Panel Borders: the Kick-Ass work of John Romita Jr.

Panel Borders: the Kick-Ass work of John Romita Jr.

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

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

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

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

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

Recommended events:

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

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

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

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

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

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com