Panel Borders: Comic Boom!

Originally broadcast 16/04/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

The Incredibles, covers of issues 1 - 4, published by Boom! studios

Continuing comic book publishing month on Panel Borders: Alex Fitch and Duncan Nott talk to Mark Waid, the editor-in-chief of Boom! Studios, a relatively new American comic book company that is attracting new creators, veterans of the medium and Hollywood screenwriters alike to pen their tales. Waid himself has been writing comics such as Fantastic Four, Captain America and The Flash for over twenty years and Alex, Duncan and Mark talk about the variety of genres Boom! publish, their methods for attracting new readers and their successes so far in publishing comics in print and on the internet.

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
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Panel Borders: Blank Slate Publishing

Originally broadcast 12/04/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Sparky O'Hare by Mawil (published in English by Blank Slate)

Continuing comic book publishing month on Panel Borders: Alex Fitch interviews Kenny Penman who runs Blank Slate books, a new British publishing company that has been around for just under a year and have 4 books to their name so far including Ignatz award nominee Trains are mint. Alex and Kenny talk about what factors decide the choice of books he publishes, the travails of finding a market for new graphic novels in the middle of a credit crunch and how his history as one of the founders of Forbidden Planet International has helped his new career as a publisher.

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
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Panel Borders: Zine-age Kicks!

Originally broadcast 02/04/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

A selection of zines and limited edition art books by George Cullen

Starting a month of shows about comic book publishing on Panel Borders: Dickon Harris conducts three interviews with small press creators at the Brighton ‘Zine fest and at the “Zine-age kicks” event at Trap 2 Gallery in London. Dickon talks to Jimi Gherkin about his new ‘zine “Electric baby,” which includes advice for ‘zine and comic book creators on how to screenprint and self publish their own comics and also about the upcoming anthology Jimi’s editing and how anyone in the small press can submit items to be included. Dickon’s also talking to Dutch artist Kala Newman about her zine – “Impulsive random platform” – which she creates with fellow students from the Slade school of art and to George Cullen about his self published title “Throw away” which mixes cryptography with typography to beguiling effect.

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
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Panel Borders: Daredevil by Irvine and Maleev

Daredevil by Alex Maleev

Classic heroes month continues on Panel Borders with a look at the red-suited vigilante Daredevil – blind lawyer by day and superhero by night. Trying to break the record for the largest number of people called Alex in any one episode of the show, Alex Fitch talks to the Bulgarian artist Alex Maleev who with writer Brian Bendis brought the periodical back to the forefront of Marvel Comics’ line in an award winning four year run on the title in the mid 2000s. Alex also talks to novelist Alex (Hellstorm: Son of Satan) Irvine whose anachronistic reimagining of the comic – Daredevil Noir – starts next month and combines the Chandleresque storytelling of Frank Miller’s iconic run on the title with the look and feel of classic Film Noir, relocating the adventures of Matt Murdock to Hell’s Kitchen in the 1930s…

Half hour edit originally broadcast 26/03/09, as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

For more info about the podcast including a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org
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Panel Borders: The Mighty Thor by Walt Simonson

Originally broadcast 12/03/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Beta Ray Bill - the alien Thor - by Walt Simonson

Continuing ‘classic heroes’ month on Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to artist and writer Walter Simonson, whose exceptional 4 year run on the Marvel comic The Mighty Thor in the early 80s remains the most appreciated version of the character since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby brought the Viking hero to Marvel comics a generation before. Alex and Walt talk about combining European mythology and space opera, esoteric character design (why does Beta Ray Bill have a face like a horse’s skull?), turning the Norse god of war into a talking frog and the joy of revisiting classic heroes.

For mopre 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 Walt Simonson and The Mighty Thor

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Panel Borders: The art of Philip Spence

Ninja Bunnies by Philip Spence

Concluding Indie comics month (a little bit late due to technical issues) on Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to artist Philip Spence about his self published mini-comics / web comic The Adventures of Ninja Bunny. Mini-comics are an offshoot of the zine and small press comics scene, measuring approx 9cm square and have a more collectible appearance for causal comics browsers who may pick up the titles in art fairs and markets. Philip has recently branched out from his minis into regular sized autobiographical titles and talks about his interest in fine art prints and the production process.

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: to follow

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Panel Borders: Captain Britain by Alan Davis and Paul Cornell

Originally broadcast 05/03/09 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Excalibur by Alan Davis featuring Captain Britain and X-Men

It’s the start of ‘classic heroes’ month on Panel Borders and to kick off, Alex Fitch is talking to two of the creators of the UK’s very own superhero – Captain Britain. Alex talks to Alan Davis, the artist and writer of the strip in the early 80s, who together with help from writers Alan Moore and Jamie Delano rescued the character from oblivion with esoteric storylines, a great supporting cast and a terrific new costume. Alex also talks to author Paul Cornell about his recent revamp of the character in the new comic Captain Britain and MI:13 which sees the Captain get a 21st Century make-over while encountering such nefarious characters as Count Dracula and Gordon Brown!

For mopre 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 Captain Britain, Alan Davis and Paul Cornell
For Paul’s blog, please click here
Buy Captain Britain and MI:13 from Forbidden Planet International
More info about The Bristol International Comics Expo (May 9th / 10th 2009) and D.R. and Quinch
Alan’s website

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