Press release
Past, present and future of Dundee’s storytelling forms to be celebrated
The links between comics and video games, two of Dundee’s most significant cultural exports, will be explored as part of a nationwide celebration of the humanities.
Published on 22 October 2026
Experts from the University of Dundee and Abertay University will host Comics and Games, an illustrated talk and Q&A session where they will examine the creative links between comic books, graphic novels and video games. Focusing on the relationship between storytelling and play, the event will highlight how the two mediums have influenced one another over time, while considering opportunities for future collaboration and innovation.
The discussion, which is open to the general public, takes place at Water’s Edge, Dundee, from 18:00-20:00 on Friday 6 November. Comics and Games forms part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, which runs from 5-14 November.
The event will also see the launch of a new comic, taking its name from the event, incorporating themes such as women in games, and the women of Timex who made the ZX Spectrum.
“For more than a decade, the University has helped bring Being Human Festival to life,” said Professor Chris Murray, Chair of Comics Studies at Dundee and co-presenter of event.
“This year’s partnership with Abertay University celebrates Dundee’s rich storytelling culture using some of our city’s most famous forms. We are showcasing how research in the arts and humanities is exploring innovative connections between literature, comics, film, video games and performance, highlighting the creative collaborations and technologies shaping how stories are told today.”
The event is the first of several taking place in Dundee throughout Being Human Festival, which include a comic making workshop for families, and a talk reflecting on the author Mary Shelley's time in Dundee and its influence on her novel, Frankenstein. Details of further Dundee events are on the Being Human Festival website.
Festival Director Sarah Churchwell, Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the University of London, said, “In an increasingly fractious world, it can be easy to lose sight of what we share.
“The humanities bring people together to ask difficult questions, listen to one another, and imagine new possibilities. Being Human Festival celebrates our collective achievements, the creativity and adaptability that make us human.”
Further information for Comics and Games and tickets can be obtained via the Being Human Festival website.