What can cultural heritage and comics have in common? A recent collaboration between Heritage Malta and Wicked Comics has proven that there are no boundaries to cultural appreciation and expression.

Eric Leone

In recent years, Wicked Comics have nourished the local comics cult by providing suitable platforms for local artists to refine and showcase their skills.

One of their main events is the annual Malta Comic Convention which gives the opportunity to local and foreign artists to display their works and meet their fans.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this annual convention, a book exhibiting the skill and creativity of 56 artists was published.

Titled Impressions of An Island – A Malta Comic Con Art, it features vivid and colourful illustrations portraying themes related to local cultural heritage. These vary from the romantic to the comic and to the horror genre.

A high priest of Ħaġar Qim shows his supernatural powers, an underwater mythical creature makes contact with a girl on a boat in the port, dragons and monsters lure within prehistoric temples and historical sites, handsome and robust knights defend the islands and popular heroes whizz across the Unesco-listed Valletta skyline.

Many of the artists were inspired by the rich local anecdotes of myths and legends, by the presence of monumental archaeological and historical sites and by the local narratives of epic battles and brave heroes.

For more information, visit www.heritagemalta.org.

Joseph Bugeja. Right: David Hitchcock.

Ian Churchill. Right: Lawrence Paul Zrinzo.

Boo Cook. Right: Martin Griffiths.