2nd May 2024
A new comic telling the story of the lost town of Ravenser Odd has been created as part of the ‘Hull/Ravenser Odd: twin cities, sunken pasts’ exhibition at Hull History Centre.
Hull Maritime commissioned ‘1235: A Spurn Oddity - Lily and Jacob in Search of Ravenser Odd’ and is the third instalment of the popular Maritime Tales series of comics, featuring Lily and Jacob as they look at the history and folklore that makes up part of this city's amazing maritime heritage. In 2021, local illustrator Gareth Sleightholme created other comics including The Hull Kraken and the Sirens exhibition.
Gillian Osgerby, Programme Director for Hull Maritime, said: “The third instalment ties in with the exhibition 'Hull/Ravenser Odd: Twin Cities, Sunken Pasts' currently on display at the Hull History Centre.
“The comic follows Lily and Jacob as they discover Ravenser Odd and explore the forgotten history of the city lost to the sea that once rivalled Hull.
“The comic aims to brings the story of the forgotten island and the archival documents on display in the exhibition to life, engaging young people with the history and folklore of Hull and the Humber area.”
Local Illustrator and comic book artist originally from Withernsea now living in Hull, Gareth Sleightholme was asked to create the comic book before Christmas and said: “I hope these comics will spark the curiosity of families and kids, showing that it's okay to be quiet and creative, and to be inquisitive and ask questions. And to show where some of those answers might be found.”
The comic has been produced with historical input from Dr Kathryn Maude and Dr Emily Robinson along with support from Hull Maritime and the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), at the University of Sussex.
Copies of the comic will be available at the exhibition on display at Hull History Centre and also given out to local schools.
The free exhibition is on display until Thursday 30 May. The Hull History Centre is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, 9.30am – 4.30pm, as well as Saturday, 4 and 18 May between 9.30am – 4.30pm.
