Covers of The Card by Graham Rawle, Brenda and Effie Forever / Vince Cosmos by Paul Magrs and Comic Book Babylon by Tim Pilcher

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Paul Magrs’ blog
Graham Rawle’s website
Comic Book Bablyon Kickstarter campaign

Recommended events:

Help fund COMIC BOOK BABYLON: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs and Comics on Kickstarter

Tim (Erotic Comics) Pilcher’s memoir about the years he spent working at DC Comics’ Vertigo office in the mid-Ninties. The book has reached its target of raising £3,850, but the printer has increased costs since the kickster campaign began – the new “Stretch Target” is now £5,500.

“…For a few glorious years only, before cost-cutting set in, there was Vertigo’s ‘British Office’ – the comics equivalent of the Loaded HQ in the ‘90s. Vodka, mushrooms, Es, sex, money, travel and the pure unleashed creativity of young people having a good time together.”—Grant Morrison, author of Supergods, All Star Superman, Batman Inc. and The Invisibles.

There are three versions of Comic Book Babylon available: eBook (with additional images), paperback, and 200 limited edition hardbacks, with covers created by design genius and comic book artist Rian Hughes. “Rian’s out done himself,” said an impressed Pilcher, “The punky/acid house colours perfectly reflect the rave mood of the times in the book.” Hughes has also designed a limited edition print and three “Sex, Drugs and Comic Books” badges as incentives.

Comic Book Babylon: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs & Comics ENDS on Kickstarter on Thursday 3 May, 2013. See it here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2016810024/comic-book-babylon-a-cautionary-tale-of-sex-drugs

50 years of Doctor Who spin-offs, at SCI-FI-LONDON

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who, SCI-FI-LONDON is proud to host an event looking at some of the under appreciated aspects of the franchise.

12.30pm: Novelists Paul Cornell (Scream of the Shalka), J.T. Colgan (Dark Horizons), Terrance Dicks (Players, Doctor Who and the Giant Robot) and Tommy Donbavand (Shroud of Sorrow) talk about continuing the Doctor’s trips in prose fiction and why they wanted to tell tales of the thousand-year-old time traveller…

1.15pm: Comic book writers Andrew Cartmel and Scott Gray, and artists Mark Buckingham and Adrian Salmon, discuss their serialised strip adventures of the TARDIS, printed in Doctor Who Magazine, the American Doctor Who comic and fanzines.

The need for Doctor Who spin-offs became increasingly important since the end of the original series in 1989, with both novels and comics filling the gap when the show was off air, with many writers of the modern TV show being strip and book alumni. Print stories have also been used as the inspiration for TV episodes in the 21st century, such as the memorable David Tennant dramatisations of Cornell’s novel Human Nature and Doctor Who Magazine comic, The Lodger.

2pm: Followed by a screening of the 1965 film DR WHO AND THE DALEKS, starring Peter Cushing in the lead role.

More info / book tickets at: http://www.sci-fi-london.com/festival/2013

Exhibitions at Orbital Comics

Andrew Hickinbottom

is a digital 3D illustrator who specialises in stylised pinups. His work has been showcased on the internet over 60 times, and has been featured in many international books and magazines, appearing on 4 covers. Some of his clients include EA, Tassimo, Seat, Intel and The international Olympic Committee.

This exhibition of his personal works features a wide range of his appealing female character illustrations, with signed prints, an artbook and even a VERY limited edition figurine for sale.

17th April – 10th May

Reappropriating Lichtenstein

Artists Jason Atomic and Rian Hughes are curating an exhibtion at Orbital Comics, on the subject of Reappropriating Lichtenstein to coincide with the final weeks of the exhibtion at Tate Modern in May. Any practising comic book artists who would like to trace back one of Lichtenstein’s images to its original source, crediting the original artist in the process, and produce a new version themselves are invited to submit proposal for exhibition by April 6th.
More info here: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/03/19/a-call-for-comic-artists-to-respond-to-roy-lichtenstein

Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA

Free Comic Book day at Gosh! Comics

As well as all the comics that will be available for free on Free Comics Day, come down to Gosh! Comics on Saturday 4th May between noon and 4pm to hang out with artists Mark Buckingham (Fables), Laurence Campbell(The Punisher), Isabel Greenberg (Observer short story winner), Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Tank Girl), David O’Connell (Tozo – the Public Servant), Gary Northfield (The Beano), Adrian Salmon (Doctor Who), Vivian Schwarz (There are cats in this book) and Dan White (Cindy and Biscuit) who will be sketching and drawing for kids.

From noon, Saturday 4th May 2013, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR
More info at www.goshlondon.com

Help launch The Black Cloud

Support Charles Cutting’s new graphic short story compilation… If you think it’s the kind of thing you would be cool with posting about, liking and sharing on Facespace and Twitter, Charlie would be most grateful…

Over the last year and a half Charles has produced three short stories in graphic form for three different authors.

‘After The End’ is penned by Tauriq Moosa and deals with a secret scientific experiment.

‘Two Little Boys’ concerns an intriguing coincidence linking the lives of Adolf Hitler and Ludwig Wittgenstein and is written by Christian David. It first appeared in Issue 29 of The Illustrated Ape.

The final story ‘The Bleeding Horse’ is an adaptation of a macabre story by Brian J Showers about a haunted Irish pub.

Charlie needs $2000 to cover the printing and shipping costs. By pre-ordering a copy of Black Cloud via Indiegogo you will be entitled to various perks depending on how much you wish to chip in to the campaign. These cost between $15 and $200 and include sketches, advertising space and original artwork.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/black-cloud

Concluding our month of shows looking at the connections between comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of authors who have used graphic novels and comics to update classic literature. Mike Carey discusses his comic The Unwritten which sees characters from classic literature – such as Frankenstein‘s monster – and authors – like Mark Twain – being caught up in a fantastical conspiracy through the ages; Alex and Mike also discuss how the latter’s parallel career as a novelist effects his comic book writing.
Also, newspaper cartoonist Martin Rowson discusses his graphic novel adaptation and updating of Gulliver’s Travels, with its art and content reflecting current political leaders and situations. (Originally broadcast 24/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Interior art and cover of Gulliver’s Travels by Martin Rowson, cover of Vicious Circle and interior art from The Unwritten, written by Mike Carey

For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Links: Martin Rowson’s Guardian profile and wikipedia page
Mike Carey’s website and wikipedia page

Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Martin Rowson here and to Alex’s interview with Mike’s regular collaborator Peter Gross, here…

Recommended events:

Webcomic Artist Swap Project 2013

Eleven Webcomics drawn by guest artists!

Starts February 25th, creators involved include: Nich Angell Cat and Meringue / Sammy Borras Instant Comics / Rebecca Burgess Strangers and Friends / Sarah Burgess The Summer of Blake Sinclair / Richy K. Chandler Lucy the Octopus / Francesca Dare Penny Blackfeather / Evelyn Hewett Fruit Machine / Zarina Liew Le Mime / Naniiebim Mephistos / Jade Sarson Cafe Suada / Louise Wei and Dave Hodgkinson Panda and Polar Bear, and David O’Connell, creator of Tozo The Public Servant, will also be contributing art!

If you’re a fan of online strips, check out the project and you might have a few new favourite creators by the end of the week…

More info: http://www.tempolush.com/wasp

Tripwire 21st anniversary Kickstarter campaign

In 2013, Britain’s favourite comics and genre magazine celebrates its 21st birthday. To commemorate, we are doing a must-buy book.

TRIPWIRE has been Britain’s only features-driven comics and genre magazine which has published since 1992 and with 2013 being the magazine’s 21st anniversary, its coming of age if you like, we thought it would be remiss if we didn’t do something to commemorate this.

The book will come in regular paperback and in a limited hardcover edition. Between its covers will be a selection of new material, including art either never seen before or rarely seen from the likes of Drew Struzan (poster artist for Indiana Jones, The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Phil Hale (award-winning portrait painter), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, The Shadow, Blackhawk),Frank Quitely (Batman & Robin, All-Star Superman), Walter Simonson (Elric, Thor), Dave Taylor (Batman, Tongue Lash) and many more. Additionally, it will include features looking at the trends and issues that have played a major part in comics and genre over the past 21 years, including the best and worst comic and genre movies 1992-2013, the 21 most important creators to come to the fore in the last twenty-one years, the 21 best graphic novels (mainstream and independent) and much more. It will also include the best content from twenty-one years of TRIPWIRE, a magazine which covered the cream of comics and genre and will include the likes of Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Guillermo Del Toro, Mike Mignola, Joss Whedon, Joe Kubert, Will Eisner to name but a few. It will also include a selection of photos pulled from the magazine of genre movers and shakers. It will be a must-buy for fans and aficionados of comics and genre, approached with the same level of professionalism and quality that people have come to expect from the magazine.

“TRIPWIRE really is a breath of fresh air. Its layouts are superb, with great well-written features perfectly set off by the pictures, adding clarity and intelligence to every page. And it keeps on doing it. Amazing, Gratifying. A pleasure to look at, a pleasure to read…” MICHAEL MOORCOCK

Incentives run at prices between £1 and £500 including signed copies, PDFs, prints T-Shirts and more…

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/154246759/tripwire-21st-anniversary

Help launch The Black Cloud

Support Charles Cutting’s new graphic short story compilation… If you think it’s the kind of thing you would be cool with posting about, liking and sharing on Facespace and Twitter, Charlie would be most grateful…

Over the last year and a half Charles has produced three short stories in graphic form for three different authors.

‘After The End’ is penned by Tauriq Moosa and deals with a secret scientific experiment.

‘Two Little Boys’ concerns an intriguing coincidence linking the lives of Adolf Hitler and Ludwig Wittgenstein and is written by Christian David. It first appeared in Issue 29 of The Illustrated Ape.

The final story ‘The Bleeding Horse’ is an adaptation of a macabre story by Brian J Showers about a haunted Irish pub.

Charlie needs $2000 to cover the printing and shipping costs. By pre-ordering a copy of Black Cloud via Indiegogo you will be entitled to various perks depending on how much you wish to chip in to the campaign. These cost between $15 and $200 and include sketches, advertising space and original artwork.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/black-cloud

SF Short Film needs funding

If you’re a fan of SF short films or SCI-FI-LONDON, you could help and find a moment to post some news to your friends/contacts about their crowd funding…

They’re making a film called “Ellipse” – co-written and directed by Ilana (We Are All Cylons) Rein. It’s a co-production with SCI-FI-LONDON and The Royal Observatory Greenwich. Thaey have much incredible talent on board including Territory Studios – the group that did some of the FX for Prometheus….

The campaign page is here http://www.sponsume.com/project/ellipse

Develop your graphic fiction ideas with Mike Carey

This one-day course will enable you to really build on and develop your own ideas, and to take some practical steps towards getting your graphic fiction work into shape for an agent or publisher. Mike will look at how to develop ideas for a series, and lead some discussion around the wider scope of the graphic form. There will also be plenty of time for you to craft your own work under Mike’s guidance.

This workshop is perfect for anyone who is already working on an idea for the graphic form, and is looking to develop their ideas further. You don’t need to have come to last season’s workshop to attend.

Saturday 16 March, 11am – 4.30pm
£60 / £45 concessions

Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street
London E1 6AB
Nearest Tube/Train: Aldgate East (Hammersmith and City, District)

More info: www.spreadtheword.org.uk

Continuing a month of shows looking at the connections between sequential art and literature, Alex Fitch talks to writers Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon about their friendship, reading experiences outside of graphic novels and mutual love of comics. Matt Fraction is an award winning writer who has become one of the most important contributors to Marvel’s range of superhero comics, with runs on Iron Fist, Thor and Iron Man under his belt, his new assignment is the continuing adventures of The Fantastic Four and their extended family. Fraction also has indie credentials from his ongoing European style spy series Casanova. Michael Chabon is the Pulitizer Prize winning author of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”, a chronicle of the comic book industry in the middle decades of the 20th Century, which he continued in the pages of the comic book series The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, that saw the author write his first comic book script, plus the publication of Will Eisner’s final story to feature The Spirit.
(Originally broadcast in an edited form on Resonance 104.4 FM (London), 10/02/13

Covers of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay / …of The Escapist by Michael Chabon, Casanova / Fantastic Four / FF by Matt Fraction et al.

For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Links: Michael Chabon‘s website
Info about The Escapist on www.darkhorse.com
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Michael Chabon about his novel Telegraph Avenue

Matt Fraction‘s website
Info about Matt Fraction’s work on comicvine.com
Kieron Gillen’s podcast interview with Fraction

Recommended events:

Mike Carey reading

Fantasy/Noir novelist Mike Carey reads from a selection of his work including the Felix Castor series.

Join him at one of London’s most well kept secrets, the glorious and slightly crumbling Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, for an atmospheric evening of absorbing, candlelit storytelling. Mike will also be joined by Linda Carey to read from their new novel City of Silk and Steel.
Mike will also be reading excerpts from The Girl With All The Gifts, his brand new horror novel (published by Orbit in November).

Following the reading, you will have the chance to talk to these exciting authors about writing for Fantasy/Noir readers during a panel discussion and Q and A.

Tuesday 12 February, 7pm – 9pm
£10/£8 concessions

Holy Redeeer Church
24 Exmouth Market
Clerkenwell
London EC1R 4QE
Nearest Tube/Train: Farringdon

More info: www.spreadtheword.org.uk

Will Morris signing The Silver Darlings

Despite the snow coming down sideways and everyone outside looking like something out of The Thing we have not closed our doors like all those kids-on-my-bus-this-morning’s schools. Because learning can wait but comics can’t. Or something. Right?

If your socks and five jumpers are failing to warm you even remotely then perhaps the announcement of our very first event of 2013 will at least take your mind off the impending foot amputation. Although Will Morris’ The Silver Darlings came out about a month ago we’re throwing it a belated launch party (plus signing, plus exhibition) because nobody likes to have a birthday on Christmas Day. It’s on the 15th of February, from 7pm to 9pm, there will be booze and art and The City Shanty Band will be lending the evening a briny air.

Friday 15th February, 7-9pm

Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR

More info: www.goshlondon.com

London Super Comic Con

London’s premier comic convention which concentrates on ‘mainstream’ American comics, undiluted by TV and film tie-ins. Guests include Neal Adams, Brian Bolland, Carlos Ezquerra, David Finch, Alan Grant, Klaus Janson, David Mack, George Pérez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dan Slott, Herb Trimpe, John Wagner, and many more.

February 23rd & 24th, 2013, Excel Centre, London

More info at www.londonsupercomicconvention.com

Manga-tastic!

Back by popular demand…
This half-term, comic creator Karen Rubins is running Manga-tastic! a manga-making course for young people, in the London Borough of Barnet. After four afternoons of planning, writing and drawing manga stories, the results will be published in an anthology that will be distributed in Barnet Libraries. Come along to learn manga techniques, talk manga, read manga, and draw manga! It’s all about manga.

Ages: 12 – 18
Dates: 19th – 22nd February 2013
Times: 2 – 5pm
Location: Chipping Barnet Library
Cost: £24
Booking: Bookings must be made through the Futureversity website.

Develop your graphic fiction ideas with Mike Carey

This one-day course will enable you to really build on and develop your own ideas, and to take some practical steps towards getting your graphic fiction work into shape for an agent or publisher. Mike will look at how to develop ideas for a series, and lead some discussion around the wider scope of the graphic form. There will also be plenty of time for you to craft your own work under Mike’s guidance.

This workshop is perfect for anyone who is already working on an idea for the graphic form, and is looking to develop their ideas further. You don’t need to have come to last season’s workshop to attend.

Saturday 16 March, 11am – 4.30pm
£60 / £45 concessions

Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street
London E1 6AB
Nearest Tube/Train: Aldgate East (Hammersmith and City, District)

More info: www.spreadtheword.org.uk

In advance of next week’s South Kensington Kids Festival which celebrates picture books and graphic novels for children, Alex Fitch talks to four creators whose work contains elements of each medium.

Andi Ewington discusses his novella “45” which divides the text and illustrations of superhero comics onto separate pages and the spin-off comic Blue Spear, co-written by Com.x publisher Eddie Deighton; while, in an interview recorded at the London Film and Comic Con, novelist Robert Rankin talks about his first graphic novel Empires which moves his celebrated monochrome cover illustrations onto every page of a new steam-punk sequel to The War of the Worlds.

Also, children’s illustrators Oliver Jeffers and Axel Scheffler talk about their recent picture books This Moose belongs to me and Superworm. Jeffers looks back at his parallel career as a fine artist, on display in the collection Neither here nor there, and Scheffler discusses partnership with writer Julia Donaldson on memorable books such as The Gruffalo and The Highway Rat.

Covers of Neither here not there by Oliver Jeffers, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Empires by Robert Rankin, 45 and Blue Spear by Andi Ewington

(Originally broadcast 15/11/12 on Resonance FM)

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

The South Kensington Kids Festival runs from 21st to 25th November and features screenings of French animated films The Gruffalo’s Child, and Ernest and Celestine, plus talks and drawing jams by Quentin Blake, Emile Bravo, Joann Sfar, Axel Scheffler and many more.

Links: Andi Ewington‘s blog
Overrun website
Com.X website
Oliver Jeffers‘ website / portfolio
Listen to Oliver Jeffers and David Almond discuss their work with Sarah McIntyre
Robert Rankin‘s fan club
Read Empires online
London Film and Comic Con website
Axel Scheffler‘s page at scholastic.co.uk
Info about Scheffler at childrensbookillustration.com
Official Gruffalo website

Recommended events:

Comica Festival 2012 week two

Laydeez do comics present: Alison Bechdel
Acclaimed American graphic novelist Alison Bechdel talks about her new book Are you my mother? with the Laydeez do comics team
Where: Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 12, 2012 6pm to 8pm

Posy Simmonds: Comedies of English Manners
For forty years, The Guardian cartoonist has chronicled Britain’s ever-changing society with laser-sharp precision.
Where: Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 14, 2012 6pm for 6.30pm start

Oliver Frey: The Graphic Gay Gaze
Meet Britain’s most provocative artist & storyteller of adults-only homoerotic fantasies
Where: Foyles Bookshop, 3rd Floor Gallery, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 15, 2012 6pm for 6.30pm start

Comics: Refreshing Parts Other Literature Can’t Reach!
Hannah Berry curates a special comics night with Glyn Dillon, Simone Lia, Sarah McIntyre, Dave McKean & more.
Where: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3GA
When: November 19, 2012 7pm

More info about all events at www.comicafestival.com

Thought Bubble festival 2012

COMICS FORUM 2012 CONFERENCE

Comics Forum 2012 kicks off with a range of great talks on multiculturalism in comics by top speakers from around the world! Themes to be discussed include: negotiation, monstrosity, integration, functions of comics, challenging assumptions, reconfiguration, conflict and representation.

Tickets cost £10 (one day), £20 (two days) or £30 (four days (includes weekend Thought Bubble convention pass, saving £10)).

Leeds Central Library, Exhibition Space, from 9am – 4.45pm, 15th and 16th November (limited entry)
Please visit comicsforum.org for full details & to book tickets.

The Ballad of Halo Jones in Leeds

Lass O’Gowrie Productions and Scytheplays are incredibly excited to announce that their much-lauded adaptation of writer Alan Moore and artist Ian Gibson’s comic book series, The Ballad of Halo Jones, is to be re-staged as part of Thought Bubble, the week-long comic arts festival held in Leeds from Sunday 11th to Sunday 18th November.
The Production is officially sanctioned by the publishers of 2000AD, Rebellion and has the blessing of both original writer Alan Moore, and artist Ian Gibson who created the memorable 50th century landscapes in the strip.

Location: Leeds’ The Library Scream Pub
Dates: Saturday November 17th (12.30pm and 2.45pm).

Tickets are £10.00 each, 50% discount for concessions. Tickets are available online at www.wegottickets.com or on the door.

TWO DAY COMICS CONVENTION

Guests include Kate Beaton, Mark Waid, Alison Bechdel, Jason Aaron, Charlie Adlard, Hannah Berry, Doug Braithwaite, Kate Brown, Ian Churchill, Becky Cloonan, Boo Cook, Ian Culbard, Darryl Cunningham, Al Davison, Andy, Diggle, Glyn Dillon and many more.

Throughout both days there are various screenings, talks and other events, including a discussion of web comics on web 2.0 with Alex Fitch at 1.40pm on Saturday.

Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November, Royal Armouries Museum and Alea Casino, Clarence Dock, Leeds, LS10 1PZ

More info at thoughtbubblefestival.com

Idle Hands Comix indiegogo campaign

Short film maker and illustrator Paul Cheshire is launching a new annual British comics anthology for 2013 and needs your help to fund it. Examples of his SF / LSD inspired work can be found at http://www.idlehandscomix.com and ‘perks’ for funding the 100-150 page anthology can be found at http://www.indiegogo.com/Idlehandscomixcampaign

In this month’s Book List, Alex Fitch talks to author Michael Chabon about his latest novel Telegraph Avenue and his collection of autobiographical essays, Manhood for Amateurs, which both display the writer’s love of collectables and ephemera from comic books to lego, Blaxploitation films to classic funk records.
Also in a Q and A recorded at Waterstones, Piccadilly, Sarah McIntyre talks to author David Almond and illustrator Oliver Jeffers about their collaboration on The Boy who swam with Piranhas and Jeffers’ latest picture book, This Moose belongs to me, which combines the artist’s use of painting, collage and word balloons to create a fable about collectivism for younger readers!

Covers of Telegraph Avenue and Manhoof for Amateurs by Michael Chabon, The Boy who Sawm with Piranhas by David Almond and This Moose belongs to me by Oliver Jeffers

(Originally broadcast 11/10/12 on Resonance FM)

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Oliver Jeffers’ portfolio
Sarah McIntyre’s website
David Almond’s website
Michael Chabon’s website

Recommended events:

Steve Appleby book launch

Gosh! comics are throwing a launch party with Guardian Books on the 12th of October for Steven Appleby’s Guide to Life, a collection of the Loomus strip that’s been running in The Guardian. They’ll also have an exhibition of the original art in the lead-up to the night. All the info is over at the Gosh! blog…

Starts at 7pm, free entry and drinks as always.

7pm, 12th October 2012, Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR
(Exhibition runs 28th September to 15th October)

Nobrow at Foyles – Hilda and the Bird Parade Graphic Novel Exhibition, by Luke Pearson

Come and see the amazingly intricate original drawings from Luke Pearson’s latest instalment in the Hilda Series, Hilda and the Bird Parade, only at Foyles on Charing Cross Road

Address: The Gallery at Foyles, Third Floor, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB

Admission: Free

Dates: 5th – 17th of October

Gallery Opening Times*: Mon – Sat 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday 11.30am – 5pm

*Please note that the Gallery may be closed when instore meetings and events are taking place

Who is Ana Mendieta? exhibition

Art from the graphic novel Who is Ana Mendieta? by Christine Redfern and Caro Caron is on display at Space Station Sixty Five gallery, Building One, 373 Kennington Road, London SE11 4PS

Exhibition runs until November 4th, more info at http://spacestationsixtyfive.com

Laydeez do comics, October 2012

Monday 22 October, 6.30 – 9.30pm
The Rag Factory 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Guests:
Simon Grennan, artist http://kartoonkings.com
Lucy Lyons, artist http://www.lucylyons.org/
Fay Trier, writer http://www.facebook.com/fayt35

Idle Hands Comix indiegogo campaign

Short film maker and illustrator Paul Cheshire is launching a new annual British comics anthology for 2013 and needs your help to fund it. Examples of his SF / LSD inspired work can be found at http://www.idlehandscomix.com and ‘perks’ for funding the 100-150 page anthology can be found at http://www.indiegogo.com/Idlehandscomixcampaign

To complement this month’s series of Panel Borders on anthropomorphic comic books, tonight’s Clear Spot explores the use of animal characters with human characteristics in literature. In the first half of the show, we’re proud to present an extract from one of Bryan Talbot’s lectures on anthropomorphism in children’s books, cartoons and comics, and their relevance to his own graphic novels series Grandville. Alex Fitch also talks to Bryan about his interest in the subject, and to children’s writer and illustrator Helen Ward about her adaptations of Aesop’s Fables for modern audiences. (Originally broadcast 13/08/12 on Resonance FM)

Bryan Talbot talks about Kamandi (photo by Matthew Rees) / cover of Grandville vol. 3 / covers of Varmints by Helen Ward + Marc Craste / Cover and interior spread from Aesops Fables adapted by Ward

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Bryan Talbot’s website
Video of Bryan giving his talk in another location on youtube
Buy Grandville as an ebook from Dark Horse Comics

Information about Helen Ward’s titles for Templar Books
Review of Helen’s adaptation of Aesop’s Fables at Publishers Weekly
Watch the animated film of Varmints on vimeo

Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphism and Aesop’s Fables

Listen to Alex’s previous month of shows on anthropomorphic comics

Recommended events:

Caption small press and comics festival

Caption small press and comics festival takes place at the East Oxford Community Centre, in Cowley, Oxford (close to St Clements Street, one of the many stops the Oxford Tube bus drops passengers off)
Guests include Electric Sheep illustrators Hannah Berry, Richy K. Chandler, Rebecca Burgess, Joe Morgan, Jade Sarson and David O’Connell as well as some of the top creators working in comics today including Hunt Emerson, Patrice Aggs, Robin Etherington, Woodrow Phoenix, Darryl Cunningham and Nicola Streeten.
18th / 19th August 2012, East Oxford Community Centre, Cowley, Oxford OX4 1DD
More info at www.caption.org

Support Tripwire 20th anniversary book

Over the last twenty years, TRIPWIRE has been covering comics, TV and film with interviews and columns by now-famous names like Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis. Still running as an annual publication, it continues to run feature-length articles and one-off artwork cover commissions.

2012 marks the 20th anniversary of TRIPWIRE, and to commemorate this milestone, Unbound are working with editor-in-chief Joel Meadows to crowd-fund a beautifully bound hardback celebration of the publication. It will be filled with the sort of content that has garnered praise from many of the biggest and best names in genre over its twenty-year existence. Art from genre and comic geniuses Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Drew Struzan (Shawshank Redemption, Indiana Jones), Duncan Fegredo, Frank Quitely, Walter Simonson, Chris Weston, Howard Chaykin and many more. Classic interviews and features that have made TRIPWIRE’s reputation, including Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Peter Milligan and Guillermo Del Toro

This ultra limited hardcover edition will only available through the Unbound website. The more you pledge, the more collectibles you can get your hands on and remember – we can’t do it without your support.

More info at www.unbound.co.uk

With many kids now on their summer holidays, in this Clear Spot, Alex Fitch looks at two authors who are writing books aimed at the ‘tweenage’ audience. Philip Reeve discusses his award winning Mortal Engines series, his interest in steam-punk fiction and his new novel Goblins!; Jodi Picoult talks about her first Young Adult novel, Between the Lines, co-written with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, as well as her interest in comic books as displayed in her novel The Tenth Circle and her short run on Wonder Woman.

Cover + interior illustration of Between the lines, cover of Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult / covers of Mortal Engines + Goblins by Philip Reeve, promotional art for Seawigs by Reeve + Sarah McIntyre

(Originally broadcast 23/07/12 on Resonance FM)

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Philip Reeve’s blog, including info on Goblins! and his forthcoming collaborations with Sarah McIntyre
Jodi Picoult’s website, including info on Wonder Woman and Between the lines
Official Mortal Engines website
Read Mortal Engines short prequel: Urbivore by Philip Reeve
Scholastic page on Philip Reeve
Info about the Between the lines at hodder.co.uk
Unabridged audio version available fromWhole Story Audiobooks at www.wholestoryaudiobooks.co.uk
Hodder and Stoughton page on Jodi Picoult

Recommended events:

Gosh! comics events

Ellipsis launch

Artist Tom Humberstone (Solipsistic Pop) will be launching his new comic Ellipsis at Gosh on July 27, from 7 to 8:30pm. There’ll be original art on display, free booze, and Tom will happily sign copies.

Friday July 27th, 7pm – 8.30pm

Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR / www.goshlondon.com

Support Tripwire 20th anniversary book

Over the last twenty years, TRIPWIRE has been covering comics, TV and film with interviews and columns by now-famous names like Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis. Still running as an annual publication, it continues to run feature-length articles and one-off artwork cover commissions.

2012 marks the 20th anniversary of TRIPWIRE, and to commemorate this milestone, Unbound are working with editor-in-chief Joel Meadows to crowd-fund a beautifully bound hardback celebration of the publication. It will be filled with the sort of content that has garnered praise from many of the biggest and best names in genre over its twenty-year existence. Art from genre and comic geniuses Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Drew Struzan (Shawshank Redemption, Indiana Jones), Duncan Fegredo, Frank Quitely, Walter Simonson, Chris Weston, Howard Chaykin and many more. Classic interviews and features that have made TRIPWIRE’s reputation, including Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Peter Milligan and Guillermo Del Toro

This ultra limited hardcover edition will only available through the Unbound website. The more you pledge, the more collectibles you can get your hands on and remember – we can’t do it without your support.

More info at www.unbound.co.uk

Sina Sparrow exhibition at Blush Bar

Small press creator Sina Sparrow (aka Sina Evil) is exhibiting a selection of his recent comics work entitled ‘Girls and boys’, featuring deconstruction of homoerotic superhero art and homages to Donna Summer.
Exhibtion runs from 8th June – 8th August 2012

Blush Bar, 8 Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16 6BD

In a panel discussion recorded at the First Fiction festival (Sussex University, January 2012) author Sue Eckstein discusses the problems inherent in creating autobiographies with graphic novelists Nicola Streeten and Anuerin Wright and how creators can subvert and overcome these. Nicola’s book Billy, me and you and Aneurin’s Things to Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park couldn’t be more different in their approaches, with the former combining cartoons, diary drawings and scrapbook montage and the latter depicting the author’s friends and family as anthropomorphic creatures in domestic settings. (Recorded by Nicola Streeten, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

Covers of Interpreters and The Cloths of Heaven by Sue Eckstein, Billy, me and you by Nicola Streeten and Things to do in a retirement home trailer park by Aneurin Wright

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Info about Interpreters, Billy, me and you and Things to Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park
More info about the First Fiction festival (Sussex University, January 2012)

If you enjoyed this show, why not try Judith Vanistendael talking about her autobiographical comic Dance by the light of the moon

Recommended events:

Gosh! Comics…

Gosh!’re properly chuffed to be hosting the launch of Tom Gauld’s new graphic novel Goliath, a stripped-down, reworking of the David and Goliath myth, published by Drawn & Quarterly.

On Friday the 9th of March, Gauld will be here to sign copies of the book from 6:30pm, then at 7pm we’ll get down to the important business of wetting the baby’s head. Come along and shake his hand! Not only is he one of the finest cartoonists in Britain, he’s a thoroughly lovely chap too. We’ll even have an exclusive Gosh! Bookplate Edition available on the night which we’ll reveal very, very soon.

Goliath signing and Launch Party, Friday 9th March, 6.30pm

Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR

http://www.goshlondon.com

Orbital comics events

John Miers and Yoav Segal exhibition

Starting on February 25th, the Orbital West Wing will host an exhibition celebrating the publication of Regeneration by Lawrence and Wishart books with artwork by John Miers & Yoav Segal.

The second in an ongoing series of volumes on inter-generational politics, Regeneration focuses on the question of intergenerational justice. Defining the world’s young people as those born after 1979 – a hugely symbolic moment in the history of globalisation – it reflects on the massive growth in generational protest across the globe thirty years later. At its heart is an analysis of politics through the prism of generation in which the first glimmer of a post-neoliberal consensus can be discerned.

David Hine signing

As part of their line-wide ‘rebirth’, Top Cow Productions are teaming up with Orbital Comics to create a special signing event celebrating the release of The Darkness #101. Oncoming writer David Hine (of Bulletproof Coffin fame) will be in store to sign your comics and chat about his plans for the book, plus there will be giveaways and demos from the good folks at 2K Games who are behind The Darkness II video game.

The signing starts at 5pm on Wednesday March 21st (new comics day), so you can be among the first in the world to have a copy of The Darkness #101 and get it signed by the author.

8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA

http://www.orbitalcomics.co.uk

Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen X-Men signing

Forbidden Planet are delighted to bring you a fantastic double X-Men signing! Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen will be at the London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JR, on Thursday 15th March 2012.

Artist Jamie welcomes you to the X-Men’s first year! Professor Xavier has recruited five of the most powerful mutants he’s ever seen to save a world that hates them. But there’s only one problem: they’re teenagers who have to survive hormones and super-powers, all while fighting for their lives.

Written by Kieron, Uncanny X-Men starts over in the wake of Schism. What is to become of Cyclops and the mutants who side with him after the big split? And what does it have to do with the resurrected Mr. Sinister? The hottest new writer in the business, Kieron Gillen (Thor), and superstar artist Carlos Pacheco (Ultimate Avengers) bring you the biggest and baddest X-Men you’ve ever seen.

Thursday 15 March 2012 18:00 – 19:00

Forbidden Planet, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/2012

Supergods at the Petrie Museum

COMIC BOOK SLAM

Date: 31 March | Time: 2-4pm | Price: Free | Age group: Teen / Family

Create your own comic panel and characters in 2 hours in this comic book slam at the Petrie Museum. explore comics using Egypt as inspiration and objects from the museum for your own ideas. With Kel Winser. All ages. Just pop in!

SUPERGODS COMIC BOOK WORKSHOP

Date: 2-3 April | Time: 11am – 3.30pm | Price: Free. Preferably book in advance. | Age group: Young people age 12 up.

Create your own superheroes based on the Ancient Egyptian gods. Get advice from a comics writer on how tell your story. Take inspiration from the museum and other comics about Egypt to put your own comic strip together. Suitable for 12 years upwards. With Kel Winser.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

http://petriemuseum.com

In an hour long show about children’s book illustration, Alex Fitch talks to three generations of illustrators: David McKee, creator of Mr Benn, King Rollo and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant; Dave McKean, artist of of young adult books by David Almond, graphic novels and picture books by Neil Gaiman and Richard Dawkins’ first science book for children The Magic of Reality; and Jim Kay, illustrator of Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls and Toby Forward’s Flaxfield Quartet of novels about dragons.
Also includes an extract from Dave McKean’s presentation of his work from The Magic of Reality at the book launch in Foyles, September 2011.

Mr Benn by David McKee, The Magic of Reality by Dave McKean and Richard Dawkins, and A Monster Calls by Jim Kay and Patrick Ness

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Random House titles by David McKee
Richard Dawkins / Dave McKean / Jim Kay websites
Info about The Illustration Cupboard / events at Foyles

If you enjoyed this show, why not try Mary and Bryan Talbot talking about their Joycean graphic novel Dotter of her father’s eyes

Recommended events:

Orbital comics signing and exhibtion launch

To celebrate the release of Mary and Bryan Talbot’s long awaited Dotter of her Father’s Eyes, the Orbital Gallery will be hosting an exhibition with original artwork from the book from February 2 to March 2.

On February 3rd, the Talbots will come to Orbital for a signing, starting at 5pm.

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA

www.orbitalcomics.com/events

EDDIE CAMPBELL signing at Gosh! Comics, 6:30pm, Friday 3rd February
1, Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR / www.goshlondon.com
Nearest tube: Picadilly Circus / Leicester Square

Storytelling for Comics and Graphic Novels course

You will learn about comic and graphic novel storytelling techniques, and how to create your own visual narrative. Everyone will end the course with one completed comic page, and the skills to continue their work for themselves. We will look at comic and graphic novel art styles, the use of text and images, the “grammar” of comic art, use of sound effects, abstraction, and styles. You provide a story from your own experience, or one you wish to adapt into the medium.

West Dean College, Chichester (Suitable for all levels)
2nd – 4th March 2012
Details here: www.westdean.org.uk

Continuing our month of shows about biography and autobiography, guest presenter Nicola Streeten interviews Bryan and Mary Talbot about their forthcoming graphic novel, Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes, which contrasts two coming of age narratives: Lucia, daughter of James Joyce, and author Mary Talbot, daughter of the Joycean scholar James S Atherton. (Recorded and edited by Alex Fitch) (Recorded live in front of an audience at the University of Sussex as part of the First Fictions Festival).

Image from Dotter of her fathers eyes by Bryan and Mary M Talbot

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download. (Broadcast 10/01/12 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Links: Info about First Fictions Festival
Mary Talbot’s website
Official Dotter page at www.randomhouse.co.uk
Previous interviews with Bryan Talbot

Recommended events:

Orbital comics signing and exhibtion launch

To celebrate the release of Mary and Bryan Talbot’s long awaited Dotter of her Father’s Eyes, the Orbital Gallery will be hosting an exhibition with original artwork from the book from February 2 to March 2.

On February 3rd, the Talbots will come to Orbital for a signing, starting at 5pm.

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA

www.orbitalcomics.com/events

EDDIE CAMPBELL signing at Gosh! Comics, 6:30pm, Friday 3rd February
1, Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR / www.goshlondon.com
Nearest tube: Picadilly Circus / Leicester Square

An introduction to creating your graphic memoir

FREE WORKSHOP
Saturday 28 January 2012
2-4pm
Ages 18+
Presentation and practical workshop with Nicola Streeten, illustrator and author of the highly praised graphic memoir ‘Billy, Me and You’.
No experience necessary, materials will be provided

Idea Store Chrisp Street, 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road, London E14 6BT
Tel 020 7364 4332

Storytelling for Comics and Graphic Novels course

You will learn about comic and graphic novel storytelling techniques, and how to create your own visual narrative. Everyone will end the course with one completed comic page, and the skills to continue their work for themselves. We will look at comic and graphic novel art styles, the use of text and images, the “grammar” of comic art, use of sound effects, abstraction, and styles. You provide a story from your own experience, or one you wish to adapt into the medium.

West Dean College, Chichester (Suitable for all levels)
2nd – 4th March 2012
Details here: www.westdean.org.uk

As everyone likes a good ghost story at Christmas, Alex Fitch chairs a panel discussion on H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, the two American heavyweights of classic horror and fantastic literature, with contributors including novelists China Miéville and Denise Mina, and illustrators Mark Stafford and Alice Duke. 2011 is the 85th anniversary of Lovecraft’s seminal story The Call of Cthulu, the 80th anniversary of the character first appearing in another writer’s fiction (Robert E. Howard’s The Black Stone) and the 170th anniversary of the publication of The Murders in the Rue Morgue. The panelists discuss the influence of Lovecraft on genre fiction plus the use of the iconography of Poe in Goth culture and detective literature. (Recorded at the British Film Institute as part of this year’s SCI-FI-LONDON festival).
Also contains a preview of Panel Borders’ Lovecraft season featuring I.N.J. Culbard, Alan Moore, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

Alex Fitch, Alice Duke, China Mieville, Denise Mina and Mark Stafford at SCI-FI-LONDON, photo by Fia Eamónn Wahlin

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: China Mieville / Denise Mina / Alice Duke / Mark Stafford websites
Wikipedia pages on H.P.Lovecraft, Cthulu and Lovecraftian horror
Edgar Allan Poe and Poe in popular culture
Download works by H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe
Info about Self Made Hero’s Lovecraft and Poe anthologies

Recommended events:

Laydeez do comics, December 2011

In the last LDC of 2011, Laydeez curators Nicola and Sarah talk about their work and how it has evolved since the first LDC meeting in 2009 + a couple of designers talk about their comics.

Guests:
Rachel Abrams, designer and writer, Brooklyn NY
Sarah Lightman, artist, curator and researcher
Marcia Mihotich, graphic designer and illustrator
Nicola Streeten, illustrator and author of graphic memoir Billy, Me & You

Recommended Read:
Billy, Me & You by Nicola Streeten, published by Myriad Editions

Monday 5 December
Time: 6.30 – 9.30pm
Venue: The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Comics Gosh!p

Another monthly event, in which hosts Mike Medaglia and Mark Haylock pick a ‘mainstream’ and small press comic to discuss in this free reading group in Gosh Comics!, Soho

This month they’re looking at “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud and John Miers‘ treatment of The Tower of Babel in his book “A Collection of Comics”
All books will be available at Gosh! and you can read ‘The Tower of Babel’ online (however the book is really nice to have!)

Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Time: 19:00 until 21:00
Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London W1F ODR

More info: http://www.facebook.com/thinkingcomics

In a panel discussion entitled “Worlds of Wonder?”, recorded at the British Library as part of their events season to support the exhibition ‘Out of this World’, authors Neil Gaiman and Peter F. Hamilton, scientist Rachel Armstrong and critics Kari Sperring and Farah Mendlesohn (chair) discuss the current state of science fiction around the world and its relationship with the latest advances in science fact.

Farah Mendlesohn, Neil Gaiman, Rachel Armstrong, Peter F. Hamilton, and Kari Sperring at The British Library. Photo by Marjorie Taylor

Listen to an additional 15 mins of Neil talking about SF around the world during the panel + a new interview about his work with Alex Fitch

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com

Links: Original listing for the event on The British Library website
Write up of the event on the Margo’s Musings blog

A new, hour-long, monthly show about authors, publishers and readers; in this first episode of Book List, Alex Fitch talks to Fiona Harper, author of Mills and Boon titles: Swept Off Her Stilettos, Three Weddings and a Baby, and Blind Dates and Other Disasters and to thriller writer John Rickards (a.k.a. Sean Cregan) about his new novel The Razor Gate.
Also in an extract from a presentation of his book at Westminster Library, Ed Hillyer (a.k.a Ilya) talks about his novel The Clay Dreaming, which retells the true story of the traffic of felons and kidnapped aborigines between England and Australia in Regency and Victorian London.

Covers of books by Fiona Harper, Ed Hillyer and Sean Cregan / John Rickards

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: John Rickards‘ blog – www.namelesshorror.com
Buy Sean Cregan books: The Levels and The Razor Gate from Hodder Headline

www.myriadeditions.com
Ed Hillyer page on wikipedia.com

Fiona Harper‘s website
Author’s page at www.millsandboon.co.uk

Listen to Ed Hillyer’s uncut talk about The Clay Dreaming at Westminster Library

Recommended events:

Mike and Laura Allred signing

At Orbital Comics on Great Newport Street in London, on Sunday 29th October, Mike and Laura Allred will be doing a signing of their work, including the pop art classics Madman and X-Statics

5pm, 29th October, Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street

Nobrow anthology launch

On Thursday November 3rd at the impossibly fashionable bar Jaguar Shoes, 32 Kingsland Rd, Shoreditch, the pubishers of Luke Pearson’s books Nowbrow press will be launching their new anthology from 6.30pm.

More info: www.comicafestival.com