A WHOLE host of comic creators, publishers and more are lined up to take over the Comics Clock Tower at this year's Lakes International Comic Art Festival.

Among the line up are a number of creators joining the gathering as special guests of festival patron Sean Phillips: artists Mack Chater, Paul Harrison Davies, Emma G, Emmainky, Michael Kennedy, Roger Langridge, Joe Latham, Angela Pan, writer John Harris Dunning and the team behind the graphic novel Square Eyes, Anna Mills and Luke Jones.

Opportunities for comic creators to be part of the festival to promote their work were expanded this year, with more dedicated spaces across Kendal being opened up as an extension of the event's hugely-popular platform for artists, writers and publishers.

LICAF runs from October 11-13, and nigh on 70 comic creators from 14 countries form the 2019 guest list, including recently announced Belgian creators Serge Baeken, Ephameron, Loic Gaume, Ben Gijsemans, Valentine Laffitte, Pascal Lemaitre, Marine Schneider, Judith Vanistendael and Joris Vermassen.

Also in attendance will be Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, Laurence Campbell, Kate Charlesworth, Becky Cloonan, Garth Ennis, Duncan Fegredo, Staz Johnson, John McCrea, Junko Mizuno, Declan Shalvey, Simon Spurrier and Rob Williams - with many more yet to be announced.

"Every year, we aim to make our Comics Clock Tower bigger and better," explains festival director Julie Tait. "I don't think our visitors in October will be disappointed by the range of talent they'll be able to meet and talk comics with. I think we have a great mix on offer."

LICAF has also welcomed new donations for its work from a number of supporters, including artist Charlie Adlard, festival chairman, Peter Kessler and artist Bryan Talbot. The individual support is in addition to funding from Arts Council England and other partners, local, national and international.