New comics laureate Charlie Adlard declares war on 'the graphic novel'

Walking Dead artist says now familiar label marks off the term comic as restricted to children, when the form is ‘literally for everyone’

The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard has been appointed as the UK’s new comics laureate – taking the opportunity to call time on use of the expression “graphic novel”.

Adlard, who has worked on comics including 2000AD, Mars Attacks, The X-Files, Judge Dredd and X-Men, as well as being the artist behind the popular zombie series The Walking Dead, was appointed to the role at the Lakes international comic art festival in Kendal, Cumbria at the weekend. He is the UK’s second comics laureate, following Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, who was appointed in 2014. The role is intended to “raise awareness of the impact comics can have in terms of increasing literacy and creativity”, and can go to a comics creator, writer or artist.

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