This year’s cinematic interest in comic book adaptations shows no sign of slowing down with adaptations of Scott Pilgrim vs. the world and Tamara Drewe hitting screens over the next few weeks. To coincide with this, we have the next in our series of podcasts recorded in front of a live audience at this year’s Sci-Fi London festival – Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Woodrow Phoenix and film maker Howard Webster about the dialogue between comics, film and TV, looking at Woodrow’s work adapting his comic Pants Ant for the Cartoon Network and Howard’s interactive webcomic The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore. The podcast also features a brief appearance by Marcus Gilbert (Biggles / Army of Darkness) talking about his roles in Howard’s comics…

Clockwise from top left - Dragon Soccer and The many worlds of Jonas Moore directed by Howard Webster, Rumble Strip by Woodrow Phoenix and Pants Ant by Woodrow Phoenix and Louise Evans

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: Woodrow Phoenix’s website
Buy Rumble Strip from Myriad Editions
Louis (Felt Mistress) Evans’ felt renderings of Woodrow’s Pants Ant featured on her flickr pages

Howard Webster’s website featuring the Dragon Soccer promo starring Marcus Gilbert
The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore website featuring the latest ‘Nazi Germany’ promo starring Colin Salmon

Recommended events:

Becky Cloonan at Orbital Comics

The art of American comic book artist Becky Cloonan is on display at Orbital Comics from 20th August to 20th September. Best known for her collaborartions with writer Brian Wood, the exhibtion curated by Tom Humberstone includes around 20 original pieces of work on show as well as some limited screenprints, postcard sets and a hand-painted guitar (only on display the first weekend of the show).

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA
www.orbitalcomics.com

Hypercomics events at the Pump House Gallery and nearby

Sunday 22nd August, 12 noon – 6pm: Comiket – a small press comics fair being held in a marquee outside the venue which also features a drop in workshop for kids on character design. FREE

Thursday 26 August 6.30pm (Clapham Picture House): Film Screening - A Scanner Darkly

Film screening with an introduction by Nick Kaplony, Pump House Gallery.
A SCANNER DARKLY plays like a graphic novel come to life, with live-action photography overlaid with an advanced animation process. Ticktes £8.50 / £7 concessions

Sunday 19 September 1:30pm – 3:30pm: Masked Adventures in Comics!
Draw inspiration from the Hypercomics exhibition to design your own story’s masked heroes and villains. Get behind their masks to discover your characters’ unique personalities and use the Pump House Gallery
setting to bring them to life in a gripping story and leave with your own self-published comic book! This workshop will be led by comic artist Sarah McIntyre. FREE

Thursday 23 September 6:30pm – 8:00pm: Dave McKean Comics Masterclass
Award-winning author, artist and film-maker Dave McKean explains his working practices and processes in the creation of his comics in their various forms, including his new gallery project for Hypercomics.

N.B./ Tickets £15 Booking essential: call 020 8871 7572…

Filmbar70 at The Roxy Bar and Screen

Filmbar70 is the brainchild of two cinema and beer enthusiasts who want to share the joy of wrongfully obscure trash/class world cinema with monthly screenings at the brilliant Roxy Bar and Screen.

The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh (1971)
Director: Sergio Martino
Starring: Edwige Fenech| George Hilton| Ivan Rassimov + ads and action packed trailers!

Wednesday 25th August 2010 – groovy music from 7pm, programme starts 8pm – a night devoted to the wonderful Edwige Fenech and the sinister and sexy world of the giallo…

More info at www.filmbar70.com

In an extra additional Summer podcast of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch introduces a walking tour by Paul Gravett of the Hypercomics: The Shapes of Comics exhibition he’s curated at the Pump House Gallery in Battersea Park, featuring work by Adam Dant, Dave McKean, Warren Pleece and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey who additionally joins Paul to talk about his contribution to the exhibition and poster display outside.

Hypercomics: the shape of comics to come is on now until 26th of September at Pump House Gallery, Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ …

The Battersea Pump House Gallery with Hypercomics by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, Dave McKean and Warren Pleece beyond

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: Info about the Hypercomics: The Shapes of Comics exhibition at comicafestival.com and pumphousegallery.org.uk
Wikipedia pages on Dave McKean, Adam Dant, Warren Pleece and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey

Listen to Martin Myrone and Gerald Scarfe’s tour of Rude Britannia at Tate Britain (closes 05/09/10)

Recommended events:

Becky Cloonan at Orbital Comics

The art of American comic book artist Becky Cloonan is on display at Orbital Comics from 20th August to 20th September. Best known for her collaborartions with writer Brian Wood, the exhibtion curated by Tom Humberstone includes around 20 original pieces of work on show as well as some limited screenprints, postcard sets and a hand-painted guitar (only on display the first weekend of the show).
Becky herself will be in London on the 20th and will be available to chat to and sign books/art at the private view (8-10 pm 20th August 2010). There will also, as with all private views, be some free drink.

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA
www.orbitalcomics.com

Hypercomics events at the Pump House Gallery and nearby

Sunday 22nd August, 12 noon – 6pm: Comiket – a small press comics fair being held in a marquee outside the venue which also features a drop in workshop for kids on character design. FREE

Thursday 26 August 6.30pm (Clapham Picture House): Film Screening - A Scanner Darkly

Film screening with an introduction by Nick Kaplony, Pump House Gallery.
A SCANNER DARKLY plays like a graphic novel come to life, with live-action photography overlaid with an advanced animation process. Ticktes £8.50 / £7 concessions

Sunday 19 September 1:30pm – 3:30pm: Masked Adventures in Comics!
Draw inspiration from the Hypercomics exhibition to design your own story’s masked heroes and villains. Get behind their masks to discover your characters’ unique personalities and use the Pump House Gallery
setting to bring them to life in a gripping story and leave with your own self-published comic book! This workshop will be led by comic artist Sarah McIntyre. FREE

Thursday 23 September 6:30pm – 8:00pm: Dave McKean Comics Masterclass
Award-winning author, artist and film-maker Dave McKean explains his working practices and processes in the creation of his comics in their various forms, including his new gallery project for Hypercomics.

N.B./ Tickets £15 Booking essential: call 020 8871 7572…

Filmbar70 at The Roxy Bar and Screen

Filmbar70 is the brainchild of two cinema and beer enthusiasts who want to share the joy of wrongfully obscure trash/class world cinema with monthly screenings at the brilliant Roxy Bar and Screen.

The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh (1971)
Director: Sergio Martino
Starring: Edwige Fenech| George Hilton| Ivan Rassimov + ads and action packed trailers!

Wednesday 25th August 2010 – groovy music from 7pm, programme starts 8pm – a night devoted to the wonderful Edwige Fenech and the sinister and sexy world of the giallo…

More info at www.filmbar70.com

In the second of two episodes looking at Latin American comics, Alex Fitch is talking to Brazilian comic book artists Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon about their work from titles such as the horror graphic novel Pixu to the surreal superhero comic The Umbrella Academy written by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way…

Excerpts from The Umbrella Academy by Gabriel Ba & Gerard Way and De:tales by Ba and Fabio Moon

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: Bá and Moon’s blog
Wikipedia pages on Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon and The Umbrella Academy
Read the first 9 pages of Daytripper by Bá and Moon and The Umbrella Academy: Safe and Sound by Gabriel Bá and Gerard Way
Read an an interview with Bá and Moon from The Comics Journal

Recommended events:

Comics at The London Literature Festival

The London Literature Festival runs from July 1st – 18th at The South Bank Centre in London and features a multitude of talks, panels and presentations on the world of books. Comics are represented at the festival in a couple of events including:

Martin Rowson talks about adapting the ‘anti-novel: The Life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman into graphic novel format – Saturday 3 July 2010 – 4 pm

Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá talk about their careers so far as Brazilian comic creators who have found critical acclaim producing work for the US market – hosted by Jamie McKelvie – Monday 5 July 2010 – 7pm

‘Wallstrip’: Moon and Bá, in collaboration with local young people and artists, are creating a wall-sized comic strip on the ramp alongside Queen Elizabeth Hall, reflecting the stories and characters they meet throughout the festival.
Friday 9 July – from 9am (on display until Monday 30 August)

More info at www.londonlitfest.com

The Art Of Manga With Zarina Liew: Workshop

Participants will be taught how to create their own Manga character from scratch in a standing pose and how to illustrate a facial close-up of their character. Practical exercises will explore the methods and artistic techniques employed in inking and shading illustrations, enabling participants to complete the workshop having created their own finished Manga. Zarina Liew was the winner of the Matsuri Art Competition at the 2009 London Japan Festival and came second in the 2009 Manga Jiman awards.

Thursday 8 July, 18.00 – 21.00, Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP
Tickets: £25-£35

In the first of two shows looking at Latin American comics, and in advance of this weekend’s mini Comica Argentina festival, Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist and animator Oscar Grillo about his work, from travelling the world to find employment in the 1960s and 70s, to creating an animation studio in the 80s and working on graphic novels as diverse as the children’s book The world is round to an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest…

Panel from The world is round by Oscar Grillo and Graham Marks

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: Oscar’s commercial and personal blogs
Animation studio – Klacto productions
Read The World is Round
Info about comic book artist John Watson

Recommended events:

Comica Argentina

A mini Comica festival for Summer: an exhibition of the cream of Argentine comic art accompanies a trio of events at King’s Place in Somers Town…

July 2nd: Paul Gravett gives an illustrated talk about the history of comic art in Argentina. 6.30 pm
July 3rd: The Mystery Of The First Animated Movies – Gabriele Zucchelli’s documentary film, made in 2006, explores the making of El Apóstol. 6.30 pm
July 4th: Paul Gravett talks to cartoonist Oscar Grillo and director / animator Gabriele Zucchelli. 6.00 pm

The exhibition is being held at Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PJ to June 25 and then at King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG from July 1st-4th.

More info at www.comicafestival.com

Comics at The London Literature Festival

The London Literature Festival runs from July 1st – 18th at The South Bank Centre in London and features a multitude of talks, panels and presentations on the world of books. Comics are represented at the festival in a couple of events including:

Martin Rowson talks about adapting the ‘anti-novel: The Life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman into graphic novel format – Saturday 3 July 2010 – 4 pm

Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá talk about their careers so far as Brazilian comic creators who have found critical acclaim producing work for the US market – hosted by Jamie McKelvie – Monday 5 July 2010 – 7pm

More info at www.londonlitfest.com

In the third of three shows about and inspired by the Tate Britain exhibition ‘Rude Britannia’, Alex Fitch talks to the beloved British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe about his contributions to the exhibition and Dickon Harris talks to comedienne Josie Long about her interest in creating ‘zines and comics for distribution at her stand-up comedy gigs…

Clockwise from top - part of Rude Britannia curated by Gerald Scarfe, a classic drawing of Thatcher by the artist, cover of a zine by Josie Long

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: Rude Britannia microsite
Video tour of the exhibtion on The Telegraph website
Gerald Scarfe’s website

Josie Long’s website including her comics archive
Info about The Black Heart, home of Josie’s ‘Lost Treasures’…

Recommended events:

David Hine and Shaky Kane signing and exhibition at Orbital Comics

David Hine (Son of M, X-Men Noir) and Shaky Kane (Soul Sisters, Judge Dredd) willl be signing their new comic, Bulletproof Coffin, at Orbital Comics Thursday 24th June 2010 from 5-7pm.

There is also an exhibition of Shaky Kane artwork in the Orbital Comics Gallery from 14th-30th June.

Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA

Comica Argentina

A mini Comica festival for Summer: an exhibition of the cream of Argentine comic art accompanies a trio of events at King’s Place in Somers Town…

July 2nd: Paul Gravett gives an illustrated talk about the history of comic art in Argentina. 6.30 pm
July 3rd: The Mystery Of The First Animated Movies – Gabriele Zucchelli’s documentary film, made in 2006, explores the making of El Apóstol. 6.30 pm
July 4th: Paul Gravett talks to cartoonist Oscar Grillo and director / animator Gabriele Zucchelli. 6.00 pm

The exhibition is being held at Canning House, 2 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PJ to June 25 and then at King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG from July 1st-4th.

More info at www.comicafestival.com

Originally broadcast 09/06/10 as part of a Clear Spot on Resonance 104.4 FM

In the second of a trio of shows about and inspired by ‘Rude Britannia’, Alex Fitch introduces a special episode of Panel Borders presenting a tour of the Tate Britain exhibition of the same name narrated by curator Martin Myrone, featuring additional commentary by Gerald Scarfe who introduces his section of the exhibition and a short interview with Myrone.

Images from Rude Britannia - a giant copy of Viz, If Not Now Then When by John Isaacs, Ladies Night by Beryl Cook

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: Rude Britannia microsite
Video tour of the exhibtion on The Telegraph website
Gerald Scarfe’s website

Recommended events:

Laydeez do Comics ‘Zines

Monday 21 June 2010

The monthly event for female comic creators and fans of female comic creators…

Guest Speakers:

Dr Roger Sabin, Reader in Popular Culture at Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London. Author of Comics, Comix and Graphic Novels (2001)

Prof Teal Triggs, Professor of Graphic Design and Head of Research, School of Graphic Design, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London. Graphic design historian, critic and educator. Co-author with Roger Sabin of Critical Radar: Fanzines and Alternative Comics From 1976 To Now (2001)

Gareth Brookes and Jimi Gherkin, comix artists and members of
Alternative Press

Rachel House, artist and Co-director of Space Station Sixty-Five

Katie Allen, feminist zinester and editor of women’s magazine www.fat-quarter.co.uk

The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

David Hine and Shaky Kane signing and exhibition at Orbital Comics

David Hine (Son of M, X-Men Noir) and Shaky Kane (Soul Sisters, Judge Dredd) willl be signing their new comic, Bulletproof Coffin, at Orbital Comics Thursday 24th June 2010 from 5-7pm.

There is also an exhibition of Shaky Kane artwork in the Orbital Comics Gallery from 14th-30th June.

Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA

In the first of a trio of shows about and inspired by the Tate Britain exhibition ‘Rude Britannia’, Alex Fitch talks to newspaper cartoonist Martin Rowson about his rereleased graphic adaptation of the humorous and experimental Eighteenth century novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Lawrence Sterne. Alex and Martin also talk about the latter’s interest in the history of cartooning from William Hogarth to George Herriman, the artist’s experiences in using different drawing media and his ways of overcoming boredom!

Images from Tristram Shandy and The Guardian newspaper by Martin Rowson

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: Guardian archive of Martin Rowson’s cartoons
Info about Tristram Shandy at publisher Self Made Hero’s website
Rude Britannia microsite

In the last of this month’s shows about ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to Steffen P. Maarup about the collection of Danish comics he’s edited and translated into English: ‘From Wonderland with love – Danish comics in the third Millennium’, an anthology that surveys the current comics scene in Denmark and collects creators from outside the world of comics also, including illustrators and fine artists alongside their sequential art peers. Alex and Steffen also talk about the wider world of Danish comics, including Danes who have found work on American titles and the controversy over the dozen cartoon illustrations printed in the Jyllands-Posten (Jutland Post) which led to death threats for the creators.

Extracts from From Wonderland with love by Jacob Ørsted with Søren Mosdal and Simon Bukhave

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: Steffen’s publishing company – Aben Maler
The Comics Journal message board thread on From Wonderland with love
Info about Komiks.dk – the International Comics festival in Copenhagen

Recommended events:

London ‘zine symposium

Saturday 29th May 2010, The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane, London sees the finest ‘zine, small press comics, art pamplet and radical literature creators convene for this one day festival. Badges, cakes, prints and comix!

The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ / www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk

Spring 2010 MCM Expo

…or heading further East, is this first of this year’s MCM Expos in the London Docklands – cast and crew from SF series Caprica, Fringe and Stargate: Universe rub shoulders with some of the top UK comic creators such as Ben Templesmith, Jock, Paul Cornell, Richard Starkings, Andy Diggle, Paul Duffield, Marc Ellerby, Kieron Gillen, Gary Northfield, Jamie McKelvie, Daniel Merlin Goodbury, Emma Vieceli, Jon Scrivens, Sarah McIntyre, Melody Lee, Gary Erskine, Oliver Lambden, John Aggs, Lizz Lunney, Ilya, Ian Churchill, Simon Spurrier and Kevin Maguire!

Saturday 29th / 30th May, Excel Centre, Docklands, London E16 1XL / www.londonexpo.com

Continuing ‘cross cultural comics month’ on the show, we’re looking at the winners of last year’s Manga Jiman (Pride in Manga) competiton run by the Japanese Embassy in London to find the best new Japanese style comics made in the UK. Dickon Harris talks to the runners up – Zarina Liew and David Lander – about their entries to the competition and the crossover between British small press and manga styles in their work; while Alex Fitch talks to Yuri Kore about her winning entry “The boy who runs from the sun” and drawing comics again, having moved to Britain from the Manhwa industry in Korea.

Excerpts from Manga Jiman winning entries in 2010 by Yuri Kore, Zarina Liew and David Lander

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: Info about the winners on the Embassy of Japan website
Read an ebook about the winners, including extracts from the ten shortlisted comics
Winners’ websites: Yuri Kore / Zarina Liew / David Lander

Listen to Alex’s interviews with the winners of the 2007 competition
Listen to Dickon’s previous interview with David Lander about his work

Recommended events:

City of Abacus at The Book Club

Throughout May at The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.

Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com

Solipsistic Pop 2 at Orbital Comics

Pencil artwork from Solipsistic Pop 2 cover

Bristol International Comics Expo

Alongside a host of brilliant international comic book creators from Chris Claremont to Jesus Saiz and Ramon Bachs, Alex Fitch will be talking on a couple of panels –
DIGITAL COMICS PANEL: 4.30PM, Saturday 22nd May @ Mercure / Holland House Hotel, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol BS1 6SQ with Kieron Gillen, Kevin Mann, Eddie Deighton and Martin ‘Biff’ Averre

EAGLE AWARDS 2010 and beyond: 11AM, Sunday 23rd May @ Ramada Hotel, Redcliffe Way, Bristol, BS1 6NJ with Cassandra Conroy, Barry Renshaw, Glen Carter

Tickets for the ‘mainsteam’ comics Expo at the Ramada are sold out, but there are still some left for the Small Press Expo at the Mercure Hotel on the Sunday.

More info: www.spexpo.co.uk / www.fantasyevents.org

Continuing our month long look at ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to veteran British comic book writer Pat Mills about his forays into the French market over the last 15 years, writing such titles as Sha and Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit which have only been released in English in the last couple of years. Alex and Pat also talk about the latter’s collaborations with the late artist John Hicklenton which have found a greater and more appreciative audience in Europe, translated into French and other European languages and released as Graphic Albums, than they did in their country of origin.

Excerpts from Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit and Inspector Ryan by John Hicklenton, written by Pat Mills

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 Requiem Vampire Knight, Pat Mills, Olivier Ledroit and John Hicklenton
Pat’s French language comics company: Nickel Editions
Read (the French language version of) Inspector Ryan by Mills and Hicklenton at 2000AD online
Read Pat’s eulogy to John on the Forbidden Planet blog
Listen to Pat’s previous appearances on the show

Recommended events:

City of Abacus at The Book Club

At The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.

Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com

Solipsistic Pop 2 at Orbital Comics

Pencil artwork from Solipsistic Pop 2 cover