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

Panel Borders: The work of Garth Ennis part 1

Panel Borders: The work of Garth Ennis part 1
Originally broadcast 11/09/08 on Resonance FM
Alex Fitch and Duncan Nott talk to one of Britain’s most popular and critically acclaimed comic book writers who’s famous for such mildly controversial titles as Preacher and The Boys, both of which are probably going to be adapted for the small and big screens in the not too distant future. Having worked for the main US publishers: Marvel and DC comics, Garth Ennis has started to take his projects to small companies such as Avatar and Dynamite while in terms of British characters, he’s also written the likes of Judge Dredd for 2000AD and Dan Dare for Virgin comics. (part 1 of 2)

For more info please visit the home of this podcast at archive.org
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Panel Borders: The Tale of One Bad Rat

Panel Borders: The Tale of One Bad Rat
Originally broadcast 04/09/08 on Resonance FM

After a two week haitus, Resonance’s weekly podcast about comic books – Panel Borders – is back for a 2nd series…
Alex Fitch and Bryan Talbot…starting with an interview by Alex Fitch with graphic novelist Bryan Talbot about the new printing of his classic book The Tale of One Bad Rat which tells the story of an abused homeless girl who finds solace in the works of Beatrix Potter…
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Electric Sheep podcast: (Re)visiting Dark City

Electric Sheep podcast: (Re)visiting Dark City

Dark City montage by Tom Humberstone / Vented Spleen
(Illustration by Tom Humberstone / Vented Spleen)

An episode of The Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast – Alex Fitch talks to Eagle Award winning comic book artist Tom Humberstone about Dark City – the underrated 1998 sci-fi film noir which has been recently rereleased in an extended director’s cut.

For more info, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Links: Read a print extract at Electric Sheep Magazine
Tom’s website ventedspleen.com
Official Dark City website

In association with: Electric Sheep Magazine logo

Panel Borders: The state of Gay Comics (2008) part 2

Panel Borders: The state of Gay Comics ( 2008 ) part 2
Originally broadcast 07/08/08 on Resonance FM

The second part of a panel recorded live at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, Alex Fitch hosts a panel of creators and experts on Gay comics and Yaoi manga. Accompanying Alex on the panel are comics expert Paul Gravett, manga artist Yishan Li (Yaoi press) and graphic novelist / Guardian strip illustrator David Shenton (Get Her! / The Shentons). Audience members asking questions include Oli Smith (London Underground Comics / Weekend Friends), Richy Chandler (a.k.a. Tempo Lush) and Bevis Musson (Queen of Diamonds). This is an extended version of the panel recording as broadcast on Resonance FM.

For more info please visit the home of this podcast at archive.org

Listen to part one
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Reality Check: John Reppion’s Haunted Liverpool

Reality Check: John Reppion’s Haunted Liverpool
Originally podcast at www.sci-fi-london.com

Alex Fitch talks to author John Reppion, about his book 800 years of Haunted Liverpool and the many issues it raises. Alex and John talk about the nature of hauntings, the variety of other phantasms seen in Merseyside from Witches to Mermaids and the phenomenon of “Time Slips” observed in various parts of the city.

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Stand-Up comics part 2

Stand-up Comics” * part 2
Originally broadcast 14/08/08 as part of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM (London)

The second half of the final one hour edition of Resonance FM’s weekly comic book show Strip!** is a special ‘zine-style show curated by Gemma Cantlow, editor of the ‘zine Layby Perk and features a variety of small press creators performing music and spoken word pieces on the radio.

Stand-Up Comics logo

Stand-Up Comics logo


Here’s the track listing…

1 ) Daniel Locke (Green) / Ian Murphy – “It was always burning”
2 ) Attack Wave Pestrepeller featuring Savage Pencil – “These with the ash of spiders”
3 ) Mystery Dick / Ed Pinsent and Harley Richardson (Sound Projector) – “St. Joseph of Copertino”
4 ) Matthew Thurber (1-800 Mice) – “Hiawatha’s Underwater Bird”
5 ) Sylvie Winn (The Director of Tall Buildings) – “Bipolar Bear”
6 ) Dan Lester (Monkeys Might Puke) – “Usagi Yojimbo
7 ) Jimi Gherkin (Jimi Gherkin Comics) – “It ain’t gonna work out fine” (+ slight reprise)
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Stand-Up comics part 1

Stand-up Comics” * part 1
Originally broadcast 14/08/08 as part of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM (London)

The first half of the final one hour edition of Resonance FM’s weekly comic book show Strip!** is a special ‘zine-style show curated by Gemma Cantlow, editor of the ‘zine Layby Perk and features a variety of small press creators performing music and spoken word pieces on the radio.

Stand-Up Comics logo

Stand-Up Comics logo

Here’s the track listing…

1 ) Gareth Brookes (Appalling Nonsense) – “Smell of the wild”
2 ) Steven Tillotson (Banal Pig Comics) – “‘Round Michael Douglas’ House” (performed by Dan Lester / Monkeys Might Puke)
3 ) Gareth Brookes – “Jolly Bear”
4 ) Ambergris / Matthew Thurber (1-800 Mice) – “Anti-Matter / Alma Mater”
5 ) Ambergris / Matthew Thurber – “Ice Water”

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Strip! – The strange world of Steve Ditko

Strip! (Clear Spot) – The strange world of Steve Ditko
Originally broadcast at 8pm, 14/08/08 on Resonance 104.4 FM

James DC hosts a 1 hour special round-table discussion about the recent book Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, released by Fantagraphics books. James is in discussion with comic book artists and Ditko experts Steve Marchant, Mark Stafford and the author of the book, Blake Bell.

Ditko is best known as the co-creator, with Stan Lee, of Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and other classic Marvel and DC characters. But, in the context of Steve Ditko’s 50-year career in comics, his creative involvement with Spider-Man is merely the tip of the iceberg. Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko is a lavish coffee table art book tracing Ditko’s life and career, his unparalleled stylistic innovations, and his strict adherence to his Ayn Rand inspired philosophical principles, along with illustrations – some rarely printed – of some of the obscure artwork from Ditko’s ouevre.

For more info, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Panel Borders: The state of Gay Comics (2008) pt 1

Panel Borders: The state of Gay Comics ( 2008 ) part 1
Originally broadcast 07/08/08 on Resonance FM

The first part of a panel recorded live at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, Alex Fitch hosts a panel of creators and experts on Gay comics. Accompanying Alex on the panel are comics expert Paul Gravett, manga artist Yishan Li and graphic novelist / Guardian strip illustrator David Shenton (Get Her! / The Shentons). Audience members asking questions include Oli Smith (London Underground Comics / Weekend Friends), Richy Chandler (a.k.a. Tempo Lush) and Bevis Musson (Queen of Diamonds).
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Reality Check: The Truth is (still) out there

Reality Check: The Truth is (still) out there
(partially broadcast as an episode of I’m ready for my close-up , 31/07/08 & 01/08/08 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Alex Fitch talks to the creators of two new science-fiction dramas that deal with issues of body augmentation, morality, religion and new technology.

First we have an interview with writer / director Chris Carter and producer Frank Spotnitz about their new film The X-Files: I want to believe, which reunites iconic 90s TV characters Mulder and Scully on the big screen. The interview was recorded by Oli Smith.

We also have an interview with Rachel Welch, the writer of the new play Involution, which is set in the near future and deals with human rights and themes of identity in a world where genome mapping dictates people’s lifestyles as well as featuring shadowy government agents and robot pleasure companions.
Involution is on at Involution is on at The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh every day at noon from 31/07/08 to 25/08/08…

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