Author Archives: alexfitch

About alexfitch

Co-presenter / producer of "Panel Borders", Thursdays 5pm Resonance 104.4 FM. Film reviewer for www.electricsheepmagazine.com Podcaster for www.sci-fi-london.com

Reality Check: The work of Warren Ellis

Reality Check: The work of Warren Ellis

Iyare Igiehon (BBC 6music) discusses the work of Warren Ellis with Matt Jones (BERG design), Matthew Sheret (We are words + pictures) and Kieron Gillen (X-Men). Jones talks about SVK, the new comic by Ellis and D’Israeli, commissioned by BERG, Sheret discusses how Ellis inspired him to become a writer and Gillen talks about his friendship with the writer and their Marvel collaborations.

Excerpt from SVK by Warren Ellis and Disraeli / Covers of newuniversal: 1959 and Phonogram vs. the fans

Excerpt from SVK by Warren Ellis & D'israeli / Covers of newuniversal: 1959 and Phonogram vs. the fans

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com

Links: Buy SVK by Warren Ellis and Disraeli from BERG design Continue reading

Panel Borders: Young graphic novelists, Spring 2012

Panel Borders: Young graphic novelists, Spring 2012

As part of our month of episodes on British comics, we have our twice yearly look at a pair of young graphic novelists. Warwick Johnson Cadwell has garnered a great reputation for his small press work and contributions to short story collections, and Dickon Harris talks to WJC about his first graphic novel, Gungle, to be published in the near future by Blank Slate Books. Also, Alex Fitch talks to artist Jennie Gyllblad who, following a number of web comics and self-published collaborations with writer Corey Brotherson, has just finished The Arrival, the first of a three volume steam-punk graphic novel series Clockwork Watch curated by film-maker Yomi Ayeni.

Excerpts from Clockwork Watch: The Arrival by Jennie Gyllblad, Yomi Ayeni and Corey Brotherson / Paris by Maarten Vande Wiele

Excerpts from Clockwork Watch: The Arrival by Jennie Gyllblad, Yomi Ayeni and Corey Brotherson / Paris by Maarten Vande Wiele

Originally broadcast 22/04/12 on Resonance 104.4 FM Continue reading

Panel Borders: Depicting the personal

Panel Borders: Depicting the personal

Continuing our month of shows looking at British comics, we have a pair of interviews about artists who examine their personal life and feelings as a subject for their art. Cartoonist Richy K. Chandler talks to Simone Lia about her new graphic novel, Please God, find me a husband!, which explores Simone’s faith and search for a partner. Critic and writer Columba Quigley talks to fine artist Josephine King about her paintings which combine self portrait with text and references to Renaissance narrative art.
Originally broadcast 15/04/12 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Paintings by Josephine King on display in Riflemaker Gallery / panel from Please God, find me a husband! by Simone Lia

Paintings by Josephine King on display in Riflemaker Gallery / panel from Please God, find me a husband! by Simone Lia

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.

Links: Simone Lia / Cabanon Press publishing websites
Interview with Josephine King in The Independent Continue reading

Panel Borders: The art of Tom Gauld

Panel Borders: The art of Tom Gauld

Continuing our month of shows all about British Comics, Alex Fitch interviews cartoonist Tom Gauld about his work, from magazine and newspaper strips such as Move to the City and Hunter and Painter, to small press comics and his new graphic novel, Goliath. Alex and Tom also talk about the latter’s illustration work such as producing a cover for The Three Musketeers and interior art for The Iron Man which led to his oversized picture book, The Gigantic Robot.

Excerpts from Goliath, Hunter and Painter, and Move to the City (French edition) by Tom Gauld

Excerpts from Goliath, Hunter and Painter, and Move to the City (French edition) by Tom Gauld

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.

Links: Tom Gauld’s website and publishing imprint
Reviews of Move to the city and Hunter and Painter at madinkbeard.com
Excerpt from and recommended musical accompaniment to Goliath Continue reading

Reality Check: Modern children’s comics

Reality Check: Modern children’s comics

In a panel discussion recorded at last year’s SCI-FI-LONDON festival, CBBC presenter Chris Johnson talks to Paul Collicutt (Robot City adventures), Alex Milway (The Mythical 9th Division) and Eddie Robson (Doctor Who adventures) about creating Science-Fiction and Fantasy comics for kids and having interested children in the format, how to keep their love of comics going.

The Mythical 9th Division by Alex Milway, Robot City adventures by Paul Collicutt, Doctor Who Adventures by Eddie Robson

The Mythical 9th Division by Alex Milway, Robot City adventures by Paul Collicutt, Doctor Who Adventures by Eddie Robson

Listen to Alex Fitch’s interviews with Alex Milway and Paul Collicutt

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com Continue reading

Panel Borders: Comic stamps

Panel Borders: Comic stamps

Starting a month of shows all about British Comics, Alex Fitch interviews Richard Scholey, from design company The Chase, and Philip Parker, Head of Stamps strategy, Royal Mail, about the new range of comic book stamps which have just been released and feature art and covers from such classic titles as 2000AD, The Beano, The Eagle and The Dandy. Alex talks to Richard and Philip about their choice of covers, the design process and how the range of special stamps takes in high and low brow art throughout the year.

Comic book stamps released by the Royal Mail, March 2012

Originally broadcast 01/04/12 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.

Links: Buy stamps from www.royalmail.com
Info about The Chase design company Continue reading

Panel Borders: Gods and Monsters by Bernie Wrightson and Rebekah Isaacs

Panel Borders: Gods and Monsters by Bernie Wrightson and Rebekah Isaacs

Concluding our month of shows about iconoclastic American comic book artists, Alex Fitch talks to a master of horror comics, Bernie Wrightson, and a relative newcomer, Rebekah Isaacs who has made a name for herself in deftly rendered comics in a variety of genres. Alex talks to Bernie about his work on Swamp Thing and Warren Comics’ horror titles in the 1970s, on collaborating with Stephen King and George A. Romero in the 1980 and 90s and more recently working with Steve Niles at IDW on projects such as Dead, She Said, Doc Macabre, The Ghoul and their forthcoming collaboration Frankenstein Alive, alive. Alex and Rebekah chat about her career so far, working on superhero comics like DV8 with Brian Wood, her creator owner project Magus and the horror titles that have made her name, The Twilight Zone and the ongoing Angel and Faith.

Age of Iron / Angel and Faith by Rebekah Isaacs + Frankenstein / The Incredible Hulk and the Thing by Bernie Wrightson

Age of Iron / Angel and Faith by Rebekah Isaacs + Frankenstein / The Incredible Hulk and the Thing by Bernie Wrightson

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.

Links: Bernie Wrightson’s website
Rebekah Isaacs’ website
Newsarama pages on Isaacs and Wrightson

Watch an extract from Alex Fitch interviewing Rebekah Isaacs

Watch an extract from Alex Fitch interviewing Rebekah Isaacs (starts at 3.47 min)

Continue reading

Electric Sheep Podcast: Exploring The Lair of the White Worm

Electric Sheep Podcast: Exploring The Lair of the White Worm

In a panel discussion recorded at The Horse Hospital arts club after a screening of Ken Russell’s lurid Bram Stoker adaptation, The Lair of the White Worm, Mark Pilkington discusses the film with BFI Flipside programmers Vic Pratt and Will Fowler, touching on issues of the legend of the Lambton Worm, titillation in absurdity in British cinema and Russell’s three picture deal with Vestron Pictures in the 1980s.

Still from The Lair of the White Worm by Ken Russell

Still from The Lair of the White Worm by Ken Russell

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.

Links: Wikipedia pages on the Lambton Worm and The Lair of the White Worm
Review of the event at filmlandempire.blogspot.co.uk
Russell reviews in Electric Sheep Magazine

In association with

Panel Borders: Tim Sale – Painting Batman and other Heroes

Panel Borders: Tim Sale – Painting Batman and other Heroes

Continuing our month of shows about iconoclastic American comic book artists, in a Q and A recorded at last year’s Thought Bubble festival, Alex Fitch interviews artist Tim Sale about his career from early work like Thieves’ World and Billi 99 to his award winning collaborations with Jeph Loeb on Batman and the Marvel ‘colours’ tetralogy featuring Spider-Man, Daredevil and The Hulk. Alex and Tim also talk about the latter’s work on the TV series Heroes and the continuation of his most recent mini-seires, Captain America: White.

The Hulk, Superman, Batman and Heroes art by Tim Sale

The Hulk, Superman, Batman and Heroes art by Tim Sale

Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.
Links: Tim Sale pages on Wikipedia and comicartfans.com
Tim’s website and Heroes ‘wiki’ page
More info about Thought Bubble festival, Leeds Continue reading

Laydeez do podcasts: Depictions of the female form

Laydeez do podcasts: Depictions of the female form

In two talks recorded at Laydeez do comics, Dr. Ann Miller, lecturer and joint editor of European Comic Art journal talks about stereotypical representations of women in bandes dessinées, particularly Penelope Bagieu, creator of ‘chic-lit’ comic Joséphine; and Karrie Fransman talks about her new comic The House that groaned, an incisive graphic novel about body dysmorphia and desire in a Victorian tenement house.

Joséphine by Pénélope Bagieu and The House that Groaned by Karrie Fransman

Joséphine by Pénélope Bagieu and The House that Groaned by Karrie Fransman

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: Pénélope Bagieu’s website
The House that groaned website

Recommended events:

Laydeez do comics

NEXT MEETING…

Monday 19 March 2012
Day: Monday
Time: 6.30 – 9.30pm
Venue: The Rag Factory 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Guests:
London Print Studio Comics Collective

Lily-Rose Beardshaw
Abraham Christie
Shamisa Debroey
Merlin Evans
Jade Sarson
Susan Yan Mach

Recommended Read:
Parallel Lives: London Print Studio Comic Collective Anthology, Published by Knockabout

www.laydeezdocomics.com

Continue reading