, which works to try to provide help for strip creators fallen on hard times," he added.

With so much emphasis on labels these days, does Lloyd consider himself to be a comic book artist or an illustrator? "A sequential artist is what I am," he says, "A nice overall term that all of us in this business should adopt, which covers the writing as well as the art of such endeavours. Unless I produce a graphic novel - then you can call me a graphic novelist."

With this year's 2D Festival almost upon us, Lloyd says that such comic events, particularly free events like 2D which strive to promote the art without commercial motivation, are "absolutely vital" to the industry.

"Sadly, sequential art has a long way to go in this part of the globe to prove that it's not just about funny folks or superheroes," he said.
"So anything which brings its value as a wide-ranging entertainment medium and art form to as many people as possible is indispensable," he said.

And with the medium of comic book art enjoying a renaissance of sorts, David Lloyd also had some words of wisdom for aspiring comics creators out there.

"Work hard, judge your skills by comparing them to those of the comic creators you most admire, and try not to give up as you encounter the many hurdles you will have to leap in order to achieve the success you wish for," he said.

Countdown to 2D

David Lloyd will be holding a special talk on 'V for Vendetta' at the Verbal Arts Centre next Saturday, June 6, at 3.30pm. He will also conduct a Q&A at Sandinos at 7pm that evening.

2D the Northern Ireland Comics Festival will run next weekend, June 4-6, and is hosted annually by the Verbal Arts Centre and Sandinos Bar.
Those attending the Open Day on Saturday, June 6, can buy comics, meet top comic creators, get free sketches and even have their photo taken with the Stormtroopers from Stars Wars.

Panel talks will take place on Friday and Saturday in Sandinos Bar for the older audience from 7pm. All events are completely FREE of charge.
For more details on the festival contact the Verbal Arts Centre on: 71. 266946, email:david@2dfestival.com or you can check the website: www.2dfestival.com.

For more on the 2D Festival - see P.15 of today's 'Derry Journal'.