The UK’s comic books giants have joined forces to boost industry and tackle Ai collectively. Historically rivals, they’re now allied. Here we explore the reasons behind this new allegiance.

The UK comic industry has historically been fragmented. For a long time, the British comic landscape was largely dominated by a few major players, most notably DC Thomson (publishers of The Beano, The Dandy, Commando) and Fleetway Publications (later part of IPC, responsible for titles like 2000 AD, Valiant, Buster).

Unlike the well-established Comics Code Authority in the US (albeit with its own issues) or the powerful manga industry associations in Japan, the UK comic industry historically lacked a strong, cohesive trade association capable of lobbying government, conducting comprehensive market research, or promoting the industry as a whole.

While some UK comic properties achieved international recognition, a concerted, industry-wide strategy for promoting UK comics as a significant cultural export was largely absent. Individual publishers might pursue international sales, but there was no collective effort to smooth trade barriers or create a uniquely "British comics" brand on the global stage.

However, a brand new trade association, Comic Book UK, has been formed with the aim of driving growth in the UK comic book industry. Comic Book UK is specifically designed as a trade association to provide this collective voice. They aim to be the "chief lobbyist" for the UK in an effort to influence public policy and secure government support (like potential tax reliefs, similar to those in the film and video game industry). A core priority for Comic Book UK in its first year is to carry out research and analysis to develop clear evidence of the industry's economic value to the UK and potential investor returns. This data-driven approach is crucial for attracting new investment and demonstrating the industry's significant contribution to the creative economy. They are actively seeking to make the UK comic industry a £500 million industry.

The rise of generative AI presents new challenges for intellectual property and copyright in creative industries. Before Comic Book UK, there wasn't a dedicated body representing the UK comic industry's interests in these emerging legal and ethical debates. Comic Book UK's Approach: They plan to play a "constructive role in debates around regulation of generative AI," specifically ensuring that the value of UK comic companies' intellectual property is maintained within a regime that supports innovation.

In essence, Comic Book UK distinguishes itself by being a dedicated, unified, and strategically focused trade body. It aims to professionalise the industry's external representation, gather crucial economic data, proactively pursue international opportunities, engage with new technological challenges like AI, and foster a more cohesive and robust ecosystem for comic creation, publishing, and sales in the UK.