Panel Borders: Alan Moore, saving local libraries

A special hour long edition of Panel Borders, recorded at St James’ Library in Northampton, February 2011. Alan Moore talks about the closure of local libraries and the loss this will cause for the community and reads the short story ‘Cold Reading’ from his periodical Dodgem Logic followed by a Q and A with members of the audience. Introduced by Graham Croucher, Secretary of the St. James’ Residents Association. Edited and recorded by Alex Fitch.

Alan Moore and local residents outside St James Library, Northampton

Death stalks the shelves of St James library

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: Sign the petition to save St. James Library
More info about St. James Library
Local Lib-Dem page on the potential closure
Alan Moore youtube video on the library cuts
Dodgem Logic website

More podcast interviews with Alan Moore and his collaborators
Interview with Josie Long and talk by David Quantick and Savage Pencil about their work in Dodgem Logic

Recommended events:

Orbital Comics exhibition and events

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

More info at www.orbitalcomics.com
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Panel Borders: Charlie Adlard and the Walking Dead

Concluding our month of shows looking at depictions of masculinity in America comics, we have an uncut hour long recording of Alex Fitch in conversation with British artist Charlie Adlard about his ongoing zombie comic The Walking Dead, recently turned into a TV series by Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption. Alex and Charlie also look at the latter’s work on 2000AD, The X-Files and CodeFlesh plus the evolution of The Walking Dead over the last seven years. The talk was recorded live at the London Print Studio, Harrow Road as part of 2010?s Comica Festival and includes questions from the audience, including festival organiser Paul Gravett.

The Walking Dead, trade paperback covers 11-13 by Charlie Adlard

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: The Walking Dead website
Charlie Adlard’s website
Wikipedia pages on Charlie Adlard and The Walking Dead

Listen to Alex Fitch and Duncan Nott’s 2007 interview with Charlie Adlard

Recommended events:

Orbital Comics exhibition and signings

Mark Stafford exhibition

Artist Mark Stafford (Bryan Talbot’s Cherubs / Electric Sheep Magazine) is exhibiting his work in the Orbital gallery, including images from his forthcoming contribution to Self Made Hero’s H.P. Lovecraft anthology… 18th Jan 2011 – 13th Feb 2011

Jim Zubkavich Signing

Jim Zubkavich, creator of Skull Kickers will be signing at Orbital Comics, Great Newport Street, London on Saturday 5th Feb, 4pm
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Panel Borders: Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes – the deconstructed American male

Continuing Panel Borders’ month long look at depictions of Masculinity in American Comics, Alex Fitch talks to award winning graphic novelists Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes who both publish their work first as chapters in periodicals Acme Novelty Library and Eightball respectively. Ware’s graphic novel, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth, won the Guardian First Book Award in 2001, while Clowes’ Art School Confidential and Ghost World have both been adapted as American Independent films, the latter seeing the author nominated for his Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2002 Academy Awards…

Alex Fitch interviews Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes

Please note: a video podcast of this interview is available at http://www.youtube.com/panelborders

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: Daniel Clowes‘ online bibliography
BBC online interview with illustrations and screensaver
More info about Wilson, Ice Haven and Ghost World at randomhouse.co.uk

Chris Ware‘s animations from This American Life
Unofficial ACME Novelty library website
More info about Jimmy Corrigan, the smartest kid on Earth and Quimby the Mouse at randomhouse.co.uk
Wikipedia pages on Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes

Recommended events:

Laydeez do Comics January meeting

Guest Speakers:

Corinne Pearlman: Cartoonist, designer and illustrator.
Co-coordinator of Cartoon County, the Sussex Association of Cartoonists and Comic Strip Artists.
Creative Director of Comic Company, and Myriad Editions

Erica Smith: Editor and Creator of Girl Frenzy, the UK’s only underground girl zine. First Published in ’91.

Ilya: British comic book writer and artist.
Creator of Bic who appeared in a self-published series of comics (now collected as Skidmarks). His first (not graphic) novel The Clay Dreaming was published in 2010.

Monday 24 January 2011, 6.30-9.30pm, The Rag Factory, Henage Street (off Brick Lane), London E1 5LJ

More info at: www.laydeezdocomics.com

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Panel Borders: the Kick-Ass work of John Romita Jr.

Continuing our month of shows about portrayals of masculinity in American comics, Alex Fitch talks to comic book creator John Romita Jr., artist of nearly 150 issues of Spider-man over the last 30 years and more recently of Mark Millar’s creator owned series Kick-Ass which was turned into one of 2010’s most enjoyable films. Alex and John also talk about the latter’s creator owned series The Gray Area and his forthcoming series Shmuggy And Bimbo, set in 1970s New York, written by Howard Chaykin.

Comics by John Romita Jr.: Kick-Ass vol.2 promotional image, Amazing Spider-Man #484, The Gray Area #1, The Avengers vol.4 #1

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 John Romita Jr. and Kick-Ass
More info about CLiNT magazine featuring Kick-Ass series 2

Recommended events:

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/
Continue reading →

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Panel Borders: Four Color Westerns

Starting 2011’s run of shows, Panel Borders begins its yearly look at depictions of Masculinity in American Comics. This week, Alex Fitch talks to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s comics expert Ian Rakoff about his forthcoming lecture on the Western genre in magazines and strips, from Classics Illustrated to Donald Duck, Red Ryder to the brutality of E.C. Comics…

Various Western themed comics 1950-1979

(Please note Panel Borders will be back on air 13/01/11 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

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: More info about V and A lectures
Info about the illustration –
Red Ryder #3 (1941) by Fred Harman
Four Color comic #199 – Donald Duck (1948) by Carl Barks
Gunfighter #13 (1950) by Johnny Craig
Kit Carson, Indian Scout #1 (1950) by Everett Raymond Kinstler
Classics Illustrated #154 – The Conspiracy of Pontiac (1960) by Gerald McCann
Commanche Moon graphic novel (1979) by Jack Jackson
Wikipedia page on Classics Illustrated
Lambiek page on Everett Raymond Kinstler

Listen to Alex’s interviews with Ian about the crossover between the Western on film and in comics and his V and A talk on ‘The Creation of the American identity through 20th Century comic strips’

Recommended events:

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!
Continue reading →

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Panel Borders: Discussing Derek the Sheep

Concluding our month long look at anthropomorphic / funny animal comics Alex Fitch leads a discussion recorded at the Streatham library graphic novel readers group about Derek the Sheep and other funny animal comics with creator Gary Northfield and colourist Ellen Lindner.
(Partially broadcast 16/12/10 on Resonance FM)

Extract from Derek the Sheep by Gary Northfield

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: For more info about Gary’s comics please visit his website www.garynorthfield.co.uk
Ellen Lindner’s comics website: www.littlewhitebird.com
Pedro Galvao’s blog: http://sequentialscripts.blogspot.com
For more about the Streatham Library graphic novels reading group, please go to http://community.livejournal.com/lambeth_comics

To hear more discussions of comics, manga and graphic novels recorded at Streatham Library, click here…

Call for Mechanical Elephant strips

As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a two page comic under the title: ‘Mechanical Elephant’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject ‘Mechanical Elephant’ to: Kam [at] hkd.uk.com or Rick [at] hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

More info at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Panel Borders: Discussing Derek the Sheep [ 47:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Panel Borders: Comical Animal

Continuing a series of shows about anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to Jim Medway about his new online web comic magazine Comical Animal. Alex and Jim talk about the latter’s influences from Richard Scarry to kitchen sink drama, creating the popular strip Crab Lane Crew in The DFC and curating a bimonthly magazine that features the likes of Woodrow Phoenix, Gary Northfield and Sarah McIntyre…

Partially broadcast 16th December 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Comical Animal workout by Jim Medway

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: www.comicalanimal.com
Wikipedia pages on anthropomorphic comics
Jim Medway’s website and blog

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: 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
Continue reading →

Panel Borders: Joining the Mouse Guard [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download