Today, 28 August 2011, is International Read Comics in Public Day! This celebratory, public reading of comics is being staged for the second time. It began last year and was created, sponsored and promoted by The Daily Cross Hatch. I take pride in participating in this event and have done so on both occasions (see photos below). I chose the location outside my local library in Sydney. The City of Sydney Library branches carry an increasing range of comics and graphic novel titles including some manga. Being comics artist Jack Kirby’s birthday I read the giant X-Men Omnibus that he created with writer Stan Lee. Last year I read early issues of Peanuts by Charles Schulz. I love reading comics in public!

UPDATE 2012. I participated in this event for the third time in 2012 when I read ZAP Comix No.4 on front the front steps of the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney (photo below). In the full sunshine what a perfect place it was to enjoy comics art! This particular comic features a dazzling psychedelic cover design by Victor Moscoso which the morning sunlight illuminated. I often read comics in pubs and cafes, on public transport and in parks and gardens. I love reading comics…always have…thanks to my Dad!(see my first blog post).

UPDATE 2013: At the beach!

UPDATE 2016: VIVID Festival, Sydney Harbour Bridge

Have you ever read comics in public…on a bus, train, plane, outside a gallery whilst waiting for a friend, or in a waiting room? How did it feel? Not that it is much of an issue these days…but back in my Primary and Secondary School days, my teachers the Dominican Nuns and Christian Brothers respectively…both banned comics from the classroom and the reading of them by their students…let alone the public reading of them! I would love to hear of your experiences. What was your choice of title and the location for your reading? Did you get any public response? And, if it was at school, did you ever have the comic you were reading confiscated and never returned? What happened to it? Was it burnt, or shredded, or torn? Let me know. In the meantime enjoy your comics reading wherever you are…in the park, on the bus, in the waiting room, at the opera or home in bed. Till next post, Michael.

_{(All text-©2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}