Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Today’s show: (Ghosts of) Young Graphic Novelists
April 14, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: (Ghosts of) Young Graphic Novelists
Excerpts from comics by Owen Johnson, Mark Penman, James Lawrence and Andrew Tunney
Continuing a month of shows about the depiction of musicians and music culture in comic books, this week’s episode coincides with our yearly look at the work of young graphic novelists. Alex Fitch talks to Owen Johnson, Mark D Penman, James Lawrence and Andrew Tunney about their comics and forming an exhibiting group with three others called Ghosts for an art show at Orbital Comics entitled ‘Cult’. The artists discuss the influences on their comics including the anthology title Waste, how the group was formed and what visitors can expect from the exhibition; includes an extract from the soundtrack to Johnson’s comic Raygun Roads. The exhibition Ghosts: Cult runs at Orbital Comics, London until April 20th.
4.30pm, Monday 14th April, repeated 11am, Thursday 17th April 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Jim McCarthy, Music Biographies
April 7, 2014
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Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Jim McCarthy, Music Biographies
Excerpts from Sex Pistols, Ramones, Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain graphic novels, written by Jim McCarthy
Starting a month of shows about the depiction of musicians and music culture in comic books, Alex Fitch talks to Jim McCarthy about writing graphic novel music biographies of musicians and groups such as Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson, The Ramones and Metallica. Fitch and McCarthy talk about the varying difficulties of depicting late musicians on the page, writing authentic voices for real people and taking a docudrama approach to graphic novels. (Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, January 2014)
4.30pm, Monday 7th April, repeated 11am, Thursday 10th April 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Ben Katchor, architectural strips
March 31, 2014
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Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Ben Katchor, architectural strips
Excerpts from Julius Knipl, The Cardboard Valise and Handdrying in America by Ben Katchor
Concluding a month of shows about comics and graphic novels drawn from elements of real life, Alex Fitch talks to award winning American cartoonist Ben Katchor about his weekly newspaper strips on tourism and architecture. Fitch and Katchor discuss the latter’s weekly strip from The Village Voice – Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer – and how it was part of a wave of underground cartoonists in periodicals, collecting his absurdist cartoons on tourism – The Cardboard Valise - and his oversized monthly graphic short story for Metropolis magazine, collected as Hand Drying in America and other stories.
4.30pm, Monday 31st March, repeated 11am, Thursday 3rd April 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Ben Katchor’s website and blog
Katchor’s pages on www.lambiek.net and www.ted.com (more…)
Today’s show: Unusual Origins
March 24, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Unusual Origins
Cover and interior art from Mengelmoes by Willem Samuel and It Girl by Jessica Martin
Continuing a month of shows about comics and graphic novels which present ‘slices of life’ on the page, Alex Fitch talks two creators who are doing their first work in the field. Jessica Martin, actress turned graphic novelist, discusses her self published comic book biography of Clara Bow – It Girl - and her forthcoming longer work about society and cinema in the 1930s. Willem Samuel talks about the first volume of his autobiography Mengelmoes, published by Soaring Penguin Press, which depicts his childhood in South Africa and how the drawing style and magical realist narration will change over later volumes.
4.30pm, Monday 24th March, repeated 11am, Thursday 27th March 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Oscar Zarate, exploring The Park
March 17, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Oscar Zarate, exploring The Park
Pages from The Park, I keep coming back and La Faille by Oscar Zarate
Continuing a month of shows about comics and graphic novels which present ‘slices of life’ on the page, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Oscar Zarate about his latest graphic novel The Park, an exploration of various characters whose lives intersect on Hampstead Heath, published by SelfMadeHero.
The Park is the first graphic novel illustrated by Zarate that the artist has also written rather than working from someone else’s script, and he discusses the genesis of the project, his previous graphic albums published in France and his rereleased short story anthology It’s Dark in London. (Recorded in front of an audience at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Autumn 2013)
4.30pm, Monday 17th March, repeated 11am, Thursday 20th March 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Room for Love
March 10, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Room for Love
Panels from Room for Love by Ilya
Continuing a month of shows about comics and graphic novels which present ‘slices of life’ on the page, Alex Fitch talks to writer / artist Ilya about his latest graphic novel, Room for Love, published by SelfMadeHero, which depicts the relationship between a homeless rent boy and the middle aged woman who gives him a place to stay. Fitch and Ilya discuss the project’s history, the artist’s more cartoony style used in the book, and how the story connects to his much loved End of the Century Club comics. Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Autumn 2013.
4.30pm, Monday 10th March, repeated 11am, Thursday 13th March 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Info about the book at www.selfmadehero.com
Info about Ilya at lambiek.net
Cartoon County website (more…)
Today’s show: Will Eisner week
March 3, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Will Eisner week
Extracts from A Contract with God, P.S. Magazine and The Plot by Will Eisner
Starting a month of shows about comics and graphic novels which depict ordinary life on the page, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of comics experts and historians about Will Eisner’s autobiographical comics to coincide with International Will Eisner Week, which celebrates the author’s work. Richard Reynolds (Senior Lecturer, Central Saint Martins), Ian Rakoff (Lecturer, Victoria and Albert Museum), Guy Lawley (contributor: 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die) and Steve Edgell (co-author: The Complete Cartooning Course) discuss Eisner’s seminal graphic novel A Contract with God and its sequels, the cartoonist’s work for the army on P.S. Magazine: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly and his final work The Plot: The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
4.30pm, Monday 3rd March, repeated 11am, Thursday 6th March 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com (more…)
Today’s show: Rabbis and Humanoids
February 24, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Rabbis and Humanoids
Extracts from The Rabbis Cat and Tokyo by Joann Sfar and covers of three forthcoming releases from Humanoids UK
Concluding a month of shows about French comics or Bande dessinée, Alex Fitch talks to Tim Pilcher about his new role as UK Liaison at Humanoids Publishing, bringing translations of French graphic novels to Britain, and to Graphic Novelist and filmmaker Joann Sfar about his titles The Rabbi’s Cat (Le Chat du Rabbin) and Tokyo.
Fitch and Pilcher discuss the launch titles available from Humanoids UK in the Spring, including work by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Nicolas de Crecy, and Sfar discusses how he adapts his style for different audiences and age groups, as well as for the cinema as the director of Gainsbourg: Vie héroïque (2010).
4.30pm, Monday 24th February, repeated 11am, Thursday 27th February 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Humanoids UK facebook page
Joann Sfar’s website
Today’s show: The Hartlepool Monkey
February 17, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: The Hartlepool Monkey
Excerpt from The Hartlepool Monkey by Wilfrid Lupano and Jérémie Moreau
Continuing a month of shows about French comics or Bande dessinée, Alex Fitch talks to writer Wilfrid Lupano, artist Jérémie Moreau and publisher Tony Bennett about their graphic novel The Hartlepool Monkey (Le Singe de Hartlepool), released in the UK by Knockabout Press. The trio discuss the County Durham legend of a pet monkey washed ashore from a Napoleonic ship and taken to be a French spy by locals, how the graphic novel has gone down in France and their approach to combining various versions of the story to make a cohesive narrative.
4.30pm, Monday 17th February, repeated 11am, Thursday 20th February 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Translating Snowpiercer
February 10, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Translating Snowpiercer
Excerpt from Snowpiercer vol. 1 by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, translated by Virginie Sélavy
Continuing a month of shows about French comics or Bande dessinée, Alex Fitch talks to Virginie Sélavy about her translation of Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette’s French graphic novel Snowpiercer (Le Transperceneige) for its new two volume UK edition published by Titan Comics. Fitch and Sélavy also discuss Bong Joon-ho’s forthcoming film adaptation of Snowpiercer, other French translations that Titan have planned for 2014, and about the various comics and graphic novels that are available in the Resonance FM fundraising auction.
4.30pm, Monday 10th February, repeated 11am, Thursday 13th February 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Régis Loisel and Peter Pan
February 3, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Régis Loisel and Peter Pan
Peter Pan and Jack the Ripper by Régis Loisel
Starting a month of shows about French comics or Bande dessinée, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Régis Loisel about his epic graphic novel adaptation of and prequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, published in the UK by Soaring Penguin Press. Fitch and Loisel talk about the artist’s work for Disney in the 1990s, his interest in anthropomorphic characters, and how Jack the Ripper unexpectedly became part of Peter Pan’s origin.
Recorded at the Institut Francais, London, Summer 2013 with translation provided by Justine Goy.
4.30pm, Monday 3rd February, repeated 11am, Thursday 6th February 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s Show: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Captain Marvel
January 27, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Captain Marvel
Covers of various comics by Kelly DeConnick
Concluding a month of shows looking at Marvel Superhero comics, Alex Fitch talks to writer Kelly Sue DeConnick about her work on their Avengers Assemble, Osborne and Captain Marvel titles. Alex and Kelly Sue discuss how the author got her first work at Marvel, how her interest in aviation history leads to portrayals of female heroes from the real world in Captain Marvel, and how her writing collaboration with Warren Ellis on recent issues of Avengers Assemble came about.
4.30pm, Monday 27th January 2014, repeated 11am, Thursday 30th January 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Kelly Sue’s website
Listen to Kieron Gillen’s interview with Kelly Sue DeConnick
Listen to Alex’s interview with Matt Fraction about his work (more…)
Today’s show: Family reading
January 23, 2014
Today at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Clear Spot: Family reading
Covers of books by Sally Gardner, Fayette Fox and Lotta Niemenen
In an hour long show looking at titles aimed at different ages of young readers, Alex Fitch talks to three female authors about their work. Graphic designer Lotta Nieminen talks about her first picture book, Walk This World, which depicts various cities and locations around the world, in a highly stylised rectilinear fashion; YA author Sally Gardner discusses her Carnegie Medal winning dystopian novel Maggot Moon and new illustrated fantasy title Tinder; and debut novelist Fayette Fox explores the background of her coming of age novel The Deception Artist, whose young narrator may be in contact with a visitor from the future… Includes readings from Tinder and The Deception Artist performed by Robert Madge and Fayette Fox.
8pm, Thursday 23rd January 2014, repeated 9am, Friday 24th January 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Info about Walk This World at www.bigpicturepress.net
Info about Sally Garner on the Orion Books website
Maggot Moon website
Info about Fayette Fox on the Myriad Editions website (more…)
Today’s show: Kieron Gillen, Now.1
January 20, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Kieron Gillen, Now.1
Covers of various comics by Kieron Gillen
Continuing a month of shows about Superhero Comics, Alex Fitch talks to writer Kieron Gillen about his recent titles published under the Marvel Now banner, including Iron Man and Young Avengers, his collaborations with writer Matt Fraction, thoughts on online and interactive comics, and his forays into ‘mature readers’ titles such as Uber. Recorded at Nine Worlds GeekFest, London 2013.
4.30pm, Monday 20th January 2014, repeated 11am, Thursday 23rd January 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Kieron Gillen’s website and tumblr
Info on Kieron’s work at marvel.com
Listen to Alex’s previous interviews with Kieron Gillen about his work
Today’s show: What is a Superhero?
January 13, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: What is a Superhero?
Covers of What is a Superhero? by OUP / books by Will Brooker, Richard Reynolds, Kieron Gillen and Si Spurrier
Continuing a month of shows about superhero comics, Alex Fitch discusses the new Oxford University Press book ‘What is a Superhero?’ with a couple of the contributors – Richard Reynolds (Central St. Martins School of Art and Design) and Will Brooker (Kingston University) – and two writers of superhero comics – Kieron GIllen (Iron Man) and Si Spurrier (X-Men: Legacy).
Reynolds and Brooker read from their sections of the anthology and discuss their thoughts on the modern superhero identity, while Gillen and Spurrier talk about how they have built on the work of their predecessors while trying to create a voice of their own at Marvel Comics, in titles such as Journey into Mystery and The Punisher. Recorded at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, Autumn 2013 as part of Comica Festival.
4.30pm, Monday 13th January 2014, repeated 11am, Thursday 16th January 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com (more…)
Today’s show: Drawing Daredevils
January 6, 2014
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Drawing Daredevils
Art from Daredevil: End of Days by Klaus Janson, Bill Sienkiewicz and David Mack
Starting a month of shows about Superhero comics, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of artists who have worked on the title Daredevil at different periods over the last forty years. Klaus Janson, Bill Sienkiewicz and David Mack discuss their various art styles, and their joy in collaborating together on the recent mini series Daredevil: End of days. (Recorded Spring 2013 at London Super Comic Con)
4.30pm, Monday 6th January 2014, repeated 11am, Thursday 9th January 2014, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Marvel Wiki on Klaus Janson
Bill Sienkiewicz’ website
David Mack’s facebook page
Daredevil fansite: www.manwithoutfear.com (more…)
Today’s show: Designing comics
December 23, 2013
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Designing comics
Comics by Robert M Ball, Rian Hughes, Mike Medaglia and Karen Rubins
In a coda to a trio of shows about the use of fine art in comics, Alex Fitch looks at graphic design in comics, in a panel discussion with Rian Hughes (2000AD), Karen Rubins (V&A artist in residence), Robert Ball (Winter’s Knight) and Mike Medaglia (The Comix Reader). Hughes talks about his segue from being a comics artist into a full time graphic designer and font creator, Rubins discusses the influence of medieval woodcut design in her comic Blood Magic, Ball examines his move from ‘mondo’ style superhero posters to silent fantasy graphic novels and Medaglia explores the connections between atypical panel layout and Taoist theory in his small press anthology Wu Wei. Recorded at Caption Festival, Summer 2013. (Panel Borders will return in the second week of January, 2014)
4.30pm, Monday 23rd December 2013, repeated 11am, Tuesday 24th December 2013, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: The Books of Shrigley
December 16, 2013
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: The Books of Shrigley
Sculptures and cartoons by David Shrigley
Concluding a trio of show about comics and fine art practice, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist and fine artist David Shrigley about his work, from self published books of cartoons sold in pubs, to his recent nomination for the Turner Prize. Alex and David also discuss the links between the artist’s cartoons and sculptures, such as his short listed proposal for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, his work as a spoken word artist and the vagaries of publishing. (Last in the current series, Panel Borders will return in the second week of January, 2014)
4.30pm, Monday 16th December 2013, repeated 11am, Thursday 19th December 2013, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: David Shrigley’s website
Vote for the sculpture to go on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square
Article on the 2013 Turner Prize competition from The Guardian
(more…)
Today’s show: Novelizing Doctor Who
December 12, 2013
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Today at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Clear Spot: Novelizing Doctor Who
Covers of Doctor Who Novels by Terrance Dicks, Lawrence Miles, Marc Platt, Paul Cornell, J.T. Colgan and Tommy Donbavand
In an hour long show looking at the long tradition of Doctor Who novelizations and original novels, Alex Fitch talks to five novelists who have written books and monologues based on all eras of the show: Jenny Colgan, Paul Cornell, Tommy Donbavand, Marc Platt, and script editor (1970-1974) Terrance Dicks. Also, critic Andrew Hickey talks to writer Lawrence Miles about his Who novels from the late 90s and early 2000s and his spin off series Faction Paradox.
8pm, Thursday 12th December 2013, repeated 9am, Friday 13th December 2013, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Jenny Colgan’s facebook page
Paul Cornell’s website
Tommy Donbavand’s website
Wikipedia pages on Marc Platt and Terrance Dicks
Lawrence Miles’ blog and books published by Mad Norwegian Press (more…)
Today’s show: Medusa, The Golem and other phantoms of fine art
December 9, 2013
Today at 4.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Medusa, The Golem and other phantoms of fine art
Covers and interior art from Medusa and The Golem by Chirs Kent
Continuing a month of shows looking at the use of fine art techniques in comics and graphic novels, Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist Chris Kent about his pair of self published books Medusa and The Golem, rendered using traditional fine art techniques. Medusa takes a metaphorical approach to the legend of the creature that turns witnesses to stone, while The Golem is a more literal approach as a turn of the century magician uses the Jewish creature of vengeance in his stage show to devastating effect.
4.30pm, Monday 9th December 2013, repeated 11am, Thursday 12th December 2013, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Chris Kent’s website
Read an extract from Medusa at www.myebook.com (more…)
