Ray of Giant Possibilities: Mollie Ray’s Vision as the First Young Comics Laureate
We are delighted to announce that in September 2025, Ray (Mollie Ray) was appointed the very first Young Comics Laureate, an initiative led by Comics Youth in partnership with Lakes International Comic Arts Festival.
An award-winning comics artist and the creator of giant (published by Faber and Faber in 2024), Ray’s work combines emotional depth, visual storytelling and an unwavering commitment to empowering young people through creativity.
Below, Ray shares their journey, their plans for the year ahead, and why comics matter now more than ever.
Hello! I am Mollie Ray (or just Ray, I think it suits me better, but Mollie Ray is written all over my books). In September 2025 I was given the honour of being made the first ever Young Comics Laureate, courtesy of Comics Youth and The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF). My debut graphic novel giant was published in 2024 with Faber and Faber, a wordless comic book about the journey my brother and our family faced when he was diagnosed with cancer. The main character wakes up to find they’ve grown to the size of a giant, a metaphor for the physical mutation of cancer and feeling like the elephant in the room. I have also published multiple short-form comics, self-published and commissioned work for clients such as LICAF, Scottish Book Trust, and the BBC.
Apart from making my own comics and graphic novels, over the last few years I have had the privilege to work with lots of different people to help them realise their stories into comics. I have worked in primary and secondary schools, SEN schools, with youth focused charities, refugees, in prisons and more - notably last year working with The British Library to help 13 care experienced young people create a comics anthology about their experiences, and visiting Palestine to help 13 Palestinians turn their stories into comics too, published and printed in the UK and Palestine 2025 thanks to LICAF and Bethlehem based Power Group.
The work that I do to help others find their own creative expression in comics is some of the proudest work that I’ve ever done, and I am very excited to be continuing this work as Young Comics Laureate. It is my firm belief that comics are a powerful artform for self-expression and processing our experiences, but also as a prevalent voice for change on the world stage. However, it is true that the arts are not made accessible for everyone in mainstream education or due to a lack of a financial safety net. Therefore, I would like to use my time in this role to reach as many young people as possible to share the tools, advice and opportunities to create comics – after all, the beauty of comics is that you don’t need formal arts education to make them. I always say, you can tell a compelling story with stick figures and a terrible story with beautiful drawings. All you need is a pen or pencil and paper, and you can make something with great impact.
So, my plans… firstly, I will be instigating a social media campaign calling on professional comic artists to share a moment where they almost gave up on their dream, but didn’t. So many passionate creatives give up because it just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, but what if they heard that their favourite comics artists had faced these hurdles, too? How did they overcome these hurdles and persevere when it was looking tough? The campaign will include videos and quotes shared by artists, with prompts for young people to join in the conversation through drawing and chat. I will of course be joining in, talking about my own experience of this.
Of course, we’re all starting from a different place, and some hurdles are harder to clear. With that in mind, I intend to deliver a series of four workshops with young offenders to help them produce a comics anthology, which will be printed and launched at LICAF 2026. The anthology will include comics created by participants, with a detailed guide as to how you can create your own comics, too. The anthology will be made available in print and online, accessible to all young creatives.
Creating giant was incredibly therapeutic for processing my own feelings, and the impact that I’ve seen it have for other people in opening a dialogue about cancer has been extraordinarily rewarding. If I can share even a bit of the good that creating comics has done me and others with the comics youth, I’d be very proud indeed. Thank you to Comics Youth, LICAF, and all the people who voted for me, entrusting me with this role, I hope I do you proud too.
A Note from Rhi, CY’s MD
At Comics Youth, we believe that comics are one of the most powerful and accessible forms of storytelling available to young people today. You do not need expensive materials or formal training, just imagination, honesty, and a willingness to share your perspective.
Creating the Young Comics Laureate role was about more than celebration; it was about responsibility. We wanted to platform a young creator who not only produces exceptional work, but who actively opens doors for others.
Ray is exactly that person.
Through giant, Ray has shown how comics can hold space for grief, illness, and silence in ways that are deeply human and transformative. But just as importantly, Ray’s commitment to working alongside young people — in schools, with care-experienced young people, refugees, and those in the justice system — reflects a belief that every story has value.
The plans for this year are bold and necessary. Encouraging professional artists to speak honestly about perseverance will demystify creative careers. Supporting young offenders to create and publish their own anthology, launching at LICAF 2026, ensures that voices too often unheard are centred and celebrated.
We could not be prouder to support Ray as our first Young Comics Laureate, and we look forward to the impact this year will bring.