Category Archives: Panel Borders

Panel Borders: Erica Smith – Girl Frenzy

Panel Borders: Erica Smith – Girl Frenzy

Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Erica Smith recalls her influential zine Girl Frenzy, made by Brightonians in the 1990s, in an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Hove. Alex and Erica also discuss the anti-UKIP beer mats the artist designed for distribution in the South East before the General Election and her contributions to “Julia Kay’s Portrait Party”.(Originally broadcast as part of the ‘Clear Spot’, 12th October 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Issues 3 - 5 of Girl Frenzy, Erica Smith holds GF annual (photo by Sarah McIntyre), anti-UKIP beer mats designed by Smith

Issues 3 – 5 of Girl Frenzy, Erica Smith holds GF annual (photo by Sarah McIntyre), anti-UKIP beer mats designed by Smith

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Interview with Erica Smith about portrait art
Article by Smith on her anti-UKIP beer mat design
Article by Charlotte Cooper on her contributions to Girl Frenzy

Panel Borders: Chris Riddell

Panel Borders: Chris Riddell

Alex Fitch talks to Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell about newspaper cartoons, Goth Girl and illustrating Coraline. Chris and Alex also discuss the artist’s different takes on Alienography for political cartoons and children’s books, plus his memories of encountering David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta at a young age. (Originally broadcast as part of the ‘Clear Spot’, 15th September 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM. Recorded at Graphic Brighton)

Political and non-political Alienography, Antrobus and Coraline by Chris Riddell

Political and non-political Alienography, Antrobus and Coraline by Chris Riddell

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Chris Riddell’s website
Info about Riddell’s illustrated books at bloomsbury.com
Biography at cartoons.ac.uk
More info about Graphic Brighton

Panel Borders: Dave Gibbons, Comics Laureate

Panel Borders: Dave Gibbons, Comics Laureate

In the first of a new series of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to ‘Comics Laureate’ Dave Gibbons about his career so far, from Doctor Who Weekly strips to Watchmen, Give me Liberty to Kingsman / The Secret Service. Recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, October 2014. Originally broadcast as part of the ‘Clear Spot’, 15th September 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Dave Gibbons interviewed by Alex Fitch at LICAF, interior art from The Iron Legion, covers of Doctor Who #17 and Watchmen #1

Dave Gibbons interviewed by Alex Fitch at LICAF, interior art from The Iron Legion, covers of Doctor Who #17 and Watchmen #1

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Interview with Dave Gibbons about becoming Comics Laureate
More info about the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
2008 video interview with Dave Gibbons

Panel Borders: On the Brink of a Brass Sun

Panel Borders: On the Brink of a Brass Sun

Concluding a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’, Alex Fitch talks to artist I.N.J. Culbard about his work for 2000AD on strips such as ‘clock-punk fantasy’ serial Brass Sun and the forthcoming Brink. Ian also explains his unusual method for drawing Dan Abnett’s anthropomorphic adaptation of The War of the Worlds – Wild’s End published by Boom! – plus his recent graphic novels for SelfMadeHero: Celeste and The King in Yellow. (Last in the current series – Panel Borders will return in a new slot and format in September)
Originally broadcast 27th August 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Covers of Wilds End, Brass Sun and Celeste, interior art from The King in Yellow by I.N.J. Culbard

Covers of Wilds End, Brass Sun and Celeste, interior art from The King in Yellow by I.N.J. Culbard

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: More info about I.N.J. Culbard on SelfMaderHero’s website
Buy Brass Sun volume one from 2000AD online
More info about Wild’s End at Boom! Studios website
Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Ian Culbard

Panel Borders: Wagner and Gibbons

Panel Borders: Wagner and Gibbons

Continuing a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’, Alex Fitch talks to another writer and artist about their work in and after 2000AD. In an extract from a Q and A recorded on stage at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Alex Fitch talks to artist Dave Gibbons about his early years, drawing such strips as a reimagined Dan Dare for a 1980s audience. Also, Alex talks to writer John Wagner about scripting Judge Dredd on and off since 1977 and other projects that have been adapted to the screen such as A History of Violence (recorded at London Super Comic Con).
Originally broadcast 20th August 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Rogue Trooper and Dan Dare drawn by Dave Gibbons, A History of Violence, Judge Dredd and The Bogie Man written by John Wagner

Rogue Trooper and Dan Dare drawn by Dave Gibbons, A History of Violence, Judge Dredd and The Bogie Man written by John Wagner

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org Continue reading

Panel Borders: Outlier and other 3rillers

Panel Borders: Outlier and other 3rillers

Continuing a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’, Alex Fitch talks to writer Tom Eglington about writing strips for 2000AD including Judge Dredd and “Tharg’s 3rillers”, plus the serial he originated, Outlier, a space-set revenge saga continuing the periodical’s tradition of weird looking protagonists!
Alex and Tom also discuss the latter’s forays in children’s books such as The Spellbound Hotel, making cut-out paper craft, and his entry into Myriad Editions’ First Fictions competition, Amber Sands. Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, June 2015. (Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, June 2015 / Originally broadcast 13th August 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Paper craft by Tom Eglington, art from Outlier, covers of 2000AD and The Spellbound Hotel

Paper craft by Tom Eglington, art from Outlier, covers of 2000AD and The Spellbound Hotel

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Tom Eglington’s instagram site
Fantastic Fiction page on Eglington
2000AD website
Cartoon County website
Interview with Tom on The Streets Today website

Panel Borders: 2000AD alumni

Panel Borders: 2000AD alumni

Starting a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’, Alex Fitch talks to a writer and an artist about their work in and after 2000AD. Colin Wilson discusses getting his first work on the periodical and drawing Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper strips in the early 1980s, while, in an interview recorded at Bristol Comic Expo 2014, writer Jim Alexander and artist Pete Woods discuss titles published by Alexander’s imprint ‘Planet Jimbot’, including Amazing and Fantastic Tales, and Food Chain. Originally broadcast 6th August 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Cover and interior art from 2000AD by Colin Wilson / Cover of Amazing and Fantastic Tales, and interior art from Food Chain by Jim Alexander and Pete Woods

Cover and interior art from 2000AD by Colin Wilson / Cover of Amazing and Fantastic Tales, and interior art from Food Chain by Jim Alexander and Pete Woods

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Jim Alexander’s blog
Pete Woods’ website
Planet JimBot shop
Colin Wilson’s website and profile at 2000ad.org
Listen to Alex Fitch’s interview with Colin Wilson about working on Young Blueberry

Panel Borders: Wilson and Wyld

Panel Borders: Wilson and Wyld

Concluding a month of shows about Australasian comic book creators, Alex Fitch talks to an Australian writer living in London and a New Zealander artist living in Australia who found fame in Europe… Evie Wyld discusses her collaboration with artist Joe Sumner on her first graphic novel Everything is Teeth, which depicts her childhood fear of sharks in New South Wales, and how it compares to other predators depicted in her novel All the Birds, Singing.

Also, Colin Wilson explores his early comics – Strips and The Adventures of Captain Sunshine – published in New Zealand and explains how he found work in the Northern Hemisphere on European Graphic Albums featuring Lieutenant Blueberry, and American comics such as Star Wars and The Losers. Originally broadcast 30th July 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Cover of Strips and interior art from Captain Sunshine and Blueberry by Colin Wilson / Cover and interior art from Everything is Teeth and cover of All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld

Cover of Strips and interior art from Captain Sunshine and Blueberry by Colin Wilson / Cover and interior art from Everything is Teeth and cover of All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Evie Wyld’s website
Colin Wilson’s website
Review of All the Birds, Singing in The Boston Globe
Info about ‘Review Bookshop’, Peckham
Article on Captain Sunshine on From Earth’s End blog
Info about The Young Blueberry by Jean Giraud, Colin Wilson and others on wikipedia

Panel Borders: Bruce Mutard – from The Bunker to The Sacrifice

Panel Borders: Bruce Mutard – from The Bunker to The Sacrifice

Continuing a month of shows about Australasian comics, Alex Fitch talks to Melbourne cartoonist Bruce Mutard about his career so far, from his first graphic novel The Bunker to experimental comics such as Alice in Nomansland, and working on a sequel to his World War II graphic novel The Sacrifice. Mutard also discusses titles published by his fledgling imprint Fabilaux, the varied influences on his style from ligne claire to Crumb, and his experience of doing an MA course in comics. Originally broadcast 23rd July 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Interior art and cover from The Sacrifice, interior art from Alice in Nomansland and The Bunker by Bruce Mutard, cover and interior strip from Art is a Lie by  Carol Wood and Susan Butcher

Interior art and cover from The Sacrifice, interior art from Alice in Nomansland and The Bunker by Bruce Mutard, cover and interior strip from Art is a Lie by Carol Wood and Susan Butcher

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Bruce Mutard’s website
Info about the crowd funding campaign for Art is a Lie by Carol Wood and Susan Butcher published by Mutard
Publisher’s website page on The Sacrifice

Panel Borders: Blastosaurus, The Great Gatsby and other fantastical creatures

Panel Borders: Blastosaurus, The Great Gatsby and other fantastical creatures

Continuing a month of shows about Australasian comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of cartoonists whose work mixes anthropological characters with unusual situations. New Zealand publisher Richard Fairgray discusses the police procedural dinosaur comic Blastosaurus which he draws and co-writes and his imprint Square Planet Comics, in an interview recorded at London Film and Comic Con (which returns to Olympia today and tomorrow).
Also, Alex talks to Australian artist Nicki Greenberg about her full length adaptations of The Great Gatsby and Hamlet, and her shorter comics on being a cartoonist and finding a zombie in your attic! Originally broadcast 16th July 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM.

Covers and interior art from Blastosaurus by Richard Fairgray / Cover and interior art from The Great Gatsby and zombie comic by Nicki Greenberg

Covers and interior art from Blastosaurus by Richard Fairgray / Cover and interior art from The Great Gatsby and zombie comic by Nicki Greenberg

For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org

Links: Square Planet Comics’ website
Nicki Greenberg’s website