Listen to a recording of three presentations by small press creators given at Laydeez do comics in February 2011 – Sean Azzopardi, Francesca Cassavetti (with Nick Tesco) and John Miers talk about their self published comics and graphic novels, their interaction with the art world, visits to Angouleme and much more.
(Introduced by Nicola Streeten, recorded and edited by Alex Fitch)
Running time: 1:14:43 / recorded 28/02/11

Ed by Azzopardi, Most Natural thing by Cassavetti and Babel by Miers

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

Links: Sean Azzopardi’s website
Francesca Cassavetti’s website
John Miers’ website

Info about Laydeez do comics

Laydeez do comics: Art and other disciplines

The March 2011 Laydeez do comics meeting features a variety of guests who have an interest in comics and other media / disciplines…

Woodrow Phoenix Comics artist, writer and illustrator. Creator of graphic novel Rumble Strip and developed cartoons on the Cartoon Network.

Jo Tyler: Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator for Radio Production at Bournemouth University

Ros Archer Camberwell drawing course artist who combines comics and sculpture and previously studied Biochemistry at Oxford!

plus the continuing fortunes of London Print Studios interns mentored by Karrie Fransman

Monday 21st March 2011, 6.30 – 9.30pm
The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, off Brick Lane, London

(listen to recordings of previous LDC events at Laydeez do podcasts)

Continuing our month of shows looking at newspaper comics, Alex Fitch talks to author and fine artist Audrey Niffenegger about her graphic novella The Night Bookmobile which was serialised in The Guardian in 2008 and is now available as a hardback collected edition from Jonathan Cape. Alex and Audrey also talk about her picture books for adults – The Three Incestuous Sisters and The Adventuress – and the relationship between The Time Traveller’s Wife and the depiction of non-linear storytelling in comics, Doctor Who and the work of Jorge Luis Borges.

Extract from the Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger as printed in The Guardian

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

Links: read The Night Bookmobile as serialised in The Guardian
Info about the limited bookplate edition from Gosh! comics
Buy books by Audrey Niffenegger from Jonathan Cape
Read The door in the wall by H.G. Wells, which was an influence on The night bookmobile

Recommended events:

2nd Leeds Alternative Comics fair

Buy the cream of Northern England’s comic creators’ recent output and meet the artists at the 2nd Leeds Alternative Comics fair, including Hugh Raine, Steve Tillotson, Gareth Brookes, Adam Cadwell, John Allison, Nikki Marie Jackson and Tommy Eugene Higson…

Saturday 19th March, noon – 6pm, ‘A nation of shopkeepers’ cafe / bar, 27 – 37 Cookridge Street, Leeds, LS2 3AG
More info at leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com

Laydeez do comics: Art and other disciplines

The March 2011 Laydeez do comics meeting features a variety of guests who have an interest in comics and other media / disciplines…

Woodrow Phoenix Comics artist, writer and illustrator. Creator of graphic novel Rumble Strip and developed cartoons on the Cartoon Network.

Jo Tyler: Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator for Radio Production at Bournemouth University

Ros Archer Camberwell drawing course artist who combines comics and sculpture and previously studied Biochemistry at Oxford!

plus the continuing fortunes of London Print Studios interns mentored by Karrie Fransman

Monday 21st March 2011, 6.30 – 9.30pm
The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, off Brick Lane, London

(listen to recordings of previous LDC events at Laydeez do podcasts)

Continuing our month of shows looking at newspaper comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Karrie Fransman about her work which has been serialised in The Guardian and The Times. Karrie started her comics career making self published autobiographical titles and these transferred to the G2 in 2008 as a weekly strip followed by a more ambitious David Lynch inspired full page comic in Times2 a year later. Alex and Karrie talk about all these projects as well as her mentoring of interns at the London Print Studio and her forthcoming graphic novel to be published by Random House.

Extract from The Night I lost my love by Karrie Fransman, originally printed in The Times

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

Links: Karrie’s website
London Print Studio Comics Collective blog
Interview with Karrie Fransman on University of York Student Website
Karrie’s Twinkle Toes serial from The Girly Comic

Recommended events:

London Comic and Small Press Expo March 12th, 2011

“The capital’s Bohemian comic show” brings you “all the best that the Indie, Small Press and Web Comix world has to offer.” – David Hine and Shaky Kane will be talking about their work and exhibitors include Yuri Kore, Timothy Winchester, David O’Connell, Sarah McIntyre, Hugh Raine, Luke Pearson, Edward Ross, Rob Jackson, Dan Berry, Douglas Noble and many more…

Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London
March 12, 2011- 10am to 5pm – more info: www.thefallenangel.co.uk

followed by…

Comica Conversation: Lorenzo Mattotti and Dave McKean

Mattotti and McKean discuss their visionary approaches to comics with Paul Gravett in the first of this year’s Comica events.

Tickets only £3, bookable online.

Great Hall, Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London

March 12, 2011 – 6pm to 7.30pm – more info: www.comicafestival.com

Laydeez do comics: Art and other disciplines

The March 2011 Laydeez do comics meeting features a variety of guests who have an interest in comics and other media / disciplines…

Woodrow Phoenix Comics artist, writer and illustrator. Creator of graphic novel Rumble Strip and developed cartoons on the Cartoon Network.

Jo Tyler: Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator for Radio Production at Bournemouth University

Ros Archer Camberwell drawing course artist who combines comics and sculpture and previously studied Biochemistry at Oxford!

plus the continuing fortunes of London Print Studios interns mentored by Karrie Fransman

Monday 21st March 2011, 6.30 – 9.30pm
The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, off Brick Lane, London

Starting a months of shows about Newspaper Comics, Alex Fitch talks to artist and writer Glen Baxter about his work from entering the world of self publishing in the 1970s to building an international audience via gallery shows in the 1980s and his first graphic novel – The Billiard Table Murders – in 1990, which has just entered preliminary preproduction as an animated film. Alex and Glen talk about the latter’s current exhibition, running at Flowers Gallery in Cork Street until March 5th and why he doesn’t like to be called a ‘cartoonist’…

Prints by Glen Baxter on display in Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London, March 2011

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

The Hepworths might be slowing us down by Glen Baxter, on display in Cork Street, London, Spring 2011

Links: Wikipedia and Comic House pages on Glen Baxter
Flowers Gallery website
Review of Baxter’s second graphic novel Loomings over the Suet in The Observer
Buy Speech with Humans, Loomings Over the Suet, Trundling Grunts and Blizzards of Tweed from amazon.co.uk

Recommended events:

Glen Baxter: Immured in Hessian, exhibition on Cork Street

Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glen Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – 3rd March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com

London Comic and Small Press Expo March 12th, 2011

“The capital’s Bohemian comic show” brings you “all the best that the Indie, Small Press and Web Comix world has to offer.” – David Hine and Shaky Kane will be talking about their work and exhibitors include Yuri Kore, Timothy Winchester, David O’Connell, Sarah McIntyre, Hugh Raine, Luke Pearson, Edward Ross, Rob Jackson, Dan Berry, Douglas Noble and many more…

Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London
March 12, 2011- 10am to 5pm – more info: www.thefallenangel.co.uk

followed by…

Comica Conversation: Lorenzo Mattotti and Dave McKean

Mattotti and McKean discuss their visionary approaches to comics with Paul Gravett in the first of this year’s Comica events.

Tickets only £3, bookable online.

Great Hall, Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London

March 12, 2011 – 6pm to 7.30pm – more info: www.comicafestival.com

Complimenting our inaugural podcast, we have an additional companion recording of the Q and A that veteran Underground Comix creator and historian Trina Robbins gave at Laydeez do Comics in September 2010 with questions by Woodrow Phoenix and Paul Gravett among others. Introduced by Sarah Lightman, recorded and edited by Alex Fitch.

Laydeez do comics, September 2010, photo by Nicola Streeten

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

Listen to Trina Robbins talk about the history of women in comics

Info about Laydeez do comics

Glenn Baxter in Cork Street

Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glenn Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – 3rd March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com

Laydeez do Comics Small press special:

The monthly event for female (and male) comic book creators, fans and critics meets on the last day of February with a special event devoted to small press creators. Former London Underground Comics creators Francesca Cassavetti and Sean Azzopardi talk about their work, Karrie Fransman introduces the five young graduates who are interning at the London print studio working on an ambitious comics anthology and running workshops for young members of the local community and ‘Tower of Babel’ illustrator, John Miers who was featured at last year’s Comica, talks about his process.

Guest Speakers:
Francesca Cassavetti – Illustrator and comics creator
Sean Azzopardi – Web comics creator and graphic novelist
London Print Studio Comics Collective
John Miers – Illustrator and Comics creator

Monday 28th Feburary, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

London Comic and Small Press Expo March 12th, 2011

“The capital’s Bohemian comic show” brings you “all the best that the Indie, Small Press and Web Comix world has to offer.” – David Hine and Shaky Kane will be talking about their work and exhibitors include Yuri Kore, Timothy Winchester, David O’Connell, Sarah McIntyre, Hugh Raine, Luke Pearson, Edward Ross, Rob Jackson, Dan Berry, Douglas Noble and many more…

Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London
March 12, 2011- 10am to 5pm – more info: www.thefallenangel.co.uk

followed by…

Comica Conversation: Lorenzo Mattotti and Dave McKean

Mattotti and McKean discuss their visionary approaches to comics with Paul Gravett in the first of this year’s Comica events.

Tickets only £3, bookable online.

Great Hall, Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London

March 12, 2011 – 6pm to 7.30pm – more info: www.comicafestival.com

Concluding Women in Comics month on Panel Borders, Alex Fitch presents three interviews conducted at the small press comics convention Caption held in Oxford last Summer. Selina Lock and Jeremy Day discuss the history of the convention, how it has changed over the years and the various events they’ve been involved with at the East Oxford Community Centre. Alex also talks to Philippa Rice, creator of the comic My Cardboard Life, who was one of the people involved in running a collectible dinosaur sticker game at this convention and at other comics events.

Jeremy Day and Philippa Rice prepare activities at Caption, photos by Selina Lock

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

Links: Caption website
Jeremy Day’s website
Selina Lock’s flickr page
Fact or Fiction Press website
Philippa Rice’s webcomic: mycardboardlife.com

Recommended events:

Glenn Baxter in Cork Street

Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glenn Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – 3rd March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com

Laydeez do Comics Small press special:

The monthly event for female (and male) comic book creators, fans and critics meets on the last day of February with a special event devoted to small press creators. Former London Underground Comics creators Francesca Cassavetti and Sean Azzopardi talk about their work, Karrie Fransman introduces the five young graduates who are interning at the London print studio working on an ambitious comics anthology and running workshops for young members of the local community and ‘Tower of Babel’ illustrator, John Miers who was featured at last year’s Comica, talks about his process.

Guest Speakers:
Francesca Cassavetti – Illustrator and comics creator
Sean Azzopardi – Web comics creator and graphic novelist
London Print Studio Comics Collective
John Miers – Illustrator and Comics creator

Monday 28th Feburary, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

London Comic and Small Press Expo March 12th, 2011

“The capital’s Bohemian comic show” brings you “all the best that the Indie, Small Press and Web Comix world has to offer.” – David Hine and Shaky Kane will be talking about their work and exhibitors include Yuri Kore, Timothy Winchester, David O’Connell, Sarah McIntyre, Hugh Raine, Luke Pearson, Edward Ross, Rob Jackson, Dan Berry, Douglas Noble and many more…

Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London
March 12, 2011- 10am to 5pm – more info: www.thefallenangel.co.uk

followed by…

Comica Conversation: Lorenzo Mattotti and Dave McKean

Mattotti and McKean discuss their visionary approaches to comics with Paul Gravett in the first of this year’s Comica events.

Tickets only £3, bookable online.

Great Hall, Goldsmiths University, New Cross, London

March 12, 2011 – 6pm to 7.30pm – more info: www.comicafestival.com

Continuing this month’s series of shows about female comic creators, we’re proud to broadcast a talk given by American comic book artist Melinda Gebbie about her work, from being featured in the renowned underground comics anthology Wimmen’s Comix in the 1970s to working as an animator in the 1980s on such films as When the wind blows to her collaborations with Alan Moore such as Lost Girls and Cobweb from the 1990s to the present day. Recorded at the Oxford Small Press Comics festival, Caption in Summer 2010. Interview conducted by Jenni Scott, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch.

Comics containing art by Melinda Gebbie: Wimmens Comix #7, Lost Girls #1, Tomorrow stories #5

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

Links: Wikipedia page on Melinda Gebbie
Lambiek page on Wimmen’s Comic
Sarah McIntyre’s report about Caption 2011
Caption website
Read posts by Jenni Scott at factorfictionpress.co.uk

Listen to Alex Fitch’s interview with Alan Moore about Lost Girls: part one / part two / video

Recommended events:

Young Graphic Novel Festival, Islington

Childrens’ workshops:

Gary Northfield – Thursday February 24, 10.30am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
John Barnes Library, 275 Camden Rd., N7 0JN 020 7527 7900
+ Thursday February 24, 2.30pm – 4, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
Finsbury Library, 245 St. John St., EC1V 4NB 020 7527 7960

Sally Kindberg – Saturday February 26 ,11am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 6JX 020 7527 7840
More info: http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/whatsnewlibraries

Glenn Baxter in Cork Street
Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glenn Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com

Orbital Comics event

Pauls Cornell and Rainey panel

Paul Cornell (Action Comics / Captain Britain) and Paul Rainey (There’s no time like the present / The Book of Lists) will be involved in a panel discussion about their work in Orbital, preceeded by a signing of their work. Saturday 19th Feb, 4pm / 7pm
More info at www.orbitalcomics.com

Brighton Zine Fest: Saturday 19th February to Sunday 20th February

Back to Brighton up your February is the Brighton Zine Fest! Those lovely zinesters are running a couple of days to give you an excuse to pop down there and have a good time with them. This year we have:

Saturday 19th – Fund Raising Gig at the Cowley Club: various bands / performers playing including: Moloch, Gin Panic, Lianne Hall, She’s got sick and Animal Magic Tricks – £5 / whatever you can afford! More info at http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk

Saturday 20th – Zine Fair, Talks and Workshops, at the Hanover Community Centre including: how to make a zine; zines as activism; making a comic; needle felting, and more… More info at www.brightonzinefest.co.uk

Continuing our month of shows about women who create comic books, we’re happy to present another talk + Q and A recorded at the monthly event ‘Laydeez do comics’. Therapist Philippa Perry discusses her graphic novel “Couch Fiction: A Graphic Tale of Psychotherapy”, which presents a fictionalised version of a series of sessions conducted between a Psychotherapist and a patient with additional footnotes that put the words and pictures into context that are useful to anyone with an interest in how the profession and such encounters work and evolve. Philippa talks about her collaboration with artist Junko Graat, her experiences of being a therapist and discusses the work with an audience of comic book fans and creators. (Edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

Four pages from Couch Fiction by Philippa Perry and Junko Graat

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

Publisher’s page on Couch Fiction
Review by Alain de Botton
Interview with Philippa Perry in The Observer

Info about Laydeez do comics
Marcia Mihotich’s blog about Philippa Perry’s talk in May 2010

Recommended events:

Young Graphic Novel Workshop Festival, Islington

Childrens’ workshops:
Steve Marchant – Monday February 14, 4.30pm – 6, Ages 12 – 16, 10 places
South Library, 115 Essex Rd., N1 2SL 020 7527 7860

Gary Northfield – Thursday February 24, 10.30am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
John Barnes Library, 275 Camden Rd., N7 0JN 020 7527 7900
+ Thursday February 24, 2.30pm – 4, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
Finsbury Library, 245 St. John St., EC1V 4NB 020 7527 7960

Sally Kindberg – Saturday February 26 ,11am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 6JX 020 7527 7840
More info: http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/whatsnewlibraries

Glenn Baxter in Cork Street
Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glenn Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com

Orbital Comics events

Pauls Cornell and Rainey panel

Paul Cornell (Action Comics / Captain Britain) and Paul Rainey (There’s no time like the present / The Book of Lists) will be involved in a panel discussion about their work in Orbital, preceeded by a signing of their work. Saturday 19th Feb, 4pm / 7pm

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

More info at www.orbitalcomics.com

A special hour long edition of Panel Borders, recorded at St James’ Library in Northampton, February 2011. Alan Moore talks about the closure of local libraries and the loss this will cause for the community and reads the short story ‘Cold Reading’ from his periodical Dodgem Logic followed by a Q and A with members of the audience. Introduced by Graham Croucher, Secretary of the St. James’ Residents Association. Edited and recorded by Alex Fitch.

Alan Moore and local residents outside St James Library, Northampton

Death stalks the shelves of St James library

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

Links: Sign the petition to save St. James Library
More info about St. James Library
Local Lib-Dem page on the potential closure
Alan Moore youtube video on the library cuts
Dodgem Logic website

More podcast interviews with Alan Moore and his collaborators
Interview with Josie Long and talk by David Quantick and Savage Pencil about their work in Dodgem Logic

Recommended events:

Orbital Comics exhibition and events

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

More info at www.orbitalcomics.com

Pauls Cornell and Rainey panel

Paul Cornell (Action Comics / Captain Britain) and Paul Rainey (There’s no time like the present / The Book of Lists) will be involved in a panel discussion about their work in Orbital, preceeded by a signing of their work. Saturday 19th Feb, 4pm / 7pm

Woodrow Phoenix and Trina Robbins at Laydeez do Comix, photo by Lisa Gornick

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

Links: The Walking Dead website
Charlie Adlard’s website
Wikipedia pages on Charlie Adlard and The Walking Dead

Links: Wikipedia pages on Trina Robbins and Underground Comix
Recent interview with Trina Robbins at comicsbeat.com
Info about Laydeez do comics

Recommended events:

Orbital Comics exhibition and signings

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

Jim Zubkavich Signing

Jim Zubkavich, creator of Skull Kickers will be signing at Orbital Comics, Great Newport Street, London on Saturday 5th Feb, 4pm

Pauls Cornell and Rainey panel

Paul Cornell (Action Comics / Captain Britain) and Paul Rainey (There’s no time like the present / The Book of Lists) will be involved in a panel discussion about their work in Orbital, preceeded by a signing of their work. Saturday 19th Feb, 4pm / 7pm

More info at www.orbitalcomics.com

Collected Comics Library podcast #300

Reaching the grand number of 300 episodes, the excellent Collected Comics Library podcast interviews Charles Pelto of Classic Comics Press for their anniversary podcast, conducted by regualr presenter Chris Marshall…

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/ccl-podcast-300-charles-pelto-classic-comics-press

Concluding our month of shows looking at depictions of masculinity in America comics, we have an uncut hour long recording of Alex Fitch in conversation with British artist Charlie Adlard about his ongoing zombie comic The Walking Dead, recently turned into a TV series by Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption. Alex and Charlie also look at the latter’s work on 2000AD, The X-Files and CodeFlesh plus the evolution of The Walking Dead over the last seven years. The talk was recorded live at the London Print Studio, Harrow Road as part of 2010?s Comica Festival and includes questions from the audience, including festival organiser Paul Gravett.

The Walking Dead, trade paperback covers 11-13 by Charlie Adlard

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

Links: The Walking Dead website
Charlie Adlard’s website
Wikipedia pages on Charlie Adlard and The Walking Dead

Listen to Alex Fitch and Duncan Nott’s 2007 interview with Charlie Adlard

Recommended events:

Orbital Comics exhibition and signings

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

Jim Zubkavich Signing

Jim Zubkavich, creator of Skull Kickers will be signing at Orbital Comics, Great Newport Street, London on Saturday 5th Feb, 4pm

Pauls Cornell and Rainey panel

Paul Cornell (Action Comics / Captain Britain) and Paul Rainey (There’s no time like the present / The Book of Lists) will be involved in a panel discussion about their work in Orbital, preceeded by a signing of their work. Saturday 19th Feb, 4pm / 7pm

More info at www.orbitalcomics.com

Collected Comics Library podcast #300

Reaching the grand number of 300 episodes, the excellent Collected Comics Library podcast interviews Charles Pelto of Classic Comics Press for their anniversary podcast, conducted by regualr presenter Chris Marshall…

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/ccl-podcast-300-charles-pelto-classic-comics-press

Continuing Panel Borders’ month long look at depictions of Masculinity in American Comics, Alex Fitch talks to award winning graphic novelists Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes who both publish their work first as chapters in periodicals Acme Novelty Library and Eightball respectively. Ware’s graphic novel, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth, won the Guardian First Book Award in 2001, while Clowes’ Art School Confidential and Ghost World have both been adapted as American Independent films, the latter seeing the author nominated for his Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2002 Academy Awards…

Alex Fitch interviews Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes

Please note: a video podcast of this interview is available at http://www.youtube.com/panelborders

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

Links: Daniel Clowes‘ online bibliography
BBC online interview with illustrations and screensaver
More info about Wilson, Ice Haven and Ghost World at randomhouse.co.uk

Chris Ware‘s animations from This American Life
Unofficial ACME Novelty library website
More info about Jimmy Corrigan, the smartest kid on Earth and Quimby the Mouse at randomhouse.co.uk
Wikipedia pages on Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes

Recommended events:

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

Corinne Pearlman: Cartoonist, designer and illustrator.
Co-coordinator of Cartoon County, the Sussex Association of Cartoonists and Comic Strip Artists.
Creative Director of Comic Company, and Myriad Editions

Erica Smith: Editor and Creator of Girl Frenzy, the UK’s only underground girl zine. First Published in ’91.

Ilya: British comic book writer and artist.
Creator of Bic who appeared in a self-published series of comics (now collected as Skidmarks). His first (not graphic) novel The Clay Dreaming was published in 2010.

Monday 24 January 2011, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Henage Street (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com

Continuing our month of shows about portrayals of masculinity in American comics, Alex Fitch talks to comic book creator John Romita Jr., artist of nearly 150 issues of Spider-man over the last 30 years and more recently of Mark Millar’s creator owned series Kick-Ass which was turned into one of 2010’s most enjoyable films. Alex and John also talk about the latter’s creator owned series The Gray Area and his forthcoming series Shmuggy And Bimbo, set in 1970s New York, written by Howard Chaykin.

Comics by John Romita Jr.: Kick-Ass vol.2 promotional image, Amazing Spider-Man #484, The Gray Area #1, The Avengers vol.4 #1

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

Links: Wikipedia pages on John Romita Jr. and Kick-Ass
More info about CLiNT magazine featuring Kick-Ass series 2

Recommended events:

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

Corinne Pearlman: Cartoonist, designer and illustrator.
Co-coordinator of Cartoon County, the Sussex Association of Cartoonists and Comic Strip Artists.
Creative Director of Comic Company, and Myriad Editions

Erica Smith: Editor and Creator of Girl Frenzy, the UK’s only underground girl zine. First Published in ’91.

Ilya: British comic book writer and artist.
Creator of Bic who appeared in a self-published series of comics (now collected as Skidmarks). His first (not graphic) novel The Clay Dreaming was published in 2010.

Monday 24 January 2011, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Henage Street (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com

Tom Hunter (Arthur C. Clarke Awards Administrator), Paul Graham-Raven (editor-in-chief of the science fiction webzine Futurismic), Paul Rainey (creator of serialised web and print comics Book of Lists and There’s No Time Like The Present), Gary Gibson (novelist – Nova War / Stealing Light) and Dave Bradley (Editor-in-Chief of SFX magazine) conclude their talk about the Future of Publishing in the iPad / Kindle age, looking at the synesthethic reaction to real books and the interative nature of downloaded / online content. Also features questions by Alex Fitch (Resonance FM) and John Freeman (Doctor Who Magazine)… (part 2 of 2)

Recorded live at Sci-Fi London 9, Apollo Piccadilly Cinema, Spring 2010 (recorded and edited by 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 / listen to part 1

Links: Paul Rainey’s website
Gary Gibson’s blog
SFX magazine website
Paul Raven’s Futurismic website
Arthur C. Clark awards website

Listen to Alex’s interview with Paul Rainey about his work

Recommended events:

Screenings at The Alibi

The fun ‘Film Club’ at The Alibi in Dalston continues with more free, classic movies on the big screen in January. Now with an earlier start time of 8pm.

10th Jan // The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
17th Jan // Anchorman (2004)
24th Jan // Vengeance of the Zombies (1973)
31st Jan // American Movie (1999)

Free Every Monday from 7pm (film at 8pm)
The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High St

More info: www.thealibilondon.co.uk/filmclub

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!
Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

Corinne Pearlman: Cartoonist, designer and illustrator.
Co-coordinator of Cartoon County, the Sussex Association of Cartoonists and Comic Strip Artists.
Creative Director of Comic Company, and Myriad Editions

Erica Smith: Editor and Creator of Girl Frenzy, the UK’s only underground girl zine. First Published in ’91.

Ilya: British comic book writer and artist.
Creator of Bic who appeared in a self-published series of comics (now collected as Skidmarks). His first (not graphic) novel The Clay Dreaming was published in 2010.

Monday 24 January 2011, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Henage Street (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com

Tom Hunter at Sci-Fi London, photo (c) 2010 Craig Grobler

Starting 2011′s run of shows, Panel Borders begins its yearly look at depictions of Masculinity in American Comics. This week, Alex Fitch talks to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s comics expert Ian Rakoff about his forthcoming lecture on the Western genre in magazines and strips, from Classics Illustrated to Donald Duck, Red Ryder to the brutality of E.C. Comics…

Various Western themed comics 1950-1979

(Please note Panel Borders will be back on air 13/01/11 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

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

Links: More info about V and A lectures
Info about the illustration -
Red Ryder #3 (1941) by Fred Harman
Four Color comic #199 – Donald Duck (1948) by Carl Barks
Gunfighter #13 (1950) by Johnny Craig
Kit Carson, Indian Scout #1 (1950) by Everett Raymond Kinstler
Classics Illustrated #154 – The Conspiracy of Pontiac (1960) by Gerald McCann
Commanche Moon graphic novel (1979) by Jack Jackson
Wikipedia page on Classics Illustrated
Lambiek page on Everett Raymond Kinstler

Listen to Alex’s interviews with Ian about the crossover between the Western on film and in comics and his V and A talk on ‘The Creation of the American identity through 20th Century comic strips’

Recommended events:

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

Corinne Pearlman: Cartoonist, designer and illustrator.
Co-coordinator of Cartoon County, the Sussex Association of Cartoonists and Comic Strip Artists.
Creative Director of Comic Company, and Myriad Editions

Erica Smith: Editor and Creator of Girl Frenzy, the UK’s only underground girl zine. First Published in ’91.

Ilya: British comic book writer and artist.
Creator of Bic who appeared in a self-published series of comics (now collected as Skidmarks). His first (not graphic) novel The Clay Dreaming was published in 2010.

Monday 24 January 2011, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Henage Street (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com

Concluding our month long look at anthropomorphic / funny animal comics Alex Fitch leads a discussion recorded at the Streatham library graphic novel readers group about Derek the Sheep and other funny animal comics with creator Gary Northfield and colourist Ellen Lindner.
(Partially broadcast 16/12/10 on Resonance FM)

Extract from Derek the Sheep by Gary Northfield

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

Links: For more info about Gary’s comics please visit his website www.garynorthfield.co.uk
Ellen Lindner’s comics website: www.littlewhitebird.com
Pedro Galvao’s blog: http://sequentialscripts.blogspot.com
For more about the Streatham Library graphic novels reading group, please go to http://community.livejournal.com/lambeth_comics

To hear more discussions of comics, manga and graphic novels recorded at Streatham Library, click here…

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Continuing a series of shows about anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to Jim Medway about his new online web comic magazine Comical Animal. Alex and Jim talk about the latter’s influences from Richard Scarry to kitchen sink drama, creating the popular strip Crab Lane Crew in The DFC and curating a bimonthly magazine that features the likes of Woodrow Phoenix, Gary Northfield and Sarah McIntyre…

Partially broadcast 16th December 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Comical Animal workout by Jim Medway

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

Links: www.comicalanimal.com
Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphic comics
Jim Medway’s website and blog

Recommended events:

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Christmas screenings at The Alibi

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) 27th December

Free screenings of some classic movies at a friendly bar – The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High Street, Dalston – at 8pm every Monday!

More info: www.thealibilondon.co.uk/filmclub

Continuing a series of shows about anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to David Petersen about his popular Mouse Guard serial, published as bimonthly comics by Archaia in the USA and collected in hardback by Titan Books in the UK. Alex and David talk about the latter’s influences, his experiences growing up in Flint, Michigan, exchanging drawings with Stan Sakai and the process of creating each issue (partially broadcast 16th December 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM)…

Panel from Mouse Guard by David Petersen

For more info about this podcast and a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org (with thanks to Audyssey Technology for use of their South of Market iPhone speaker dock)…

Links: Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphic comics and Mouse Guard
Official Mouse Guard website
David Petersen’s blog
Info about the British editions of Mouse Guard, published by Titan

Recommended events:

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Christmas screenings at The Alibi

Die Hard (1988) on 20th December
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) 27th December

Free screenings of some classic movies at a friendly bar – The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High Street, Dalston – at 8pm every Monday!

More info: www.thealibilondon.co.uk/filmclub

Appears here ‘warts-and-all’ as it originally went out on 27/11/2010, so feel free to skip through the talky bits.  Here’s what we played:

Loretta Long: ABC Song (from the LP ‘Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street’, Scepter Records, 1970)

Bob Dorough: Ready or Not, Here I Come (from the LP ‘Multiplication Rock’, Captiol, 1973)

Electric Company Cast: Electric Company Main Theme (Warner Brothers 7″, 1972)

Loretta Long: Right in the Middle of My Face (from the LP ‘Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street’)

Bert: Clink, Clank (Columbia Records 7″, 1972)

Jim Henson: Tick Tock Sick (Signature Records 7″, 1960)

Bob Dorough: Four-Legged Zoo (from the LP ‘Multiplication Rock’)

Loretta Long: Three of These Sounds (from the LP ‘Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street’)

The Short Circus: Hard, Hard, Hard (from ‘The Electric Company OST’, CTW, 1972)

Bob McGraph: Why Choose to be Afraid (from ‘Bob McGraph from Sesame Street’, Affinity Records, 1970)

Electric Company: JJ to Brenda to Mark (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Bob Dorough: Three is a Magic Number (from the LP ‘Multiplication Rock’)

Jim Henson: The Countryside (Signature Records 7″, 1960)

Electric Company: Punctuation Song (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Bob McGraph: Good, Good Morning Day (from ‘Bob McGraph from Sesame Street’)

Electric Company: Fight! (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Electric Company: My Name is Kathy (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Bob Dorough and Blossom Dearie: Figure Eight (from the LP ‘Multiplication Rock’)

Loretta Long: Someday Little Children (CTW 7″, 1970)

Electric Company: Signs Song (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Hap Palmer: Bossa Nova to Eight (from ‘Math Readiness’ LP, 1980)

The Short Circus: Jelly Belly (from ‘The Electric Company OST’)

Les Chanteurs et L’Orchestre De Michel Triventi: Ulysse ’31 (from ‘Hit Parade des Enfants’, label and date unknown)

Basil Kirchin: Primitive London Part 1 (from ‘Primitive London OST’, forthcoming on Trunk Records)

Bob & Gertrude Kimble(?): S-T-R-E-T-C-H like a Cat (taken from ‘Rhythmic Activity Songs’, Kimbo Instructional Records c.1962)

Jim Henson with Raymond Scott: Limbo- The Organised Mind (taken from ‘Manhattan Research’, Basta Recordings, exact date unknown)

The K-Tel Exercise Man: K-Tel Multi-Exerciser Instructional Record (1^st extract) (K-Tel, date unknown)

The Green Goddess: Jump (Renault Trucks Workout) (Renault Trucks 7″, c.1980)

Laban Movement Study Aids: Listen and Move extract (Laban, 78rpm shellac disc, date unknown)

The K-Tel Exercise Man: K-Tel Multi-Exerciser Instructional Record (2^nd extract)

Linguaphone: English Lesson 14: Saturday Traffic (Linguaphone 7″, c.1962)

Dick Mills/BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Adagio (taken from ‘The Radiophonic Workshop’, BBC Records, 1975)

BBC Special Effects: The Countryside (taken from ‘BBC Sound Effects vol. 23- Relaxing Sounds’, BBC Records, 1979)

BBC Special Effects:  Screams (taken from ‘BBC Sounds Effects vol. 13- Sounds of Death and Horror’. BBC Records, 1977)

Basil Kirchin: Primitive London Part 4 (forthcoming on Trunk Records)

Unknown: BBC: Acetate disc marked November 1954

Loretta Long: Happy Talk (from the LP ‘Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street’)

With thanks/apologies to Jonny Trunk. To learn more about the great man and his work why not visit www.trunkrecords.com ? Go on, it’s super.

Stay tuned for more classic podcasts from the OST Archive coming soon!

Continuing this month’s series of shows about anthropomorphic or ‘funny animal’ comics Alex Fitch talks to a pair of writer / artists whose latest projects deal with animal / human hybrids in adult situations: Howard Hardiman whose new project is The Lengths, a black and white comic about male sex workers, based on interviews he conducted in London and funded via IndieGoGo and an Arts Council Grant, while in an interview recorded at The Cartoon Museum, Bryan Talbot discusses Grandville Mon Amour, the second volume of his steampunk graphic album series set in a violent turn of the century Paris.

Panels from The Lengths by Howard Hardiman and Grandville Mon Amour by Bryan Talbot

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

Links: Howard’s website www.cutebutsad.co.uk
Grandville page on Bryan’s website www.bryan-talbot.com
Wikipedia pages on Grandville and funny animal comics

Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Howard Hardiman and Bryan Talbot

Recommended events:

Comica, London week six

The final two events of Comica 2010 include:

Film screening: Grant Morrison – Talking With Gods
A fascinating documentary detailing the vision of one of the most popular and controversial writers. Followed by a signing with Steve Cook, Rian Hughes and Frazer Irving.
ICA, The Mall, London
Sunday, 12 December – 4pm

Girls Comics: Pat Mills & Jenny McDade
Writers Pat Mills and Jenny McDade will be discussing the world of girls’ comics.
London Print Studios, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Thursday, 16 December – 6:30pm to 8:30pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Posy Simmonds at Laydeez do Comics

Guest Speaker: Posy Simmonds MBE
British illustrator and writer. Creator of graphic novels, Gemma Bovery (2000) and Tamara Drewe (2005–2006) recently made into a film.

ALSO please bring along one thing you have worked on this year for everyone to look at during the break. If you are not an artist please bring something else!

We will be serving home made mince pies and mulled wine.

Recommended Reads: Gemma Bovery / Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmonds

Guest Blogger: Ellen Lindner

Monday 13 December 2010, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Help the Comic Book Alliance raise money for charity

The Comic Book Alliance (CBA) are offering comic fans some very special Christmas treats this week with their very first fundraising auction — including the chance to star alongside Batman in his new comic, Batman Inc!

Grant Morrison will write the winning bidder into an issue of Batman Inc. featuring their name and likeness, courtesy of DC Comics.

Not only that, but Frank Quitely, winner of four 2010 Eagle Awards and one of the hottest artists in comics (All Star Superman, Batman & Robin) will draw a personalised portrait of a winning bidder!

Plus, there are dozens of signed books, comics and graphic novels from high profile creators like Alan Moore (Watchmen), Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys), Charles Vess (Stardust), and John Wagner (Judge Dredd).

And there’s original comic art and signed limited prints by the cream of British artists including zombie art work by Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Bryan Talbot (Grandville), Sean Phillips (Criminal), John McCrea (Hitman), David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Rufus Dayglo (Tank Girl) and Garen Ewing (The Rainbow Orchid).

The auction starts runs until 19:00 on Saturday 11 December at www.ebay.co.uk

Christmas screenings at The Alibi

Tron (1982) on 6th December
Elf (2003) on 13th December
Die Hard (1988) on 20th December
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) 27th December

Free screenings of some classic movies at a friendly bar – The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High Street, Dalston – at 8pm every Monday!

More info: www.thealibilondon.co.uk/filmclub

Starting a month of shows about anthropomorphic or ‘funny animal’ comics we’re proud to present a panel recorded at this year’s Comica festival: TV / BBC Radio comedy writer David Quantick and underground cartoonist Edwin Pouncey, a.k.a. Savage Pencil talk about their graphic novel, currently serialised in Alan Moore’s magazine Dodgem Logic, which concerns the life of Louis Wain, Edwardian painter of cats whose work became increasingly experimental as his mental health deteriorated. The two creators discuss their interest in Wain, the depiction of his life and his cats in their comic, and the important use of Feline Ophthalmology and wallpaper in fine art! (Recorded, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

Savage Pencil and David Quantick in front of pages from their comic about Louis Wain in Dodgem Logic #7

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

Links: Dodgem Logic website
Savage Pencil’s website
Wikipedia pages on funny animal comics, David Quantick and Savage Pencil
Blog entries on Louis Wain’s ‘normal years’ and art produced while suffering from schizophrenia

Listen to Dickon Harris’ interview with Josie Long about contributing to Dodgem Logic

Recommended events:

Comica, London week five

David Bircham: Alien Ink
Mingle with a rising talents of the UK comics scene, experience talks and attend a comic masterclass.
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Saturday, 4 December – Noon to 5pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Funny animals at Streatham Library

In the last Streatham Library Graphic novel reading group of 2010, they’ll be discussing anthropomorphic comics, with guest Gary Northfield, who’ll be discussing his popular Beano strip, Derek the Sheep…

7.30pm (free), Monday 6th December, Streatham Library, 63 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 1PN
More info: www.lambeth.gov.uk

Christmas screenings at The Alibi

Tron (1982) on 6th December
Elf (2003) on 13th December
Die Hard (1988) on 20th December
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) 27th December

Free screenings of some classic movies at a friendly bar – The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High Street, Dalston – at 8pm every Monday!

More info: www.thealibilondon.co.uk/filmclub

Help the Comic Book Alliance raise money for charity

The Comic Book Alliance (CBA) are offering comic fans some very special Christmas treats this week with their very first fundraising auction — including the chance to star alongside Batman in his new comic, Batman Inc!

Grant Morrison will write the winning bidder into an issue of Batman Inc. featuring their name and likeness, courtesy of DC Comics.

Not only that, but Frank Quitely, winner of four 2010 Eagle Awards and one of the hottest artists in comics (All Star Superman, Batman & Robin) will draw a personalised portrait of a winning bidder!

Plus, there are dozens of signed books, comics and graphic novels from high profile creators like Alan Moore (Watchmen), Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys), Charles Vess (Stardust), and John Wagner (Judge Dredd).

And there’s original comic art and signed limited prints by the cream of British artists including zombie art work by Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Bryan Talbot (Grandville), Sean Phillips (Criminal), John McCrea (Hitman), David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Rufus Dayglo (Tank Girl) and Garen Ewing (The Rainbow Orchid).

The auction starts at 19:00 on Thursday 2 December and runs until at 19:00 on Saturday 11 December on www.ebay.co.uk

Tom Hunter (Award Administrator for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction Literature) chairs a panel on the future of publishing in the digital age:

The publishing industry is coming under assault from all sides. Are Kindles, iPads and smartphones signalling the end of traditional paper publishing? How will the publishing industry re-shape itself for 2050?
Panelists include: Paul Graham-Raven, a freelance writer, editor and webgeek, genre fiction reviewer and editor-in-chief of the near-future science fiction webzine Futurismic; Paul Rainey, a cartoonist, illustrator and creator of serialised web and print comics The Book of Lists and There’s No Time Like The Present; novelist Gary Gibson, Nova War is his fourth book and his second Dakota Merrick title, following 2007’s Stealing Light; Dave Bradley, Editor-in-Chief of SFX magazine, Europe’s best-selling sci-fi and fantasy periodical. With questions addressed to the panel by John Freeman (Doctor Who Magazine) and Alex Fitch (Panel Borders). (part 1 of 2)

Clockwise from top left: comics by Paul Rainey, Futurismic blog by Paul Graham-Raven, SFX magazine cover, various novels by Gary Gibson

Recorded live at the Apollo Piccadilly cinema, Spring 2010 (recorded and edited by 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: Paul Rainey’s website
Gary Gibson’s blog
SFX magazine website
Paul Raven’s Futurismic website
Arthur C. Clark awards website

Listen to Alex’s interview with Paul Rainey about his work

Recommended events:

Demons screening

Prior to its DVD re-release from Arrow Video, Midnight Movies presents a special screening of Dario Argento’s classic gory 80s horror Demons on Friday 26 November 2010 at Curzon Soho. One fateful night in a Berlin cinema, art imitates life as one by one the audience are possessed by blood-hungry, puss-filled demons. More details on Curzon Cinemas’ website.

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Comica, London week four

Paul Gravett: From Escape To Now
Paul Gravett gives an illustrated talk about his lifelong passion for comics, from the 80s Escape Magazine to now.
The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1
Monday, 29 November – 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Great British Comics: Steve Bell and Bryan Talbot
Two of Britain’s most brilliant graphic storytellers swap tales of their prolific careers.
ICA, The Mall, London SW1
Wednesday, 1 December – 6.45pm to 8.15pm

David Bircham: Alien Ink
Mingle with the rising talent of the UK, experience talks and attend a comic masterclass. Book Tickets…
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Saturday, 4 December – Noon to 5pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Continuing our month of shows looking at unusual depictions of superheroes, in an interview recorded at the Thought Bubble festival in Leeds, Alex Fitch talks to writer / artist Martin Eden about his small press comics The O Men and Spandex, the latter featuring the world’s only all gay superhero team. Alex and Martin talk about distribution of small press comics, his experiences with the media’s interest in his new comic when it launched last year and representations of gay characters in sequential art.

Spandex group shot by Martin Eden

This show was recorded live at Thought Bubble, Leeds

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

Links: Martin’s blog – spandexcomic.wordpress.com
The O Men website and blog

Listen to Alex’s interview with Tommy Roddy about his gay themed Superhero comic Pride High

Recommended events:

Alternative Press Fair: Sunday 28th November 2010

Comix, zines, self published art books, poetry workshop, illustration photo booth and over 100 titles from the world of small press. A chance for newcomers to sell their work on a communal table and for those interested to find out what the scene has to offer. Alternative Press will also be announcing details of next year’s Alternative Press Festival.

St. Aloysius’ Social Centre (Corner of Eversholt Street and Phoenix Road) London NW1 1TA Nearest Tube: Euston
Sunday 28th November 2010, 12pm to 6pm

ALSO: There are some flyer designs up on the comicsandzines blog. We want you to recreate the flyers in your own style!

More info: comicsandzines.wordpress.com

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see herpaintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Comica, London week four

Sarah Ardizzone and Ros Schwartz: The Little Prince
A dialogue between two translators looking back at the biggest selling French language book.
Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, London
Thursday, 25 November – 7.30pm

Paul Gravett: From Escape To Now
Paul Gravett gives an illustrated talk about his lifelong passion for comics, from the 80s Escape Magazine to now.
The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1
Monday, 29 November – 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Great British Comics: Steve Bell and Bryan Talbot
Two of Britain’s most brilliant graphic storytellers swap tales of their prolific careers.
ICA, The Mall, London SW1
Wednesday, 1 December – 6.45pm to 8.15pm

David Bircham: Alien Ink
Mingle with the rising talent of the UK, experience talks and attend a comic masterclass. Book Tickets…
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Saturday, 4 December – Noon to 5pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Demons screening

Prior to its DVD re-release from Arrow Video, Midnight Movies presents a special screening of Dario Argento’s classic gory 80s horror Demons on Friday 26 November 2010 at Curzon Soho. One fateful night in a Berlin cinema, art imitates life as one by one the audience are possessed by blood-hungry, puss-filled demons. More details on Curzon Cinemas’ website.

Continuing our month long look at unusual depictions of superheroes, Alex Fitch talks to comic book artist and graphic designer J. H. Williams III about his work from early forays into the superhero genre for DC’s imprint ‘Milestone’ to his acclaimed renditions of female characters in Chase, Detective Comics and Alan Moore’s epic Promethea. Alex and Jim talk about the latter’s approach to creating sequential art, from the layout of a page to the relation of a sequence to its surrounding comic or graphic novel and the delegation of work on his new ongoing Batwoman comic.

Two 2 page spreads from Promethea and Batwoman by J.H. Williams III

N.B./ This show was recorded live at Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA

Links: J.H. William III’s website
Info about Jim’s forthcoming comics on the DC comics blog
Article on Jim’s Promethea illustrations from a fine art point of view

Recommended events:

Comica, London week three

Storytelling: The Future is Graphic: A free talk by Paul Gravett on new developments in visual and verbal narratives on and off the page.

London College of Communication , Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6SB, November 19, 2010 – 10am to 11am

Louis Wain: The Man Who Drew Cats –
BBC and Channel 4 broadcaster and comedy writer David Quantick explores the life and work of the Edwardian cat artist Louis Wain with underground cartoonist Savage Pencil.
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE, November 23, 2010 – 7pm to 8pm

Comica Argentina: Thomas Dassance, Carlos Nine and Oscar Zarate, Explore the rich traditions and vital current scene of comics in Argentina. London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE, November 24, 2010 – 6.30pm to 8.30pm

More info about all the above and more at www.comicafestival.com

Thought Bubble Festival, Leeds Nov 18-21

Thought Bubble begins on:
Thurs 18th November with a 2 day conference on comic books – Thursday’s theme is Women in comics and features talks by Suzy Varty who published the UK’s first all woman comic book ‘Heroine’ in 1977, Maureen Burdock creator of the ‘F word project’ and the Danish comics group ‘Pennevenider’ including artists Karen Hansen, Monica Hee Eun Jensen and Rikke Hollaender. The theme of the…

Friday 19th conference is the ties between the production and scholarship of comics and includes talks on the work of Will Eisner, Scott McCloud, Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes.

Saturday 20th sees a one day comics convention take over the Royal Armouries and Alea Casino in Leeds and guest include Becky Cloonan, Kick Ass artist John Romita Junior and reknowned Starman and Ex Mechina artist Tony Harris. Finally on…

Sunday 21st, London based small press group We are Words + Pictures join forces with the Manchester Comics Collective to host a day of art and writing workshops and a free drop in and draw session for people of all ages and abilities.

Throughout the 4 days of the festival there are additional talks, workshops, screenings and exhibitions around Leeds and there’s info about all the above on their website www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Continuing our month long look at unusual takes on superheroes, Alex Fitch talks to artist Becky Cloonan about her work, focusing on the series Demo, written by Brian Wood which is a more down to earth look at the problems teenagers with superpowers might face in the real world. Alex and Becky also talk about her horror collaboration project Pixu with Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon and Vasilis Lolos and her foray into manga with East Coast Rising.

Panels from East Coast Rising vol. 1 and Demo vol. 2 #6

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

Links: Wikipedia page on Becky Cloonan
Becky’s website and blog
Articles on Becky at the Vertigo blog
Info about Becky’s next collaboration with Brian: Northlanders: The girl in the ice

Buy East Coast Rising Volume 1, Pixu: The Mark of Evil, American Virgin vol. 1, Demo: vol. 1 and Channel Zero: Jennie One from amazon.co.uk

Recommended events:

One dot zero festival, London Nov 10-14

Pioneering festival onedotzero_adventures in motion returns this year to London’s BFI Southbank from 10 – 14 November 2010, presenting the most exciting international moving image work, from the offbeat to the radical, aiming to push the boundaries of creativity, innovation and technological wonder.

Highlights include:

Superhero Me + Steve Sale Q and A
UK 2010. Dir Steve Sale. 84min

This entertaining and warm-hearted fly on the wall documentary follows film maker Steve Sale on his journey to becoming the real life superhero known as SOS. With unique cinematography shot on any available format, from a digital handheld to a mobile phone.
Thu 11 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3

Chico & Rita
Spain-UK 2010. 94 min. Courtesy of CinemaNX

Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment. This animated ballad from Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and designer Javier Mariscal will play alongside a making of short film.
Sat 13 Nov | 15:50 | NFT3

Short film programme includes:

wow + flutter: Innovative and experimental shorts forecasting the future of moving image.
Thurs 11 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sat 13 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3 / Sun 14 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1

wavelength: Visually progressive, radical and offbeat new directions in music video.
Thu 11 Nov | 20:50 | Studio / Fri 12 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sun 14 Nov | 20:45 | NFT1

j-star: An audiovisual blast from japan’s finest moving image-makers.
Fri 12 Nov | 20:50 | Studio / Sat 13 Nov | 10:00 | NFT3

robotica: Diverse visions of a future dominated by robots and androids.
Fri 12 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3 / Sat 13 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sun 14 Nov | 18:40 | Studio

ladymation: Eclectic gems from female directors leading the way in animation.
Thu 11 Nov | 20:45 | NFT1 / Sat 13 Nov | 20:50 | Studio / Sun 14 Nov | 14:10 | NFT3

nightfall: From gaming-edged horror and sci-fi weirdness to trippy psychedelia. A collection of extreme, leftfield and often bewildering films.
Sat 13 Nov | 20:45 | NFT1 / Sun 14 Nov | 20:50 | Studio

More info at hwww.onedotzero.com

Comica, London week two

Mon 15th Ho Che Anderson in conversation £4 booking advised

Don’t miss your chance to meet Ho Che Anderson at the Comica Festival and hear him discuss King, his graphic biography of Martin Luther King Jr with comic artist Paul Peart-Smith and George Nelson, co-curators of last year’s Black Powers comic art exhibition at Swiss Cottage Library, London.

“A crowning achievement, like the man it portrays.” – Publishers Weekly
“Widely acknowledged as a masterpiece…” – Library Journal

Wed 17th Pat Mills / Clint Langley on John Hicklenton / 100 months book launch party – free but R.S.V.P.

2000AD writer Pat Mills, documentary film director Adam Lavis and artist friend Clint Langley celebrate the late John Hicklenton’s life, career and crowning masterwork, 100 Months, an apocalyptic parable of environmental devastation drawn and written in foreknowledge of his own impending death. The evening includes a discussion, extracts from the Here’s Johnny documentary movie, and the publication of an exclusive limited edition print from The London Print Studio.

All events at London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE

Thought Bubble Festival, Leeds Nov 18-21

Thought Bubble begins on:
Thurs 18th November with a 2 day conference on comic books – Thursday’s theme is Women in comics and features talks by Suzy Varty who published the UK’s first all woman comic book ‘Heroine’ in 1977, Maureen Burdock creator of the ‘F word project’ and the Danish comics group ‘Pennevenider’ including artists Karen Hansen, Monica Hee Eun Jensen and Rikke Hollaender. The theme of the…

Friday 19th conference is the ties between the production and scholarship of comics and includes talks on the work of Will Eisner, Scott McCloud, Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes.

Saturday 20th sees a one day comics convention take over the Royal Armouries and Alea Casino in Leeds and guest include Becky Cloonan, Kick Ass artist John Romita Junior and reknowned Starman and Ex Mechina artist Tony Harris. Finally on…

Sunday 21st, London based small press group We are Words + Pictures join forces with the Manchester Comics Collective to host a day of art and writing workshops and a free drop in and draw session for people of all ages and abilities.

Throughout the 4 days of the festival there are additional talks, workshops, screenings and exhibitions around Leeds and there’s info about all the above on their website www.thoughtbubblefestival.com