Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Panel Borders: Barbara Nessim – a (comics) artful life
May 13, 2013
Superman carrying girl with green shoes, Star Girl banded with blue wave, Help! magazine Fumetti, Chopin a la moog, Swedish Lives, A / B, The Night is Silent by Barbara Nessim
Barbara Nessim – a (comics) artful life: Continuing a month of shows about the connections between fine art and comic books, Alex Fitch talks to acclaimed artist and illustrator Barbara Nessim about her work and the many connections it has with sequential art, as its influence and subject. A selection of Nessim’s work is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, with her Wonder Woman analogue “Star Girl Banded with Blue Wave” (1966) being used as the focus for the marketing of the show; Alex talks to her about this work, the use of panel based sequential images in her Flag series and others, and her unlikely appearance in a anti-drugs fumetti, facilitated by Gloria Steinem and published in Warren Magazines’ Help! periodical in the 1960s.
Barbara Nessim – an artful life is on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum until 19th May 2013 (Originally broadcast 13/05/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM) (more…)
Panel Borders: Fine art / comics
May 6, 2013
Richard Reynolds and Rian Hughes on stage at Comiket, Central Saint Martins, Lichtenstein strip by Mort Walker
Fine art / comics: Starting a month of shows looking at the connections between ‘fine art’ and comic books, Panel Borders is proud to broadcast a pair of presentations by Richard Reynolds FRSA and graphic designer Rian Hughes given at 2013 Spring Comiket, Central Saint Martins School of Art. Reynolds looks at the influences that various works of fine art have had on comic books over the last hundred years while Hughes explores the many comic book panels that Roy Lichtenstein used in creating his works of art, currently on show at Tate Modern. (Originally broadcast 06/05/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM) (more…)
Panel Borders: Shallowater, Your Days Are Numbered
April 29, 2013
Your days are numbered cover by David Ziggy Green / excerpt from Shallowater by Jenny Linn-Cole
Shallowater, Your Days Are Numbered: Concluding a month of shows looking at small press and independent comics, we have a pair of interviews recorded in venues where such titles are stocked. Alex Fitch talks to Jenny-Linn Cole (in the gallery of Orbital Comics), about her graphic novel Shallowater, an tale of music, masculinity, and existentialism serialised in a series of small press comics. Also, in an interview recorded at the DIY Cultures festival, Dickon Harris talks to Jon Turner about the independent comics magazine Your days are numbered which mixes reviews and articles about sequential art with cutting edge graphic design. (Originally broadcast 29/04/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Your days are numbered website
Jenny Linn-Cole’s website / blog (more…)
Reality Check: the True Love of Arthur Sleep
April 26, 2013
Stills from Arthur Sleep and True Love
the True Love of Arthur Sleep: Alex Fitch talks to graphic designer turned film-maker Sam Harris about his short silent film Arthur Sleep, a half hour Stygian odyssey that mixes elements of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Eraserhead, as a trip on the London Underground takes a traveller into more mysterious destinations than he envisioned. Also, in a Q and A recorded at last year’s SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex talks to the writers and producer of True Love, an SF thriller that tests a couple’s devotion to each other as a set of innocuous questions in a surrealist prison turn to torture. (Originally broadcast 26th April 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
Arthur Sleep is premiering at Deptford Old Town Hall, New Cross, London SE14 6AF on 28 April at 4pm with a live score performed by members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and London art-rock bands – more info at
www.freefilmfestivals.org / True Love is released in Japanese cinemas on 27th April and this year’s SCI-FI-LONDON festival takes place at various venues around London from 30th April – more info at www.sci-fi-london.com
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 (more…)
Panel Borders: From small press to mainstream
April 23, 2013
Excerpts from Ellipsis by Tom Humberstone, Danger Academy by Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood, The Alchemist’s Easel by Al Davison, Strange Embrace by David Hine
From small press to mainstream: In a panel discussion recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the London International festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film, guest presenter Matt Badham talks to comic creators David Hine, Al Davison, Tom Humberstone and Tony Lee about starting their careers in independent comics, how that influenced their style and choices when breaking into the ‘mainstream’ industry and the advice they have to give creators starting out now. Recorded and edited by Alex Fitch (Originally broadcast 22/04/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Websites – Tony Lee, Tom Humberstone, David Hine, Al Davison (more…)
Panel Borders: Young Graphic Novelists, Spring 2013
April 15, 2013
— 2 Comments
Extracts from Frogman by Matt Fitch and Mark Lewis / The Adventures of Leeroy and Popo by Louis Roskosch
Young Graphic Novelists, Spring 2013: Continuing a month of shows looking at small press and independent publishers, Panel Borders looks at two titles that rework familiar pop-culture tropes in new comics by young creators. In an interview recorded at Comica Comiket, Alex Fitch talks to Louis Roskosch about his video game inspired graphic novel The Adventures of Leeroy and Popo, published by Nobrow. Also, Dickon Harris speaks to Matt Fitch and Mark Lewis of ‘Dead Canary Comics’, about their collaborations in the worlds of advertising agencies and comic book creation as they discuss the production of their first superhero title, the Spider-Man spoof Frogman.
Nobrow and Dead Canary Comics will be among dozens of exhibitors at this year’s Comica Comiket, taking place at Central St. Martins School of Art and Design, Handyside Street, King’s Cross, London N1C 4AA on Saturday April 20th, 2013 – more info at www.comicafestival.com (Originally broadcast 15/04/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Small press publishers
April 8, 2013
Titles published by Sloth Comics, Accent UK and Disconnected Press
Small press publishers: Starting a month of shows in a new time slot, Panel Borders is looking at small press and self published comics, including the titles produced by two British independent publishing companies in interviews recorded at the London Super Comics Convention.
Alex Fitch talks to Nicolas Rossert, Loran and Charles Cutting about Sloth Comics, a new publisher devoted to both British and European graphic novels, including reissues of classic titles. Loran discusses his book Booyah!, about a playful green monster with anger management issues; Cutting talks about his steampunk adventure Steam Hammer, and Rossert describes his approach to choosing graphic novel formats and the process of getting the rights to republish Moebius and Alejandro Jodorowski’s classic Madwoman of the Sacred Heart.
Also, publisher Colin Mathieson discusses his company Accent UK which has built up a commendable body of work over the last dozen years concentrating on anthology books which have showcased the work of some of the country’s finest small press creators. Artist Conor Boyle joins the conversation to talk about Accent’s latest graphic novel Who on Earth was Thaddeus Mist? and the importance of design to the company’s range of books. (Originally broadcast 08/04/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Sloth Comics website
Accent UK website
Disconnected Press blog (more…)
Panel Borders: Digitising comics
March 31, 2013
— 1 Comment
Covers of Panel Nine digital comic collections The Certified Hunt Emerson and Dapper John, interior of Verity Fare / David Lloyd promotes Comics Thing app
Digitising comics: Concluding a month of shows looking at web comics, Alex Fitch talks to two experts in web based technologies about their dissemination methods aimed at bringing comics to tablets and other devices. Russell Willis discusses his Panel Nine range of graphic novels for the iPad which include titles by Eddie Campbell and David Lloyd and are about to be joined by a new digital store front for International book publishers.
Also, in a presentation recorded at Cartoon County in Brighton, Charles Kriel talks about his Indiegogo campaign to fund a new app designed to be the equivalent of iTunes for comics allowing collectors to combine their existing digital comics collections with newly bought titles to fill in the gaps, with questions asked by Alex Fitch, David Lloyd and members of the audience. (Originally broadcast 31/03/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: Panel Nine / Sequential / iEnglish websites
Comics Thing indiegogo campaign / 12 Stories Tall website (more…)
Panel Borders: Collage and reappropriation
March 24, 2013
Clockwise from top left: webcomics by Scott C x2, Becky, Paul O’Connell x 3, Frank
Collage and reappropriation: Continuing a month of shows looking at webcomics, Panel Borders examines the work of a quartet of creators whose online strips and cartoons reinvent retro images and iconic characters from film and TV to beguiling effect. In a pair of short interviews recorded at Thought Bubble, Leeds 2012, Alex Fitch talks to American creators Scott C – about his webcomics Double Fine Action Comics and The Great Showdowns – and Becky and Frank about Tiny Kitten Teeth, cartoons which utilise imagery from toys, cereal packaging and children’s literature.
Also, Alex looks into the varying merits of print and web-based comics with British writer / artist Paul O’Connell, in an interview recorded at the University of Brighton. Paul’s postmodern fumetti mash-ups mix comedy and horror via strips such as A Muppet Wicker Man and The Seinfeld Matrix… (more…)
Panel Borders: James Moran Vs Comics
March 17, 2013
— 1 Comment
Adverts for six Vs Comics: Night + Day, Eponymous, Happy Birthday, The Sentinal, Tabby and Trout, Ghost Club by various creators
James Moran Vs Comics: Continuing a month of shows about webcomics, Alex Fitch talks to screenwriter James Moran (Cockneys vs Zombies, Torchwood) about his new webcomic Day + Night, an urban vampire tale that casts the creatures of the night as ‘sharks on legs’ rather than the sparkly urbane figures found elsewhere. Also, in a panel recorded at Thought Bubble 2012, Vs Comics editor Mike Garley talks about the strip he’s writing – Eponymous - and introduces creators Nich Angell (Tabby and Trout), Ned Hartley (Ghost Club), Adam Christopher (The Sentinel) and Sally Jane Thompson (Happy Birthday) who present the strips they’re contributing to the online anthology comic, with the help of designer Mike Stock. (Originally broadcast 17/03/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Steampunk Geniuses
March 10, 2013
Interior art and cover of Girl Genius omnibus / cover of Agatha H volume 1
Steampunk Geniuses: Continuing a month of shows looking at webcomics, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of a popular online steampunk strip that combines Victoriana, mad scientists, fantasy and strong female characters. Phil and Kaja Foglio discuss the history of Girl Genius, their careers before the start of their most famous comic and why they prefer the term ‘gaslamp fantasy’ for their niche in the science-fiction subgenre. (Recorded at Congenial, Role-Playing Unicon, Cambridge 2012) Originally broadcast 10/03/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM.
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Young British Webcomic creators
March 3, 2013
— 1 Comment
Webcomics by Richy K. Chandler, Zarina Liew, Nich Angell,.Namiiebim and John Allison
Young British Webcomic creators: In the first of a series of shows, Alex Fitch talks to young British webcomic creators about their work. In a Q and A recorded at Comica Comiket (2011), John Allison discusses his webcomic Bad Machinery, and, as we draw to the end of the first Webcomic Artist Swap Project week (February 25th – March 3rd, 2013), Nich Angell (Cat and Meringue), Zarina Liew (Le Mime), Naniiebim (Mephistos) and project originator Richy K. Chandler (Lucy the Octopus), talk about their musical chairs experiment (more…)
Panel Borders: Updating the classics
February 25, 2013
Interior art and cover of Gulliver’s Travels by Martin Rowson, cover of Vicious Circle and interior art from The Unwritten, written by Mike Carey
Updating the classics: Concluding our month of shows looking at the connections between comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of authors who have used graphic novels and comics to update classic literature. Mike Carey discusses his comic The Unwritten which sees characters from classic literature – such as Frankenstein‘s monster – and authors – like Mark Twain – being caught up in a fantastical conspiracy through the ages; Alex and Mike also discuss how the latter’s parallel career as a novelist effects his comic book writing.
Also, newspaper cartoonist Martin Rowson discusses his graphic novel adaptation and updating of Gulliver’s Travels, with its art and content reflecting current political leaders and situations. (Originally broadcast 24/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Inhumanity and darkness in literature
February 17, 2013
Cover of The Man who Laughs / sketch of Gwynplaine by Mark Stafford / interior art and cover of Heart of Darkness by Catherine Anyango
Inhumanity and darkness in literature: Continuing our month of shows about comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of graphic novelists about adapting classic 19th century novels as sequential art. In a panel discussion recorded at Comica Comiket in 2011, David Hine and Mark Stafford discuss their adaptation of Victor Hugo’s The Man who Laughs, a tale that has already cast a long shadow over comics, as the lead character Gwynplaine was supposedly an influence on the creation of The Joker. Also, fine artist Catherine Anyango discusses her visual approach to her 2010 adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, best known as the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, which sees her intricate pencilling style married with both text from the original novel and also Conrad’s The Congo Diary. (Originally broadcast 17/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM) (more…)
Panel Borders: The Amazing Adventures of Fraction and Chabon
February 10, 2013
— 1 Comment
Covers of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay / …of The Escapist by Michael Chabon, Casanova / Fantastic Four / FF by Matt Fraction et al.
The Amazing adventures of Fraction and Chabon Continuing a month of shows looking at the connections between sequential art and literature, Alex Fitch talks to writers Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon about their friendship, reading experiences outside of graphic novels and mutual love of comics. Matt Fraction is an award winning writer who has become one of the most important contributors to Marvel’s range of superhero comics, with runs on Iron Fist, Thor and Iron Man under his belt, his new assignment is the continuing adventures of The Fantastic Four and their extended family. Fraction also has indie credentials from his ongoing European style spy series Casanova. Michael Chabon is the Pulitizer Prize winning author of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”, a chronicle of the comic book industry in the middle decades of the 20th Century, (more…)
Panel Borders: Swedish thrillers and dark Sci-Fi fantasy
February 3, 2013
Covers of A Sickness in the family, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo parts 1 and 2 by Denise Mina et al., Razorjack issue 1 and Com.X collected edition by John Higgins, Double-Crossing novel by Michael Carroll
Swedish thrillers and dark Sci-Fi fantasy Starting a month about the links between comics and literature, Alex Fitch looks at an example of a series of books that are being adapted for comics and comics that are being continued as novels. Scots novelist Denise Mina discusses her adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy as a series of graphic novels for DC Comics, starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and writer / artist John Higgins explains the transition of his SF / horror comic series Razorjack into a series of books written by himself and other authors. (Originally broadcast 03/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Around the country with Constantine
January 27, 2013
— 3 Comments
John Constantine by Paul Jenkins and Warren Pleece / by Denise Mina and Leonardo Manco
Around the country with Constantine In the third of our trilogy of shows looking at the 25th anniversary of John Constantine: Hellblazer, Alex Fitch talks to creators of the comic book from opposite ends of the UK. Scots novelist and playwright Denise Mina discusses her year long tenure as writer of the title from 2006-07 and remembers the challenges of penning her first comic book scripts; Brighton based artist Warren Pleece talks about pencilling and inking 9 issues of the comic in 1997 and ’98, plus collaborating with Philip Bond for SF spin-off Bad Blood at the turn of the century… (Originally broadcast 27/01/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Creating Constantine
January 20, 2013
John Constantine by Steve Bissette et al.
Creating Constantine Continuing our month of shows about the 25th anniversary of John Constantine: Hellblazer, Alex Fitch discusses the first appearances of the character with co-creator Steve Bissette. Alex and Steve discuss the artist’s tenure as penciller on the acclaimed horror comic Swamp Thing, drawing (the as yet unnamed) Constantine in the background of scenes before Alan Moore gave the character a voice, and Steve’s continuing fascination with the monster genre. (Originally broadcast 20/01/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders – 25 years of John Constantine: Hellblazer
January 13, 2013
Hellblazer comics by Jamie Delano, David Lloyd, Andy Diggle and Peter Milligan
25 years of John Constantine: Hellblazer - Panel Borders returns after the Christmas break for a new series in an earlier slot on Sunday evenings. Starting a series of shows about the 25th anniversary of the occult detective John Constantine’s first appearance in his own solo comic book, Alex Fitch talks to writers Jamie Delano, Andy Diggle and Peter Milligan, and artist David Lloyd, about creating issues of Hellblazer from its first issue to the present day. Jamie and David discuss the early days of the comic, launched as a spin off from Alan Moore’s acclaimed run on Swamp Thing while Andy and Peter talk about bringing the character into the 21st Century. (Recorded in front of a live audience at SCI-FI-LONDON, Apollo Piccadilly Cinema, April 2011)
Links: Websites – Jamie Delano / David Lloyd / Andy Diggle / Peter Milligan (more…)
Panel Borders: Brown, Nao / Bagnold Summer
December 16, 2012
Excerpts from The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon and Days of the Bagnold Summer by Joff Winterhart
Brown, Nao / Bagnold Summer: In the 3rd in a trilogy of shows looking at depictions of lives on the page, Alex Fitch talks to the authors of two of 2012′s most acclaimed graphic novels. Glyn Dillon discusses The Nao of Brown, his long awaited return to comics after much loved contributions to strips published by Deadline and Vertigo in the 1990s. Dillon’s graphic novel depicts the life of an OCD sufferer who channels her creativity into toys, relationships and storytelling… Alex also talks to Joff Winterhart, writer / artist of Days of the Bagnold Summer, an affectionate, warts and all depiction of six weeks in the life of a dissolutioned 15 year old and his long suffering mother as they try to endure the summer holidays together. Joff discusses the history of the book, how it relates to his animation work and music, and his feelings about the book’s nomination as one of the first two graphic novels to be short listed for the Costa Book Awards. (more…)
