Edited broadcast 05/11/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Excerpts from pages 45 and 51 of the 1988 2000AD annual by Brendan McCarthy

Starting ‘British Mavericks’ month on the show – a series of conversations with illustrators whose work is surprisingly avant-garde for mainstream comics – we have an interview with pop art surrealist Brendan McCarthy. Appropriately for Guy Fawkes’ Night, Brendan’s work is the comic strip equivalent of fireworks, mixing lurid colours with hallucinogenic rendering that he has managed to smuggle into British periodicals such as 2000AD and Crisis and more recently has led to work in the field of film and animation design, working on TV series such as Reboot and the new film Mad Max 4: Fury Road. Today’s interview was conducted by author and librarian Pedro Galvao in front of an audience of Graphic Novel fans at Minet libraryin Camberwell as part of the Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival during the summer. (The episode was recorded and edited by Alex Fitch)

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: Brendan McCarthy ‘fansite’
Buy Brendan’s art from Koch Comic Art
Info about The Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival 2009
Info about Minet library
Info about Mad Max 4: Fury Road on wikipedia

Related events: BLACK POWERS exhibtion at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom

and while we’re on the subject: VOTE FOR PHOENIX!

Woodrow Phoenix’ acclaimed graphic novel Rumble Strip is up for an award – The People’s Book Prize – so please go to www.peoplesbookprize.com and cast your vote!

COMICA FESTIVAL – various events at the ICA, The Mall, London and environs:

Week one:
(all events are at the ICA unless otherwise noted)

Heavy Pencil: David Lloyd
David Lloyd leads this month’s Heavy Pencil session for a V For Vendetta themed evening. November 5, 2009 – 8pm to midnight

Little Pencil: Sarah McIntyre
Sarah McIntyre (Vern & Lettuce, Morris The Mankiest Monster) joins the drawing to music workshop for children. November 6, 2009 – 4.30pm to 6pm

The Birth Of American Comics Fandom In Britain
Brian Bolland and Dave Gibbons bring to life the startling story of how fandom exploded in the Sixties. November 7, 2009 – from 2.30pm

Bryan Talbot: Grandville & The Anthropomorphic Tradition
Bryan Talbot gives his only London presentation of his illuminating illustrated lecture. November 7, 2009 – 4.30pm to 6pm

Eddie Campbell: The Years Have Pants
Eddie Campbell discusses his latest book, Alec: The Years Have Pants. November 7, 2009 – 7pm to 9pm

Getting Graphic: Starting Out In Graphic Novels
Bryan Talbot, Julian Hanshaw and Simone Lia reveal the secrets of making comics and getting published. November 8, 2009 – from 2.30pm

Helen McCarthy: A Guide To Osamu Tezuka
A guide through the life and career of the God of manga and anime, Osamu Tezuka. November 8, 2009 – from 4.30pm

Real-Fi: Student Workshop
Ctrl.Alt.Shift Unmasks Corruption hosts a student workshop with Bryan Talbot, Pat Mills and others. November 8, 2009 – 12.30pm to 6.30pm

Political Comics: Comic Art Propaganda
A panel discussion with Fredrik Strömberg, Pat Mills, Sean Duffield, Asia Alfasi and Polyp. November 8, 2009 – from 6.30pm

Kevin O’Neill: League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Kevin O’Neill discusses co-creating the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Alan Moore. Islington Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, London
November 9, 2009 – 6pm to 8pm

Manga In The Museum: Solving Myths & Mysteries
Paul Gravett introduces the works of manga master Hoshino Yukinobu. British Museum, Gt Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
November 10, 2009 – 1.15pm to 2pm

Ctrl Alt Shift Unmask Corruption: Music and Comics Night Ctrl.Alt.Shift and Comica present an evening of live music and djs to celebrate the release of their ‘Ctrl.Alt.Shift Unmasks Corruption’ comic, featuring over 30 contributions from the world’s best comic artists and graphic novelists, including Bryan Talbot, Dave McKean and Pat Mills, who have each explored the subject of corruption. Featuring live performances from Blood Orange, the latest project of Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion / Test Icicles), plus Celestial Bodies (Ferry Gouw, comic book contributor) plus a DJ set from comic artist Woodrow Phoenix and more to be announced. Tuesday 10 November, 7pm – 1am

Apostolos Doxiadis: Logicomix
Learn the secrets behind Logicomix, mathematics, Bertrand Russell and his peers.
November 12, 2009 – from 7pm

James Jean & Tara McPherson
Join James Jean and Tara McPherson for an evening discussion and illustrated presentation.
November 13, 2009 – from 7pm

Conference: Comics & Graphic Novels For Young People
Including keynote speakers Mel Gibson, Paul Gravett, Marcia Williams and David Fickling. Froebel College, Roehampton University, Surrey November 14, 2009

More info: www.comicafestival.com

plus: Ctrl.Alt.Shift Unmasks Corruption – Comics and Politics Exhibition
6 – 28 November 2009
Lazarides Gallery, Greek Street, London

The exhibition will feature an eclectic and powerful range of political stories created by some of the world’s best comic and graphic artists such as Dave McKean, Pat Mills, Peter Kuper and Dan Goldman. It will also include a collaborative piece of work by acclaimed musician and writer Dev Hynes (aka Lightspeed Champion) and Luke Pearson, the winner of the Ctrl.Alt.Shift Unmasks Corruption Competition which ran back in August. More info: www.lazinc.com

also: London signings…

Eddie Campbell / Alex: The Years have pants Signing at Gosh! Comics, Great Russell Street – Saturday 7th November – early London availability of the behemoth that is Alec: The Years Have Pants – A Life-Sized Omnibus. Saturday 7th November 2 – 4pm

David Petersen / Mouse Guard: David Petersen will be signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

Gilbert Shelton / Fat Freddy’s Cat Omnibus, Signing at Gosh! Comics, Great Russell Street – Saturday 14th November Gilbert Shelton. He’s no stranger to the hallowed Gosh! basement but hasn’t been here in well over a year. In that time we’ve seen hundreds of copies of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus fly off the shelf and the brand new Fat Freddy’s Cat Omnibus promises to do much the same thing. Saturday 14th November 3 – 5pm

Edited broadcast 29/10/09 as part of an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Signs to The Fleece Station designed by Sarah McIntyre, Gary Northfield and Viviane Schwartz

Concluding ‘anthologies and collectives month’ on the show, in an interview recorded on location at the Old Police Station The Fleece Station in Deptford, Alex Fitch talks to artists Sarah McIntyre and Viviane Schwartz about their work including books such as Morris the Mankiest Monster and There are Cats in this book plus the benefits of sharing a studio that has a web and public presence.

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 Fleece Station blog
Sarah’s website and blog
Viviane’s website
The DFC website / “Save the DFC” blog
Super Comics Adventure Squad blog

Related events: BLACK POWERS exhibition at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom

and: London signings…

Orbital Halloween signing of epic proportions! Featuring: Glenn Fabry (Preacher, Hellblazer), Garry Leach (Marvelman, Dan Dare), Mike Carey (Unwritten, X-Men, Lucifer), David Hine (Strange Embrace, Silent War), Andy Lanning (Nova, War of Kings) and Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40,000, War of Kings)
Come to Orbital, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA on 31 October 2009 from 3-5pm to take part in our Halloween festivities!

Eddie Campbell / Alex: The Years have pants Signing at Gosh! Comics, Great Russell Street – Saturday 7th November – early London availability of the behemoth that is Alec: The Years Have Pants – A Life-Sized Omnibus. Saturday 7th November 2 – 4pm

David Petersen /Mouse Guard: David Petersen is signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Gary Erskine, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Quietly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

November Small Press events:

Handmade and bound - The Affordable book arts and zine fair, Sunday 1st November at the St Aloysius Social Club, near Euston,

The Small Press Comiket, Sunday 8th November which is part of the fortnight long Comica festival at The ICA, on The Mall, in Central London

“Are you zine friendly?”, Thursday 12th November, an Alternative Press event at the Foundry in Hoxton, promoting a new small press web resource: the Zine Friendly blog! And that’s at 86 Great Eastern Street.

For more info about all these events please visit: comicsandzines.wordpress.com

Edited broadcast 29/10/09 as part of an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Cover of the Banal Pig Landscape anthology by Steve Tillotson and Gareth Brooks

Continuing ‘anthologies and collectives month’ on the show, in an interview recorded at this year’s Small Press Expo in Bristol, Dickon Harris talks to Steve Tillotson and Gareth Brookes about their self published comics, including The Manly Boys Annual, Can I borrow your toilet? and The Banal Pig Landscape anthology; Dickon then catches up with Gareth again at the Alternative Press Fair Collaborama! in Borough to talk about performing small press comics as poetry.

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: Steve Tillotson’s Banal Pig website
Gareth Brookes’ Appalling Nonsense website
Banal Pig blog
Listen to Gareth read his poems Smell of the Wild and Jolly Bear as part of Gemma Cantlow’s Stand-up Comics
Listen to Dickon’s interview with Gareth Brookes and various other creators at last year’s Handmade and Bound festival

Related events:

November Small Press events:

Handmade and bound - The Affordable book arts and zine fair, Sunday 1st November at the St Aloysius Social Club, near Euston,

The Small Press Comiket, Sunday 8th November which is part of the fortnight long Comica festival at The ICA, on The Mall, in Central London

“Are you zine friendly?”, Thursday 12th November, an Alternative Press event at the Foundry in Hoxton, promoting a new small press web resource: the Zine Friendly blog! And that’s at 86 Great Eastern Street.

For more info about all these events please visit: comicsandzines.wordpress.com

BLACK POWERS exhibtion at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom

and: London signings…

Orbital Halloween signing of epic proportions! Featuring: Glenn Fabry (Preacher, Hellblazer), Garry Leach (Marvelman, Dan Dare), Mike Carey (Unwritten, X-Men, Lucifer), David Hine (Strange Embrace, Silent War), Andy Lanning (Nova, War of Kings) and Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40,000, War of Kings)
Come to Orbital, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA on 31 October 2009 from 3-5pm to take part in our Halloween festivities!

Eddie Campbell / Alex: The Years have pants Signing at Gosh! Comics, Great Russell Street – Saturday 7th November – early London availability of the behemoth that is Alec: The Years Have Pants – A Life-Sized Omnibus. Saturday 7th November 2 – 4pm

David Petersen /Mouse Guard: David Petersen be signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Gary Erskine, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Quietly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Edited broadcast 22/10/09 as part of an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Cover of Solopsistic pop volume one by Philippa Johnson and cover of the Eclectic Micks sketchbook by various

Continuing ‘anthologies and collectives month’ on the show, in an interview recorded at last month’s British International Comics Show in Birmingham, Alex Fitch talks to four members of a group of Irish comic book artists – Stephen Mooney, PJ Holden, Will Sliney and Declan Shalvey – who work for a variety of British and American comic publishers and collectively promote their work through a blog with the title “Eclectic Micks”.
Alex also talks to the creator and editor – Tom Humberstone – and some of the contributors – Julia Scheele, Matthew Sheret and Stephen Collins – of the new anthology “Solipsistic Pop” which intends to bring the sensibilities of high-end American Indie comic anthologies to the under represented world of British small press creators. Julia and Matthew also talk about disseminating their own self published comics – “We are words and pictures” – to the public via market stalls and club nights.
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: Solipsistic Pop … group website
Individual websites for Tom Humberstone, Matthew Sheret, Julia Scheele, Stephen Collins and Philippa Johnson
We are words and pictures website
Info about this year’s Comica Comiket, curated by Sol. Pop and WAW+P

Eclectic Micks… group blog
Individual blogs for Stephen Mooney, PJ Holden, Will Sliney and Declan Shalvey
Info about the Eclectic Micks sketchbook

Related events: BLACK POWERS exhibtion at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom
plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

October 24th and 25th: The MCM Expo at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands includes appearances by Andy Diggle, Jock, Leigh Gallagher, Alan Grant, Ben Templesmith ,Kieron Gillen and Emma Vieceli – more info at www.londonexpo.com

Also on Sunday October 25th, there’s the Women in Comics one-day conference at Murray Edwards College New Hall in Cambridge: which includes Belgian-based artist Dominique Goblet in conversation with Paul Gravett, Corrine Pearlman and Woodrow Phoenix discussing autobiographical comics work, Helen McCarthy on women and gender roles in the work of Osamu Tezuka, and other talks by Sarah McIntyre and Asia Alfasi. More info at http://tinyurl.com/womenincomics

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Gary Erskine, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Quietly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

and: London signings…

Avatar comics signing: An all-star line up will be signing at Orbital Comics courtesy of Avatar Press on Tuesday the 27th of October from 4:30 to 7:00. Paul Duffield (Freakangels), Jacen Burrows (Crossed, 303), William Christensen (Editor-In-Chief of Avatar), Kieron Gillen (Phonogram), Si Spurrier (Judge Dredd, Gutsville) and Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool Blogsite)

David Petersen /Mouse Guard: David Petersen be signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

Originally broadcast 05/06/08 as part of an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Yokaj studio x 4 plus Dickon Harris with Sofia and Fredrik

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: Yokaj Studio’s blog
(Swedish) wikipedia page on Fredrik Strömberg
Sofia Falkenhem’s website

Comics news:
We Are Words + Pictures stall: Saturday 17th October, Girl Germs club night @ The Camden Head (from 8pm)
Join WAW+P creators Julia Scheele and Matthew Sheret as they sell and personalise the cream of the UK’s small press output from a stall with the ‘Girl Germs’ female pop and punk night at 100 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU

also: Hunterian Museum Film Screening – Medical Miniaturisation – Thursday 22 October, 7pm

Join us for our first ever Hunterian Museum film screening of two works on the theme of medical miniaturisation. Anime expert Helen McCarthy will introduce the classic 1963 anime Astroboy: Mighty Microbe Army about the robot boy miniaturised to fight bacteria inside the body, followed by the 1966 movie Fantastic Voyage inspired by one of Osamu Tezuka’s early Manga works ‘The Monster on the 38th Parallel’. The museum and the exhibition ‘Sci-Fi Surgery: Medical Robots’ will be open from 6pm so that you can see the mini-bots that turn fantasy into reality. Screenings supported by the Japan Foundation, the Japan Society and Right Stuf, Inc. FREE, booking essential on 0207 869 6560

plus: BLACK POWERS exhibtion at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom

The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

Deadline: 19th October 2009

and: London signings…

Fred Van Lente The third Autumnal signing at Gosh! Comics is Fred Van Lente, the award-winning writer of Action Philosophers!, Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies and Incredible Hercules, among numerous other excellent titles,and is one of the most exciting writing talents to emerge in the last five years. This will be his only London signing, so take advantage of this rare opportunity to chat with him… Saturday 24th October, from 3pm-5pm

Avatar comics signing: An all-star line up will be signing at Orbital Comics courtesy of Avatar Press on Tuesday the 27th of October from 4:30 to 7:00. Paul Duffield (Freakangels), Jacen Burrows (Crossed, 303), William Christensen (Editor-In-Chief of Avatar), Kieron Gillen (Phonogram), Si Spurrier (Judge Dredd, Gutsville) and Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool Blogsite)

David Petersen /Mouse Guard: David Petersen be signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

October 24th and 25th: The MCM Expo at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands includes appearances by Andy Diggle, Jock, Leigh Gallagher, Alan Grant, Ben Templesmith ,Kieron Gillen and Emma Vieceli – more info at www.londonexpo.com

Also on Sunday October 25th, there’s the Women in Comics one-day conference at Murray Edwards College New Hall in Cambridge: which includes Belgian-based artist Dominique Goblet in conversation with Paul Gravett, Corrine Pearlman and Woodrow Phoenix discussing autobiographical comics work, Helen McCarthy on women and gender roles in the work of Osamu Tezuka, and other talks by Sarah McIntyre and Asia Alfasi. More info at http://tinyurl.com/womenincomics

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Garey Erskin, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Queitly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Originally broadcast 08/10/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Covers from The Comics Creators Guild annual, 10x by Premieres Lignes and Semiotic Cohesion no.3

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: Giovanni Spinella - Comics Creators Guild website
Review of Comics forum, the CCG annual anthology
Review of Giovanni’s horror comic Atrox

Christian Quesnel - Le Studio coopératif Premières Lignes website (in French)
Premières Lignes blog (in French)
Christian’s page at lambiek.net
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec website (in English)

Tom McNally – Semiotic Cohesion website and blog
Review of issue one at comicsbulletin.com
Info about Camden Lock Market

Join our facebook group / follow Panel Borders on twitter

Comics news:

BLACK POWERS exhibtion at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery

As part of Black History Month, Swiss Cottage Library Gallery presents an exhibition of comics by black creators and of African-American characters in comics. The collection coheres around black representations through the imagery and language of the comic book medium: representation as markers of both historical and contemporary struggles. The theme is developed through archival works from the 1930’s to the present-day and culminates with a display of the singular comic art of Patrice and John Aggs, Paul Peart-Smith, Woodrow Phoenix and Lance Tooks.

09 October – 06 November 2009
Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, 88 Avenue Rd, London, United Kingdom

The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

Deadline: 19th October 2009

and: London signings…

Bryan Talbot: The second Autumnal signing at Gosh! Comics is Bryan Talbot; hotly anticipating Grandville, his return to world of steampunk. The publisher, Jonathan Cape, are supplying a pre-release of the book for this signing on Saturday the 10th of October, from 2-4pm.

Avatar comics signing: An all-star line up will be signing at Orbital Comics courtesy of Avatar Press on Tuesday the 27th of October from 4:30 to 7:00. Paul Duffield (Freakangels), Jacen Burrows (Crossed, 303), William Christensen (Editor-In-Chief of Avatar), Kieron Gillen (Phonogram), Si Spurrier (Judge Dredd, Gutsville) and Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool Blogsite)

David Petersen /Mouse Guard: David Petersen be signing the gorgeous Mouse Guard Winter 1152 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 7th November 1 – 2pm

plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

October 24th and 25th: The MCM Expo at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands includes appearances by Andy Diggle, Jock, Leigh Gallagher, Alan Grant, Ben Templesmith ,Kieron Gillen and Emma Vieceli – more info at www.londonexpo.com

Also on Sunday October 25th, there’s the Women in Comics one-day conference at Murray Edwards College New Hall in Cambridge: which includes Belgian-based artist Dominique Goblet in conversation with Paul Gravett, Corrine Pearlman and Woodrow Phoenix discussing autobiographical comics work, Helen McCarthy on women and gender roles in the work of Osamu Tezuka, and other talks by Sarah McIntyre and Asia Alfasi. More info at http://tinyurl.com/womenincomics

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Garey Erskin, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Queitly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Originally broadcast 01/10/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Extracts from Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry plus Fried Egg and Cherry Cake by Sally-Anne Hickman

Concluding ‘women in comics month’ on the show, Alex Fitch talks to a couple of illustrators about their genre bending work. Hannah Berry’s debut graphic novel Britten and Brülightly tells the tale of a harried private detective with the nickname of ‘The Heartbreaker’ whose final case sees his career catch up with him, in a terrific comic book that combines the tenets of noir with gentle surrealism – his confidant is his pet teabag, Stewart – and assured cinematic visuals. Sally-Anne Hickman is a self-published comic book artist and writer whose work ranges from affectionate parodies of pop culture icons such as Spider-man and the Powerpuff Girls to intricate diary comics that give an intimate portrayal of the self-publishing world, packaged as collectible items with textured covers that incorporate fur, metallic sparkle and googly puppet eyes.

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 Fried Egg and Cherry Cake by Sally-Anne Hickman online at Paper Tiger Comix and early comics (2002-2004) at Cheese Comics’ website
Reviews of Sex, drawn and Rock and Roll & A Smelly Tail at the Forbidden Planet International blog

Interview with Hannah Berry at the Forbidden Planet International blog
Review of Britten and Brülightly at Down the Tubes

Join our facebook group / follow Panel Borders on twitter

Comics news:

The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

Deadline: 19th October 2009

and: London signings…

Bryan Talbot: The second Autumnal signing at Gosh! Comics is Bryan Talbot; hotly anticipating Grandville, his return to world of steampunk. The publisher, Jonathan Cape, are supplying a pre-release of the book for this signing on Saturday the 10th of October, from 2-4pm.

Avatar comics signing: An all-star line up will be signing at Orbital Comics courtesy of Avatar Press on Tuesday the 27th of October from 4:30 to 7:00. Paul Duffield (Freakangels), Jacen Burrows (Crossed, 303), William Christensen (Editor-In-Chief of Avatar), Kieron Gillen (Phonogram), Si Spurrier (Judge Dredd, Gutsville) and Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool Blogsite)

plus: Autumn comics conventions and events…

October 3rd and 4th: The British Comics show at the Millenium Think Tank centre in Birmingham includes guests such as Howard Chaykin, David Lloyd, Charlie Adlard, Duncan Fegredo, Sean Phillips, Hunt Emerson, Rufus Dayglo, Garry Leach and Alan Davis – more info at www.thecomicsshow.co.uk

October 24th and 25th: The MCM Expo at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands includes appearances by Andy Diggle, Jock, Leigh Gallagher, Alan Grant, Ben Templesmith, Kieron Gillen and Emma Vieceli – more info at www.londonexpo.com

Also on Sunday October 25th, there’s the Women in Comics one-day conference at Murray Edwards College New Hall in Cambridge: which includes Belgian-based artist Dominique Goblet in conversation with Paul Gravett, Corrine Pearlman and Woodrow Phoenix discussing autobiographical comics work, Helen McCarthy on women and gender roles in the work of Osamu Tezuka, and other talks by Sarah McIntyre and Asia Alfasi. More info at http://tinyurl.com/womenincomics

5th to the 26th of November: Comica, the three week festival of comics in and around the Institute of Comtemporary Arts in London includes appearances by Eddie Campbell, David Lloyd, Brian Talbot, James Jean and Tara McPherson. – more info at www.comicafestival.com

19th to the 22nd of November: The Thought Bubble sequential art festival in Leeds which includes appearances by Paul Cornell, Garey Erskine, Garen Ewing, Andy Diggle, Frank Queitly and many more – more info at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Originally broadcast 24/09/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Extract from Dragon Heir issue 9 by Emma Vieceli

Continuing ‘women in comics’ month on the show, Alex Fitch talks to Emma Vieceli, illustrator of the Manga Shakespeare adaptations of Hamlet and Much ado about nothing who has also contributed to the graphic anthology “Comic Book Tattoo” which adapts the songs of Tori Amos into strip format. Alex and Emma also talk about the crossover between traditional Western comics and Manga as a new generation of small press creators in the UK experiment with both forms, a practice that is encouraged by the ‘Artists Alley’ that Emma helps organise at the twice yearly MCM Expos in the Docklands and the publishing collective ‘Sweatdrop studios’ that she’s a member of.
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: Emma’s website and livejournal
More info about Manga Shakespeare
‘Sweatdrop studios’: website and Manga day at the V & A
Vote for Sweatdrop and Leek and Sushi’s Manga Show in the NEO Awards

Join our facebook group / follow Panel Borders on twitter

Comics news:

London signings…

Bryan Talbot: promoting his new graphic novel – “Grandville”, on Sunday 27th September, 2pm – 4pm at Orbital Comics, off Charing Cross Road.

Joe Sacco: a rare opportunity to get graphic novels such as the award-winning Palestine, Safe Area Goražde, The Fixer, and War’s End signed by the man himself so don’t miss it! Gosh! comics, Great Russel Street, opposite The British Museum on Wednesday the 30th of September from 5 to 7pm

We Are Words + Pictures Market Stall

We Are Words + Pictures are pleased to announce that their first stall date will be Sunday 27th September in Brick Lane’s new Tea Rooms market, just around the corner from the old Truman Brewery. Comics by Julia Scheele, Matthew Sheret and others + original artwork by Tom Humberstone

More info at www.wearewordsandpictures.com

The Spider Moon on stage

Experience a whole new landscape of vibrant colour, breathtaking adventure and thrilling animation in a show to live on in the memory…The world premiere of Kate Brown’s adventure created for The DFC and now taking the journey of Bekka to an all new level in a heroic epic of discovery, magic and conflict set as an entire world moves towards doomsday.
The Spider Moon celebrates Playbox Theatre’s 10 years at The Dream Factory in Warwick, West Midlands.
Performances:
Friday 25th September / Saturday 26th September, Thursday 1st October, Friday 2nd October, Saturday 3rd October
Tickets: £10.50, £7.50 concessions
More info: http://www.playboxtheatre.com

Comics competitions

Manga Jiman
The Embassy of Japan’s annual manga-writing competition, open to anyone 14 years of age or over.
More info…

also: Comica/Ctrl.Alt.Shift: Comic Design Competition
Win the chance to create a unique comic in collaboration with musician and writer Lightspeed Champion. More info…

Deadline for both competitions: September 25, 2009

plus: The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

Deadline: 19th October 2009

also: This year’s Queer press grant is open until October 1st, 2009

Prism comics awards a significant Queer Press Grant to assist in the publication and promotion of LGBT comics. The grant is funded by donors who are either creators who want to help others just starting out, or fans who want to see more LGBT creators get published.
The submissions are judged for a variety of elements. First and foremost is the quality of the work itself; the level of the illustration and writing, the use of cartooning techniques such as panels, lettering, and page layout, and the thematic depth and ability to develop character and plot, for example, all play significantly in the decision. Also under consideration, however, are financial need, the thoroughness of the business plan, and the presentation of the grant proposal. A well-written proposal with no grammatical or spelling errors, for example, can provide the crucial few points to break an artistic stalemate.
The work can be in black and white or in color, and in comic strip, comic book, or webcomic format.

More info here…

Originally broadcast 17/09/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Pages from House of the Muses by Pam Harrison and Y The Last Man with pencil art by Pia Guerra

Continuing “women in comics” month on the show – we have two interviews with creators whose comics are set in worlds featuring primarily female characters. Alex Fitch talks to Pam Harrison, the Queer Press Award winning creator of “House of the Muses – the latter days of Sappho of Lesbos” while (Eagle Award winner) Tom Humberstone talks to Pia Guerra, artist of “Y: The Last Man” who won the 2008 Eisner Award and 2006 Joe Shuster Award for her work on the title.
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: Pam Harrison’s House of the Muses website and Prism Comics profile
Interview with Pam on the Prism website
Buy House of the Muses from amazon.co.uk
Alex’s interviews with 2007’s Queer Press Grant winners
Info about this year’s grant (deadline October 1st)

Pia Guerra’s website
Pages on Pia’s work on the comic book database and wikipedia
Interviews with Pia about drawing Y – The last man and Doctor Who: The Forgotten at comicbookresources.com

Join our facebook group / follow Panel Borders on twitter

Comics news:

Comics competitions

This year’s Observer / Jonathan Cape and Manga Jiman competions are now on:

Manga Jiman
The Embassy of Japan’s annual manga-writing competition, open to anyone 14 years of age or over.
More info…

The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

also: Comica/Ctrl.Alt.Shift: Comic Design Competition
Win the chance to create a unique comic in collaboration with musician and writer Lightspeed Champion. More info…

Deadline for all three competitions: September 25, 2009

London signings:

Pat Mills: Panini’s English translation of his French graphic albums Requiem: Vampire Knight at Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue on September 19th

Bryan Talbot: promoting his new graphic novel – “Grandville”, on Sunday 27th September, 2pm – 4pm at Orbital Comics, off Charing Cross Road.

Joe Sacco: a rare opportunity to get graphic novels such as the award-winning Palestine, Safe Area Goražde, The Fixer, and War’s End signed by the man himself so don’t miss it! Gosh! comics, Great Russel Street, opposite The British Museum on Wednesday the 30th of September from 5 to 7pm

also: This year’s Queer press grant is open until October 1st, 2009

Prism comics awards a significant Queer Press Grant to assist in the publication and promotion of LGBT comics. The grant is funded by donors who are either creators who want to help others just starting out, or fans who want to see more LGBT creators get published.
The submissions are judged for a variety of elements. First and foremost is the quality of the work itself; the level of the illustration and writing, the use of cartooning techniques such as panels, lettering, and page layout, and the thematic depth and ability to develop character and plot, for example, all play significantly in the decision. Also under consideration, however, are financial need, the thoroughness of the business plan, and the presentation of the grant proposal. A well-written proposal with no grammatical or spelling errors, for example, can provide the crucial few points to break an artistic stalemate.
The work can be in black and white or in color, and in comic strip, comic book, or webcomic format.

More info here…

plus: Laydeez do Comics ….

Is a graphic novel reading group or forum with a focus on comic works based on life narrative, the drama of the domestic and the everyday.

The group is run by illustrator Nicola Streeten and artist Sarah Lightman. As well as selecting favourite works to base discussion on, artists, academics and fans will be invited to speak. A platform for people to test new works and ideas or works in progress is included.

The Sewing Room / The Rag Factory / 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

6.30-8.30pm, Monday 21th September / Rosalind B Penfold, creator of ‘Dragonslippers’ will be discussing her work and the book ‘New York Diary’ by Julie Doucet…

More info here…

and: Karen Rubins at the V & A

Manga artist Karen Rubins is the comic book artist in residence at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London and on the 11th, 18th-20th and 25th of September you’re welcome to visit her in her studio in The Sackler Centre, watch her create work, browse some books and take part in a comics jam session!

The Sackler Centre,
Victoria and Albert museum,
(closest entrance: Exhibtion Road, off the South Kensington museums ‘tunnel’)
London SW7 2RL

More info here…

Originally broadcast 10/09/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Excerpt from Tales by Ghost Light by Karen Rubins

Continuing ‘Women in comics’ month, Alex Fitch talks to artist Karen Rubins about being the Comic Book Artist in Residence at the Victoria and Albert museum in London, being visited by members of the public and their collaborating on a strip displayed in her studio. Alex and Karen also discuss the latter’s career so far from drawing goth-styled comics for the small press to creating short manga pieces in “The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2″ and “Manga Jiman 150″.

If you’d like to visit Karen at the Victoria and Albert museum, her studio is open to visitors this month from 1-4 pm on Fridays 11th & 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September.
There will be more Open Studios during the London Design Festival between the 19th and 25th September; her studio is located in the V and A’s Sackler Centre, the nearest entrance being in the tunnel that runs underneath Exhibition road from South Kensington tube.

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: Karen’s website, blog and page at the V & A website
Interview with Karen at Comic Bits Online
Buy Karen’s manga from Itch publishing

Join our facebook group / follow Panel Borders on twitter

Comics news:

Comics competitions

This year’s Observer / Jonathan Cape and Manga Jiman competions are now on:

Manga Jiman
The Embassy of Japan’s annual manga-writing competition, open to anyone 14 years of age or over.
More info…

The Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2009
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Win £1,000 and have your story printed in The Observer.
More info…

also: Comica/Ctrl.Alt.Shift: Comic Design Competition
Win the chance to create a unique comic in collaboration with musician and writer Lightspeed Champion. More info…

Deadline for all three competitions: September 25, 2009

Pat Mills London signings:

2000 AD’s latest graphic novel releases of the strips Defoe, ABC Warriors and Flesh with artists Clint Langley and Leigh Gallagher at Orbital just off Charing Cross Road on 12th September

Panini’s English translation of his French graphic albums Requiem: Vampire Knight at Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue on September 19th