Recently I went to Dublin and investigated, and found a very different comic scene to the one I left behind in the late 90's, when I moved to the U.K.

The scene I remember was more like a zine scene than a comic one. The only homegrown small press/indie stuff was black and white photocopied work that was usually badly cobbled together (my work included). A few people had some lofty dreams of full colour graphic novels, but somewhere between doing the pre-lim sketches and looking for funding they seemed to disappear.

Now, however, there is not only a high standard of work being produced, but also a great pride in it. Instead of the traditional way of making an indie comic (i.e. slipping scraps of artwork in with the paperwork in the office to slyly get it photocopied), people are setting up their own publishing companies and making the move from indie to real small press production.

The traditional black and white indie still exists there, but that too has gotten better. The standard of artwork and writing in the examples I saw were definitely better than the old self-indulgent scrawlings of 15 and 16 year olds that I remember. I guess everyone's grown up and the comic scene has grown up with them.

The comic shops have also improved (in Dublin, at least). Forbidden Planet (not a name I'd normally praise in an article about small press) has got a stand for indie comics and is really receptive, and the manager actually seems to be interested (weird).