Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Next week’s show: Telling Truths
October 2, 2021
Interior art from Livestock, Graphic Science, Fukishima and Such, Such Were The Joys
Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of graphic novelists whose work reflects events from history over the last hundred years. In a panel discussion recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Hannah Berry, Darryl Cunningham and Fumio Obata discuss how their work is based on recent culture and economics regarding graphic novels Livestock, Graphic Science and Fumio’s Fukishima comic. Also, cartoonist Jaime Huxtable talks about illustrating the graphic novel adaptation of George Orwell’s autobiographical essay Such, Such Were The Joys, with script by Sean Michael Wilson, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County.
5.30pm, Wednesday 7th October 2021, repeat broadcast 10am, Sunday 10th October, Resonance 104.4 FM + DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Hannah Berry’s website
Darryl Cunningham’s blog
Fumio Obata’s website
Jaime Huxtable’s website
More info about the latest graphic graphic novels by this episode’s guests: The Garden by Fumio Obata, Livestock by Hannah Berry, Putin’s Russia by Darryl Cunningham, and Such, Such Were The Joys by Jaime Huxtable
Panel Borders: Edible Ensembles
September 13, 2021
— 1 Comment
Interior art from Biscuits / Photos of Jenny Robins and Jason Scott Smith / Interior art from Marble Cake
Edible Ensembles: In the second of two early Autumn specials, Alex Fitch chats to the creators of graphic novels with diverse ensemble casts. Jenny Robins discusses her graphic novel Biscuits (Assorted), which presents a snapshot of the intertwining lives of modern women from diverse backgrounds; Scott Jason Smith explores his book Marble Cake, a magical realist look at a community in South London, in Q and As recorded at Cartoon County.
Partially broadcast 1st September 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
Links: For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
More info about Biscuits (Assorted) from publisher Myriad Editions
Jenny Robins website and etsy shop
Jenny Robins and Scott Jason Smith on Instagram
More info about Marble Cake from publisher Avery Hill
Scott Jason Smith website
Comics by SJS on issuu and Top Shelf 2.0
Panel Borders: Diverse Superheroes
September 1, 2021
Interior art from The ME Generation / Photos of Eve Greenwood and Colin Brake / Interior art from Inhibit
Diverse Superheroes: In the first of two early Autumn specials, Alex Fitch chats to the creators of superhero comics with diverse ensemble casts. Eve Greenwood talks about their superhero webcomic Inhibit and LGBT+ publishing house Quindre Press, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County.
Also, former Eastenders writer Colin Brake discusses the history of his kickstarted comic The ME Generation to be drawn by artist Yishan Li, and how he nearly became the Doctor Who script editor in the early 1990s.
N.B./ The ME Generation kickstarter ends Wednesday September 8th / Quindrie Press’ When I Was Me kickstarter ends September 29th 2021
Partially broadcast 1st September 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
Links: For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Eve Greenwood website, including page on Inhibit
More info about Quindrie Press
Info about Colin Brake on Wikipedia and IMDb filmography
Next week’s show: Ensemble Casts
August 25, 2021
Interior art from Biscuits, Marble Cake, Inhibit and The ME Generation, photos of Jenny Robins, Scott Jason Smith, Eve Greenwood and Colin Brake
In a two hour early Autumn special, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of comics with ensemble casts. Jenny Robins discusses her graphic novel Biscuits (Assorted), which presents a snapshot of the intertwining lives of modern women from diverse backgrounds; Scott Jason Smith explores his book Marble Cake, a magical realist look at a community in South London; Eve Greenwood converses about their superhero webcomic Inhibit and LGBT+ publishing house Quindre Press; and former Eastenders and Doctor Who writer Colin Brake explains the history of his kickstarted comic The ME Generation to be drawn by artist Yishan Li.
Interviews with Robins, Smith and Greenwood recorded via Cartoon County online / The ME Generation kickstarter ends Wednesday September 8th, 2021.
5pm, Wednesday 1st September 2021, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 5th September, Resonance 104.4 FM + DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: More info about Biscuits (Assorted) from publisher Myriad Editions
Jenny Robins website
More info about Marble Cake from publisher Avery Hill
Scott Jason Smith website
Eve Greenwood website, including page on Inhibit
More info about Quindrie Press
Info about Colin Brake on Wikipedia and IMDb filmography
Panel Borders: Good Comics
August 10, 2021
Covers of The Good Comics Reader 1 + 2, Dead Singers Society 3, and cover and interior art from Cosmos and other stories by Rozi Hathaway
Good Comics: Alex Fitch looks at the output of small press publishing house Good Comics, in a pair of interviews with two of their creators. Editor / co-publisher Paddy Johnston talks about the founding of the imprint based on the success of their initial title Dead Singers Society, and artist Rozi Hathaway discusses her collection Cosmos and Other Stories, and contributions to the Good Comics Reader.
Good Comics will be selling their wares at the Hackney Comics and Zine Fair, online throughout September. Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton in front of a live audience.
Originally broadcast 4th August 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
Links: For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Good Comics website
Paddy Johnston’s website
Rozi Hathaway’s website
Listen to Alex’s interview with Eleanor Crewes about All the Times I Knew I was Gay
Tomorrow’s show: Good Comics
August 3, 2021
Covers of The Good Comics Reader 1 + 2, Dead Singers Society 3, and cover and interior art from Cosmos and other stories by Rozi Hathaway
Alex Fitch looks at the output of small press publishing house Good Comics, in a pair of interviews with two of their creators. Editor / co-publisher Paddy Johnston talks about the founding of the imprint based on the success of their initial title Dead Singers Society, and artist Rozi Hathaway discusses her collection Cosmos and Other Stories, and contributions to the Good Comics Reader.
Good Comics will be selling their wares at the Hackney Comics and Zine Fair, online throughout September. Recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton in front of a live audience.
7pm, Wednesday 4th August 2021, repeat broadcast 10am, Sunday 8th August Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Good Comics website
Paddy Johnston’s website
Rozi Hathaway’s website
Listen to Alex’s interview with Eleanor Crewes about All the Times I Knew I was Gay
Panel Borders (Episode 501): Anticipating the Future
July 10, 2021
Images from Full Tilt Boogie and Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future written by Alex DeCampi / Images from Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale and Matty’s Rocket
Anticipating the Future: In the 501st episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a couple of creators who work on Science-Fiction Comics. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, writer Alex DeCampi discusses her YA serial Full Tilt Boogie serialised in 2000AD and recently collected as a book, and working with director Duncan Jones on adapting his unmade film Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future as a graphic novel. Also, Alex chats to artist Tim Fielder about his epic graphic novel Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale which covers millennia in the life of an immortal who observes the rise and fall of humanity, and his ‘diesel-punk’ comics series Matty’s Rocket.
Originally broadcast 7th July 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
Links: For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Info about Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future on publisher Z2 Comics website, and Full Tilt Boogie on 2000AD website
Info about Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale on Harper Collins’ website
Tim Fielder’s website, including page on Matty’s Rocket
Alex DeCampi’s website (more…)
Next week’s show: Anticipating the Future
July 2, 2021
Images from Full Tilt Boogie and Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future written by Alex DeCampi / Images from Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale and Matty’s Rocket
In the 501st episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a couple of creators who work on Science-Fiction Comics. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, writer Alex DeCampi discusses her YA serial Full Tilt Boogie serialised in 2000AD and recently collected as a book, and working with director Duncan Jones on adapting his unmade film Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future as a graphic novel. Also, Alex chats to artist Tim Fielder about his epic graphic novel Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale which covers millennia in the life of an immortal who observes the rise and fall of humanity, and his ‘diesel-punk’ comics series Matty’s Rocket.
5.30pm, Wednesday 7th July 2021, repeat broadcast TBC, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Info about Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future on publisher Z2 Comics website, and Full Tilt Boogie on 2000AD website
Info about Infinitum: An Afrofuturism Tale on Harper Collins’ website
Tim Fielder’s website, including page on Matty’s Rocket
Alex DeCampi’s website
(more…)
Panel Borders (Episode 500): Discerning The Past
June 3, 2021
Mike Lake, Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press), Will Eisner, Nick Landau (Titan Books) and Stan Nicholls (FP manager), June 1980 (photo by Richard Bruton) / Contributors to The Inking Woman including Streeten (in purple) and Tate (in red, photo by Jakki Brown)
Discerning The Past: In the 500th episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch takes a nostalgic look back at important moments in the history of comics. Alex discusses anthology title The Inking Woman with two of its editors – Dr. Nicola Streeten and Cath Tate – and how they compiled the book’s survey of 250 years of female cartoonists. Also, co-founder of the Forbidden Planet chain of shops – Mike Lake – talks about his involvement in the birth of the British ‘direct market’ in the UK which inaugurated organised distribution of American comics in the UK in the 1970s.
Originally broadcast 2nd June 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: More info about The Inking Woman published by Myriad Editions and profile of Cath Tate
Mike Lake’s website
Nicola Streeten’s website (more…)
Architecture Culture: From the City to the Suburbs (on film)
June 3, 2021
Posters for I am Ren / Minor Premise / stills from films being shown as part of ‘Return to the city’
From the City to the Suburbs (on film): In advance of the Barbican Cinema’s season ‘Return to the City’, Alex Fitch talks to cinema programmer Alex Davidson about the city-based films they are showing between 8th and 27th June, set in six different urban environments, from five different decades.
Also, in a pair of interviews recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex talks to director Patricia Ryczko and actress Marta Krol about their film I am Ren (Panacea), which depicts an android / housewife who is sent to a mental institution to find out if she is human or machine, and to film-maker Eric Schultz regarding his movie Minor Premise about a neuroscientist who experiments on himself with dangerous results.
Originally broadcast Tuesday 1st June 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org (more…)
Next week’s show: From the City to the Suburbs (on Film)
May 27, 2021
On Tuesday June 1st at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Clear Spot: From the City to the Suburbs (on Film)
Posters for I am Ren / Minor Premise / stills from films being shown as part of ‘Return to the city’
In advance of the Barbican Cinema’s season ‘Return to the City’, Alex Fitch talks to cinema programmer Alex Davidson about the city-based films they are showing between 8th and 27th June, set in six different urban environments, from five different decades.
Also, in a pair of interviews recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex talks to director Patricia Ryczko and actress Marta Krol about their film I am Ren (Panacea), which depicts an android / housewife who is sent to a mental institution to find out if she is human or machine, and to film-maker Eric Schultz regarding his movie Minor Premise about a neuroscientist who experiments on himself with dangerous results.
8pm, Tuesday 1st June 2021, repeat broadcast 10am Wednesday 2nd June, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
25 out of 500
May 21, 2021
With the 500th episode of Panel Borders fast approaching, if you’d like to catch up on memorable interviews with past guests, here’s a selection of 25 interviewees from the first 500 episodes…
Various chats with Alan Moore
A trio of Q and As with Neil Gaiman
A couple of conversations with Audrey Niffenegger
Raymond Briggs on the reissue of Gentleman Jim
Bryan and Mary Talbot on working together
Art Spiegelman on Maus and Breakdowns
Mariko Tamaki on This One Summer and She-Hulk
Stan Sakai on Usagi Yojimbo
Julie Hollings on Beryl the Bitch and Dire Streets
Toshio Maeda on Urotsokidoji
Doug Braithwaite on Earth X and Justice
Jim Starlin on Thanos and crowdfunding The Return of Dreadstar
Gerald Scarfe on Rude Britannia
Sarah McIntyre on moving between comics and illustrated books for children
Woodrow Phoenix on moving between comics and animation
Marjane Satrapi on Persepolis
Film-maker Nic Roeg on his love of comics
Former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell on moving between political cartoons and comics for kids
Comics Laureates: Dave Gibbons, Charlie Adlard and Hannah Berry on their practice
Comics Robin Ince, Stewart Lee, and Sandi Toksvig on their love of sequential art…
Next month’s show: Panel Borders 500 – Discerning the Past
May 21, 2021
On Wednesday May 5th at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Fantastical Visions
Mike Lake, Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press), Will Eisner, Nick Landau (Titan Books) and Stan Nicholls (original FP manager), June 1980 (photo by Richard Bruton) / Various contributors to The Inking Woman including Nicola Streeten (in purple) and Cath Tate (in red, photo by Jakki Brown)
In the 500th episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch takes a nostalgic look back at important moments in the history of comics. Alex discusses anthology title The Inking Woman with two of its editors – Dr. Nicola Streeten and Cath Tate – and how they compiled the book’s survey of 250 years of female cartoonists. Also, co-founder of the Forbidden Planet chain of shops – Mike Lake – talks about his involvement in the birth of the British ‘direct market’ in the UK which inaugurated organised distribution of American comics in the UK in the 1970s.
5.30pm, Wednesday 2nd June 2021, repeat broadcast 2.30am, Friday 4th June, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: More info about The Inking Woman published by Myriad Editions and profile of Cath Tate
Mike Lake’s website
Nicola Streeten’s website (more…)
Panel Borders: Fantastical Visions
May 5, 2021
Art from Coma by Zara Slattery / Captain America by Declan Shalvey / Avengers by Staz Johnson
Fantastical Visions: In an episode celebrating great comic book art, Alex Fitch talks to three artists who bring wonderous visions to the page. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Zara Slattery discusses her graphic novel Coma which depicts her experiences of extreme medical intervention as a journey through a fantastical dreamscape. Plus, in a ‘live draw’ session recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Declan Shalvey and Staz Johnson discuss their influences and inspirations for working on such titles as Injection and 2000AD.
Originally broadcast 5th May 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: More info about Coma published by Myriad Editions
Zara Slattery’s website
Wikipedia pages on Declan Shalvey and Staz Johnson
Staz Johnson’s blog
Declan Shalvey’s tumblr
Listen to Alex and Zara discuss classic video games in a show about the Vectrex games console
More info about support for survivors of Necrotising Fasciitis
Next week’s show: Fantastical Visions
April 29, 2021
On Wednesday May 5th at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Fantastical Visions
Art from Coma by Zara Slattery / Captain America by Declan Shalvey / Avengers by Staz Johnson
In an episode celebrating great comic book art, Alex Fitch talks to three artists who bring wonderous visions to the page. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Zara Slattery discusses her graphic novel Coma which depicts her experiences of extreme medical intervention as a journey through a fantastical dreamscape. Plus, in a ‘live draw’ session recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Declan Shalvey and Staz Johnson discuss their influences and inspirations for working on such titles as Injection and 2000AD.
5.30pm, Wednesday 5th May 2021, repeat broadcast 2.30am, Friday 7th May, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: More info about Coma published by Myriad Editions
Zara Slattery’s website
Wikipedia pages on Declan Shalvey and Staz Johnson
Staz Johnson’s blog
Declan Shalvey’s tumblr
Listen to Alex and Zara discuss classic video games in a show about the Vectrex games console
More info about support for survivors of Necrotising Fasciitis
Panel Borders: Defensive Animals
April 7, 2021
— 2 Comments
Images from Tummy Bugs by Leomi Sadler / Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
Defensive Animals: In the second of two programmes looking at anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of comic creators about their titles featuring combative animal characters. Leomi Sadler discusses her strips about insects, gargoyles, bacteria and other creatures battling against adversity, featured in a new collection – Tummy Bugs – published by Breakdown Press.
Also, in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, veteran cartoonist Stan Sakai chats about his long running comic Usagi Yojimbo which chronicles the adventures of a samurai rabbit…
Originally broadcast 7th April 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: More info about Tummy Bugs on Breakdown Press’ website
Interview with Leomi Sadler on the Creative Review website
Stan Sakai’s website
Usagi Yojimbo website
More interviews with creators of anthropomorphic comics including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman
Tomorrow’s show: Defensive Animals
April 6, 2021
On Wednesday April 7th at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Defensive Animals
Images from Tummy Bugs by Leomi Sadler / Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
In the second of two programmes looking at anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of comic creators about their titles featuring combative animal characters. Leomi Sadler discusses her strips about insects, gargoyles, bacteria and other creatures battling against adversity, featured in a new collection – Tummy Bugs – published by Breakdown Press.
Also, in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, veteran cartoonist Stan Sakai chats about his long running comic Usagi Yojimbo which chronicles the adventures of a samurai rabbit…
5.30pm, Wednesday 7th April 2021, repeat broadcast 2.30am, Friday 9th April, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: More info about Tummy Bugs on Breakdown Press’ website
Interview with Leomi Sadler on the Creative Review website
Stan Sakai’s website
Usagi Yojimbo website
More interviews with creators of anthropomorphic comics
Panel Borders: Melancholic Animals
March 4, 2021
Art from I Killed Adolf Hitler and Werewolves of Montpellier by Jason / Haway Man, Klaus by Richard Short
Melancholic Animals: Alex Fitch talks to a pair of creators of anthropomorphic comics whose work features stories of animals in melancholic situations. Richard Short discusses the various publications featuring his popular feline character, including the latest graphic novel Haway Man, Klaus, published by Breakdown Press. Also, in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Alex chats to Norwegian cartoonist Jason about his work, including such genre titles as such as I Killed Adolf Hitler and Werewolves of Montpellier.
Originally broadcast 3rd March 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: More info about Haway Man, Klaus on Breakdown Press’ website
Interview with Richard Short on The Comics Journal website
Info about books by Jason on Fantagraphics’ website
Jason’s biography on Sundero Gallery site
More interviews with creators of anthropomorphic comics
This Week’s show: Melancholic Animals
February 28, 2021
On Wednesday March 3rd at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Melancholic Animals
Art from I Killed Adolf Hitler and Werewolves of Montpellier by Jason / Haway Man, Klaus by Richard Short
Alex Fitch talks to a pair of creators of anthropomorphic comics whose work features stories of animals in melancholic situations. Richard Short discusses the various publications featuring his popular feline character, including the latest graphic novel Haway Man, Klaus, published by Breakdown Press. Also, in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Alex chats to Norwegian cartoonist Jason about his work, including such genre titles as such as I Killed Adolf Hitler and Werewolves of Montpellier.
5.30pm, Wednesday 3rd March 2021, repeat broadcast 2.30am, Friday 5th March, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: More info about Haway Man, Klaus on Breakdown Press’ website
Interview with Richard Short on The Comics Journal website
Info about books by Jason on Fantagraphics’ website
Jason’s biography on Sundero Gallery site
More interviews with creators of anthropomorphic comics
Panel Borders: Retro Anthologies
February 4, 2021
— 2 Comments
Covers of Blazer and The Mighty One written by Steve MacManus / Interior art by Julie Hollings from Beryl the Bitch and Dire Streets / Covers of Hot Jazz by Hunt Emerson and Outrageous Tales from the Old Testament by Emerson, Hollings and friends
Retro Anthologies: In a pair of interviews, Alex Fitch talks to comic book editor Steve MacManus about his new retro comic book anthology Blazer, plus his tenure on 2000AD and other classic titles, and to Julie Hollings and Hunt Emerson about their work on music themed comics such as Revolver and Hot Jazz, plus anthology Outrageous Tales from the Old Testament including work by both, in a Q and A recorded at the 2018 Graphic Brighton conference at the University of Sussex.
If you enjoy Panel Borders, please consider donating some money towards the running costs of Resonance FM, during February – more info at https://www.resonancefm.com/donate
Originally broadcast 3rd February 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org (more…)
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