Today’s shows: Ben Templesmith and Paul Gravett’s Incredibly Strange comics / the adventures of Agent 117

November 6, 2008

Today on Resonance FM:

Strip!: Incredibly Strange Comics

In the first of two belated Halloween specials, Alex Fitch talks to sequential art expert Paul Gravett about his new book “The Leather Nun And Other Incredibly Strange Comics” (sold in America with the subtler title “Holy Sh*t! The World’s Weirdest Comic Books”) which looks at the weirder and more lurid examples of the genre and to Australian artist Ben Templesmith about his career so far, drawing comics such as the neo-noir title “Fell”, the Matrix inspired “Singularity 7” and the popular vampire serial “30 days of night” which was adapted as a movie last year.

5pm 06/11/08, repeated 11.30pm 09/11/08 on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com

I’m ready for my close-up: OSS-117, Licence to kill

Massively popular in France but fairly unknown in the UK are the adventures of OSS-117, a cold war secret agent who has appeared in 40 books over the last half century and half a dozen movies. With a new (spoof) version of the Gallic James Bond about to hit our screens, Alex Fitch talks to the director – Michel Hazanavicius – and Bonisseur girl – Bérénice Bejo – of Cairo: Nest of Spies / Le Caire nid d’espions. Although his code number and name seem strangely familiar, apparently 117 predates 007…

10.30pm 06/11/08 repeated 5pm 07/11/08 on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com

Links:
Ben Templesmith – Ben’s blog and online gallery
Buy Ben’s books from www.cafepress.com and IDW Publishing
Wikipedia pages on Ben Templemsith and 30 days of night

Paul Gravett – Wikipedia page on Paul Gravett
Paul’s website
Review of Incredibly strange comics… by Richard Bruton
Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Paul Gravett

OSS-117 – Wikipedia pages on the literary life of OSS-117 and Cairo: Nest of Spies
IMDb page on Cairo: Nest of Spies / Official movie website
Buy tickets to see Cairo: Nest of Spiesat the ICA

Comics news: It’s nearly time for Paul Gravett’s annual ComICA festival which runs from 14th to 26th of November and includes talks by Art Spiegelman, Ian Rankin and Dave McKean and is on at the ICA and V & A museum in London. More info at paulgravett.com

This year’s festival also includes a special Comiket all day event hosted by London Underground Comics

Comiket logo

Before that, we have Handmade and Bound, which is an independent fair of affordable, handmade artists’ books, comics and zines. An ideal place to meet and buy the work of cutting edge small press creators such as Marc Ellerby, Sean Duffield and Jimi Gherkin…
Saturday 8 November 2008, St Aloysius Social Club, Phoenix Road, London NW1 (nearest tube Euston). 12-6pm. Free entry.
Evening entertainment 8pm-12am: DJs and bands, including The Slim Reaper and Her Magic Powers.
More info at www.handmadeandbound.com and at Jimi Gherkin’s blog…