For a city that doesn’t (yet) boast a gallery of its own Lycra-clad do-gooders in the way that the superhero capital New York does, it’s ironic that it is writers Mark Millar and Grant Morrison, two sons of Glasgow, who are the current creative driving forces behind, respectively, the Marvel and DC Comics super-powered universes. It’s wholly appropriate, then, that GFF Ambassador Millar should curate this new festival strand that features screenings of new and classic films, guest talent, industry events and a focus on the Scottish comics scene.

Millar, who is currently working on a sequel to Kick-Ass and his Glasgow-set superhero team film Miracle Park, will host a workshop looking at the art of writing graphic novels. Artists Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Frank Quitely (the Glaswegian who’s collaborated with both Millar and Morrison) will talk about illustrating them, and Indian graphic novelist Amruta Patil will be in conversation with comics historian Paul Gravett, at which event she will launch a new, GFF-commissioned graphic short story.

Elsewhere, the ‘non-conference’ ComicCamp 11: Comic, Gaming and the Film Industry gathers professionals to look at the relationship between the entertainment media and where it’s headed. Portfolio Review with CLiNT Magazine assembles the team behind the comic magazine launched by Millar who will be on hand to appraise the work of aspiring comics creators. Finally, in Metaphrog: Graphic Novels & Adaptations the eponymous Glasgow-based duo, who recently adapted poet Edwin Morgan’s The First Men on Mercury, will discuss working from different media.

And so to the films. Millar’s offbeat selection of cult and classic titles is intriguing. There’s the ultra-violent manga-alike adaptation Battle Royale, now rendered in spanking new 3D 11 years after it was first released. There’s Danger Diabolik, horror maestro Mario Bava’s super-camp 1968 romp inspired by the Italian comic (and an inspiration for Austin Powers). And there’s Heavy Metal, the 1981 Canadian animation based on the infamous adult illustrated magazine of fantasy and erotica. Terry ‘Ghost World’ Zwigoff’s wonderfully weirdo documentary, Crumb, a warts ‘n’ all look at the life and work of legendary underground commix creator Robert Crumb, also receives a welcome screening. As does Superman II – the Richard Donner Cut, which is a reassembly of the director’s original vision before he was kicked off the Christopher Reeve film. Millar’s selection is capped by a new release, Griff the Invisible, an Australian comedy about a bullied office worker who moonlights as a masked crime fighter on the mean streets of Melbourne.

But hold, impetuous one! That’s not quite all. There are two more new comic book-related films debuting as part of the GFF’s Glasgow Youth Film Festival strand. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec is director Luc Besson’s adaptation of Jacques Tardi’s graphic novel series set in the bohemian early 20th century and charting the exploits of a beautiful female journalist who saves Paris from a dinasaur invasion. And last but not least Shaun of the Dead’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are reunited as a couple of comic fans who befriend and go on the run with a extra terrestrial they call Paul.

As Marvel supreme Stan Lee would say, ‘nuff said!

Glasgow Film Festival, 17–27 Feb.
www.glasgowfilm.org/festival