Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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This week’s show: Junkyard Jack, Street Noise, and Monster Fun
February 28, 2023
Art from Monster Fun: Hire a Horror by Matt Baxter, covers of books published by Street Noise, art from Junkyard Jack and the Horse that Talked by Danny Noble
In a programme looking at comics for young audiences, and a young publisher looking to widen audiences, Alex Fitch talks to editor Liz Frances about her imprint Street Noise Books, who publish a range of graphic novels about diversity and activism, and to artists Matt Baxter and Danny Noble about illustrating Hire a Horror and Junkyard Jack and the Horse that Talked respectively in a panel discussion recorded at Graphic Brighton.
5.30pm, Wednesday 1st March 2023, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 5th March 2022, 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: Danny Noble’s website
Info about Danny’s books with Adrian Edmondson
Alex’s previous interview with Danny about music and comics
Matt Baxter’s design company – Baxter and Bailey
Buy back issues of Monster Fun
Info about Street Noise Books
Follow Danny Noble, Matt Baxter and Street Noise Books on Twitter
Panel Borders: The Writing Game
August 3, 2022
Si Spurrier, Rob Williams, Garth Ennis and Alex Fitch at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Writing Game: In the first of a pair of podcast only recordings, Alex Fitch talks to Simon Spurrier, Rob Williams, and Garth Ennis about their history of writing comics. The three writers discuss their techniques, the characters they’ve enjoyed working on including Judge Dredd and John Constantine, and their tips for collaboration in a panel discussion recorded at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Originally available as a video recording, uploaded 17th October 2019 on YouTube
For more formats to stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at archive.org
Links: Simon Spurrier’s website
Rob William’s website
Alex’s previous interviews with Garth Ennis and Simon Spurrier
Next week’s show: New Anthologies
April 30, 2022
Cover of The 77 annual, Blazer no.2, Eat More Comics: The Best of The Nib, The Nib no. 6 plus photos of Ben Cullis, Steve MacManus, Alex Fitch, Sarah Mirk, Myfanwy Tristram, Daniel Locke
In a pair of interviews recorded at Cartoon County, Alex Fitch talks to a number of creators about their work on anthologies. Sarah Mirk discusses her work on political comics anthology The Nib with contributions from artists Myfanwy Tristram and Daniel Locke, talking about their strips created for the title. Ben Conan Cullis, a.k.a. Benksy, and veteran comics editor Steve MacManus talk about the various titles they’ve launched via kickstarter including The 77, Blazer and Pandora which are a love letter to classic British comics.
5.30pm, Wednesday 4th May 2022, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 8th May 2022, 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: The Nib website
Sarah Mirk’s website
The 77 website and shop
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Steve MacManus about launching the first issue of Blazer
Panel Borders: Retro Anthologies
February 4, 2021
— 3 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…)
Next week’s show: Retro Anthologies
January 27, 2021
On Wednesday February 3rd at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Retro Anthologies
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
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
5.30pm, Wednesday 3rd February 2021, repeat broadcast 2.30am, Friday 5th February, 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: Blazer Kickstarter campaign
Steve MacManus’ twitter page
Julie Hollings’ page on British Comics database and Lambiek
Hunt Emerson’s website and page on Lambiek (more…)
Today’s show: Local Anthologies
October 12, 2015
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Local Anthologies
Issues 3 -5 of Girl Frenzy by Erica Smith / Alice White, Nich Angell, (Jon Lock) and Alex Fitch discuss Big Punch Magazine
Continuing the new series of Panel Borders as an hour long monthly show, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of young comic book creators and an editor / graphic designer, about anthology titles that utilise local talent. Cartoonist Erica Smith recalls her influential zine Girl Frenzy, made by Brightonians in the 1990s in an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Hove.
Also, Gloucestershire based graphic novelists Nich Angell, Lucy Brown, Jon Lock and Alice White discuss Big Punch Magazine and other titles created together and apart under the umbrella of Big Punch Studios, in a panel discussion from the ‘True Believers’ comic convention in Cheltenham.
Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.
8pm Tues 13th October, repeated 9am Wednesday 14th October 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Panel Borders: Taboo and other anthologies
September 30, 2012
— 4 Comments
Covers of Shell Shock, Taboo issues 4 and 1, 1963 issue 3 and proposed Tales of the Uncanny cover
Taboo and other anthologies: In the last of our month of shows on comic book anthologies, Alex Fitch talks to Kevin Eastman and Steve Bissette, co-publisher and editor respectively, of the ground-breaking horror periodical Taboo, which included the first instalments of Alan Moore’s From Hell and Lost Girls as well as work by Neil Gaiman, Moebius, S. Clay Wilson, Eddie Campbell and more. Kevin also discusses letting other creators draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in his Shell Shock collection and elsewhere, and Steve talks about the travails of the Image Comics 1963 project, and the return of his characters in the forthcoming sequel anthology Tales of the Uncanny – N-Man and Friends. (Originally broadcast in an edited version 30/09/12 on Resonance FM)
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download. (more…)
Today’s show: Taboo and other anthologies
September 30, 2012
— 1 Comment
Tonight at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM… Panel Borders: Taboo and other anthologies
Covers of Shell Shock, Taboo issues 4 and 1, 1963 issue 3 and proposed Tales of the Uncanny cover
In the last of our month of shows on comic book anthologies, Alex Fitch talks to Kevin Eastman and Steve Bissette, co-publisher and editor respectively, of the ground-breaking horror periodical Taboo, which included the first instalments of Alan Moore’s From Hell and Lost Girls as well as work by Neil Gaiman, Moebius, S. Clay Wilson, Eddie Campbell and more. Kevin also discusses letting other creators draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in his Shell Shock collection and elsewhere, and Steve talks about the travails of the Image Comics 1963 project, and the return of his characters in the forthcoming sequel anthology Tales of the Uncanny – N-Man and Friends.
8pm, Sunday 30th September 2012, Resonance 104.4FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Steve Bissette’s website and shop where you can buy Taboo
Kevin Eastman’s website (more…)
Reality Check: 35 years of 2000AD – Pencils and paint
September 27, 2012
— 2 Comments
2000AD covers by Kev Hopgood and Henry Flint
35 years of 2000AD – Pencils and paint: In a companion podcast to a recent edition of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of iconic artists, responsible for illustrating many of 2000AD‘s most memorable characters to celebrate the title’s 35th anniversary year. Kev Hopgood has drawn Judge Dredd, Future Shocks and Harlem Heroes, before going on to co-create War Machine in the American Iron Man comic; while Henry Flint has rendered memorable runs on Nemesis the Warlock, Rogue Trooper and ABC Warriors.
(Expanded podcast of the second half of a Clear Spot, broadcast 16/09/12 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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: 35 years of 2000AD – Words and letters
September 26, 2012
— 1 Comment
Covers of 2000AD progs 1799 and 1800 featuring a promotional image from Dredd and art by Chris Weston and Simon Bisley
35 years of 2000AD – Words and letters: Continuing our month of shows about comic book anthologies, Alex Fitch talks to Matt Smith about editing 2000AD and writing prose adventures of Judge Dredd, to David Baillie about penning Future Shocks, and to Annie Parkhouse about lettering “the galaxy’s greatest comic” in its 35th anniversary year. Matt also discusses penning a comic strip prequel to Dredd 3D in the latest Megazine, David discusses the concept of ‘selling out’ as a small press creator and Annie talks about her travails with international creators on American comic books. (Originally broadcast as the first half of a Clear Spot, 26/09/12 on Resonance FM)
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download. (more…)
Today’s show: 35 years of 2000AD
September 26, 2012
Tonight at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM… Clear Spot: 35 years of 2000AD
Covers of 2000AD progs 1799 and 1800 featuring a promotional image from Dredd and art by Chris Weston and Simon Bisley
In an hour long programme to compliment this month’s series of Panel Borders on comic book anthologies, tonight’s Clear Spot looks at “The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic”, 2000AD in its 35th anniversary year, alongside the release of a new Dredd movie, featuring the comic’s longest running character.
Alex Fitch discusses the recently released 1800th issue of the comic with editor Matt Smith; the process of writing Future Shocks with small press creator David Baillie; the drawing of memorable strips such as Harlem Heroes and Nemesis the Warlock with artists Kev Hopgood and Henry Flint; and the art of putting words in the mouth of indestructible lawman Judge Dredd with letterer Annie Parkhouse.
8pm, Wednesday 26th September 2012, Resonance 104.4FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / two extended podcasts after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Panel Borders: Aces Weekly
September 23, 2012
— 7 Comments
Clockwise from top left, art from Aces Weekly by: David Lloyd, David Leach, Kev Hopgood and John McCrea
Aces Weekly: Continuing our month of shows about anthologies, Alex Fitch talks to the creator and co-editor – David Lloyd – of a new weekly digital comics anthology, Aces Weekly. Alex also talks to three of the other contributors – David Leach, John McCrea and Kev Hopgood – about their new strips which will feature in the title and how the creators hope this will open up a new market for British comics in a brand new format.
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download.
Links: Aces Weekly official website and facebook page (more…)
Today’s show: Aces Weekly
September 23, 2012
Tonight at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM… Panel Borders: Aces Weekly
Clockwise from top left, art from Aces Weekly by: David Lloyd, David Leach, Kev Hopgood and John McCrea
Continuing our month of shows about anthologies, Alex Fitch talks to the creator and co-editor – David Lloyd – of a new weekly digital comics anthology, Aces Weekly. Alex also talks to three of the other contributors – David Leach, John McCrea and Kev Hopgood – about their new strips which will feature in the title and how the creators hope this will open up a new market for British comics in a brand new format.
8pm, Sunday 23rd September 2012, Resonance 104.4FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Aces Weekly official website and facebook page (more…)
Panel Borders: The Phoenix
September 16, 2012
— 2 Comments
Cover of The Phoenix, art from Corpse Talk, Blimpville, The Pirates of Pangaea, Long Gone Don
The Phoenix: In the first of a new series of Panel Borders, we start a month of shows looking at comic book anthologies with a recording of a panel discussion of the children’s comic The Phoenix. Creators Daniel Hartwell (writer: ‘Pirates of the Pangaea’), Neill Cameron (artist: ‘Pirates of the Pangaea’), Adam Murphy (‘Corpse Talk’), Robin Etherington (writer: ‘Long Gone Don’) and Patrice Aggs (‘Blimpville’) discuss creating serialised comics for children and how the title rose from the ashes of The DFC – hosted by David O’Connell (‘Tozo: The Public Servant’) and recorded live at Caption Festival, Oxford.
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download. (more…)
Today’s show: The Phoenix
September 16, 2012
Tonight at 8pm on Resonance 104.4 FM… Panel Borders: The Phoenix
Cover of The Phoenix, art from Corpse Talk, Blimpville, The Pirates of Pangaea, Long Gone Don
In the first of a new series of Panel Borders, we start a month of shows looking at comic book anthologies with a recording of a panel discussion of the children’s comic The Phoenix. Creators Daniel Hartwell (writer: ‘Pirates of the Pangaea’), Neill Cameron (artist: ‘Pirates of the Pangaea’), Adam Murphy (‘Corpse Talk’), Robin Etherington (writer: ‘Long Gone Don’) and Patrice Aggs (‘Blimpville’) discuss creating serialised comics for children and how the title rose from the ashes of The DFC – hosted by David O’Connell (‘Tozo: The Public Servant’) and recorded live at Caption Festival, Oxford.
8pm, Sunday 16th September 2012, Resonance 104.4FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: The Phoenix official website
Caption festival website (more…)
Laydeez do podcasts: Promoting comics
September 7, 2012
— 1 Comment
Charles Hatfield, photo by Reanna Delgadillo, Jay Eales and Selina Lock, photo by Andy Luke
Promoting comics: In two talks recorded at Laydeez do comics, the first in a new season of Laydeez do podcasts, Charles Hatfield talks about comics academia and Jay Eales and Selina Lock discuss publishing The Girly Comic. Hatfield is the author of ‘Alternative Comics: An Emerging Literature’ and ‘Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby’ and discusses introducing comics to English literature students. Jay and Selina also talk about helming the Caption small press festival in Oxford for a number of years and producing their own small press comics.
(Recorded by Nicola Streeten, edited by Alex Fitch) (more…)
Laydeez do podcasts: London Print Studio Comics Collective
May 23, 2011
— 2 Comments
Laydeez do Podcasts:
London Print Studio Comics Collective
London Print Studio Comics Collective logo
In this month’s podcast we have a recording of two talks by the London Print Studio Comics Collective – Isabel Greenberg, Rachel Emily Taylor, William Goldsmith, Joe Kelly and Freya Harrisson – alongside mentor Karrie Franzman and LPS director John Philips. Karrie and her protégés talk about their work, visiting the Angoulême comics festival in France, the process of getting published and how the internship has improved their artistic practice.
(Introduced and edited by Alex Fitch, recorded by Nicola Streeten)
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: London Print Studio Comics Collective blog
London Print Studio website
Panel Borders interviews with Karrie Franzman and Isabel Greenberg
Info about Laydeez do comics
(more…)
Panel Borders: Nobrow Press
April 28, 2011
— 4 Comments
Panel Borders:
Nobrow Press
Partially broadcast 28th April 2011 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Interior of People I have never met by Nick White, Exterior and interior of A Graphic Cosmogony published by Nobrow Press
This week’s show concludes our month of shows about comic book anthologies and collectives. In today’s episode Dickon Harris talks to Nick White and Alex Spiro from Nobrow Press in an interview recorded at the launch of their anthology “A Graphic Cosmogony” at the London Print Studio in November 2010 and Dickon is chatting to Nick and Alex about the history of Nobrow and the unique graphic design sensibilities and use of colour by the publishing company. (Edited by Alex Fitch)
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: Original listing of the event at London Print Studio
Nobrow Press website www.nobrow.net
Review of A Graphic Cosmogny at itsnicethat.com
Recommended events:
A two day festival about the best of British Comics from the last 30 years in a lovely new space – The Blue Room – at BFI Southbank.
The event includes panel discussions, workshops, talks, a film preview and signings, with guests including Al Davison (IDW Doctor Who comic), Tom Humberstone (Solipsistic Pop), David Hine (Batman), China Miéville (Kraken), Denise Mina (The Field Of Blood), Alice Duke (Self Made Hero), Mark Stafford (Cherubs), Ian Edginton (Victorian Undead), Martin Fisher (Battle among the stars), Huw J. Davies (Freeman), Edward Ross (Parasites!), Roger Mason (The Mice), Paul Collicutt (Robot City adventures), Phillipa Rice (My Cardboard Life), Alex Milway (The Mythical 9th Division), Eddie Robson (Doctor Who adventures), (Singer / songwriter) V.V. Brown, (film-maker) David Allain, (artist) John Spelling (all City of Abacus), Lee O’Connor (Ctrl Alt Delete unmasks corruption), Zarina Liew, Yuri Kore, Clio Millett (Manga Jiman winners), Matt Jones (BERG design) and Matthew Sheret (Paper Science)
The Blue Room, BFI Southbank, 30th April / 1st May, 10am – 5pm
More info at www.scifilondon.com/bficomics
Further information is available in the May BFI Southbank programme and at www.bfi.org.uk/southbank
(more…)
Today’s show: Nobrow Press
April 28, 2011
Today on Resonance FM…
Panel Borders: Nobrow Press
Interior of People I have never met by Nick White, Exterior and interior of A Graphic Cosmogony published by Nobrow Press
This week’s show concludes our month of shows about comic book anthologies and collectives. In today’s episode Dickon Harris talks to Nick White and Alex Spiro from Nobrow Press in an interview recorded at the launch of their anthology “A Graphic Cosmogony” at the London Print Studio in November 2010 and Dickon is chatting to Nick and Alex about the history of Nobrow and the unique graphic design sensibilities and use of colour by the publishing company. (Edited by Alex Fitch)
5pm, Thursday 28/04/11, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Original listing of the event at London Print Studio
Nobrow Press website www.nobrow.net
Review of A Graphic Cosmogny at itsnicethat.com
Recommended events:
A two day festival about the best of British Comics from the last 30 years in a lovely new space – The Blue Room – at BFI Southbank.
The event includes panel discussions, workshops, talks, a film preview and signings, with guests including Al Davison (IDW Doctor Who comic), Tom Humberstone (Solipsistic Pop), David Hine (Batman), China Miéville (Kraken), Denise Mina (The Field Of Blood), Alice Duke (Self Made Hero), Mark Stafford (Cherubs), Ian Edginton (Victorian Undead), Martin Fisher (Battle among the stars), Huw J. Davies (Freeman), Edward Ross (Parasites!), Roger Mason (The Mice), Paul Collicutt (Robot City adventures), Phillipa Rice (My Cardboard Life), Alex Milway (The Mythical 9th Division), Eddie Robson (Doctor Who adventures), (Singer / songwriter) V.V. Brown, (film-maker) David Allain, (artist) John Spelling (all City of Abacus), Lee O’Connor (Ctrl Alt Delete unmasks corruption), Zarina Liew, Yuri Kore, Clio Millett (Manga Jiman winners), Matt Jones (BERG design) and Matthew Sheret (Paper Science)
The Blue Room, BFI Southbank, 30th April / 1st May, 10am – 5pm
More info at www.scifilondon.com/bficomics
Further information is available in the May BFI Southbank programme and at www.bfi.org.uk/southbank
(more…)
Panel Borders: Dan Dare in the 20th Century
April 21, 2011
— 6 Comments
Panel Borders:
Dan Dare in the 20th Century
Partially broadcast 21st April 2011 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Three anthologies featuring Dan Dare: The Eagle, 2000AD and 1980s Eagle comic
Continuing our month of shows about collectives and anthologies, we have a recording of a panel discussion from Sci-Fi London in 2010, celebrating the continuing popularity of the iconic British Space Hero whose first appearance in The Eagle was published in April 1950. Comics editor and writer John Freeman (The Science Service / Ex Astris) talks to a quartet of artists and writers who have created new adventures for the lantern jawed pilot in more recent years.
These include: Garry Leach, who drew Dan’s return to print in 2000AD, ten years after the end of the original Eagle, in the late 1970s and more recently covers for Virgin comics’ revival of the ‘Pilot of the future’ in 2008;
Rian Hughes, who drew the Eagle inspired comic The Science Service in 1989 and then the Mekon’s final revenge in the Thatcherite satire Dare in the adult comics Revolver and Crisis a year later;
Gary Erskine, who drew Dan Dare’s most recent official comic book adventures in the Virgin Comics periodical of the same name; and
Rod Barzilay, the editor and one of the writers of Spaceship Away, a small press Dan Dare magazine that has continued the original adventures of Spacefleet where the 1950s Eagle left off over the past decade.
This recording covers Dare’s appearance in print from the 1950s to the 1980s. (Recorded and edited by Alex Fitch)
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
/ Listen to the podcast of the second half of this panel recording
Links: Original listing of the event at Sci-Fi London
Wikipedia page on Dan Dare
Spaceship Away magazine website
John Freeman’s British Comics news website – Down the tubes
Rian Hughes’ website www.devicefonts.co.uk
Gary Erskine online
Buy original Garry Leach art from artdroids.co.uk
Recommended events:
25 years of John Constantine: Hellblazer at SCI-FI-LONDON
To belatedly celebrate the 25th anniversary of the start of the ongoing Hellblazer comic, for the inaugural event of this year’s London International Science-Fiction and Fantastic Film Festival, Sci-Fi London is proud to present a panel of Constantine creators – Jamie Delano, David Lloyd, Andy Diggle and Peter Milligan – in an on stage Q and A about their experiences of working on the comic and related graphic novels.
The panel is followed by a screening of the movie Constantine (2005).
5pm, Apollo Piccadilly Cinema, Lower Regent Street, London.
Tickets / more info: www.sci-fi-london.com/festival
A two day festival about the best of British Comics from the last 30 years in a lovely new space – The Blue Room – at BFI Southbank.
(more…)
Panel Borders and other podcasts 
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