Panel Borders: The art of Howard Chaykin

January 14, 2010 — Masculinity in American Comics

Panel Borders:

The art of Howard Chaykin

Originally broadcast 14/01/10 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM

Panel from American Flagg! by Howard Chaykin

Continuing our month looking at depictions of masculinity in American comics, Alex Fitch talks to veteran artist Howard Chaykin about his career from collaborating with masters of Science Fiction literature in the 1970s – such as Michael Moorcock and Fritz Leiber – to producing creator owned titles in the 80s and 90s such as American Flagg! and American Century and his most recent work drawing iconic Marvel characters such as Wolverine and Blade plus writing the origin of John McClane in Die Hard Year One.

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: Interview with Howard Chaykin in The Independent about American Flagg!
Pages on Howard at Wikipedia and lambiek.net
Online gallery of Howard’s work at art4comics.com
Read the first ten pages of Die Hard Year One at comicbookresources.com

Recommended events

Comixmas exhibition

ComiXmas: When Worlds Collide is an exhibition of fantastic images from contemporary comic books and graphic novels, featuring work by the best contemporary comic book artists, along with images from past great masters of the genre. On display in the exhibition are prints reproduced at a strikingly larger scale by artists such as Osamu Tezuka, one of the fathers of Japanese manga and anime; Hergé, the Belgian creator of Tintin; Woodrow Phoenix, creator of the award winning Rumble Strip; Andrzej Klimowski, illustrator of The Master & Margarita; Reinhard Kleist, illustrator of Johnny Cash: I See A Darkness; From Hell creators Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, and many other artists. This free exhibition runs from 11 December 2009 to 6 February 2010 at the LondonPrintStudio Gallery, 425 Harrow Road, London.

Additionally, Paul Gravett will be hosting a free panel discussion How A Comic Is Made at the LondonPrintStudio on Thursday 21 January 2010, where you can discover the secrets behind writing and drawing comics, graphic novels and manga, revealed by creators featured in the ComiXmas Exhibition: Andrzej Klimowski and Danusia Schejbal (Master and Margarita), Nana Li (Twelfth Night), Pat Mills (Nemesis, Slaine, Requiem) and Woodrow Phoenix (Rumble Strip). Followed by book signings and reception.

More info at www.londonprintstudio.org.uk

Tales of Diversity launch

The Eastside Educational Trust in Hackney has produced a sequential art anthology called ‘Tales of Diversity’ as part of their project ‘Graphic Truths’ as a way of engaging young people with comic book creation, to tell stories that are personal to them.
The anthology is being launched with an accompanying exhibtion at The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ on January 16th, with tutors and creators from Eastside Trust in attendance.

January 16th, 2010, The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

Suspiria at Shortwave

Sasquatch Cinema is a monthly film night held at the new Shortwave cinema in 10 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN (Tel: 0207 357 6845); nearest tube Borough (Northern line) / Tower Hill (DLR)…

We will be showing an eclectic range of films including cult classics and rarities you may not have seen before. Our next film is Suspiria (1977, 18 cert.) 94m, Director: Dario Argento

A brand new high definition transfer of Dario Argento’s horror classic Suspiria. Suspiria is Argento’s undisputed masterpiece of Grand Guignol horror, hitting new peaks of terror through its stunning photography (courtesy of Luciano Tovoli), eye-popping production design and terrifying atmosphere of dread and death.

Friday 15th January 11pm, Shortwave cinema, 10 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN

The cinema has a bar, and you can even bring your drinks in and watch the film!
The entry fee is £6.00. (£5 cons) Tickets can be bought in advance by phoning 0207 357 6845. Tickets will also be sold on the night on a first come – first served basis. Email: gabzucc [at] yahoo.com for more info.

Click here to visit The Stroke Association website

Donate to The Stroke Association and get free DVDs / CDs in exchange…


BBC audio director Neil Gardner (The Brightonomicon / Doctor Who: Hornet’s Nest) is offering choice items from his CD, DVD and book collection in exchange for donations to The Stroke Association and will match donations by 200%!


Spend your Christmas money on Neil’s collection and donate to a good cause…

More info here…