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

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

Panel Borders: Young graphic novelists, Spring 2012 [ 36:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

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: Depicting the personal Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

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 →

Panel Borders: The art of Tom Gauld [ 33:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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: Comic stamps [ 29:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

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 (starts at 3.47 min)

Continue reading →

Panel Borders: Gods and Monsters by Bernie Wrightson and Rebekah Isaacs [ 34:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

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 →

Panel Borders: Tim Sale - Painting Batman and other Heroes [ 37:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

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 →

Laydeez do podcasts: Depictions of the female form [ 1:28:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Panel Borders: Klaus Janson – Superhero Noir

Continuing our month of shows about iconoclastic American comic book artists, Alex Fitch talks to German-American artist Klaus Janson about his work such as inking and eventually providing most of the art for Frank Miller’s run on Daredevil and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in the early 80s to his more recent returns to the characters in Batman: Gothic and Daredevil: The End of Days. Klaus also talks about his love of teaching new artists and his experiences at comic book conventions over the years. (Recorded at Comics Launchpad, Birmingham 2011)

Inks and pencils by Klaus Janson - The Hulk, Daredevil, Batman and Wolverine

Links: Klaus Janson pages on Wikipedia and comicartcommunity.com
Summary of Klaus Janson’s lecture at comics launchpad
More info about Comics Launchpad, Birmingham, 2011
Listen to Alex’s interview with Klaus’ frequent collaborator John Romita Jr.
Continue reading →

Panel Borders: Klaus Janson - Superhero Noir [ 31:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download