This weekend the annual MACC-POW Comic Art Festival is set to take place, organised once again by local creative talent, Marc Jackson. 

From Saturday 22 to Saturday 23 June, a plethora of comic art-related activities and events will be taking place across Macclesfield's town centre.

The event has been going for nine years, was notable enough to recently get shouted out in the national media, and even has talent from the USA coming to this year's event.

Fancy going to MACC-POW? Here's what you need to know. (Image - Room for Comics)

Prior to the weekend, this Thursday, the festival kicks off with a showing of the 2010 comic book film Kick-Ass being shown at Cinemac. 

The screening is FREE, and begins at 8pm.

Viewers will also be treated to an exclusive virtual introduction by Mark Millar, co-creator of the original comic. 

Cinemac on Roe Street is one of the venues hosting events during MACC-POW. Head there this Thursday to watch the Nicholas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz movie 'Kick-Ass'. (Image - Marc Jackson)

Marc Jackson, owner of the King Edward Street Macclesfield comic art studio, Room for Comics, explained just how much is going on this upcoming weekend. 

"This year we are bigger than ever," explained Marc. 

"We have doubled, if not tripled in size.  

The event is free, to make art accessible to everyone. And geek is the new chic after all. (Image - Room for Comics)

"The festival spreads across the town hall, with two more rooms this year. 

"There's four full rooms of creators, with over 70 people from the world of comics are coming to Macclesfield. 

"We've got a full programme of activities. We've got drawing workshops, a live quiz with questions for all, a comic art panel show in the style of Have I Got News for You. 

The festival has been going for almost ten years. (Image - Room for Comics)

"I'm looking forward to the cartoonist battle where the audience provide suggestions and the cartoonists draw in front of them." 

This is the festival's 9th anniversary, coming a long way from when it began at a much smaller scale with only 12 tables within a church hall. 

There is a much stronger focus on the comic's themselves this time around. 

Marc is keen to shoutout businesses in Macclesfield who are doing something special for the event, from shops hosting cartoonists like B&V Trading or proper sound, to hotels like Sleep Eat Repeat and Bohotel who are welcoming exhibitors. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"It's not a comic convention where the comics are to one side and all the action figures are taking prominence," said Marc. 

"This is fully focused on who's making the comics. 

"Creators you might know, creators you might not know." 

Charlie Adlard, of 'The Walking Dead' fame, is coming back to Macclesfield once again.

Some of the special guests include Laura Howell who is the first female cartoonist for the well-known Beano magazine and American guest, Michael Lark who is famous for the Marvel Daredevil comics, and Charlie Adlard from The Walking Dead. 

There is also going to be collaborations with multiple local businesses within the centre of Macclesfield. 

"Emma Reynolds will be in Flour Water Salt," said Marc. 

Marc Jackson pictured in Flour Water Salt. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"She will be doing 5-minute portraits. 

"So, you'll come in for your coffee, pick up your bread and Emma will draw you for free! 

"And there will also be portraits for your dog in B&V Trading on Chestergate."  

Macclesfield's Pizza Express restaurant, of Market Place. As many of MACC-POW's venues take place on Market Place - namely Macclesfield Town Hall and Flour Water Salt - it was a no-brainer for them to get involved. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Additionally, MACC-POW are also working with Pizza Express with food discounts available for those who can prove they've attended the occasion.  

With both Flour Water Salt and Macclesfield Town Hall being on Market Place, it was a no-brainer to add Pizza Express to the list of local venues that are supporting the festival.  

Staying on the topic of food, the 'world's largest colouring sheet' is going to be located within The Picturedrome on Chestergate free for all to colour in.  

New this year is GOOF, a programme-of-sorts featuring exclusive comics from attendees of the event. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Also, on Chestergate, The Monocle Café will be home to a free reading room where you can indulge into a graphic novel whilst enjoying a nice coffee between 11am-4pm. 

"In collaboration with Artmageddon, the tattoo parlour, they're doing temporary cartoon tattoos," explained Marc. 

"The temporary tatoos will in Proper Sound café on Chestergate.  

On the Sunday, proper sound, which already sells art, will be hosting a MACC-POW event.

"Parents can go in there, get a drink, while their child's being inked temporarily." 

On the Saturday afternoon Cinemac will be showing two further films, Transformers (1986) at 5:30pm and Akira, a Japanese anime, at 8pm. 

Also new this year is GOOF, a programme of sorts, which features exclusive comics from many of the exhibitors.  

Alongside GOOF (pictured) another ambitious project for this year's MACC-POW is to create the world's largest comic art sheet.

Marc explained that despite being such a successful cartoonist within Macclesfield, he wants to place the spotlight on all the other incredible artists that will be on show. 

"I'm a small part of this, it's about everybody else," Marc humbly said. 

"It is to show everybody, this is what comics can look like." 

The majority of the events throughout the weekend are spread across four rooms at Macclesfield Town Hall, with businesses across the town hosting one-off events over the four days. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

One incredible factor to the festival is that entrance to Macclesfield Town Hall is free! 

Furthermore, it will be a free entry to watch any of the films being showcased at Cinemac. 

"I want people to go into the Town Hall and see just what a fantastic place it is," stated Marc. 

Marc runs drawing workshops for kids and adults, all-year-round at Room for Comics on King Edward Street.

"If you put a charge on the door, that money could have gone to one of the creators. 

"I'd rather all the money people have got in their pocket goes towards someone inside the rooms. 

"It's all about supporting these fantastic creators." 

New this year is a felt art exhibition, like the one currently at The Silk Museum.

And it is our town's smallest form of local government to thank, for the festival's expansion this year.  

Marc was full of appreciation for the increased grant gifted to him by Macclesfield Council for this year's festival. 

"Without that, it wouldn't have been as amazing," expressed Marc. 

Marc Jackson's dedication to the art community shines through his efforts in organising MACC-POW, a testament to his passion for comics and creativity.

"They start me off and I run with it." 

Finally, there will be a screening of 1991 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 on Sunday evening to bring an overall finale the festival. 

Macclesfield: You can find more about the event on social media.  

As the festival draws near, the anticipation for the weekend full of comic art celebration is palpable, in what will be the biggest-ever MACC-POW yet. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

You can also read about last year's event HERE.

Promote your upcoming Macclesfield event for FREE on our What's On page.