Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Next week’s show: Unusual Buildings
July 1, 2022
Cover and interior art from You’re Thinking About Tomatoes, and Welcome Home / Photos (by Myf Tristram) of Michael Rosen and Cole Henley, Alex Fitch and Clarrie Pope
In this month’s show Alex Fitch talks to the creators of graphic novels set in unusual buildings… Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen and artist Cole Henley discuss the comic book version of You’re Thinking About Tomatoes, in which a boy on a school trip to a country house gets embroiled in an adventure with a girl from a painting and a mummy come to life, in a Q and A recorded at Graphic Brighton; cartoonist Clarrie Pope explores the graphic novel Welcome Home about the lives of a community of squatters in a condemned tower block, co-written with her sister Blanche, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County.
5.30pm, Wednesday 6th July 2022, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 10th July 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: Info about You’re Thinking About Tomatoes on publisher Unbound’s website
Michael Rosen’s website
Cole Henley’s website and instagram site
Info about Welcome Home on publisher Minor Compositions website
Clarrie Pope’s website
Broken Frontier article about the Myriad First Fictions 2018 shortlist
Other interviews with former laureates recorded at Graphic Brighton include: Chris Riddell and Hannah Berry
Panel Borders: Learning with Comics
August 18, 2020
Covers of books by Sally Kindberg and Alex Frith / Rewilding Sussex comic by Chris Sandom and Daniel Locke / Darryl Cunningham and Robin Ince discuss Billionaires
Learning with Comics: In the Panel Borders 90 minute Summer Special, Alex Fitch talks to illustrator Sally Kindberg, ecologist Chris Sandom, children’s writer Alex Frith, graphic novelist Daniel Locke and astrophysicist Kathy Romer about using comics for educational purposes in a panel discussion recorded at the British Science Festival. Also, guest presenter Robin Ince talks to cartoonist Darryl Cunningham about his latest work of graphic journalism Billionaires: The Lives of the Rich and Powerful, in a Q and A hosted by Corinne Pearlman and recorded at the Myriad Salon, Brighton.
Originally broadcast 5th August 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org (more…)
Next week’s show: Learning with Comics
August 2, 2020
On Wednesday August 5th at 5.00pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Learning with Comics
Covers of books by Sally Kindberg and Alex Frith / Rewilding Sussex comic by Chris Sandom and Daniel Locke / Darryl Cunningham and Robin Ince discuss Billionaires
In the Panel Borders 90 minute Summer Special, Alex Fitch talks to illustrator Sally Kindberg, ecologist Chris Sandom, children’s writer Alex Frith, graphic novelist Daniel Locke and astrophysicist Kathy Romer about using comics for educational purposes in a panel discussion recorded at the British Science Festival. Also, guest presenter Robin Ince talks to cartoonist Darryl Cunningham about his latest work of graphic journalism Billionaires: The Lives of the Rich and Powerful, in a Q and A recorded at the Myriad Salon, Brighton.
5pm, Wednesday 5th August 2020, repeat broadcast 3am, Friday 7th 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: Info about the British Science Festival panel discussion on Sally Kindberg’s blog
Info about the Myriad Literary Salon with Ince and Cunningham (more…)
Next week’s show: Girls’ Comics Autumn Special
August 30, 2018
On Wednesday September 5th at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Girls’ Comics Autumn Special
Hannah Eaton, Hannah Berry and Jenni Scott discuss Girls Comics at Caption / cover of 2017 Misty special / Mel Gibson interviews Anne Digby at IGNCC / first page of the Tammy adaptation of Trebizon
In a 90 minute special edition of Panel Borders, cartoonist and Graphic Novels editor Corinne Pearlman introduces a pair of interviews about “Girls Comics”, periodicals aimed at young female audiences from the second half of the 20th Century: Comics scholar Mel Gibson interviews the author of the Trebizon novels for Young Adults, Anne Digby, who was also the writer of a variety of strips for Tammy, including “Olympia Jones” and “Tennis Star Tina”.
Also, Jinty appreciation website creator Jenni Scott talks to a pair of female graphic novelists – Hannah Eaton and Hannah Berry – about how girls comics influenced their work, with the latter also involved in the relaunch of Misty as an annual Halloween comic…
5.30pm Wednesday 5th September 2018, repeat 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 (more…)
Panel Borders: Toys and Games
March 8, 2018
Art from Lego Star Wars / Part Robot / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Bob Molesworth / Comic Turns / Macbeth by Karen Rubins
Toys and Games: In a pair of interviews looking at the connections between toys, games and comics, Alex Fitch talks to artists Karen Rubins and Bob Molesworth about their work. Karen discusses her new comic art card game, Comic Turns, which allows the player to create their own sequential art stories, and her strip Tales to Give You the Shivers in The Phoenix.
In an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Bob Molesworth talks about drawing popular kids franchises such as Scooby Doo and Lego Star Wars, small press titles such as Dino Corps, and creating a cyberpunk adult colouring book called Part Robot.
Originally broadcast 7th March 2018 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Toys and Games
March 6, 2018
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Toys and Games
Art from Lego Star Wars / Part Robot / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Bob Molesworth / Comic Turns / Macbeth by Karen Rubins
In a pair of interviews looking at the connections between toys, games and comics, Alex Fitch talks to artists Karen Rubins and Bob Molesworth about their work. Karen discusses her new comic art card game, Comic Turns, which allows the player to create their own sequential art stories, and her strip Tales to Give You the Shivers in The Phoenix.
In an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Bob Molesworth talks about drawing popular kids franchises such as Scooby Doo and Lego Star Wars, small press titles such as Dino Corps, and creating a cyberpunk adult colouring book called Part Robot.
5.30pm Wednesday 7th March 2018, repeated 7am Tuesday 13th 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 (more…)
Panel Borders: Space Dumplings
April 19, 2016
Cover and interior art from Space Dumplings by Craig Thompson / extract from “Conversation” by James Kochalka and Thompson
Space Dumplings: Alex Fitch talks to Eisner Award winning artist Craig Thompson about his first full colour graphic novel Space Dumplings, an uproarious depiction of adventure and galactic travel published by Faber, in which the daughter of an interstellar salvage man goes on a trip of her own meeting aliens, giant robots and space whales. Fitch and Thompson also discuss the latter’s collaborations with other creators such as James Kochalka and Theo Ellsworth and how this might predict more work in the future, including a sequel to …Dumplings.
(Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am. Originally broadcast as half of a Clear Spot on Resonance 104.4 FM, 12th April 2016) (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Children of the Future
April 11, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Children of the Future
Cover and interior art from Space Dumplings by Craig Thompson, and The Arab of the Future by Riad Sattouf
Alex Fitch talks to two cartoonists whose comics feature young protagonists and offer hope for the future. Eisner Award winning artist Craig Thompson discusses his first full colour graphic novel Space Dumplings, an uproarious depiction of adventure and galactic travel published by Faber, in which the daughter of an interstellar salvage man goes on a trip of her own meeting aliens, giant robots and space whales.
Also, Charlie Hebdo alumnus Riad Sattouf describes the first volume of his autobiographical strips about growing up in France, and the Middle East published as The Arab of the Future by Two Roads Books. Alex and Riad explore how the book relates to the latter’s experiences as a film-maker and his interest in Victorian serialised entertainment by Dickens and Hergé.
8pm Tuesday 12th April, repeated 9am Wednesday 13th April 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.) (more…)
Panel Borders: Drawing The Beano
December 29, 2015
Laura Howell draws Minnie the Minx (photo by Coventry Express and Star) / excerpts from Ratz, Little Plum and Freds Bed
Drawing The Beano: Alex Fitch talks to writers / artists Laura Howell and Hunt Emerson who have contributed a number of strips to The Beano since 2002, including Little Plum, Ratz, Minnie the Minx and more, in an interview recorded at Caption comics festival, Coventry. Laura discusses moving from the small press to mainstream comics, and Hunt talks about the challenges of drawing kids comics after a career of adaptations of adult literature. (Originally broadcast as the second half of a Clear Spot on Resonance 104.4 FM, 8th December 2015)
Fourth of the 12 Podcasts of Christmas. For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Hunt Emerson’s website
Laura Howell’s website
The Beano website (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Comics for all ages
December 7, 2015
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Comics for all ages
Star Wars comics by Jeffrey Brown / Ratz by Emerson and Howell + Little Plum by Hunt Emerson from the Beano
In a seasonal edition of Panel Borders, looking at comics that might be enjoyed by readers of all ages over the Christmas period, this month’s show includes interviews with creators who have worked on periodicals and graphic novels aimed at children and adults. Alex Fitch talks to writers / artists Laura Howell and Hunt Emerson who have contributed a number of strips to The Beano since 2002, including Little Plum, Ratz, Minnie the Minx and more, in an interview recorded at Caption comics festival, Coventry.
Also, guest presenter (and cartoonist) Marc Ellerby talks to American graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown whose work varies from self-depricating autobiographical titles to a variety of Star Wars illustrated books for kids including Jedi Academy and Vader’s Little Princess, in a Q and A recorded at Gosh! Comics, London. (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
8pm Tuesday 8th December, repeated 9am Wednesday 9th October 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) (more…)
Panel Borders: Big Punch Studios
November 2, 2015
— 2 Comments
Issues 1-3 of Big Punch Magazine / Alice White, Nich Angell, (Jon Lock) and Alex Fitch discuss Big Punch studios at True Believers Comic Festival, Cheltenham
Big Punch Studios: Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of young graphic novelists – Nich Angell, Lucy Brown, Jon Lock and Alice White – who publish together under the umbrella of Big Punch Studios discuss Big Punch Magazine, and other titles created together and apart, in a panel discussion from the ‘True Believers’ Comic Festival in Cheltenham. Nich and Jon discuss they beginning of their collaborations via the crossover The Heavenly Cord, which mixes their comics 7String and Afterlife Inc., while Lucy explores her story 99 Swords and Alice talks about her design work on the anthology. (Originally broadcast as part of the ‘Clear Spot’, 12th October 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
For more info and a variety of formats to stream or download this podcast, please visit archive.org (more…)
Panel Borders: Funny Monsters Zoom
January 30, 2015
— 1 Comment
The Zoom no.10, 1914 Day by Day extract, Haringey People cover by Zoom Rockman / Funny Monsters Comic no.1 and 2, A Christmas Carol by Joe Matthews
Funny Monsters Zoom: Concluding a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of cartoonists who both publish ‘traditional’ style British anthology comics in the style of The Dandy and other weekly titles. Joe Matthews discusses Funny Monsters Comic, a new periodical that mixes comedy / horror strips featuring zombies and werewolves with child friendly gags, puzzles and text pages.
Also, in an interview recorded at CECAF (Crouch End Comic Art Festival), Alex talks to Zoom Rockman, a teenager who has been publishing his own humour title – The Zoom – since the age of 9, with 10 biannual issues under his belt. The Zoom features satirical strips looking at modern culture and life in London as well as reoccurring characters such as Skanky Pigeon who has also appeared in The Beano. (Originally broadcast 29th January 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM) (more…)
Today’s show: Funny Monsters Zoom
January 29, 2015
Tomorrow at 11am on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Funny Monsters Zoom
The Zoom no.10, 1914 Day by Day extract, Haringey People cover by Zoom Rockman / Funny Monsters Comic no.1 and 2, A Christmas Carol by Joe Matthews
Concluding a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of cartoonists who both publish ‘traditional’ style British anthology comics in the style of The Dandy and other weekly titles. Joe Matthews discusses Funny Monsters Comic, a new periodical that mixes comedy / horror strips featuring zombies and werewolves with child friendly gags, puzzles and text pages.
Also, in an interview recorded at CECAF (Crouch End Comic Art Festival), Alex talks to Zoom Rockman, a teenager who has been publishing his own humour title – The Zoom – since the age of 9, with 10 biannual issues under his belt. The Zoom features satirical strips looking at modern culture and life in London as well as reoccurring characters such as Skanky Pigeon who has also appeared in The Beano.
11am Thursday 29th January, repeated 7am Saturday 31st January 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Panel Borders: Editing Psycho Gran
January 28, 2015
Comics featuring the work of David Leach + Psycho Gran thumbnails
Editing Psycho Gran: Continuing a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist and comic book editor David Leach about his career so far. Alex and David discuss the latter’s most famous character Psycho Gran, her appearances in family comics from Oink! to Aces Weekly, animating Henry’s Cat with Bob Godfrey, and his work editing licenced titles for Marvel UK and Titan Books. (Recorded at Nine Worlds GeekFest, 2013 / originally broadcast Thursday 22nd January 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Links: David Leach’s profile at www.comicvine.com
Psycho Gran digital comic (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Editing Psycho Gran
January 21, 2015
Tomorrow at 11am on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Editing Psycho Gran
Comics featuring the work of David Leach + Psycho Gran thumbnails
Continuing a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist and comic book editor David Leach about his career so far. Alex and David discuss the latter’s most famous character Psycho Gran, her appearances in family comics from Oink! to Aces Weekly, animating Henry’s Cat with Bob Godfrey, and his work editing licenced titles for Marvel UK and Titan Books. (Recorded at Nine Worlds Geek Fest, 2013)
11am Thursday 22nd January, repeated 7am Saturday 24th January 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: David Leach’s profile at www.comicvine.com
Psycho Gran digital comic (more…)
Panel Borders: Musical Monsters, Walruses and Snowmen
January 17, 2015
— 1 Comment
The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow / Popeye / Pinkbeard the Pirate! / Abigail and the Snowman / Snarked by Roger Langridge
Musical Monsters, Walruses and Snowmen: Continuing a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Roger Langridge about his work. Alex and Roger discuss the latter’s work on licensed comics such as Popeye and Rocky and Bullwinkle, his adaptation of Jim Henson’s unproduced script The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow and creator owned titles Snarked and Abigail and the Snowman; plus a guest appearance by Thomas Langridge (9) discussing the self-published comic Pinkbeard the Pirate! (Recorded at Crouch End Comic Art Festival, November 2014, originally broadcast Thursday 15th January 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Musical Monsters, Walruses and Snowmen
January 14, 2015
Tomorrow at 11am on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Musical Monsters, Walruses and Snowmen
The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow / Popeye / Pinkbeard the Pirate! / Abigail and the Snowman / Snarked by Roger Langridge
Continuing a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Roger Langridge about his work. Alex and Roger discuss the latter’s work on licensed comics such as Popeye and Rocky and Bullwinkle, his adaptation of Jim Henson’s unproduced script The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow and creator owned titles Snarked and Abigail and the Snowman; plus a guest appearance by Thomas Langridge (9) discussing the self-published comic Pinkbeard the Pirate! (Recorded at Crouch End Comic Art Festival, November 2014)
11am Thursday 15th January, repeated 7am Saturday 17th January 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Roger Langridge’s website Hotel Fred, featuring Pinkbeard the Pirate!
Info about Roger’s comics for Boom! Studios: Snarked, The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow and Abigail and the Snowman (more…)
Panel Borders: Bones, Sabre-toothed Tigers and Noir
January 11, 2015
— 1 Comment
Bone, RASL and Tuki: Save the Humans by Jeff Smith
Bones, Sabre-toothed Tigers and Noir: Beginning a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to the award-winning American cartoonist Jeff Smith about his work. Alex and Jeff discuss the latter’s fantasy epic Bone which mixes archetypal cartoon characters in the style of Mickey, Goofy and Donald with a mythology akin to The Lord of the Rings, his more adult film noir inspired sci-fi series RASL, and his latest serialised webcomic Tuki: Save the Humans about prehistoric man’s migration from ancient Africa. (Recorded at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, October 2014, originally broadcast Thursday 8th January 2015 on Resonance 104.4 FM, London)
For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org
Tomorrow’s show: Bones, Sabre-toothed Tigers and Noir
January 7, 2015
Tomorrow at 11am on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders: Bones, Sabre-toothed Tigers and Noir
Bone, RASL and Tuki: Save the Humans by Jeff Smith
Beginning a month of shows looking at children’s comics, Alex Fitch talks to the award-winning American cartoonist Jeff Smith about his work. Alex and Jeff discuss the latter’s fantasy epic Bone which mixes archetypal cartoon characters in the style of Mickey, Goofy and Donald with a mythology akin to The Lord of the Rings, his more adult film noir inspired sci-fi series RASL, and his latest serialised webcomic Tuki: Save the Humans about prehistoric man’s migration from ancient Africa. (Recorded at The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, October 2014)
11am Thursday 8th January, repeated 7am Saturday 10th January 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Book List: Graphic albums and picture books
November 15, 2012
— 1 Comment
Covers of Neither here not there by Oliver Jeffers, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Empires by Robert Rankin, 45 and Blue Spear by Andi Ewington
Graphic albums and picture books: In advance of next week’s South Kensington Kids Festival which celebrates picture books and graphic novels for children, Alex Fitch talks to four creators whose work contains elements of each medium. Andi Ewington discusses his novella “45” which divides the text and illustrations of superhero comics onto separate pages and the spin-off comic Blue Spear, co-written by Com.x publisher Eddie Deighton; while, in an interview recorded at the London Film and Comic Con, novelist Robert Rankin talks about his first graphic novel Empires which moves his celebrated monochrome cover illustrations onto every page of a new steam-punk sequel to The War of the Worlds. Also, children’s illustrators Oliver Jeffers and Axel Scheffler talk about their recent picture books This Moose belongs to me and Superworm. Jeffers looks back at his parallel career as a fine artist, on display in the collection Neither here nor there, and Scheffler discusses partnership with writer Julia Donaldson on memorable books such as The Gruffalo and The Highway Rat. (more…)
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