Newsletter February 2026
Hello! We hope you’re all doing well!
This is our first newsletter of the year, and only a month late!
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any announcements you’d like to share with your fellow ÍMS-members, such as new comic publications, new webcomic launches or if you’re looking for collaborators on a new project.
We’d also like to remind you that we offer script and art critique to our members. We currently cap this service at one submission per month and we answer submissions in the order we receive them.
Comic Jams 11th and 24th February
As usual, Comic Jams return at Loft Hostel in downtown Reykjavík, between 5:00pm and 8:00pm. By all means, please bring in your works-in-progress for a constructive critique. Or just come hang out and doodle! We look forward to seeing you.
Jam in the North
Our own Helga Rós is organizing a Comic Jam in Akureyri and has prepared a small questionnaire for us. Those who live in the North and are interested in attending are asked to fill it out especially. We also encourage you to share the questionnaire with anyone you know who might be interested, member or otherwise.
Membership Dues Sent
We have sent our annual invoices of 5.000kr. to all our registered members. These fees help us offer professional-level critiques, organize professional workshops, secure discounts from select shops and services and help maintain our Society website.
Speaking of our website…
The ÍMS Website is (finally) Back Online!
ÍMS’s official website is back online after a long hiatus. It’s still quite raw, but we look forward to implementing various features this year, including the new Members’ Roster where creatives can promote their works and their websites.
That’s where you come in. We would like all of our active members to send the following items to islmynsam@gmail.com:
- A profile picture (photograph is preferred, but an illustrated self-portrait is fine too)
- A short artist’s bio (education, notable works, inspiration, etc.) of approx. 50-100 words
- One art piece that represents your work
- A link to your portfolio (can be a webpage, instagram, Cara, whatever suits you)
- An e-mail address where people can contact you regarding your work
- Your home address (this won’t go on the website, it’s to post your new membership card)
We hope to have the Members’ Roster ready by the end of March, so we’d like to receive your information by March 1st.
Finally, we’d like to introduce a new feature…
Artist Spotlight
Each month, we’ll select a creator from our membership for a brief interview and a chance to introduce themselves to their fellow members. This month’s spotlight is on:
Yabei Hu
Who are you?
We are a couple of bears from the opposite ends of the world, navigating life, love and parenthood. Come see Panda and Polar Bear face the struggles of getting out of bed, trying to trick each other into doing the laundry, and pinching each other's butts.
How long have you been making comics?
I started long time ago. I can't remember. Maybe more than 10 years ago. At that time I already had the idea of a panda and polar bear light humor relationship comics. I determined to make it a lifelong project, although I had only made a couple of them then. I just never felt ready. My drawing was (and still is) childish.
Then around when COVID started, I created one comic a month, then one a week and then had doubts and paused for a few months, and then one a week again. Now I haven´t posted any comics for almost 3 years. All in all, it´s on and off for me and it´s unclear when I started. If I think hard, I´d say I started when COVID started.
Do you have any favorite creators?
Many. Alison Zai, They Can Talk, heyheysu, xibang, and of course Lóa and Hugleikur.
What would you say you're best at in comics?
I think it’s our wording, that Polar Bear mostly works on, but I help with too. Polar Bear says it’s the expressiveness of my cute and simple art. Maybe it’s cooperating?
What's the next thing you'd like to learn to do?
Learn to relax and post comics even when I don’t think they are perfect. Also, I'd like to learn lettering. Lefteris drew my attention to lettering, which I wasn't even aware of existing. I believe it will add quality to my work.
Where can people see your work?