Book List: Graphic albums and picture books
In advance of next week’s South Kensington Kids Festival which celebrates picture books and graphic novels for children, Alex Fitch talks to four creators whose work contains elements of each medium.
Andi Ewington discusses his novella “45” which divides the text and illustrations of superhero comics onto separate pages and the spin-off comic Blue Spear, co-written by Com.x publisher Eddie Deighton; while, in an interview recorded at the London Film and Comic Con, novelist Robert Rankin talks about his first graphic novel Empires which moves his celebrated monochrome cover illustrations onto every page of a new steam-punk sequel to The War of the Worlds.
Also, children’s illustrators Oliver Jeffers and Axel Scheffler talk about their recent picture books This Moose belongs to me and Superworm. Jeffers looks back at his parallel career as a fine artist, on display in the collection Neither here nor there, and Scheffler discusses partnership with writer Julia Donaldson on memorable books such as The Gruffalo and The Highway Rat.
Covers of Neither here not there by Oliver Jeffers, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Empires by Robert Rankin, 45 and Blue Spear by Andi Ewington
(Originally broadcast 15/11/12 on Resonance FM)
For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
The South Kensington Kids Festival runs from 21st to 25th November and features screenings of French animated films The Gruffalo’s Child, and Ernest and Celestine, plus talks and drawing jams by Quentin Blake, Emile Bravo, Joann Sfar, Axel Scheffler and many more.
Links: Andi Ewington‘s blog
Overrun website
Com.X website
Oliver Jeffers‘ website / portfolio
Listen to Oliver Jeffers and David Almond discuss their work with Sarah McIntyre
Robert Rankin‘s fan club
Read Empires online
London Film and Comic Con website
Axel Scheffler‘s page at scholastic.co.uk
Info about Scheffler at childrensbookillustration.com
Official Gruffalo website
Recommended events:
Comica Festival 2012 week two
Laydeez do comics present: Alison Bechdel
Acclaimed American graphic novelist Alison Bechdel talks about her new book Are you my mother? with the Laydeez do comics team
Where: Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 12, 2012 6pm to 8pm
Posy Simmonds: Comedies of English Manners
For forty years, The Guardian cartoonist has chronicled Britain’s ever-changing society with laser-sharp precision.
Where: Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 14, 2012 6pm for 6.30pm start
Oliver Frey: The Graphic Gay Gaze
Meet Britain’s most provocative artist & storyteller of adults-only homoerotic fantasies
Where: Foyles Bookshop, 3rd Floor Gallery, London WC2H 0EB
When: November 15, 2012 6pm for 6.30pm start
Comics: Refreshing Parts Other Literature Can’t Reach!
Hannah Berry curates a special comics night with Glyn Dillon, Simone Lia, Sarah McIntyre, Dave McKean & more.
Where: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3GA
When: November 19, 2012 7pm
More info about all events at www.comicafestival.com
Thought Bubble festival 2012
COMICS FORUM 2012 CONFERENCE
Comics Forum 2012 kicks off with a range of great talks on multiculturalism in comics by top speakers from around the world! Themes to be discussed include: negotiation, monstrosity, integration, functions of comics, challenging assumptions, reconfiguration, conflict and representation.
Tickets cost £10 (one day), £20 (two days) or £30 (four days (includes weekend Thought Bubble convention pass, saving £10)).
Leeds Central Library, Exhibition Space, from 9am – 4.45pm, 15th and 16th November (limited entry)
Please visit comicsforum.org for full details & to book tickets.
The Ballad of Halo Jones in Leeds
Lass O’Gowrie Productions and Scytheplays are incredibly excited to announce that their much-lauded adaptation of writer Alan Moore and artist Ian Gibson’s comic book series, The Ballad of Halo Jones, is to be re-staged as part of Thought Bubble, the week-long comic arts festival held in Leeds from Sunday 11th to Sunday 18th November.
The Production is officially sanctioned by the publishers of 2000AD, Rebellion and has the blessing of both original writer Alan Moore, and artist Ian Gibson who created the memorable 50th century landscapes in the strip.
Location: Leeds’ The Library Scream Pub
Dates: Saturday November 17th (12.30pm and 2.45pm).
Tickets are £10.00 each, 50% discount for concessions. Tickets are available online at www.wegottickets.com or on the door.
TWO DAY COMICS CONVENTION
Guests include Kate Beaton, Mark Waid, Alison Bechdel, Jason Aaron, Charlie Adlard, Hannah Berry, Doug Braithwaite, Kate Brown, Ian Churchill, Becky Cloonan, Boo Cook, Ian Culbard, Darryl Cunningham, Al Davison, Andy, Diggle, Glyn Dillon and many more.
Throughout both days there are various screenings, talks and other events, including a discussion of web comics on web 2.0 with Alex Fitch at 1.40pm on Saturday.
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November, Royal Armouries Museum and Alea Casino, Clarence Dock, Leeds, LS10 1PZ
More info at thoughtbubblefestival.com
Idle Hands Comix indiegogo campaign
Short film maker and illustrator Paul Cheshire is launching a new annual British comics anthology for 2013 and needs your help to fund it. Examples of his SF / LSD inspired work can be found at http://www.idlehandscomix.com and ‘perks’ for funding the 100-150 page anthology can be found at http://www.indiegogo.com/Idlehandscomixcampaign
