Alex Fitch talks to Tom Humberstone about the various illustrated endeavours he’s been involved with such as comics which range from Art school scum to Everything you never wanted to know about Crohn’s disease and the Eagle award winning How to date a girl in ten days. Tom also runs a pen club in South East London which allows amateurs and professionals to meet in a friendly pub and draw together and most recently he illustrated the blog / sold out graphic novella My Fellow Americans about the democratic nomination process earlier this year.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at archive.org

Alex Fitch talks to comics historian and critic Paul Gravett about the new book he’s edited and collated, The Mammoth book of best Crime Comics. Alex and Paul talk about the crime genre in sequential art from the 1930s to the modern day, about Paul’s choices for inclusion in the book and the relationship between crime on film and in graphic novels.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at archive.org

In the second of two podcasts about artists called Dave who worked with writer Alan Moore, Alex Fitch talks to artist David Lloyd about his career, about working with Alan on V for Vendetta and about the challenges of illustrating graphic novels such as The Horrorist and Kickback.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
This episode is also available as a video podcast…

In the first of two podcasts about artists called Dave who worked with writer Alan Moore, Alex Fitch talks to artist Dave Gibbons about his career from humour strips to 2000AD, Dan Dare to Green Lantern. Alex talks to Dave about his career so far, working on more personal projects such as The Originals and his thoughts on the current Hollywood adaptation of Watchmen.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
This episode is also available as a video podcast…

This episode is the second of two looking at the Streatham Library graphic novels readers group and is the second part of the group’s discussion about Charles Burns’ lurid graphic novel Black Hole which mixes 1950s horror comics with more up to date concerns about sexuality, STDs and social exclusion. (part two of two)

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Also: Online now at Manchester Met’ Contemporary Film and Video:

Tales from the Flat: the movie! (sort of)

To quote one of the stars, Oliver Lambden: “Alex Thomson, Jack Tomkins and Jon Hull recently completed their final piece for their film degrees at Manchester Uni and they decided to make a short documentay all about Modern Monstrosity and The Camden Comics Stall. Give it a watch, it’s bloody awesome, the soundtrack’s amazing, it’s only ten minutes long and it’s viewable here…”

In a pair of interviews about the crossover between comics and
(maga)zines, Alex Fitch investigates a love of retro horror comics with the editor of the EC Comics tribute magazine ‘From the Tomb’ plus, in a sneak preview of the forthcoming Comics and Zines celebration in Museum Street on the 19th of July, Alex talks to organiser and small press creator Jimi Gherkin about the event.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Alex Fitch talks to members of The Streatham Library Graphic Novels Readers group about studying comics in the library environment, how art and text combine to provide narratives and promotion of literacy. Alex also attends a meeting of the group as they discuss Charles Burns’ controversial graphic novel ‘Black Hole’. (part one of two)

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Continuing our series of reports from this year’s Bristol International comics Expo:
Alex Fitch talks to artist Jamie McKelvie and writer Kieron Gillen of the comic book Phonogram about the way the comic mixes ideas about magic and music to create a package that is both nostalgic and very modern. Alex also talks to Jamie about his solo project Suburban Glamour and to Kieron about his upcoming sci-fi prequel Newuniversal: 1959.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Continuing our series of reports from this year’s Bristol International comics Expo; In this episode of ‘Panel Borders’, Alex Fitch is talking to a quartet of underground writers and artists who have created comics books and strips that bring a new angle to British superhero comics. In the podcast we have Adam Hamdy and David Golding, creators of the horror/ superhero comic The Hunter which is influenced by the West’s so called ‘war on terror’, and Alex Morgan who writes and draws Captain Bristol, a strip in the local listings magazine ’suityourself’. Alex also catches up with Oliver Lambden, creator of Tales from the flat, a superhero sitcom which casts himself and his friends as the characters in the story.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Comics news:

On now at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford is exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

Continuing our series of reports from this year’s Bristol International comics Expo; in this week’s episode we’re looking at new European Manga creators. Alex Fitch is talking to two artists who have drawn Manga Shakespeare and are doing very well in serialised comics: Kate Brown (The DFC) and Paul Duffield (web comic Freak Angels).

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Comics news:

On now at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford is exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

Originally broadcast 29/05/08 as the second half of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Alex Fitch presents the second half of a special report on the new kids’comic The DFC published by Harper Collins / David Fickling Books, and recorded live at the launch party for the periodical. Alex talks to former manga artist John Aggs about the comic strip he’s drawing for The DFC which is written by acclaimed children’s author Philip Pullman, to John’s mother Patrice who is also producing a strip for the comic with her son called The Boss and to Jim Medway who is creating a comedy strip in The DFC called New at the Zoo.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Comics news: “No Barcodes” - 10am - 6pm, 31st May, Camden Lock Market. London Underground Comics presents a one day small press festival in which 50 indie creators will be selling their self published comics in Camden Market in London, including some of the best up & coming & established artists: Ilya, Sean Azzopardi, Oliver Lambden, Oli Smith + recent Eagle Award winner Tom Humberstone.

More info at: www.londonundergroundcomics.com, where writer / artist David Baillie has a selection of written interviews with some of the exhibitors.

On now at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford is exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

Alex Fitch presents the first half of a special report on the new kids’ comic The DFC published by Harper Collins / David Fickling Books, including David Fickling, Nick Abadzis and Philip Pullman’s speeches about the comic, recorded at the launch party for the periodical. Alex also interviews Philip Pullman about writing the lead story in The DFC and how this is a natural successor to his episodic narratives for children in His Dark Materials and elsewhere.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Comics news:

“No Barcodes” - 10am - 6pm, 31st May, Camden Lock Market. London Underground Comics presents a one day small press festival in which 50 indie creators will be selling their self published comics in Camden Market in London, including some of the best up & coming & established artists: Ilya, Sean Azzopardi, Oliver Lambden, Oli Smith + recent Eagle Award winner Tom Humberstone.

More info at: www.londonundergroundcomics.com, where writer / artist David Baillie has a selection of written interviews with some of the exhibitors.

On now at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford is exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

Alex Fitch talks to a couple of small press comic book creators who work in autobiographical comics - Oli Smith and Sean Azzopardi - about their continuing success selling comics in Camden Market and beyond; about their recent diary work (Weekend Friends and the collected version of 12 Hour Shift respectively) and how they’re both now collaborating with other comic book creators (Oliver Lambden and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey) to produce work in the fantasy genre.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Alex Fitch talks to curator Sarah Lightman and to gallery director Andrew Hewish about the Diary Drawing exhibition at the Centre for recent drawing in Islington, London. Alex and Sarah discuss the various styles of diary drawing in the exhibtion from the most literal examples, to blog entries and gag strips while Alex discusses with Andrew the history of the gallery and the necessity of having an exhibition space that concentrates on artists’ drawings in particular. Artists in the group show being discussed include Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag and Rebecca Swindell.


For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

An extended version of guest presenter Grant Rogers‘ (a former animator on such shows as Tales of Beatrix Potter and Dogtanian and now an educator at the Imperial War Museum) interview with Pat Mills about his critically acclaimed serial about the 1st World War – Charley’s War – which was serialised in the pulp war comic Battle Picture weekly in the late 1970s and is now being reprinted in lavish hardback volumes by Titan Books…

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Read Steven Beeny’s Rebellion 1920 (as advertised by Pat!)

Comics news:

On now at the Centre for Recent drawing in London:

Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell
Open: 9-23 May 2008 12- 6pm
More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

From Friday 16th May at La Galleria, 5b Pall Mall, London, Grant Rogers will be exhibiting Works on Wallpaper - drawings and mixed media works about the diversity of wildlife to be found on the world’s largest island, Australia, and the social diversity / Hotel chic to be found in the guest houses of Alice Springs, Yulara and Daintree.

From Saturday 17th May at The Railway Tavern, Station Rise, Tulse Hill, occasional Strip! contributor (and Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs illustrator) Mark Stafford will be exhibiting Pandemonium Carnivale; A series of unfortunate paintings…

The second half of Alex Fitch’s conversation with Barry Forshaw, contributor to Jack Kirby Collector magazine and Mark Evanier author of Jack Kirby - King of comics. The show, originally recorded and transmitted live on Resonance FM, on the eve of the release of the Iron Man movie, is looking at the work of Jack Kirby and the characters he drew and co-created. This half of the programme concentrates on the Marvel movies based on his work.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
Listen to part one of the show

Comics news:

9-23 May 2008 12 - 6pm at the Centre for new drawing in London:

The Centre for Recent Drawing presents Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell

More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

Tomorrow 09/05/08 - Sunday 11/05/08

The Bristol International Comics Expo takes place at the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall. Guests include Walt and Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham, Mike Ploog and many others. More info at www.comicexpo.net

Including: 11/05/08 1.30pm: 2008 Gay Comics Panel - As gay comics seem to have increasing presence on bookshelves following 2007’s release of Fun Home and a great many Yaoi titles, host Alex Fitch talks to experts and comic creators about whether increasing gay representation is just a flash in the pan or signals genuine mainstream interest. The panel includes Paul Gravett (Great British Comics), David Shenton (Get Her!, The Shentons) and Yishan Li (Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2).

Comics news:

Tonight, 08/05/08 6.15pm at the Centre for new drawing in London:

The Centre for Recent Drawing presents Diary Drawing, an exhibition curated by Sarah Lightman. Diary Drawing brings together disparate types of visual journals and autobiographical graphic novels to examine drawing and diary making as process of thinking and acting, fundamental to human experience. Diary Drawing explores the application of line as a means of documenting, rendering and transcribing intimate and individual histories to a public audience. The exhibition features the work of Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin, Sarah Lightman, Lady Lucy, Mio Matsumoto, Rutu Modan, Ariel Schrag, Rebecca Swindell
A panel discussion with Paul Gravett and exhibiting artists: 6.15-7pm 8th May, Private view 7-9pm, 8 May 2008, Open: 9-23 May 2008 12- 6pm
More info at www.c4rd.org.uk

Tomorrow 09/05/08 - Sunday 11/05/08

The Bristol International Comics Expo takes place at the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall. Guests include Walt and Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham, Mike Ploog and many others. More info at www.comicexpo.net

Including: 11/05/08 1.30pm: 2008 Gay Comics Panel - As gay comics seem to have increasing presence on bookshelves following 2007’s release of Fun Home and a great many Yaoi titles, host Alex Fitch talks to experts and comic creators about whether increasing gay representation is just a flash in the pan or signals genuine mainstream interest. The panel includes Paul Gravett (Great British Comics), David Shenton (Get Her!, The Shentons) and Yishan Li (Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2).

Alex Fitch talks to Barry Forshaw, contributor to Jack Kirby Collector magazine and Mark Evanier author of Jack Kirby - King of comics. The show is looking at the work of Jack Kirby on the eve of the release of the Iron Man movie, a character he drew and co-created.

For more info please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
Listen to part 2 of this show

Visit the home of this episode at archive.org

Links: Random House page on the Persepolis graphic novels
Review round up at www.complete-review.com
Wikipedia page on Marjane Satrapi
Print version of Virginie’s interview at Electric Sheep Magazine
Join the Panel Borders facebook group…

In comics news:
There’s an exhibition of art by London Underground comics creators at bookartbookshop near Old Street in London, until the 25th of April…

Also:
As part of the ICA and Paul Gravett’s continuing ComICA festival, there’s an event next Tuesday (29 April) at the ICA in London at 8pm…
A screening and performance from Pakito Bolino of France’s Le Dernier Cri publishing house. A series of short animated films created by 30 artists, Les Religions Sauvages “devours the rotting meat of our civilisation, regurgitating it in a relentless bombardment of imagery,” which will, according to its creators, “purge, cleanse and purify our jaded, pornographic imaginations.” Bolino will be joining UK artists in a live improvised sound performance to accompany a DVD projection of the film.

If you’d like to know more about this event please go to www.paulgravett.com or ww.ica.org.uk…

Guest presenter Oliver (Tales from the Flat) Lambden interviews various fans and small press creators who attended and boycotted the UK Web and Mini Comix thing including Jake Harold, David Baillie, Mike Rouse-Deane, Dan Lester, Laurence Powell, Sean Azzopardi, Oli Smith, Adam Cadwell and Anna Petterson (Marc Ellerby’s girlfriend!)…
Edited by Alex Fitch

Visit the home of this episode at archive.org

Links: Listen to Alex Fitch’s interview with Oli Smith and Oliver Lambden about London Underground Comics
Info on comics by… Oliver Lambden & Laurence Powell, Jake Harold, David Baillie, Mike Rouse-Deane, Dan Lester, Sean Azzopardi, Oli Smith, Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby
Small Press Info blog - bugpowder.com
London Underground Comics - distributor of small press titles @ Camden Market on Saturdays
Info on Caption, August’s small press festival in Oxford
Join the Panel Borders facebook group…

In comics news:
There’s an exhibition of art by London Underground comics creators at bookartbookshop near Old Street in London, until the 25th of April…