The deadline for submissions to present a talk at TitanCon 2020 in Belfast has been extended by one month. This event has a broad focus, but we are particularly interested in including comics scholarship, especially but not limited to work on Irish cartoonists and comics writers, notably Paddy Brennan, Malachy Coney, Garth Ennis, Davy Francis, Maura McHugh, Declan Shalvey, Will Sliney, and others (NOTE: this is not intended to be a comprehensive list; we welcome proposals on other Irish comics and comix figures). Other comics figures from the UK are also of especial interest: Allan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Emma Vieceli, Mick Anglo, Frank Bellamy, John Wagner, Steve Parkhouse, Bryan Talbot, Alfred Bestall, Raymond Briggs, Posy Simmonds, to name only a very few. We are also interested in proposals on comics and graphic novels generally, as well as on media adaptations of comics (e.g. the Marvel and DC movies and TV shows, the Amazon Prime adaptation of The Boys, videogame adaptations of comics, etc.) The full updated CFP is posted below.

In the spirit of deepening and broadening its roots, TitanCon 2020 is adding a formal academic track to its programming. The convention began as a collaboration between the Brotherhood Without Banners, who wanted to put on a fan convention for Game of Thrones, the Belfast SF/F society The Other Ones, who wanted to put on an SF/F convention, and Arkham Gaming Centre, who wanted to put on a gaming convention. In keeping with that spirit, our theme “On the Shoulders of Giants” hopes to encourage that spirit of collaboration.

Submissions on any aspect of the art and literature of the fantastic—Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Comics, Gaming, etc.—are welcome. We particularly encourage papers that focus on the work of our three guests of honor: Jeanette Ng, Jodi Taylor, and Robert J Sawyer. Papers may more generally consider women’s voices and themes of diversity in SF/F. The intersections of SF/F literature and other media, such as television, film, or graphic novels are other areas that might be explored, particularly in light of Robert J Sawyer and George RR Martin. Papers on Game of Thrones could focus on the show, the novels, the intersection of the two, fan reaction, or the importance of the show to Northern Ireland itself. We also welcome papers that focus on SF/F television and film generally. Fan studies and Game studies might consider particularly Irish or SF/F themes. Finally, we would also invite papers that focus particularly on Irish SF/F and Irish or SF/F graphic novels.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

• Game of Thrones/GRR Martin
• Studies of the guests of Honor:
  • Robert J. Sawyer
  • Jeanette Ng
  • Jodi Taylor
• Irish SFF generally
• Work on specific Irish writers/artists:
  • Lord Dunsany
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Charles Maturin
  • Oscar Wilde
  • Bram Stoker
  • Sheridan Le Fanu
  • Bob Shaw
  • C.S. Lewi
  • Garth Ennis (comics)
  • Eoin Colfer
  • Ian McDonald
  • Anne McCaffrey
  • James White
  • Cathal Ó Sándair
  • Caitlín R. Kiernan
  • Johnny Byrne (esp. Dr Who, Space 1999)
  • Michael Carroll
  • Will Sliney (comics)
  • Declan Shalvey (comics)
  • Paddy Brennan (comics)
  • Oisín McGann (writer/illustrator)
  • Maura McHugh (multi-genre, inc. comics)
  • Fitz-James O’Brien
  • Walt Willis (fan studies)
  • Flann O’Brien
  • Malachy Coney (comics)
  • Davy Francis (comics)
  • Jo Zebedee
  •  Sarah Maria Griffin
  • Luke Healy (comics)
  •  … and many others!
• Fandom in/of Ireland
• SFF Film and Television
• SFF and Gaming

Proposals of 250 to 300 words and a brief 50 word biography of the author should be sent to lmackle2@uwo.ca or dgrace2@uwo.ca by MARCH 15, 2020. Acceptances will be sent by the end of March/early April 2020. Any queries can be sent to the above emails.