Panel Borders – Panel Borders and other podcasts

Panel Borders: A Hole in the Heart of Manga Continuing a month of shows about ‘untold tales’, narratives not normally depicted in comics, Alex Fitch talks to artist Henny Beaumont about her debut graphic novel A Hole in the Heart, about bringing up a child with Down’s Syndrome, due to be published by Myriad Editions in 2015, in an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton. Also, with translation provided by Takayo Akiyama, Alex interviews Tomohiko Matsumoto about donating examples of his father Masahiko’s art to an exhibition of Gekiga – Alternative Manga from Japan – at the Cartoon Museum in London, which runs until Christmas Eve. (Originally broadcast 10th December 2014 on Resonance 104.4FM) Pages from A Hole in the Heart by Henny Beaumont / Cover of Suspense no. 3 by Matsumoto and art from A Drifting Life by Tatsumi, on display at The Cartoon Museum For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Henny Beaumont’s website and pages Article on A Hole in the Heart in The Guardian Cartoon Museum website Takayo Akiyama’s website Info on Matsuhiko Matsumoto’s graphic novel The Man Next Door Cartoon County website Listen to Alex Fitch and Dickon Harris interview Eric Khoo about his Tatsumi film

Panel Borders: Probably Nothing Starting a month of shows about untold tales in comics, which is to say stories that are underrepresented in graphic narratives, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist and storyboard artist Matilda Tristram about her debut graphic novel Probably Nothing – A diary of your-not-average nine months, that recounts the true story of how her pregnancy coincided with a cancer scare. Alex and Matilda discuss the unusual style of the book, which separates out cartoons and text on the page, her tenure working for Children’s TV producers Ragdoll and the semi experimental art used in her webcomics. (Originally broadcast 4th December 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, November 2014) Art from Probably nothing, and web comics by Matilda Tristram For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: More info about Probably Nothing on Penguin’s website Matilda Tristram’s website Cartoon County website Laura Bates on Probably Nothing in The Guardian

Panel Borders: Vehlmann and Gazzotti Concluding a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and media in their art, Alex Fitch talks to writer Fabien Vehlmann and artist Bruno Gazzotti about their graphic album series Alone (Seuls), published by Cinebook. The creators discuss how their serial – about children who wake up in a world without adults – was inspired by classic American dystopia fiction, Vehlmann’s interest in 19th century thrillers which influenced his comic Green Manor, and Gazzotti’s experience on the policier series Soda. Recorded in front of an audience at the South Ken Kids Festival, Institut Francais, November 2014. (Originally broadcast 27th November 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) Cover, interior art and serialised cover of Alone (Seuls) / covers of Green Manor and Beautiful Darkness written by Fabien Vehlmann / cover of Soda drawn by Bruno Gazzotti For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Info about the original event at the South Ken Kids Festival Info about Alone on CineBook’s website Read back issues of Spirou et Fantasio featuring Fabien Vehlmann at izneo.com Info about Bruno Gazzotti and Fabien Vehlmann on lambiek.net

Panel Borders: Graphic Details Continuing a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and media in their art, Alex Fitch talks to gallery owners Jo David and Rachel House, and artist Ariel Schrag about the exhibition Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women, currently on display at Space Station 65, Kennington, South London. Also, Graphic Details curator Sarah Lightman talks about her work and introduces artists Miriam Katin, Diane Noomin, Corinne Pearlman and Ilana Zeffren who describe the examples of their autobiographical strips which are featured in the exhibition. (Recorded at Space Station 65 Kennington, November 2014; originally broadcast 20th November 2014) Exterior of Space Station 65 gallery / Ariel Schrag discusses her work / excerpt from The Book of Sarah by Sarah Lightman For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Space Station 65 website Graphic Details blog Ariel Schrag’s website

Panel Borders: Ricky Rouse has a gun Continuing a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and mediums in their work, Alex Fitch talks to playwright and film maker Jörg Tittel about writing his debut graphic novel Ricky Rouse has a Gun, a satire on Western movie violence and China’s ‘knock-off economy’, published by SelfMadeHero. Fitch and Tittel discuss how the project evolved from a film script to a graphic novel, the process of working with artist John Aggs and whether the writer’s own background of an upbringing in different cultures fed in to the story on the page. (Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, September 2014, originally broadcast 13th November 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM) Ricky Rouse meets Alex Fitch / images from …has a Gun For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Ricky Rouse website Jörg Tittel’s page on Twitter Cartoon County website

Panel Borders: …there is Joost Swarte Starting a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and mediums in their work, Alex Fitch talks to acclaimed Dutch cartoonist and graphic designer Joost Swarte about his career so far. Fitch and Swarte discuss the latter’s covers for The New Yorker and RAW magazine (also reprinted as the front of the Tate coffee table book Comics Art), the Fantagraphics collection of his strip work “Is that all there is?” and the artist’s work in designing children’s books, theatrical architecture and stained glass windows. (Recorded in front of an audience at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, October 2014, originally broadcast 6th November 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM) Covers and comic strips by Joost Swarte For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Joost’s website More info about Fantagraphics’ collection Is that all there is? Page about the event on the LICAF website

Panel Borders: Graphic Lives Continuing a month looking at work of female comic book creators, Alex Fitch talks to writers Sarah Laing and Dr. Mary Talbot about their graphic novels which mix biography and autobiography in an extract from a panel discussion recorded at the Australia and New Zealand Festival of Literature and Arts, Kings College. Laing discusses her autobiographical comic Let me be Frank and her novel The Fall of Light which separates the story of an architect recuperating after an accident into silent comics and traditional text; Dr. Talbot talks about her first graphic novel Dotter of her Father’s Eyes which juxtaposes her childhood with that of Lucia Joyce and her latest book Sally Heathcote: Suffragette. Originally broadcast Monday 9th June 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) Extracts from Let me be Frank, Dead People’s Music, and The fall of light by Sarah Laing / Dotter of her Father’s Eyes and Sally Heathcote: Suffragette by Mary Talbot For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Sarh Laing’s blog Mary Talbot’s website Recommended events: ELCAF 2014 East London Comic Art Festival takes place at the Pickle Factory, 13-14 The Oval, London E2 9DT Saturday 14th June 2014 Guests include Chris Ware, Anouk Ricard, Jesse Moynihan, Anne Simon, Mattias Adolfsson, Takayo Akiyama and Seth, with exhibiros including NoBrow, SelfMadeHero, Myriad Editions, Great Beast, It’s Nice That and many more. Alex Fitch will be in conversation with Anne Simon about her collaborations with psychoanalyst Corinne Maier on two graphic biographies on Marx and Freud, plus other comics illustrations and children’s books at 2.30pm Also Takayo Fukiyama’s Strange Worlds exhibition will be accompanying ELCAF at The Bishopsgate Building, London EC2M 3UG, from 27th May – 27th June More info at http://www.elcaf.co.uk Graphic novel courses at The British Library To accompany the current Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK exhibition at The British Library, there are a pair of short educational comics courses being run by Ariel Kahn (Roehampton University). Becoming a Graphic Novelist Who is in Charge? The dynamics of image and text Thu 19 Jun 2014, 18.30-20.30 Subverting Stereotypes Wed 25 Jun 2014, 18.30-20.30 Price: £40 / £35 concessions Mastering the Graphic Novel Playing with Fire: Sex, subversion and the Self Thu 26 Jun 2014, 18.30-20.30 Pushing the Boundaries, From Pitch to Publication Wed 2 Jul 2014, 18.30-20.30 Price: £40 / £35 concessions More info at www.bl.uk/whatsonl Comic Book events at Medway Fuse Festival Comic Cuts Squarecube Artisans will be creating eight-foot high cut out characters from comic books and illustrations. 5.30pm, Friday 13th June, Great Lines Heritage Park Bryan Talbot presents a range of comic artwork from his collection Comic artist Bryan Talbot presents a range of comic artwork from his collection including original pieces from Dotter of her Fathers Eyes, Alice in Sunderland and Heart of Empire. The exhibition also featuring work from Joe Decie, Iam Williams and Mark Barnes. 11am – 5pm, Friday 13th June, Rochester Art Gallery Drop-in Cartoon and Comic workshops with Gary Northfield Stop-by and try your hand at drawing your own characters and comic strips beneath at the Mobile Library Bus, which will be packed with amazing comics, graphic novels and manga books. All day, Saturday 14th June, Military Road, Chatham, ME4 4JG Comic Creation Corner Learn amazing drawing techniques and create your own incredible characters and comic strips with professional artists Gary Northfield and Alex Milway. Enter your finished artwork into a pop up exhibition and browse or borrow some awesome comics, graphic novels and manga books from the Children’s Mobile Library Bus. Suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by an adult. All day, Sunday 15th Jun[...]

Panel Borders: European Female Voices Starting a month of shows looking at the work of female comic creators, Alex Fitch talks to German scratch board artist Line Hoven, and Belgian cartoonist Judith Vanistendael about their family drama graphic novels Love looks away published by Blank Slate Books and When David lost his voice, published by Self Made Hero. Hoven discusses her meticulous technique used to render the biography of three generations of her family, including a member of the Hitler Youth, while Vanistendael explores how her various graphic novels have each used a different artistic style, depending on the subject matter she is bringing to the page, in this case about a grandfather who reconnects with his family when diagnosed with throat cancer. Recorded at the British Library exhibition ‘Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK’. Originally broadcast 2nd June 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM Cover and interior art from Love looks away by Line Hoven / from When David lost his voice by Judith Vanistendael For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Line Hoven’s website Judith Vanistendael’s blog Info about Comics Unmasked at the British Library Listen to Paul Gravett’s interview with Judith Vanistendael about her previous book Dance by the light of the Moon Listen to Robin Warren’s interview with Kid Koala about his scratchboard comic Space Cadet Recommended events: Comic book events at Stoke Newington Literary Festival Cartoonist and comedienne Josie Long interviews Mark Kermode Gala Opening Evening featuring Mark Kermode and an Arts Emergency showcase, hosted by one of our favourite comedians, Josie Long. Arts Emergency take to the stage at 7pm with performances by Joe Dunthorne (Submarine, Wild Abandon), Nikesh Shukla (Meatspace, Coconut Unlimited), Schmoovy and more. After an interval, at around 8:15pm, Mark will talk about his brilliant new book Hatchet Job: Hate Critics, Love Movies. £10. Time – 19.00, Friday 4th June. Venue – Stoke Newington Town Hall More info: www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/mark-kermode Living and Loving in London: Oscar Zarate and Ilya Broadcast journalist Alex Fitch talks to cartoonists Oscar Zarate and Ilya about their London set graphic novels The Park and Room for Love. £6. Time – 14.30, Saturday. Venue – Stoke Newington Library Gallery www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/living-and-loving-in-london-oscar-zarate-and-ilya Excerpts from Room for Love and The Park Urban Sketching with James Hobbes Join the ever-growing international urban sketching movement and see Stoke Newington in a new light, discovering overlooked corners of the neighbourhood with James Hobbs, the author of the newly published Sketch Your World. FREE. Time – 12.00 , Sunday. Venue – Stoke Newington Town Hall www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/urban-sketching Book tickets and view the full programme of talks and workshops at www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com ELCAF 2014 East London Comic Art Festival takes place at the Pickle Factory, 13-14 The Oval, London E2 9DT Saturday 14th June 2014 Guests include Chris Ware, Anouk Ricard, Jesse Moynihan, Anne Simon, Mattias Adolfsson, Takayo Akiyama and Seth, with exhibiros including NoBrow, SelfMadeHero, Myriad Editions, Great Beast, It’s Nice That and many more. Alex Fitch will be in conversation with Anne Simon about her collaborations with psychoanalyst Corinne Maier on two graphic biographies on Marx and Freud, plus other comics illustrations and children’s books at 2.30pm Comics by Annie Simon Also Takayo Fukiyama’s Strange Worlds exhibition will be accompanying ELCAF at The Bishopsgate Building, London EC2M 3UG, from 27th May – 27th June More info at http://www.elcaf.co.uk Comic Book events at Medway Fuse Festival Comic Cuts Squarecube Artisans will be creating eight[...]

Panel Borders: Banned Books Concluding a month of shows about comics and controversy, Alex Fitch talks to Tony Bennett (Knockabout Books) and Rick Veitch about comic book censorship in a special exclusive podcast edition of Panel Borders. Tony discusses the various brushes with censorship law that he’s endured as a publisher of independent comics and Rick explores the titles he’s worked on that have attracted controversy from Miracleman to Swamp Thing. Recorded at Whitechapel Library Ideas Store as part of their Banned Books festival. Knockabout Comics #4, Fresca Zizi by Melinda Gebbie, Miracleman #9, Swamp Thing sketch by Rick Veitch For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Knockabout Comics website Rick Veitch’s website Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Tony Bennett and with Veitch’s regular collaborator Steve Bissette Recommended events: Comic book events at Stoke Newington Literary Festival Cartoonist and comedienne Josie Long interviews Mark Kermode Gala Opening Evening featuring Mark Kermode and an Arts Emergency showcase, hosted by one of our favourite comedians, Josie Long. Arts Emergency take to the stage at 7pm with performances by Joe Dunthorne (Submarine, Wild Abandon), Nikesh Shukla (Meatspace, Coconut Unlimited), Schmoovy & more. After an interval, at around 8:15pm, Mark will talk about his brilliant new book Hatchet Job: Hate Critics, Love Movies. £10. Time – 19.00, Friday 4th June. Venue – Stoke Newington Town Hall More info: www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/mark-kermode Living and Loving in London: Oscar Zarate and Ilya Broadcast journalist Alex Fitch talks to cartoonists Oscar Zarate and Ilya about their London set graphic novels The Park and Room for Love. £6. Time – 14.30, Saturday. Venue – Stoke Newington Library Gallery www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/living-and-loving-in-london-oscar-zarate-and-ilya Urban Sketching with James Hobbes Join the ever-growing international urban sketching movement and see Stoke Newington in a new light, discovering overlooked corners of the neighbourhood with James Hobbs, the author of the newly published Sketch Your World. FREE. Time – 12.00 , Sunday. Venue – Stoke Newington Town Hall www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/snlf_events/urban-sketching Book tickets and view the full programme of talks and workshops at www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com

Panel Borders: Surviving The Crow Continuing a month of shows about comics and controversy, in the programme’s 365th episode, Alex Fitch talks to James O’Barr, creator of the seminal American independent comic The Crow. Fitch and O’Barr discuss the latter’s battles with drug addiction, nearly drawing Batman for DC Comics and the long gestation of his most famous creation. Recorded in front of an audience at Bristol Comics Expo, Spring 2014. (Originally broadcast 26th May 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) James O’Barr in conversation with Alex Fitch (inset, art from The Crow: Curare) / covers of Dead World 10 and The Crow no.1 by O’Barr For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: The Crow fan website James O’Barr’s typepad site Buy the latest Crow graphic novel and digital comics from IDW Recommended events: Comics at the AusNZ literary festival Various Australasian comic book creators are in London and are featured in documentary screenings for the Australia and New Zealand festival of literature and the arts taking place from 30th May – 1st June. These include: Screening: THE SHARP EDGE – The Art of Martin Sharp (Oz magazine illustrator) Eccentric. Outsider. Artist. Genius. Martin Sharp shaped pop art and culture in Australia and around the world for half a century. Friday May 30th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Talk: GRAPHIC LIVES – Sarah Laing, Dr Mary Talbot and Evie Wyld What does working with graphic novels to remember great lives add to the biography genre? Friday May 30th, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Talk: WRITING AS THE ‘OTHER’ – Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée discuss post-colonial indigenous representation in novels and comics with broadcast journalist Alex Fitch. Saturday May 31st, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Workshop: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMICS with Sarah Laing Join this award-winning Kiwi fiction writer and graphic artist to create your own comics. Saturday May 31st, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Screening: GRAPHIC NOVELS! MELBOURNE! This feature documentary goes deep inside the burgeoning graphic novel scene in Melbourne. Saturday May 31st, 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Other guests at the festival include Clive James, John Pilger and Val McDermid talking about their work. Full programme at http://ausnzfestival.com/events/

Panel Borders: Exploring The Murder Mile Continuing a month of shows about comics and controversy, Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist Paul Collicutt about his book The Murder Mile, published by SelfMadeHero, which sets the occurrence of a murder against the spectacle of Roger Banister running the four minute mile, an event that has reached its 60th anniversary this month. Alex and Paul discuss how the book combines the latter’s interests in running and film noir and how the author used a real life event to tell a tale of organised crime and sports betting. Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton. (Originally broadcast 19th May 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) Excerpt from The Murder Mile by Paul Collicutt For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Paul Collicutt’s blog Article on selfmadehero.com about the 60th anniversary of Bannister’s record Cartoon County website Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Paul Collicutt about Brighton: The Graphic Novel and Robot City Adventures Recommended events: Comics at the AusNZ literary festival Various Australasian comic book creators are in London and are featured in documentary screenings for the Australia and New Zealand festival of literature and the arts taking place at King’s College from 30th May – 1st June. These include: Screening: THE SHARP EDGE – The Art of Martin Sharp (Oz magazine illustrator) Eccentric. Outsider. Artist. Genius. Martin Sharp shaped pop art and culture in Australia and around the world for half a century. Friday May 30th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Talk: GRAPHIC LIVES – Sarah Laing, Dr Mary Talbot and Evie Wyld What does working with graphic novels to remember great lives add to the biography genre? Chaired by Alex Fitch (Resonance FM) Friday May 30th, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Talk: WRITING AS THE ‘OTHER’ – Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée discuss post-colonial indigenous representation in novels and comics with broadcast journalist Alex Fitch. Saturday May 31st, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Workshop: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMICS with Sarah Laing Join this award-winning Kiwi fiction writer and graphic artist to create your own comics. Saturday May 31st, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Screening: GRAPHIC NOVELS! MELBOURNE! This feature documentary goes deep inside the burgeoning graphic novel scene in Melbourne. Saturday May 31st, 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Other guests at the festival include Clive James, John Pilger and Val McDermid talking about their work. Full programme at http://ausnzfestival.com/events/

Panel Borders: A Cartoon History of Private Eye Continuing a month of shows about comics and controversy, guest presenter Tom Sutcliffe talks to Nick Newman (author of Private Eye: A Cartoon History) and magazine editor Ian Hislop about memorable and controversial cartoons and strips in the fortnightly periodical. The trio discuss the history of cartoon art in Private Eye from the days of scurrilous Gerald Scarfe covers to the present day, which images have proved unacceptable and potentially libellous and how Hislop’s commissioning process for the magazine works. Recorded at the Victoria and Albert Museum, November 2013 and edited by Alex Fitch. (Originally broadcast 12th May 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) A classic Gerald Scarfe cover from 1965 / Private Eye: A Cartoon History book cover / recent cartoon by Alexander Williams / inside spread from A Cartoon History For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Private Eye website Nick Newman’s profile on procartoonists.org Tom Sutcliffe’s profile on bbc.co.uk Info about the event and Ian Rakoff’s comic book blog on the Victoria and Albert Museum’s website Listen to Alex Fitch’s 2010 interview with Gerald Scarfe about his work / with the curators of the Rakoff collection of comics at the National Art Library in the Victoria and Albert Museum Recommended events: Graphic Brighton one day festival A one day event, being held at the University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, May 24th 2014, curated by Paul Slater, Barbara Chamberlin and Alex Fitch. Guests include Chris Riddell, David Lloyd, John Higgins, Nicola Streeten, Hannah Berry, Corinne Pearlman, Daniel Locke, Joe Decie, Neil Evans (a.k.a. Nelson Evergreen), Lawrence Elwick, Ian Williams, Paul O’Connell, Nye Wright, Hannah Eaton, Paul Collicutt and Tim Pilcher. The day will comprise talks, panel discussions, workshops and much more, and is only a five minute walk from the sea front for a lunchtime barbeque! Tickets are £8 / £5 concessions and must be bought in advance from http://arts.brighton.ac.uk 9.30 – 5.30, Saturday 24th May 2014, University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, 56-58 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY Comics at the AusNZ literary festival Various Australasian comic book creators are in London and are featured in documentary screenings for the Australia and New Zealand festival of literature and the arts taking place from 30th May – 1st June. These include: Screening: THE SHARP EDGE – The Art of Martin Sharp (Oz magazine illustrator) Eccentric. Outsider. Artist. Genius. Martin Sharp shaped pop art and culture in Australia and around the world for half a century. Friday May 30th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Talk: GRAPHIC LIVES – Sarah Laing, Dr Mary Talbot and Evie Wyld What does working with graphic novels to remember great lives add to the biography genre? Friday May 30th, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Talk: WRITING AS THE ‘OTHER’ – Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée Ed Hillyer and LF Bollée discuss post-colonial indigenous representation in novels and comics with broadcast journalist Alex Fitch. Saturday May 31st, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Workshop: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL COMICS with Sarah Laing Join this award-winning Kiwi fiction writer and graphic artist to create your own comics. Saturday May 31st, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Screening: GRAPHIC NOVELS! MELBOURNE! This feature documentary goes deep inside the burgeoning graphic novel scene in Melbourne. Saturday May 31st, 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Other guests at the festival include Clive James, John Pilger and Val McDermid talking about their work. Full programme at http://ausnzfestival.com/events/

Panel Borders: Comics Unmasked Starting a month of shows about comics and controversy, Alex Fitch talks to three of the creators of a new exhibition at the British Library – Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK – which looks at the cultural and social connections between the last hundred years and more of British comic books and strips. Alex discusses the various titles on display in the library show with curators Paul Gravett and John Dunning, which range from an erotic comic drawn by Bob Monkhouse to original annotated scripts by Alan Moore and Mark Millar. Also, in an extract from a Q and A recorded at Gosh! Comics, exhibition designer Dave McKean talks about the look of Comics Unmasked, as well as other comics he created designed specifically for gallery display, which are collected in the forthcoming book Pictures that tick 2: Short Narrative Exhibition. Plus, a recording of the guided tour of Comics Unmasked by Gravett and Dunning, with additional contributions by Adrian Edwards and Tim Pilcher. (Originally broadcast 5th May 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) Comics Unmasked at the British Library / Oh Boy! by Bob Monkhouse / comics by Dave McKean For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Info about Comics Unmasked on the British Library website Dave McKean’s website Info about Pictures that tick 2: Short Narrative Exhibition on Dark House Comics’ website Previous interviews with Paul Gravett, Dave McKean and John Dunning Recommended events: Graphic Brighton festival A one day event, being held at the University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, May 24th 2014, curated by Paul Slater, Barbara Chamberlin and Alex Fitch. Guests include Chris Riddell, David Lloyd, John Higgins, Nicola Streeten, Hannah Berry, Corinne Pearlman, Daniel Locke, Joe Decie, Neil Evans (a.k.a. Nelson Evergreen), Lawrence Elwick, Ian Williams, Paul O’Connell, Nye Wright, Hannah Eaton, Paul Collicutt and Tim Pilcher. The day will comprise talks, panel discussions, workshops and much more, and is only a five minute walk from the sea front for a lunchtime barbeque! Tickets are £8 / £5 concessions and must be bought in advance from http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/graphic-brighton 9.30 – 5.30, Saturday 24th May 2014, University of Brighton Faculty of Arts, 56-58 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY Bristol Comics Expo …takes place on May 10th and 11th at Future Inn, Cabot Circus, Bristol and featured guests include James O’Barr, Michael Golden, Arthur Suydam, Renee Witterstaetter, Ben Willsher and many more. Tickets have to be bought in advance at www.bristolexpo.co.uk London Radical Book Fair 2014 In collaboration with the London Radical Bookfair and the Alliance of Radical Booksellers, Alternative Press will be taking over Bishopsgate Institute. In the first event of its kind, AP will be bringing the small press to a new audience – championing zine-making and DIY alongside radical publishing and bookselling. Spread across three floors, artists will be exhibiting and selling their self published comix, zines, art books, and prints; they include: Elliot Baggott, Gareth Brookes, Isabel Greenberg, John Maybury, Lizz Lunney and many more. 10th May, 2014, Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street, London More info at: www.alternativepress.org.uk Comics at the AusNZ literary festival Various Australasian comic book creators are in London and are featured in documentary screenings for the Australia and New Zealand festival of literature and the arts taking place from 30th May – 1st June. These include: Screening: THE SHARP EDGE – The Art of Martin Sharp (Oz magazine illustrator) Eccentric. Outsider. Artist. Genius. Martin Sharp shaped pop art and culture in Australia and around the world for half a century. Friday May 30th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Talk: GRAPHIC LIVES – Sarah Laing, Dr Mary Talbot and Evie Wyld What does wo[...]

Panel Borders: Tales and hoaxes by Ravi Thornton Concluding a month of shows about the connections between comics and music, graphic novelist and musician Ravi Thornton discusses her books The Tale of Brin & Bent and Minno Marylebone and Hoax: Psychosis Blues with Alex Fitch in a Q and A recorded at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Ravi talks about the musical accompaniment for Minno Marylebone, its connection with ballet and new technology, the numerous artists involved with Hoax and how the graphic novel will be accompanied by a performance at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in June. The episode also features Hannah Berry talking about her contribution to Psychosis Blues and a pair of songs from Hoax: My Lonely Heart performed by Minute Taker and introduced by singer Ben McGarvey. (Originally broadcast 28th April 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) Cover, photography and interior from Brin and Bent by Ravi Thornton / art from Hoax: Psychosis Blues by Hannah Berry Links: More info at www.ravithornton.com Hannah Berry’s website Minute Taker / Ben McGarvey’s website Listen to the subsequent panel on horror comics featuring Thronton, Berry, David Hine and I.N.J. Culbard, and Oscar Zarate in conversation with Alex Fitch, also recorded at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Recommended events: Comics at SCI-FI-LONDON Mike Carey is a much loved contributor to Vertigo Comics’ John Constantine: Hellblazer title, he also enjoyed a seven year tenure as the writer of the Lucifer comic. He will be discussing his career so far, plus his latest acclaimed horror novel The Girl with all the gifts and graphic novel X-Men: No more humans. Saturday 3rd May, 2.30pm, The Club Room, 2nd Floor, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL Nearest tube to Conway Hall is Holborn on the Central and Piccadilly Lines. Comics Unmasked at the British Library …offering the first chance to see the British Library’s extensive comic book collection on display alongside original artwork and scripts loaned from such names as Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Dave Gibbons, China Mieville and Mark Millar. From the 1825 Glasgow Looking Glass, thought to be the first ever comic, to Judge Dredd’s helmet from the recent film adaptation of the 2000AD Judge Dredd serial, the exhibition traces a long and tumultuous history of the British comic book. Highlights of the exhibition also include an example of a medieval ‘comic’ from 1470, Apocalypse, a ventriloquist dummy of Ally Sloper, one of the earliest comic strip characters, 70’s underground comics tried at court for obscenity, such as Oz which is accompanied by a previously unheard recording of the Oz trial itself, as well as 21st century material, including original artwork and manuscripts of the likes of Kick-Ass, Sandman and Batman and Robin, and Keaton Henson’s 2012 doll’s house installation, Gloaming, adapted specially for the show. May 2nd – 19 August 2014 British Library talks and events include: Bryan and Mary Talbot (2 May), Neil Gaiman with Tori Amos (16 May), Woodrow Phoenix and others (23 May) Dave McKean’s Nine Lives (6-7 June), Grant Morrison, Warren Ellis and others on superheroes (16 June), Melinda Gebbie (3 July), Alejandro Jodorowsky (4 July), Pat Mills, Dave Gibbons and Frazer Irving on 2000AD (9 July), Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton plus those involved in the ‘Oz Trial’ (14 July), Posy Simmonds and Steve Bell (18 July) and Bryan Lee O’Malley (15 August). More info: www.bl.uk/whatson Price: £9.50 / £7.50 and £5 concessions / Free for 16-18 year olds Exhibition opening hours Monday 10.00 – 18.00, Tuesday 10.00 – 20.00, Wednesday – Friday 10.00 – 18.00, Saturday 10.00 – 17.00, Sunday and English public holidays 11.00 – 17.00 Sponsor UNFINISHED CITY by Ben Dickson, Sylvija Martinovi? and Robert Solanovi? Unfinished City is a powerful, stylish thriller with a sharp, East-European edge. Nadja’s home town of Nikši? is a real place;[...]

Panel Borders: The Worldwide Comix of Jeffrey Lewis Continuing a month of shows looking at the connections between comic books and music culture, guest presenter Conor O’Grady talks to American underground cartoonist and musician Jeffrey Lewis about his comics such as Fuff and The Worldwide Comix Scavenger Hunt. O’Grady and Lewis also discuss the latter’s tools for making strips, the connections between the artist’s short films and static images and his thoughts on delivering comics via new technology. Edited and introduced by Alex Fitch. (Originally broadcast 21st April 2014 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London) Comics and album covers by Jeffrey Lewis For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org Links: Jeffrey Lewis’ website and music downloads from bandcamp Buy digital versions of Jeffrey’s comics at lushcomics.com Recommended events: Comics at SCI-FI-LONDON Dave McKean doesn’t really need an introduction here – from his Sandman covers to Arkham Asylum to his books with Neil Gaiman, through to his own books and illustration and graphic work, he has shaped and changed the look of comics for decades. Apart from his well-known photo collage work, he is also extremely adapt at the good ol’ ink and brushwork. Alex Fitch will be interviewing Dave McKean at Gosh! on Saturday, the 26th of April, from 7.30pm onwards. Emma Vieceli, you may know from SelfMadeHero’s Manga Shakespeare adaptations, Young Avengers, her work on ambitious webcomics The Thrill Electric for Channel Four with John Reppion and Leah Moore and Breaks with Malin Rydén, plus most recently in print, the graphic novel adaptations of the ever-popular Vampire Academy series. Emma will be conversation with Alex on Sunday, the 27th of April, from 7.30pm, Gosh! Comics, 1 Berwick Street, London, W1F 0DR Nearest tube for Gosh! is Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square Mike Carey is a much loved contributor to Vertigo Comics’ John Constantine: Hellblazer title, he also enjoyed a seven year tenure as the writer of the Lucifer comic. He will be discussing his career so far, plus his latest acclaimed horror novel The Girl with all the gifts and graphic novel X-Men: No more humans. Saturday 3rd May, 2.30pm, The Club Room, 2nd Floor, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL Nearest tube to Conway Hall is Holborn on the Central and Piccadilly Lines. Sponsor UNFINISHED CITY by Ben Dickson, Sylvija Martinovi? and Robert Solanovi? Unfinished City is a powerful, stylish thriller with a sharp, East-European edge. Nadja’s home town of Nikši? is a real place; many elements of the story are drawn from Sylvija’s experience of living in the city, and the stories that circulated at the time. This will undoubtedly be a controversial book in the Balkans – so much so that Sylvija and Ben had to consciously distance some elements from real life! The book is being illustrated in glorious, shadowy black and white by cult Croatian artist Robert Solanovi?. A highly-regarded artist in the Balkans, this will be Robert’s first English language work. Incentives include a first look PDF, signed paperback and hardback editions of the graphic novel, an exclusive T-Shirt and much more. Info at: www.kickstarter.com