Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Panel Borders: Gleaming the Silver Surfer
September 30, 2010
Panel Borders:
Gleaming the Silver Surfer
Originally broadcast 30th September 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Panel from Silver Surfer: In thy name by Simon Spurrier and Tan Eng Huat
Concluding our month of shows looking at British writers of superhero titles, Alex Fitch talks to comic book writer and novelist Simon Spurrier about the Marvel comics character the Silver Surfer, who he penned in a recent mini-series called ‘In Thy Name’. Alex and Simon will be discussing the character’s origins on and off the page, the genius of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original creation and aspects of space opera and messianic eschatology in his appearances!
Recorded in front of a live audience as part of a fund raising night to support London radio station Resonance FM, themed around the subject of silver, at The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London
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: Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Simon
Wikipedia pages on Simon Spurrier and the Silver Surfer
Recommended events:
Lecture on Ethnicity in 20th Century American Comics
The Victoria and Albert Museum’s resident comic book expert Ian Rakoff will be giving a talk on Ethnicity in 20th Century American Comics from The Yellow Kid to Tarzan at Oxford University’s Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology on Friday 15th October 2010.
Ian looks at representations of race and gender in early American comic strips, taking in Little Orphan Annie, Buster Brown and Little Nemo in Slumberland.
11am, Friday 15th October
Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology
51/53 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 6PE
Pickled Ink’s search for a comics artist
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade.
Working with Jenny, the creator/writer of the TV series Super Gran, who cut her teeth writing strips for the British girls comic Tammy, and comic book author and editor Pat Mills, the agency is searching for an outstanding character-led artist to illustrate Jenny’s first graphic novel script, Party Girls. The winner will be awarded £1000.00 and a contract of representation at Pickled Ink, whose current artists include Hanako Clulow, Hattie Newman, Hannah Bagshaw and many others.
In brief, they’re asking for: character design of two lead characters; and a 20 frame sample sequence and a front cover design. The winning artist must be an existing or recent graduate from the last 12 months only, able to draw modern fashion, facial expression, great storytelling, and be generally ’2011′.
The deadline for entries is Monday 8th November 2010, more info at www.pickledink.com where you can download a PDF of the full rules and conditions
Today’s show: Gleaming the Silver Surfer
September 30, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: Gleaming the Silver Surfer
Panel from Silver Surfer: In thy name by Simon Spurrier and Tan Eng Huat
Concluding our month of shows looking at British writers of superhero titles, Alex Fitch talks to comic book writer and novelist Simon Spurrier about the Marvel comics character the Silver Surfer, who he penned in a recent mini-series called ‘In Thy Name’. Alex and Simon will be discussing the character’s origins on and off the page, the genius of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original creation and aspects of space opera and messianic eschatology in his appearances!
Recorded in front of a live audience as part of a fund raising night to support London radio station Resonance FM, themed around the subject of silver, at The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London
5pm, 30/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast here at 5.30pm
Links: Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Simon
Wikipedia pages on Simon Spurrier and the Silver Surfer
Recommended events:
Lecture on Ethnicity in 20th Century American Comics
The Victoria and Albert Museum’s resident comic book expert Ian Rakoff will be giving a talk on Ethnicity in 20th Century American Comics from The Yellow Kid to Tarzan at Oxford University’s Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology on Friday 15th October 2010.
Ian looks at representations of race and gender in early American comic strips, taking in Little Orphan Annie, Buster Brown and Little Nemo in Slumberland.
11am, Friday 15th October
Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology
51/53 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 6PE
Pickled Ink’s search for a comics artist
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade.
Working with Jenny, the creator/writer of the TV series Super Gran, who cut her teeth writing strips for the British girls comic Tammy, and comic book author and editor Pat Mills, the agency is searching for an outstanding character-led artist to illustrate Jenny’s first graphic novel script, Party Girls. The winner will be awarded £1000.00 and a contract of representation at Pickled Ink, whose current artists include Hanako Clulow, Hattie Newman, Hannah Bagshaw and many others.
In brief, they’re asking for: character design of two lead characters; and a 20 frame sample sequence and a front cover design. The winning artist must be an existing or recent graduate from the last 12 months only, able to draw modern fashion, facial expression, great storytelling, and be generally ’2011′.
The deadline for entries is Monday 8th November 2010, more info at www.pickledink.com where you can download a PDF of the full rules and conditions
Electric Sheep podcast: Masters of Horror
September 24, 2010 — 2 Comments
Electric Sheep podcast:
Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper: Masters of Horror
Partially broadcast 24/09/10 as an episode of I’m ready for my close-up on Resonance 104.4 FM
Original poster for Eggshells by Tobe Hooper, Corey Feldman and Tara Leigh discuss their motivation with director Joe Dante on the set of Splatter
To coincide with the start of a month of horror film releases in the cinema and on DVD in the run up to Halloween, Alex Fitch interviews two veterans of horror cinema, Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper. Alex and Joe talk about the director’s two latest projects, Splatter, starting on the Horror Channel (Sky / Virgin / Freesat) 24/09/10 and continues over the next two Fridays, and his new 3D film currently in UK cinemas The Hole. Also, in an interview recorded at last month’s Frightfest horror festival in London, Alex talks to Tobe Hooper, following a retrospective screening of his first two films Eggshells and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre which depict the end of the summer of love and the loss of America’s innocence in the 1970s; Eggshells received its UK premiere at Frightfest and will be released on Blu-Ray / DVD towards the end of the year.
More for more information and a variety of formats you can stream / download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
In association with 
Links: to follow…
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Joe Dante about his debut film The Movie Orgy / read a partial transcript of the interview, focussing on Splatter at www.electricsheepmagazine.com
Recommended events:
Laydeez do Comics September 2010
The monthly meeting for female comics creators, fans of female comic creators and female comic book fans (men allowed also!)…
Next Meeting: Monday 27 September, 6.30-9.30pm
VENUE: The Rag Factory
Guest Speakers:
Ellen Lindner (Whores of Mensa) / Patrice Aggs (The DFC) / Steve White (I Drink Coffee and Draw Press LTD) / Charlie Bowden from Pickled Ink Illustration Agency, to discuss a call for entries for The Pickled Award for graduate illustrator.
Recommended Read: Mome Vol 19. Summer 2010, the latest edition of Fantagraphics’ twice yearly anthology…
The Rag Factory
16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ
Today’s show – Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper: Masters of Horror
September 24, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
I’m ready for my close-up – Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper: Masters of Horror
Original poster for Eggshells by Tobe Hooper, Corey Feldman and Tara Leigh discuss their motivation with director Joe Dante on the set of Splatter
To coincide with the start of a month of horror film releases in the cinema and on DVD in the run up to Halloween, Alex Fitch interviews two veterans of horror cinema, Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper. Alex and Joe talk about the director’s two latest projects, Splatter, starting on the Horror Channel (Sky / Virgin / Freesat) tonight at 10:55 pm and continuing over the next two Fridays, and his new 3D film currently in UK cinemas The Hole. Also, in an interview recorded at last month’s Frightfest horror festival in London, Alex talks to Tobe Hooper, following a retrospective screening of his first two films Eggshells and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre which depict the end of the summer of love and the loss of America’s innocence in the 1970s; Eggshells received its UK premiere at Frightfest and will be released on Blu-Ray / DVD towards the end of the year.
5pm 24/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Joe Dante about his debut film The Movie Orgy / read a partial transcript of the interview, focussing on Splatter at www.electricsheepmagazine.com
Links: to follow
Recommended events:
Laydeez do Comics September 2010
The monthly meeting for female comics creators, fans of female comic creators and female comic book fans (men allowed also!)…
Next Meeting: Monday 27 September, 6.30-9.30pm
VENUE: The Rag Factory
Guest Speakers:
Ellen Lindner (Whores of Mensa) / Patrice Aggs (The DFC) / Steve White (I Drink Coffee and Draw Press LTD) / Charlie Bowden from Pickled Ink Illustration Agency, to discuss a call for entries for The Pickled Award for graduate illustrator.
Recommended Read: Mome Vol 19. Summer 2010, the latest edition of Fantagraphics’ twice yearly anthology…
The Rag Factory
16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ
Pickled Ink‘s search for a comics artist
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade.
(more…)
Panel Borders: AC / DC (Paul Cornell and David Hine)
September 23, 2010 — 1 Comment
Panel Borders:
AC / DC
Originally broadcast 23rd September 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Action Comics #690 and 691 by Paul Cornell and Pete Woods, Detective Comics #864 and 867 by David Hine, Jeremy Haun and Scott McDaniel
Continuing our month of shows looking at British writers of superhero titles, Alex Fitch talks to the current writers of two of the longest running American comics – Action Comics (which normally features Superman) and Detective Comics (which generally features Batman), Paul Cornell and David Hine.
Alex talks to Paul about his sojourn on the book which will detail a year long quest by Lex Luthor to gain superpowers and about his forthcoming titles Knight and Squire – a British set spin off of Batman - and Soldier One, a Science-Fiction title for Boom! comics, based on an idea by Stan Lee, and to David about exploring light and darkness in Gotham City, the joy of writing the psychopaths in Arkham Asylum and his surrealistic pop art Image comic The Bulletproof Coffin.
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 Paul Cornell, David Hine, Action Comics and Detective Comics
David’s Strange Embrace website
Paul’s website
Read an interview with Paul about Knight and Squire
Read an article about Action Comics #894 featuring ‘Death‘
Read 6 pages of Soldier Zero #1 by Paul Cornell, Stan Lee and Javier Pina
Read an interview with David about Batman: Arkham Reborn
Read the whole of The Bulletproof Coffin #1 online
Related podcasts:
Alex’s previous interview with David Hine (and Frazer Irving) about X-Men: The 198, Silent War, Spawn and Shaun of the dead.
Alex’s panel discussion on Sci-Fi comics with Paul Cornell, Bryan Talbot, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey and Paul Duffield.
Alex’s interviews with Paul Cornell and Alan Davis about Captain Britain
Alex’s interview with Neil Gaiman about Stardust
Recommended events:
Pickled Ink‘s search for a comics artist
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade.
(more…)
Today’s show: AC / DC (Paul Cornell and David Hine)
September 23, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: AC / DC (Paul Cornell and David Hine)
Action Comics #690 and 691 by Paul Cornell and Pete Woods, Detective Comics #864 and 867 by David Hine, Jeremy Haun and Scott McDaniel
Continuing our month of shows looking at British writers of superhero titles, Alex Fitch talks to the current writers of two of the longest running American comics – Action Comics (which normally features Superman) and Detective Comics (which generally features Batman), Paul Cornell and David Hine.
Alex talks to Paul about his sojourn on the book which will detail a year long quest by Lex Luthor to gain superpowers and about his forthcoming titles Knight and Squire – a British set spin off of Batman - and Soldier One, a Science-Fiction title for Boom! comics, based on an idea by Stan Lee, and to David about exploring light and darkness in Gotham City, the joy of writing the psychopaths in Arkham Asylum and his surrealistic pop art Image comic The Bulletproof Coffin.
5pm, 23/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast here at 10.30pm 23/09/10
Wikipedia pages on Paul Cornell, David Hine, Action Comics and Detective Comics
David’s Strange Embrace website
Paul’s website
Read an interview with Paul about Knight and Squire
Read an article about Action Comics #894 featuring ‘Death‘
Read 6 pages of Soldier Zero #1 by Paul Cornell, Stan Lee and Javier Pina
Read an interview with David about Batman: Arkham Reborn
Read the whole of The Bulletproof Coffin #1 online
Recommended events:
Pickled Ink’s search for a comics artist
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade.
Working with Jenny, the creator/writer of the TV series Super Gran, who cut her teeth writing strips for the British girls comic Tammy, and comic book author and editor Pat Mills, the agency is searching for an outstanding character-led artist to illustrate Jenny’s first graphic novel script, Party Girls. The winner will be awarded £1000.00 and a contract of representation at Pickled Ink, whose current artists include Hanako Clulow, Hattie Newman, Hannah Bagshaw and many others.
In brief, they’re asking for: character design of two lead characters; and a 20 frame sample sequence and a front cover design. The winning artist must be an existing or recent graduate from the last 12 months only, able to draw modern fashion, facial expression, great storytelling, and be generally ’2011′.
The deadline for entries is Monday 8th November 2010, more info at www.pickledink.com where you can download a PDF of the full rules and conditions
IWM podcast: It is what it is – Jeremy Deller in conversation
September 22, 2010 — 1 Comment
Imperial War Museum podcast:
It is what it is – Jeremy Deller in conversation
Baghdad, 5 March 2007 - the car on display in the atrium of the Imperial War Museum, London
In the second Imperial War Museum podcast, we’re proud to present the recording of an event held at IWM London on 11 September 2010. Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller discusses contemporary war art with the Imperial War Museum’s Head of Art, Roger Tolson, and renowned curator Nato Thompson. Jeremy Deller has worked with the Museum to present a new exhibit, Baghdad, 5 March 2007, a destroyed car salvaged from the bombing of a book market in Iraq.
Roger, Jeremy and Nato discuss the history of cultural artifacts at the Imperial War Museum and the experiences that the artist and curator had on the road in America as they toured the car around the United States. (Recorded and edited by Alex Fitch)
For more info about this podcast please visit the home of this episode at www.iwm.org.uk/podcast
Links: Related events at Imperial War Museum London
www.conversationsaboutiraq.org – Jeremy’s website detailing the tour of America he undertook with the ‘Baghdad car’
Related podcasts: the first IWM podcast, about the documentary TV series The Struggles for Poland, featuring interviews with Executive Producer Martin Smith, Writer Neal Ascherson, researcher Wanda Koscia and producer Raye Farr (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
Alex Fitch in conversation with author Charlie Higson about setting his latest novel – The Dead – at the Imperial War Museum.
Alex Fitch’s interviews with writer Terry Deary and cartoonist Martin Brown about their series of children’s books, Horrible Histories, which inspired an exhibition at the Imperial War Museum called Terrible Trenches (open until 31st October 2010)
IWM educator Grant Rogers’ interview with writer Pat Mills about his lauded war comics serial Charley’s War
Alex Fitch’s interview with IWM curator James Taylor about the exhibition Ian Fleming and James Bond which was on display at the museum from April 2008 to March 2009
Alex Fitch talks to IWM Cinema programmer Dr. Toby Haggith and National Army Museum historian Andrew Robertshaw about the restoration of the 1916 silent movie The Battle of the Somme
Reality Check: Charlie Higson, Enemy of The Dead
September 18, 2010 — 2 Comments
Reality Check:
Charlie Higson, Enemy of The Dead
Originally broadcast 17th September 2010 as part of a ‘Clear Spot’ on Resonance 104.4 FM
Extracts of the covers from The Enemy and The Dead by Charlie Higson
To coincide with the release of his new zombie novel for young adults, The Dead, Alex Fitch talks to comedian turned novelist, Charlie Higson about his survival horror novels set in London, whose locations take in such notable locations as Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, the Imperial War Museum and Waitrose! Alex and Charlie discuss what led him to write the first book in the series, The Enemy and how that led to a prequel, his disappointment at the cancellation of Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) on TV, the difference in writing novels such as King of the Ants for adults and writing about zombies for younger readers plus his fascination in giving nightmares to children…
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: Wikipedia page on Charlie Higson
Charlie Higson’s website / The Enemy website
Listen to Alex’s interview with director Stuart Gordon, who adapted Charlie’s novel King of the Ants for the screen
Recommended events:
Orbital BECKY CLOONAN EXHIBITION EXTENDED TO SEP. 30th
Due to the big success of Becky Cloonan‘s show at the Orbital Gallery, we have extended the exhibition dates until the end of this month.
The show features original artwork from Demo, Pixu, the upcoming series Wolves and East Coast Rising, as well as limited screenprints, postcard sets and a hand-painted guitar.
The Orbital Gallery is open on our usual shop hours, from 10:30 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday and 11:30 to 17:00 on Sundays.
Orbital comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA
(more…)
Today’s show: Zombies, gamers and franchises
September 17, 2010 — 5 Comments
Today on Resonance FM…
Clear Spot: Zombies, gamers and franchises – genre entertainment for young adult readers
Book covers of Kraken by China Mieville, For the Win by Cory Doctorow, The Dead and The Enemy by Charlie Higson
In this hour long show, Alex Fitch looks at current trends in young adult literature which show an influence from horror films, science fiction and video game culture. Alex interviews comedian and writer Charlie Higson – who found fame as a novelist with his ‘Young Bond’ series of books – about his pair of zombie novels for teenagers, The Enemy and The Dead, plus in a Q and A recorded in Clerkenwell Tales‘ ecclesiastical annex (The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer) on Exmouth Market, English PEN campaigns manager Robert Sharp talks to Cory Doctorow and China Miéville about their latest novels, For the win and Kraken.
8pm, 17/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Wikipedia pages on Charlie Higson, China Miéville, Cory Doctorow and English PEN
English PEN website
Cory Doctorow’s websites: www.boingboing.net
and www.craphound.com, where you can read For the win online
China Miéville’s page at www.panmacmillan.com
Charlie Higson’s website / The Enemy website
Robert Sharp’s website
Info about the original event and Clerkenwell Tales bookshop
Listen to Alex Fitch’s Autumn 2009 interview with Cory Doctorow, featuring a reading by Jessica Fostekew of his short story Printcrime
Listen to China Miéville accept and talk about his 2010 Arthur C. Clarke Award for The City and the City
Recommended events:
Charlie Higson signing
Charlie Higson is doing an exclusive one off London signing of his new novel The Dead at Foyles on Charing Cross Road, where he will be dicing with dismemberment by retrieving a copy of the book from a live Piranha tank!
Saturday 18 September 2pm, Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 0EB
(more…)
Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK part 2
September 16, 2010 — 2 Comments
Panel Borders:
Making Marvels in the UK part 2
Originally broadcast 16th September 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM
4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 80s and early 90s - Dragon's Claws #1, Death's Head #9, The Knights of Pendragon #6, Warheads #1
Continuing our month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics, (in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival) Alex Fitch concludes his talk with a quartet of Marvel UK luminaries who were responsible for some of the best British action / adventure titles in the 1980s and 90s.
Alex discusses with artist Gary Erskine and writers Dan Abnett, Simon Furman and John Freeman, the decline in fortunes of Marvel UK as a publisher in the 1990s – despite their creation of memorable titles such as Knights of Pendragon, Dragon’s Claws and popular Transformers spin-off title Death’s Head - due to changing market pressures. (Part 2 of 2)
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 / Listen to part one of the Marvel UK panel
Links: Wikipedia pages on Marvel UK, Dan Abnett, Simon Furman, Gary Erskine and John Freeman
John Freeman’s website on British comics news: www.downthetubes.net
Gary Erskine and Simon Furman’s blogs
Dan Abnett’s website
Gallery of Marvel UK covers at the Grand Comics Database
Marvel UK fanblog: It came from Darkmoor
Read Dan Abnett and Simon Harrison’s unpublished Warheads / Death’s Head II graphic novel Loose Cannons
Interview with Gary Erskine in The Guardian about working in the British comics industry
Listen to Alex’s interviews with Chris Claremont and Alan Davis / Paul Cornell about Captain Britain
Listen to Alex’s interview with Simon Furman about Transformers: part one / part two
(more…)
Today’s show: Making Marvels in the UK part 2
September 16, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK part 2
4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 80s and early 90s - Dragon's Claws #1, Death's Head #9, The Knights of Pendragon #6, Warheads #1
Continuing our month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics, (in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival) Alex Fitch concludes his talk with a quartet of Marvel UK luminaries who were responsible for some of the best British action / adventure titles in the 1980s and 90s.
Alex discusses with artist Gary Erskine and writers Dan Abnett, Simon Furman and John Freeman, the decline in fortunes of Marvel UK as a publisher in the 1990s – despite their creation of memorable titles such as Knights of Pendragon, Dragon’s Claws and popular Transformers spin-off title Death’s Head - due to changing market pressures. (Part 2 of 2)
5pm, 16/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Wikipedia pages on Marvel UK, Dan Abnett, Simon Furman, Gary Erskine and John Freeman
John Freeman’s website on British comics news: www.downthetubes.net
Gary Erskine and Simon Furman’s blogs
Dan Abnett’s website
Gallery of Marvel UK covers at the Grand Comics Database
Marvel UK fanblog: It came from Darkmoor
Read Dan Abnett and Simon Harrison’s unpublished Warheads / Death’s Head II graphic novel Loose Cannons
Interview with Gary Erskine in The Guardian about working in the British comics industry
Listen to part one of this panel as a podcast
Listen to Alex’s interviews with Chris Claremont and Alan Davis / Paul Cornell about Captain Britain
Listen to Alex’s interview with Simon Furman about Transformers: part one / part two
(more…)
Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK part 1
September 9, 2010 — 3 Comments
Panel Borders:
Making Marvels in the UK part 1
Originally broadcast 9th September 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM
4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 70s to mid 80s - Hulk Comic #41, Captain Britain #1, Transformers #8, Action Force #24
Continuing our month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics for both the American and domestic markets, in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of Marvel UK luminaries who were responsible for some of the best action / adventure titles in the 1980s and 90s.
Simon Furman, was (and still is) the primary writer of Transformers, as well as the scribe behind a dozen installments of the Doctor Who comic strip, plus many of Marvel UK’s most memorable SF titles including Dragon Claws and Death’s Head. John Freeman, helped create many of Marvel UK’s early 90s titles such as Death’s Head II, Warheads, Killpower and Motormouth. Dan Abnett and Gary Erskine co-created the Knights of Pendragon, a series which gave UK superhero Captain Britain a new, darker spin in the 1990s by adding him to an Arthurian team of heroes.
Alex and the four creators discuss the rise in popularity of Marvel UK as a producer of original material in the 1980s and some of the memorable comics they founded along the way. (Part 1 of 2)
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 / Listen to part two of the Marvel UK panel
Today’s show: Making Marvels in the UK part 1
September 9, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK
4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 70s to mid 80s - Hulk Comic #41, Captain Britain #1, Transformers #8, Action Force #24
Continuing our month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics for both the American and domestic markets, in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of Marvel UK luminaries who were responsible for some of the best action / adventure titles in the 1980s and 90s.
Simon Furman, was (and still is) the primary writer of Transformers, as well as the scribe behind a dozen installments of the Doctor Who comic strip, plus many of Marvel UK’s most memorable SF titles including Dragon Claws and Death’s Head. John Freeman, helped create many of Marvel UK’s early 90s titles such as Death’s Head II, Warheads, Killpower and Motormouth. Dan Abnett and Gary Erskine co-created the Knights of Pendragon, a series which gave UK superhero Captain Britain a new, darker spin in the 1990s by adding him to an Arthurian team of heroes.
Alex and the four creators discuss the rise in popularity of Marvel UK as a producer of original material in the 1980s and some of the memorable comics they founded along the way. (Part 1 of 2)
5pm 09/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Wikipedia pages on Marvel UK, Dan Abnett, , Gary Erskine and John Freeman
John Freeman’s website on British comics news: www.downthetubes.net
Gary Erskine and Simon Furman’s blogs
Dan Abnett’s website
Gallery of Marvel UK covers at the Grand Comics Database
Marvel UK fanblog: It came from Darkmoor
Interview with Gary Erskine in The Guardian about working in the British comics industry
Listen to Alex’s interviews with Chris Claremont and Alan Davis / Paul Cornell about Captain Britain
Listen to Alex’s interview with Simon Furman about Transformers: part one / part two
(more…)
Today’s event: Gleaming the Silver Surfer
September 7, 2010
Live on stage at The Vortex Jazz Club:
Panel Borders – Gleaming the Silver Surfer
Panel from Silver Surfer: In thy name by Simon Spurrier and Tan Eng Huat
As part of a fund raising night to support London radio station Resonance FM, themed around the subject of silver, Alex Fitch will be talking to comic book writer and novelist Simon Spurrier about the Marvel comics character the Silver Surfer, who he penned in a recent mini-series called ‘In Thy Name’.
Alex and Simon will be discussing the character’s origins on and off the page and aspects of space opera and eschatology in his appearances.
Other guests on the night will include representatives of the V&A’s silver collection on the socio-economic and historical role silver played in British Imperialism; the BBC’s central Asia correspondent on the geo-politics of silver; London’s Pétanque society; a panel of art critics discussing Belgian surrealist René Magritte’s portrayal of silver and Mark Pilkinson on silver in relation to contemporary mythology and sci-fi.
8.30pm, The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ
N.B./ the London Underground strike should be finished well before the start time, however London Overground & DLR services should be unaffected anyway…
Links: Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Simon
Wikipedia pages on Simon Spurrier and the Silver Surfer
Electric Sheep podcast – Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism
September 3, 2010 — 2 Comments
Electric Sheep podcast:
Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism
Partially broadcast 03/09/10 as part of an episode of I’m ready for my close-up on Resonance 104.4 FM
Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism
Alex Fitch interviews producer Eli Roth and director Daniel Stamm about the new ‘mockumentary’ horror film The Last Exorcism which opens in UK cinemas today and tells a tale of possession, cattle mutilation and murder in a small rural community. Daniel and Alex talk about how using a documentary style to make supernatural movies helps break the fourth wall for the audience to help draw them into events, while Eli talks about how his experience of producing his own movies Cabin Fever and Hostel differs from his more advisory role on this film.
More for more information and a variety of formats you can stream / download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Official The Last Exorcism website
Wikipedia pages on The Last Exorcism and Eli Roth
Interview with Daniel Stamm
Read Alex Fitch’s review of The Last Exorcism at shinyshelf.com
In association with
Today’s show – Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism
September 3, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
I’m ready for my close-up – Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism
Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism
Alex Fitch interviews producer Eli Roth and director Daniel Stamm about the new ‘mockumentary’ horror film The Last Exorcism which opens in UK cinemas today and tells a tale of possession, cattle mutilation and murder in a small rural community. Daniel and Alex talk about how using a documentary style to make supernatural movies helps break the fourth wall for the audience to help draw them into events, while Eli talks about how his experience of producing his own movies Cabin Fever and Hostel differs from his more advisory role on this film.
5pm 03/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Official The Last Exorcism website
Wikipedia pages on The Last Exorcism and Eli Roth
Interview with Daniel Stamm
Read Alex Fitch’s review of The Last Exorcism at shinyshelf.com
Recommended events:
Pat Mills’ Electric Picnic
Graphic Content: The Big Comics Chat… A chaotic and fun-stuffed rocket ride through the inner and outer reaches of the comics and cartooning universes. Our intrepid and esteemed panel – Pat Mills (2000 AD), Steve Bell (Guardian), Emma Vieceli (Manga Shakespeare), Phil Barrett (Matter) and Mel Gibson (Northumbria University) – will cheerily dissect and debate the “sequential art” scene as it and was: offering thoughts, opinions and recollections on a wide range of topics, including: Classic British comics, Manga, Bande dessinée, Girls’ comics, John Major’s underpants, the Irish small presses, and much, much more. Masked and caped crusaders may also get an occasional mention…
Friday 3rd September, 5.30pm, Stradbally Hall Estate, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Eire
Panel Borders: eXpat Heroes
September 2, 2010 — 7 Comments
Panel Borders:
eXpat Heroes
Originally broadcast 2nd September 2010 on Resonance 104.4 FM
New Mutants and Captain Britain by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis
Starting a new podcast series of the UK’s only weekly radio show about comics, Panel Borders has a month of shows looking at the ‘British Invasion’ of UK creators who have worked on American and American-style superhero titles.
Alex Fitch talks to Chris Claremont, a veteran comics writer born in London who became one of the most prolific and popular American comic book writers of the 20th century, most famous for a 16 year sojourn writing the Uncanny X-Men from 1975 – 1991, with his last few issues selling in the region of eight million copies each.
In this episode, recorded at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, we’re focussing on a superhero Chris created for the UK market – Captain Britain - in 1976, the character’s relocation to America via the monthly comic Excalibur in 1988 and his more experimental X-Men spin off – New Mutants - which Chris created in 1982 and returned to writing last month.
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 Chris Claremont and Captain Britain
Article on New Mutants Forever at newsarama.com
Listen to Alex’s interviews with Alan Davis and Paul Cornell about drawing and writing Captain Britain respectively
(more…)
Today’s show: eXpat Heroes by Chris Claremont
September 2, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: eXpat Heroes by Chris Claremont
New Mutants and Captain Britain by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis
Starting a new series of the UK’s only weekly radio show about comics, now under a new (old) name, Panel Borders has a month of shows looking at the ‘British Invasion’ of UK creators who have worked on American and American-style superhero titles.
In this week’s show, Alex Fitch talks to Chris Claremont, a veteran comics writer born in London who became one of the most prolific and popular American comic book writers of the 20th century, most famous for a 16 year sojourn writing the Uncanny X-Men from 1975 – 1991, with his last few issues selling in the region of eight million copies each.
In the interview, recorded at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, we’re focussing on a superhero Chris created for the UK market – Captain Britain - in 1976, the character’s relocation to America via the monthly comic Excalibur in 1988 and his more experimental X-Men spin off – New Mutants - which Chris created in 1982 and returned to writing last month.
Also, in a pair of 60 second (!) interviews recorded at the premiere of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in London, Alex talks to British director Edgar Wright, creator Bryan O’Malley and star Michael Cera about bringing a different kind of superhero to the screen.
5pm 02/09/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Wikipedia pages on Chris Claremont and Captain Britain
Article on New Mutants Forever at newsarama.com
Listen to Alex’s interviews with Alan Davis and Paul Cornell about drawing and writing Captain Britain respectively
Recommended events:
Mark Millar and Jonathan Ross signing
Mark Millar and Jonathan Ross are signing copies of the first issue of the new British comic CLiNT, today at W.H.Smiths in Victoria Station, a monthly periodical which features superhero strips Nemesis and Kick Ass II by Millar plus aliens and Vampire gangsters in Turf by Ross.
4.30pm, W.H.Smiths, Victoria Station, London SW1V 1JT
David Hine signing at Forbidden Planet
DAVID HINE will be signing FVZA: THE FEDERAL VAMPIRE AND ZOMBIE AGENCY at Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue in London today, with additional copies of the sold out Bulletproof Coffin available to buy as well…
6pm, Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JR
Pat Mills’ Electric Picnic
Graphic Content: The Big Comics Chat… A chaotic and fun-stuffed rocket ride through the inner and outer reaches of the comics and cartooning universes. Our intrepid and esteemed panel – Pat Mills (2000 AD), Steve Bell (Guardian), Emma Vieceli (Manga Shakespeare), Phil Barrett (Matter) and Mel Gibson (Northumbria University) – will cheerily dissect and debate the “sequential art” scene as it and was: offering thoughts, opinions and recollections on a wide range of topics, including: Classic British comics, Manga, Bande dessinée, Girls’ comics, John Major’s underpants, the Irish small presses, and much, much more. Masked and caped crusaders may also get an occasional mention…
Friday 3rd September, 5.30pm, Stradbally Hall Estate, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Eire
