If 2026 has proved anything it’s that our UK comics events calendar has well and truly revived itself after the pandemic years cost us so many established fixtures. Coming up in June is MACC-POW!, the truly comics-focussed two day fest founded by cartoonist Marc Jackson, taking place in Macclesfield. I chat with Marc today about the history of MACC-POW!, what we can expect from the 25th-28th June, and Marc’s own cartooning practice…
Marc Jackson
ANDY OLIVER: Before we start talking about MACC-POW! can we begin with an introduction to your own work as a cartoonist and your background in comics to date?
MARC JACKSON: Hello! We can indeed! I’ve been a professional cartoonist since 2013 when my comic Duck Dare and Hero Hound debuted in my local paper, Macclesfield Today. In 2014 I created Lenny the Lettuce which appeared in the Beano (a life long dream I never realised would actually happen) and the year after Dawgtective, which both enjoyed successful runs! Between then and now, I’ve worked for The Phoenix (bringing Duck Dare back, and last year with the full page serialised strip Donald Dogbody Does your Dos) the Brooklyn Red Hook start revue, SCARFF, Freaky Mag, Spiralbound/Medium, SHELF, and David Lloyd’s Aces Weekly. I also curate the FUNNY PAGES for the Village revue in NYC. I’m down to make comics for anyone, so call me! 😀
I regularly visit schools, libraries, and festival bringing my passion for comics and cartoon art to the masses, and since 2021, my wife Jane and I also run Room for Comics, a comic art studio dedicated to the teaching of comics in Macclesfield.
AO: How did MACC-POW! begin? What is the secret origin of the event and how would you describe its ethos?
JACKSON: MACC-POW! was born out of a 10 day arts festival in my hometown of Macclesfield, Cheshire in 2015. I was asked to create ’something’ for the 2016 festival the following year, and after an introduction to the late Aileen McEvoy (one of the great minds behind LICAF) I suggested a one-day mini comic art show. The idea was welcomed, and off we went. The focus, as ever, 100% on comic art and those that create it. For a small event, this seemed easy to me, find like-minded creators, and fill a room with their work. This has continued ever since, we’re strictly comics!
AO: MACC-POW! has been running for quite a few years now. Can you give us a potted history of it in that time?
JACKSON: Since it started in 2016 it literally has leaped and bounded into people’s lives. Since our second year we relocated the event into the historic Town Hall building in the heart of the town, and each year we have slowly infiltrated various other locations such as the library, our indie cinema CINEMAC, local cafes and bars and anyone else who was keen to be involved. We brought comics to Macclesfield, and now we bring Macclesfield to comics! I run it alongside my wife Jane, and we put our creative ideas into everything we do for the festival, also thinking differently and making sure that the effort is made to celebrate this wonderful art form the way it deserves to be celebrated! In 2022 we made the leap to a two-day event, incorporating ROOM FOR COMICS into the programming with a full day of workshops from our guest creators, and we also run a mini comic art-based film festival over the four days!
Abby Bulmer
AO: What has been some of your most treasured feedback from punters and guests over the years?
JACKSON: A wonderful lady called Barbara Niig got on a plane in Switzerland in 2024 to come to our festival. She literally consumed everything she could that was on offer, and loved it so much came back again in 2025 and we’ll see her again this year too. That’s the power of the festival and comics right there! What more can you ask for!
AO: How important are pure comics-focussed events like MACC-POW! at a time when the term “Comic-con” has become something of a misnomer, given how very little comics programming is actually a part of many cons?
JACKSON: Incredibly important, and especially for smaller events like ours easy to do. If you are organising a comics show on a small scale, don’t cave and fall into the ‘con’ traps, embrace creators, do your research, find new and interesting cartoonists creating comics. It’s not hard to fill a room full of comics, and let’s be honest, that’s why comics is in the name! A room full of comics people is a true joy to see. That energy is uplifting, whether it be legendary pros, or some youngsters debuting their first mini-comic – make comics the priority. Oh, and make sure you get a creator to make your poster if you can’t, a good poster adds great weight to your event visually.
AO: You have also been involved in Little LICAF at the Lakes for some years. What do you think are the major factors in the more visible resurgence of popularity of comics among younger readers in recent years?
JACKSON: The Lakes have played a HUGE part in that. The key was the schools, and the hesitant parents. Show teachers and parents that comics is an accepted form of literature, and is equal to a book (if not better :D) and then show those groups that creators like myself can make a living, so art is work, and can become your job. I only realised my dream these past 16 years, but I have been fortunate enough to work in the creative industry since I left college in 1992, no mean feat!
AO: And, finally, what can we expect from MACC-POW! in 2026? And what comics projects are you working on this year?
JACKSON: This year we boast another incredible line-up, with our richest and most diverse set of creators from around the world. We’re bringing our second international guest to the festival, after last years scoop with the mighty Tom Scioli, we’re bringing cartoonist James Kochalka along for the ride. James actually was involved in the first year as I interviewed him live via Skype no less! We have not one but three exhibitions, one featuring watercolour gag strips by James displayed in the town’s Silk Museum, the LICAF supported Make Mine Manga in the Library, and we have commissioned an up and coming artist from Macclesfield called Ava Reid to do something unique. Ava has Down’s Syndrome and over the past few years, has been honing her artistic oil painting skills. Last year after her second exhibition I hit upon the idea of Ava creating a set of paintings in her style, of female characters from the world of comics and cartoon art. Exciting times!
We also received our biggest ever amount of applicants, three times more than last year, and we’ve had a great time deciding just who we want to join us. Our line-up is one we are incredibly proud of, and the people of Macclesfield and beyond are in for a real treat!
We also launch issue #3 of GOOF the kids anthology comic we launched back in 2024. Half the creators involved, including Lew Stringer, Tor Freeman, Rachael Smith, James Kochalka, and David Leach will be at the festival, giving those who buy the comic the chance to interact directly with those creating it. A true first for comics!
So along with all that, I’m pulling GOOF together, I just completed a page for issue four of SHELF magazine, and I’m hoping to launch a new mini comic that will be a couple of short stories/chapters for a longer form comic I’m going to try and tempt someone to publish later this year. Watch this space!
For more on MACC-POW! visit the site here.
Interview by Andy Oliver
