Blackbook 101 is a graffiti focussed comic book created by Jay ‘Daken’ Skelton – a crash course in the intricacies of graffiti culture – the influences and the form and its relationship to our shared environments. Dispersed throughout Manchester Street – from High Street to Armagh Street – you can read the comic book story as you walk the city.

This public placement is key, providing context for the unfolding story, and a juxtaposition with the array of visual information that proliferates our urban landscape. The panels echo ordinance signage in form, but also the colour and vibrancy of the stickers that often cover such signs – they occupy a middle ground to illuminate the variety. Blackbook 101 is a reminder of the potential of our shared spaces for storytelling, so get reading!