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THE BLOG AT THE CROSSROADS
Max: Comics Art in Spain
Posted: November 16, 2014
For more the four decades, from Spain’s local countercultural margins to international acclaim today, the ever-changing comics of Spanish artist Max, alias Francesc Capdevilla, have responded to his personal perspectives and the spirit of the times. Max emerged under the repressive Franco regime, debuting his work in 1973 in truly subversive ‘underground’ comix which the authorities pounced upon for ‘infringing public morals’. Post-Franco freedoms unleashed his angry radical Gustavo, then his punk distortion of Barrie’s fantasy Peter Pank, and more recently the bizarre, balding Bardin, inheritor of Superrealist powers from Luis Buñuel’s Andalusian Dog. Vapor, Max’s latest graphic novel translated by Fantagraphics, purifies and condenses his cartooning and thinking still further. Read my new article and Max’s new 2-page comic here…
Graphic Chemistry Talk at The Royal Society of Chemistry
Posted: November 16, 2014
It’s a bit of a first really, presenting comics at The Royal Society of Chemistry. On Thursday December 4th from 6.30pm, I am giving an illustrated lecture entitled Graphic Chemistry: The Science in Comics From Fantasy to Factual at Royal Society of Chemistry, The Chemistry Centre, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA. It’s free, you just need to register online here… COme and join me. Here’s the info:
‘What can we learn about chemistry from its representations in comics and graphic novels? We discover that chemists can transform themselves into superheroes, like Hourman with his sixty-minute Miraclo vitamin or The Human Bomb whose slightest touch can trigger explosions. And that chemical accidents can unleash the stretchable Plastic Man or The Flash, Fastest Man Alive, but also the nastiest Bat-villain, The Joker.
‘The comics medium is also a highly efficient way to convey educational information, from biographies of famous chemists or product promotions for Rayon and rust prevention to surprising and enlightening cartoon strips to engage all ages with the science.
‘The Royal Society of Chemistry itself recognised comics in 2012 when it awarded the Bill Bryson Prize to cartoonist and Oxford chemistry student Jess Hamm for her superhero team Flask in a Mask, starring Agent Reagent, Heatproof Matt, Periodic Mabel and Hazmat Cat.
‘Join Paul Gravett as he gives an illustrated tour of how chemical characters and stories appear across the whole spectrum of comics, everywhere between sheer fantasies and hard facts. Paul is a comics historian, author of Comics Art (Tate) and co-curator of the Comics Unmasked exhibition at The British Library.’
World War One In Comics: Tardi on Mills, Mills on Tardi
Posted: November 8, 2014
Next week, Jacques Tardi will make his first public appearances in London, in fact in Britain, as part of Comica Festival. He’s chosen to be here, rather than say in Paris, over the period of remembrance leading up to Armistice Day, November 11th. Tardi (above) is passionate about exposing the lies and lessons behind the First World War through his remarkable graphic novels, most notably It Was The War of the Trenches and his latest, Goddamn This War! with Jean-Pierre Vernay, both translated into English by Fantagraphics.
On the evening of November 11th itself, Tardi will join his wife, singer-singwriter Dominique Grange, in a riveting audio-visual performance of songs, readings and big-screen projections of artwork, accompanied by accordionists from the Accordzéam ensemble. The evening is based on his graphic novel Putain de Guerre! and takes place in the Ciné Lumière at the Institut Français in London.
The night before, Monday November 10th, Tardi will be in an unmissable Comica Conversation entitled Goddamn This War!, talking with Pat Mills, writer of the acclaimed series Charley’s War, illustrated by the late, great Joe Colquhoun. Read the rest of my Article here…
Savage Pencil’s Freekmeet Exhibition
Posted: November 6, 2014
From his Rock ‘n’ Roll Zoo weekly comics in Sounds to his monthly ongoing strip Trip or Squeek in The Wire, Savage Pencil has chronicled decades of musical satire and rebellion. He has also illustrated numerous longer comics, several for Escape Magazine, as well as eyeball-catching record covers, T-shirts, posters and more.
There’s a rare chance to see and buy assorted artworks from across the ages, including prints and apparel, at his one-man exhibition Freekmeet at Into You, 144 St. John High Street, London EC1X 4UA from November 13th to December 23rd. Christmas shopping sorted!
Bill Watterson’s Angoulême 2015 Festival Poster
Posted: November 5, 2014
The retired, retiring genius behind Calvin & Hobbes, Bill Watterson, is the Grand Prix of next year’s Angoulême International Comic Festival in France. The American newspaper strip cartoonist has drawn this new poster for the festival, taking place from January 29th to February 1st 2015. Watterson won’t be attending in person, but there will be a major exhibition of his original art.
Dreadful Wind & Rain: Isabel Greenberg’s New Book & Show
Posted: November 5, 2014
Acclaimed for her debut Cape graphic novel The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, Isabel Greenberg presents her latest work, Dreadful Wind And Rain, her interpretation of the cruel and fantastical folk song Two Sisters as a graphic novella published by Gosh Comics.
To coincide, there will be a free exhibition from November 6th at Cecil Sharpe House in association with the English Folk Dance and Song Society. This display will tease out Isabel’s visual exploration of the narrative and feature the work produced for the novella. Expect to see dioramas, beautiful drawings, prints and original interpretations of this well-known song.
Books To Read: Best Graphic Novels - January 2015
Posted: November 2, 2014
Here’s my first A-to-Z shortlist of 2015, giving you my monthly PG Tips for the most interesting, intriguing releases for January or thereabouts. It’s another wide-ranging selection box, taking you inside worlds and lives, from real to unreal and surreal, which you might never experience - from a problem inner-city American high-school to an outlaw motorcycle club, from the roots of The Great War a century ago to the 1963 civil rights march on Washington. Forced to choose, my personal pick of the bunch this time is Wrinkles, Knockabout’s translation of the Spanish creator Paco Roca’s pointed portrayal of a new arrival at a Spanish care home for Alzheimer’s patients. Another key work in the expanding filed of graphic medicine, Wrinkles helped stimulate social debate about mental health and healthcare in Spain and was adapted into an animated movie. Happy exploring and discovering comics, graphic novels and manga! Read about my recommendation here…
Southeast Asian Comic Showcase & Pop-Up Library
Posted: October 28, 2014
Southeast Asian comics are on the rise. Find out more about Southeast Asian comic writers and artists, and the stories they tell in this showcase curated by CT Lim, and presented as part of SEA ArtsFest 2014, UK’s Southeast Asian arts festival.
Moving away from the Western and Japanese perspectives of what comics are, this curated showcase of Southeast Asian comics gives a different view of the medium and its possibilities. Concerns range from the personal to the political, which highlights the diversity of Southeast Asia itself.
The digital showcase go live on 24th October 2014., featuring a selection of comics by artists from across Southeast Asia:
‘Journey to East Java’ by Sheila Rooswitha Putri
‘The Way Back’ by Lefty
‘Red Balloon’ by VICMON
‘Trese: Thirteen Stations’ by Budjette Tan
‘Nanny’ by CT Lim & Stephani Soejono
‘City Tales: Hanoi’ by Nguyen Thanh Phong
‘The Cut’ by Koh Hong Teng
The Exhibit & Pop-Up Library at The Proud Archivist lets you check out the exhibit, browse the digital showcase on the workstation, and enjoy the titles in our pop-up library featuring graphic novels, comics, and anthologies from Epigram Books, Math Paper Press, Liquid City, and the Singapore 24-Hour Comics Day 2013. The exhibit & pop-up library will remain open to public at The Proud Archivist, 2-10 Hertford Rd, London N1 5ET from 24th October 2014 to 2nd November 2014, open from 8am-11pm.
Day of the Dead Festival at The Bargehouse, Oxo Tower!
Posted: October 28, 2014
In celebration of Mexico’s rich cultural history, the Embassy of Mexico (UK) has partnered with Jose Cuervo, the world’s oldest tequila brand, and Arte Mexico to bring the 3,000 year-old Mexican celebration to life with The Day Of The Dead Festival 2014 at The Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London SE1 9PH, from 30th October to 2nd November.
The exhibition will present recent works from a host of contemporary artists, each with associated Day of the Dead themes, including work by the renowned Chapman Brothers. There will also be a special WWI commemoration on display, in the form of a special commission traditional altar honouring and commemorating the lives of those who died during the Great War. The festival will also include Jose Cuervo master classes, a variety of children’s arts and crafts workshops, and a screening of The Day of the Dead 1984 cinema classic, “Under the Volcano”.
The Vaults of Terror Exhibition Celebrates Horror TV
Posted: October 21, 2014
The Vaults of Terror is an exhibition celebrating the schlocky world of television horror. Through the mediums of screen printing, drawing, sculpture and installation, twenty one horror-obsessed, lo-brow artists will be presenting their macabre new work. Talented artists from the worlds of illustration, comics, tattoo and street art will interpret their favourite small screen fright shows: from Vampira to Goosebumps via Tales from the Crypt, the art on display will re-animate the shows that have given us nightmares since the 50s. To open the show on October 23rd, The Vaults will be holding a fancy dress Halloween party with super spookin’ garage and punk rock provided by DJ Records and Halloween treats for all. Original artwork and limited edition prints will be available to buy throughout the course of the exhibition.
Artists Exhibiting: Robert Amos, Paul Arscott (Eyeball Comix) and Anna Haifisch, Sam Baldwin (Puck Collective), Bans Illustration, Betty Black, James Burgess, Benjamin Rider, Crumb Cabin, Aidan Cook, Gory Bastard, Lee Greatorex, thomas Key Illustration (New Rule), Elliott Lane, Laura Marlowe, Jonathan McKenzie, Charlie Mellors (Flabby Dagger), Russell Taysom (Flabby Dagger), Saki N Bitches, Josh Whettingsteel (So Young Magazine), and WOLF MASK.
