Three talented creatives are one step closer to their dream careers in comics and gaming after winning the first-ever MCM Scholarships from ReedPop. We talked to MCM team members Kahlil Schweitzer and Alice Edwards about the new initiative, and caught up with winners Leigh Licorish, Faith Malloy and Muyembe Mwanza to hear what winning the MCM Scholarship means to them.

Ask any writer, comic book artist, game developer or voice actor how they got into the industry and their stories will invariably involve a pivotal event or meeting that set them on the path to career success.

Supporting young talent has always been a priority for MCM Comic Con and EGX, the UK’s top pop culture and gaming events. Programmes like the MCM Creator Clinic and EGX Career Fair give attendees a chance to connect directly with potential employers and get feedback on their portfolios from industry pros in areas like game development and voice acting.

This year, MCM’s organiser ReedPop took things one step further with the launch of the MCM Scholarship offering each winner free entry for all three days of MCM Comic Con x EGX, a three night stay at a hotel near ExCeL London, a cash prize of £500, and a bespoke itinerary based on their career goals.

“Since the pandemic we have seen a significant shift towards a younger audience at MCM Comic Con and EGX,” explained Product Marketing Manager Alice Edwards, the brainchild and driving force behind the scholarship scheme.

“Many are aspiring creatives who feel intimidated by career barriers such as financial hardship, a lack of industry connections, or distance from London where much of the industry is centred. To be able to open doors to a creative career and facilitate access for young people is something we all feel passionate about at MCM x EGX.”

ReedPop originally planned to offer just one scholarship, but as the entries flooded in (over 200 in all) they decided to extend it to three – one each for writing, gaming and comics.

“There are not many other opportunities for young people to meet their creative heroes, gain expert industry insights, and get in front of potential commissioners and employers in this way, and we were delighted to be able to kickstart our winners’ careers and give back to the industry by supporting future talent, ” said Kahlil Schweitzer, Exhibition Director. “We were blown away by the number and quality of applications.”

Meet our talented trio

The UK’s largest gaming, comic, and pop culture convention, MCM Comic Con x EGX took place at London ExCel from 25-27 October 2024, attracting over 130,000 visitors. From Artist Alley, Writing Block and MCM Creators, where fans can meet rising stars and established names in comics, books and gaming, to an extensive line up of panels offering insider insights into game development, comic writing, and animation, the events offered a wealth of inspiration and information for young creatives like Swansea-based writer, Muyembe Mwanza.

Muyembe is passionate about storytelling and amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly amongst Black authors in the UK. She is currently working on two novels and has written articles for several websites. Her goal is to publish her novels though she also just wants to be part of the writing community.

“When I saw the MCM Scholarship I just thought ‘why don’t I go for it?’ I’m interested in writing and how I can inspire people with my stories,” she said. “So, I applied, and I ended up winning!“

Muyembe and her fellow scholarship winners were chosen based on the strength of their application and the clarity and passion demonstrated in their vision for how MCM Comic Con will support their career and learning goals.

“The application involved explaining your aspirations and how you express yourself creatively, how that could inspire others, and maybe even inspire yourself” said Muyembe. “I wanted to get experiences from MCM, to hear people’s stories and interweave them with my own.”

During the event, the MCM Comic Con team arranged for Muyembe to meet and talk to V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades universe, the Villains series, the City of Ghosts series, Gallant, and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. She also met Veronica Roth, whose latest Novella ‘When among the Crows’ was released in May, and Sabaa Tahir, whose best-selling ‘Ember in the Ashes’ Series has been translated into 35 languages. The first book in the series was named one of TIME’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All-time. Now that’s a line-up to aspire to!

Leigh Licorish’s career goal is to work in comics as a penciller and they have experience in all aspects of comic illustration, contributing to fan comics and charity projects. These include TFNation's yearly comic and a fan continuation of Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics. Their goal is to work for franchises like Star Trek, Sonic or Power Rangers, but they are also interested in being a concept artist for AAA game titles.

Alex Rae, Comic Publishing Talent Manager at ReedPop discussed comic careers with Leigh, who is now planning to join the other talented comic artists in Artist Alley for the first time in 2025.

Reflecting on their scholarship win, Leigh said: “It’s been phenomenal. I’ve met a lot of people who I have always wanted to meet and fans of things that I like. It’s been absolutely great. I would 100% recommend it. MCM very nicely paid for a hotel, weekend tickets and £500 cash for me to spend. I think it’s incredibly important to support upcoming artists and people who might not get the chance to be able to come here because of monetary issues or personal situations and running the scholarship is MCM’s way of showing support.”

Aspiring video game artist, Faith Molloy is currently studying Video Game Art and Design at De Montfort University in Leicester. She has gained experience as a concept artist with Facepie Productions, working on fan and parody games, and has also apprenticed at Rebellion Studios, gaining hands-on experience in animation rigging for video games. Her goal is to work as a professional concept artist.

With this in mind, the founder of Roucan and organiser of W.A.S.D, David Lilley, set Faith up with a series of 1-on-1s with game developers relevant to her interests at the EGX Career Fair - an experience she described as “absolutely amazing.”

“Everyone here is so kind and supportive” she said. “I think that everyone should give it a go if they have the opportunity. It’s a really valuable time of your life when you are young and studying. Being able to put your foot forward and meet people who are already in the industry can help you get that little push. It is so worth it.”

All eyes on 2025

ReedPop is excited to bring back the MCM Scholarship in 2025. The scholarship will be available to students and young people pursuing creative careers, and while anyone can apply, ReedPop is especially eager to support those from under-represented groups and low-income backgrounds. Winners will once again enjoy a free 3-Day Weekend Ticket, a three-night stay at a hotel close to the convention, and a cash prize to cover travel expenses, build your portfolio, or invest in tools and resources to enhance your creative journey.

Keep an eye on the MCM Comic Con x EGX website for details of how and when to apply. In the meantime, MCM Comic Con Birmingham is back at the NEC Birmingham from 29 Nov – 1 Dec 2024 and will be packed full of inspiring creatives and opportunities to learn from and connect with them.

A division of RX, ReedPop is the largest producer of pop culture events in the world, including New York Comic Con , PAX, EGX, MCM Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, and many more. As well as launching careers with the MCM Scholarship, we are regularly looking for talented professionals to join our team and help bring iconic characters, stories and worlds to life at our events. Check out our careers page for the latest job openings.