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THE BLOG AT THE CROSSROADS
Graphics Up For Grabs: The Booming Market for Comics Art
Posted: December 16, 2014
Once despised and disposed of as worthless, comics art has become highly collectable and coveted by collectors and investors. For example, this Indian ink drawing made by Hergé in 1937 for the flyleaves for the Adventures of Tintin albums, published between 1937 and 1958 (© HERGE MOULINSART 2014) sold for 2,654,400 euros, a world record for a piece of original comics art. Tonight at the Institut Français in South Kensington, London, Eric Leroy from Paris auction house ArtCurial gives a fascinating illustrated presentation about the booming market in France for comics originals, from past masters like Hergé to today’s superstars like Moebius and Bilal. The event is free in the Mediatheque from 7.30pm, full details here… and please book your place by emailing box.office[at]institutfrancais.org.uk
And as further evidence of this growth, Sotheby’s Paris is holding its next major sale of artworks on March 7th 2015. Among the items going under the hammer are fine pieces by Hergé, Hugo Pratt, Peyo, Gir-Moebius, Enki Bilal and François Schuiten, alongside American masters like Winsor McCay and Milton Caniff. This McCay Little Nemo is estimated at 42-46,000 euros Sunday page and a classic Pratt Corto Maltese front cover is estimated as 200-250,000 euros. Going… going… gone!
The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil at Bristol Old Vic
Posted: December 15, 2014
The Young Company at Bristol Old Vi have adapted Stephen Collins’ best-selling, award-winning graphic novel The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil into a play, directed by Stephanie Kempson and performed from January 7th to 10th 2015. Don’t miss this world-premiere theatrical experience!
Vishwajyoti Ghosh: Comics From A Changing India
Posted: December 13, 2014
A culture rooted in traditions as well as a rapidly growing economic power, India is facing many changes and challenges as it opens up to the modern world. As a political cartoonist based in New Delhi, producing until recently the weekly ‘Full Toss’ column in The Hindustan Times, and as an acclaimed graphic novelist, Vishwajyoti Ghosh confronts these issues by engaging head on with his nation’s history and society, past and present. Read my new Article here…
Preview Paul B Rainey’s Graphic Novel at Orbital Comics
Posted: December 10, 2014
‘This moment has been a long time coming.’ Tomorrow, Thursday December 11th, Paul B Rainey is previewing his acclaimed graphic novel There’s No Time Like The Present, revised, toned and collected into a handsome hardcover edition with dustjacket from Escape Books. He’ll be signing advance copies of the book from 6.30pm at Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, right next to Leicester Square tube, and then from 7.30pm Paul will be talking with Chris Thompson in an illustrated interview about the creation and themes of his epic seven-year serial exploring the mysteries of time. This whole entertaining and edifying evening is free and all are welcome!
Books To Read: Best Graphic Novels - February 2015
Posted: December 2, 2014
Welcome back to my monthly analysis of the most interesting new publications coming into shops and online starting from two months ahead. As eclectic as ever, February 2015’s PG Tips range from reprints of comic books starring Black Americans and two British adaptations of an adventure classic, to brand-new graphic novels by Andi Watson about a delightful vampire chef with a sweet tooth and by sophisticated French auteur Annie Goetzinger about the fashion legend of Dior. My pick of the bunch, though, is Nocturne (wraparound cover above) by Anne Opotowsky and Angie Hoffmeister, the second in Anne’s ambitious Walled City Trilogy after the first volume, His Dream Of Skyland. Published by Australia’s Gestalt Comics, it’s a massive, mesmerising 456-page collaboration between an American writer and German illustrator, set in the Hong Kong of the 1930’s. You can’t get much more transnational than that. Join me as we explore today’s global comics medium at its finest! Read my latest Article here…
Grafixx Celebrates Paper & Print in Antwerp This Weekend
Posted: November 28, 2014
If you are in or near Antwerp this weekend, check out this stimulating celebration of paper and print, young talent and artistic experiment. For the third year in a row, Villanella and Huis Haas bring the most exciting graphic artists and publishers together for Grafixx in the DE Studio in Antwerp, Belgium. Come and browse the best alternative press at their zine fest. Enjoy artist lectures, exhibitions, workshops for young and old, fascinating animation screenings and live performances that combine musicians and illustrators.
British Comics Focus at Salon des Ouvrages sur la BD, Paris!
Posted: November 28, 2014
This weekend brings the 4th SOBD or Salon des Ouvrages sur la Bande Dessinée. Yes, the French create and publish enough of these comics histories, monographs, artbooks, biographies and more to dedicate a whole festival to them and their authors. This year there’s a special spotlight on British comics with a series of panel discussions on the Saturday afternoon with special guests Hannah Berry, Dave McKean, Ann Miller, Pat Mills, Kevin O’Neill and myself. There are also exhibitions (including one on David B. who did the festival poster, above) and forty publishers offering their range and authors signing books. It’s entirely free, just register for your badge - so if you’re in the arrondissement, do drop by!
K: KafKa In KomiKs Launch Party & Live Band
Posted: November 25, 2014
Czech artist Jaromir 99, illustrator of David Zane Mairowitz’s adaptation of The Castle by Franz Kafka, is in London tonight at the Goethe Institut in South Kensington. He will be in conversation with me and later playing live with his band, as part of the launch party for an exhibition about graphic novel versions of Kafka’s writings. All are welcome, refreshments with be served, with thanks to the Czech Centre and it starts at 6.30pm. Hope you can make it! The exhibition, K: KafKa In KomiKs continues till December 19th in the Goethe Institut library.
Art-Comics: Artists’ Lives As Graphic Novels
Posted: November 24, 2014
On Sunday November 23rd, the exhibition Art-Comics: Artists’ Lives As Graphic Novels opened at the Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart in Germany, presenting original comics art and preparatory materials from recent graphic biographies by six comics creators - two from Norway, two from the Netherlands, and two from France - about Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Munch, Schwitters, Gauguin and Schiele. This is my speech which I read in German to introduce the press and public to this significant exhibition. Read it and see artworks and photos from the exhibition here…
Emily Carroll Answers Your Questions In Her Comica Chat
Posted: November 17, 2014
Emily Carroll, the Canadian webcomics innovator and author of Through The Woods from Faber, is in London and will be taking part in a Comica Conversation on The Gothic Graphic Story at The British Library tomorrow from 7.00 to 8.30pm with Isabel Greenberg, winner of the Best Book in the British Comic Awards for The Encyclopedia of Early Earth. Last few tickets remain, so be sure to book here.
Ahead of this, Emily answered your Twitter questions in an exclusive Comica Chat this lunchtime. Above is a photo of her at her Gosh! signing tonight, courtesy of David Clayton.
