Panel Borders: Joining the Mouse Guard

Continuing a series of shows about anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to David Petersen about his popular Mouse Guard serial, published as bimonthly comics by Archaia in the USA and collected in hardback by Titan Books in the UK. Alex and David talk about the latter’s influences, his experiences growing up in Flint, Michigan, exchanging drawings with Stan Sakai and the process of creating each issue (partially broadcast 16th December 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM)…

Panel from Mouse Guard by David Petersen

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 (with thanks to Audyssey Technology for use of their South of Market iPhone speaker dock)…

Links: Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphic comics and Mouse Guard
Official Mouse Guard website
David Petersen’s blog
Info about the British editions of Mouse Guard, published by Titan

Recommended events:

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00
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Panel Borders: Mature animal comics

Continuing this month’s series of shows about anthropomorphic or ‘funny animal’ comics Alex Fitch talks to a pair of writer / artists whose latest projects deal with animal / human hybrids in adult situations: Howard Hardiman whose new project is The Lengths, a black and white comic about male sex workers, based on interviews he conducted in London and funded via IndieGoGo and an Arts Council Grant, while in an interview recorded at The Cartoon Museum, Bryan Talbot discusses Grandville Mon Amour, the second volume of his steampunk graphic album series set in a violent turn of the century Paris.

Panels from The Lengths by Howard Hardiman and Grandville Mon Amour by Bryan Talbot

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: Howard’s website www.cutebutsad.co.uk
Grandville page on Bryan’s website www.bryan-talbot.com
Wikipedia pages on Grandville and funny animal comics

Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Howard Hardiman and Bryan Talbot

Recommended events:

Comica, London week six

The final two events of Comica 2010 include:

Film screening: Grant Morrison – Talking With Gods
A fascinating documentary detailing the vision of one of the most popular and controversial writers. Followed by a signing with Steve Cook, Rian Hughes and Frazer Irving.
ICA, The Mall, London
Sunday, 12 December – 4pm

Girls Comics: Pat Mills & Jenny McDade
Writers Pat Mills and Jenny McDade will be discussing the world of girls’ comics.
London Print Studios, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Thursday, 16 December – 6:30pm to 8:30pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Posy Simmonds at Laydeez do Comics

Guest Speaker: Posy Simmonds MBE
British illustrator and writer. Creator of graphic novels, Gemma Bovery (2000) and Tamara Drewe (2005–2006) recently made into a film.

ALSO please bring along one thing you have worked on this year for everyone to look at during the break. If you are not an artist please bring something else!

We will be serving home made mince pies and mulled wine.

Recommended Reads: Gemma Bovery / Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmonds

Guest Blogger: Ellen Lindner

Monday 13 December 2010, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see her paintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

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Panel Borders: Mature animal comics [ 37:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Panel Borders: The man who painted cats

Starting a month of shows about anthropomorphic or ‘funny animal’ comics we’re proud to present a panel recorded at this year’s Comica festival: TV / BBC Radio comedy writer David Quantick and underground cartoonist Edwin Pouncey, a.k.a. Savage Pencil talk about their graphic novel, currently serialised in Alan Moore’s magazine Dodgem Logic, which concerns the life of Louis Wain, Edwardian painter of cats whose work became increasingly experimental as his mental health deteriorated. The two creators discuss their interest in Wain, the depiction of his life and his cats in their comic, and the important use of Feline Ophthalmology and wallpaper in fine art! (Recorded, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

Savage Pencil and David Quantick in front of pages from their comic about Louis Wain in Dodgem Logic #7

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: Dodgem Logic website
Savage Pencil’s website
Wikipedia pages on funny animal comics, David Quantick and Savage Pencil
Blog entries on Louis Wain’s ‘normal years’ and art produced while suffering from schizophrenia

Listen to Dickon Harris’ interview with Josie Long about contributing to Dodgem Logic

Recommended events:

Comica, London week five

David Bircham: Alien Ink
Mingle with a rising talents of the UK comics scene, experience talks and attend a comic masterclass.
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, W10
Saturday, 4 December – Noon to 5pm

More info / book tickets at www.comicafestival.com

Funny animals at Streatham Library

In the last Streatham Library Graphic novel reading group of 2010, they’ll be discussing anthropomorphic comics, with guest Gary Northfield, who’ll be discussing his popular Beano strip, Derek the Sheep…

7.30pm (free), Monday 6th December, Streatham Library, 63 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 1PN
More info: www.lambeth.gov.uk

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Panel Borders: Spandex!

Continuing our month of shows looking at unusual depictions of superheroes, in an interview recorded at the Thought Bubble festival in Leeds, Alex Fitch talks to writer / artist Martin Eden about his small press comics The O Men and Spandex, the latter featuring the world’s only all gay superhero team. Alex and Martin talk about distribution of small press comics, his experiences with the media’s interest in his new comic when it launched last year and representations of gay characters in sequential art.

Spandex group shot by Martin Eden

This show was recorded live at Thought Bubble, Leeds

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: Martin’s blog – spandexcomic.wordpress.com
The O Men website and blog

Listen to Alex’s interview with Tommy Roddy about his gay themed Superhero comic Pride High

Recommended events:

Alternative Press Fair: Sunday 28th November 2010

Comix, zines, self published art books, poetry workshop, illustration photo booth and over 100 titles from the world of small press. A chance for newcomers to sell their work on a communal table and for those interested to find out what the scene has to offer. Alternative Press will also be announcing details of next year’s Alternative Press Festival.

St. Aloysius’ Social Centre (Corner of Eversholt Street and Phoenix Road) London NW1 1TA Nearest Tube: Euston
Sunday 28th November 2010, 12pm to 6pm

ALSO: There are some flyer designs up on the comicsandzines blog. We want you to recreate the flyers in your own style!

More info: comicsandzines.wordpress.com

Erika Moen – Signing and Exhibition

Erika Moen (Dar Comics) will be in London for the opening of her show at Orbital Comics! Come see herpaintings in real life and maybe get a book signed or something!

Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:00

Comica, London week four

Sarah Ardizzone and Ros Schwartz: The Little Prince
A dialogue between two translators looking back at the biggest selling French language book.
Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, London
Thursday, 25 November – 7.30pm

Paul Gravett: From Escape To Now
Paul Gravett gives an illustrated talk about his lifelong passion for comics, from the 80s Escape Magazine to now.
The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1
Monday, 29 November – 6.30pm to 9.30pm
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Panel Borders: Chase Promethea, Batwoman!

Continuing our month long look at unusual depictions of superheroes, Alex Fitch talks to comic book artist and graphic designer J. H. Williams III about his work from early forays into the superhero genre for DC’s imprint ‘Milestone’ to his acclaimed renditions of female characters in Chase, Detective Comics and Alan Moore’s epic Promethea. Alex and Jim talk about the latter’s approach to creating sequential art, from the layout of a page to the relation of a sequence to its surrounding comic or graphic novel and the delegation of work on his new ongoing Batwoman comic.

Two 2 page spreads from Promethea and Batwoman by J.H. Williams III

N.B./ This show was recorded live at Orbital Comics, 8 Gt Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA

Links: J.H. William III’s website
Info about Jim’s forthcoming comics on the DC comics blog
Article on Jim’s Promethea illustrations from a fine art point of view

Recommended events:

Comica, London week three

Storytelling: The Future is Graphic: A free talk by Paul Gravett on new developments in visual and verbal narratives on and off the page.

London College of Communication , Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6SB, November 19, 2010 – 10am to 11am

Louis Wain: The Man Who Drew Cats –
BBC and Channel 4 broadcaster and comedy writer David Quantick explores the life and work of the Edwardian cat artist Louis Wain with underground cartoonist Savage Pencil.
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE, November 23, 2010 – 7pm to 8pm

Comica Argentina: Thomas Dassance, Carlos Nine and Oscar Zarate, Explore the rich traditions and vital current scene of comics in Argentina. London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE, November 24, 2010 – 6.30pm to 8.30pm

More info about all the above and more at www.comicafestival.com

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Panel Borders: Becky Cloonan – Demo Graphics

Continuing our month long look at unusual takes on superheroes, Alex Fitch talks to artist Becky Cloonan about her work, focusing on the series Demo, written by Brian Wood which is a more down to earth look at the problems teenagers with superpowers might face in the real world. Alex and Becky also talk about her horror collaboration project Pixu with Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon and Vasilis Lolos and her foray into manga with East Coast Rising.

Panels from East Coast Rising vol. 1 and Demo vol. 2 #6

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 page on Becky Cloonan
Becky’s website and blog
Articles on Becky at the Vertigo blog
Info about Becky’s next collaboration with Brian: Northlanders: The girl in the ice

Buy East Coast Rising Volume 1, Pixu: The Mark of Evil, American Virgin vol. 1, Demo: vol. 1 and Channel Zero: Jennie One from amazon.co.uk

Recommended events:

One dot zero festival, London Nov 10-14

Pioneering festival onedotzero_adventures in motion returns this year to London’s BFI Southbank from 10 – 14 November 2010, presenting the most exciting international moving image work, from the offbeat to the radical, aiming to push the boundaries of creativity, innovation and technological wonder.

Highlights include:

Superhero Me + Steve Sale Q and A
UK 2010. Dir Steve Sale. 84min

This entertaining and warm-hearted fly on the wall documentary follows film maker Steve Sale on his journey to becoming the real life superhero known as SOS. With unique cinematography shot on any available format, from a digital handheld to a mobile phone.
Thu 11 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3

Chico & Rita
Spain-UK 2010. 94 min. Courtesy of CinemaNX

Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment. This animated ballad from Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba and designer Javier Mariscal will play alongside a making of short film.
Sat 13 Nov | 15:50 | NFT3

Short film programme includes:

wow + flutter: Innovative and experimental shorts forecasting the future of moving image.
Thurs 11 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sat 13 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3 / Sun 14 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1

wavelength: Visually progressive, radical and offbeat new directions in music video.
Thu 11 Nov | 20:50 | Studio / Fri 12 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sun 14 Nov | 20:45 | NFT1

j-star: An audiovisual blast from japan’s finest moving image-makers.
Fri 12 Nov | 20:50 | Studio / Sat 13 Nov | 10:00 | NFT3

robotica: Diverse visions of a future dominated by robots and androids.
Fri 12 Nov | 20:30 | NFT3 / Sat 13 Nov | 18:30 | NFT1 / Sun 14 Nov | 18:40 | Studio
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Panel Borders: Team Batman, Robin and Catman

Starting a month of shows looking at unique renderings of superheroes, this episode is about depictions of masculinity in superhero comics via a pair of interviews recorded at the British International Comics Show in Birmingham last month. Alex Fitch talks to Nicola Scott, an Australian artist who has previously drawn half a dozen issues of Wonder Woman but who also draws male characters such as anti-hero Catman in the Secret Six and the Teen Titans which has drawn new female readers to those titles; also: Dickon Harris talks to Canadian artist Yanick Paquette who is also associated with drawing iconic male comic book characters such as Wolverine and Batman and is continuing his burgeoning association with Grant Morrison on the new title Batman Incorporated which launches this month.

Covers of Batman Inc. #2 by Yanick Paquette and Grant Morrison, Teen Titans #89 by Nicola Scott and J.T. Krul

Yanick Paquette and Nicola Scott at BICS

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

Recommended events:

Panel Borders at Comica:

Nov 6th: Charlie Adlard and The Walking Dead

Alex Fitch hosts an hour long talk with British artist Charlie Adlard about drawing various strips for 2000AD including Savage, Nikolai Dante and Judge Dredd plus his ongoing commitment to the monthly American survival horror comic The Walking Dead which he has been drawing since 2004 and has just been turned into a new TV series produced by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption). Followed by a signing with the artist.

Saturday, November 6th, 4.30pm
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Rd, London W10 4RE
(nearest tube: Warwick Avenue / Westbourne Park)

Nov 10th: Comic Cuts – controversial comic books and banned periodicals

Alex Fitch discusses examples of banned and censored comic books in the last quarter of the 20th Century with publisher Tony Bennett and (via speaker phone) writer / artist Rick Veitch.

Tony’s publishing company Knockabout has seen its titles seized by British Customs, has been taken to court for publishing “drug related titles”, and for promoting the work of Robert Crumb. Knockabout have also commissioned comic book adaptations of previously banned novels such as Lady Chatterly’s Lover.
Rick is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, including the drawing of an issue of Moore’s Miracleman comic in the 1980s which was withdrawn from many shops due to its “graphic depictions of childbirth” and then when he took over as writer on another Moore comic – Swamp Thing – left the periodical when the publisher refused to print a certain issue.

Wednesday, November 10, 6pm
Whitechapel Idea Store, 321 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BU
(nearest tube: Whitechapel / Bethnal Green)
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