Radio interviews with Martin Rowson and Mike Carey

Panel Borders: Updating the classics

Concluding a month of shows looking at the connections between comics and books, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of authors who have used graphic novels and comics to update classic literature. 

Mike Carey discusses his comic The Unwritten which sees characters from classic literature - such as Frankenstein's monster - and authors - like Mark Twain - being caught up in a fantastical conspiracy through the ages; Alex and Mike also discuss how the latter's parallel career as a novelist effects his comic book writing.

Also, newspaper cartoonist Martin Rowson discusses his graphic novel adaptation and updating of Gulliver's Travels, with its art and content reflecting current politics and situations.

6pm, Sunday 24th February 2013, repeated 4.30pm, Tuesday 26th February, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Hewlett, Blake, Simmonds at British Library event

The Lords of Flatbush by Jamie Hewlett

The British Library in London is offering comic fans the opportunity to join a remarkable panel of artists and experts including Quentin Blake, designer and comic artist Jamie Hewlett, satirical cartoonist Martin Rowson and graphic storyteller Posy Simmonds.

Each will select and explain a personal choice of favourite illustrations, drawn from different genres, cultures and styles.

Presented in association with House of Illustration, The event will be chaired by Rachel Cooke, columnist and features writer, The Observer.

This event is part of the British Library’s Spring Festival, a five day celebration of creativity, fashion and design.


Tickets for this event include free entry to LATE at the Library ILLUMINATE! a Celebration of Illustration in the Entrance Hall, running from 19.00 to 22.30

• The Art of Illustration: Friday 2 Mar 2012, 18.30 - 20.00, the British Library; £10 / £7.50 concessions - Book now

Comics @ Glasgow Book Festival

Aye Write!, Glasgow's Book Festival, run by Glasgow Council's libraries department at the Mitchell Library is much smaller than Edinburgh's International Book Festival but normally turns up some comics talks and this year is no exception.

Writing For Graphic Novels
Friday 9 March
1300-1400
£15
After a poorly advertised, and hence poorly attended, talk with Pat Mills at last year's Edinburgh BookFest, writer Rodge Glass "discusses the process of writing a graphic novel: the challenges of collaboration between writer and artist, and gives tips and advice on making your graphic novel a success."

Martin Rowson: Guliver's Travels
Tuesday 13 March
1800-1900
£8
Guardian and Independent political cartoonist Martin Rowson "follows Gulliver’s descendant in a new book that is both a homage to the original and an entirely up-to date indictment of the same, enduring human idiocies that enraged Swift so magnificently and memorably."

In addition to the main programme the festival also runs schools events at which Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers of Metaphrog will be running two graphic novel workshops on Thursday 15 March for secondary school year 1 and 2 pupils.

There are more details of Aye Write! and how to buy tickets on the Aye Write! website.

Radio Show spotlights Rude Britannia exhibition

Opening today at Tate Britain in London is the new exhibition 'Rude Britannia', which traces the history of British comic art from Hogarth to the present day.

In an hour-long Clear Spot radio show from the Strip! radio show team, looking at the art on display and related topics, you'll hear an extract of a tour of the gallery conducted by curator Martin Myrone. Along with one of the contributors to the exhibition - Gerald Scarfe - he'll be talking to Alex Fitch about the choices that went into curating the show and the crossover between fine art and 'low brow' satirical drawings.

Alex also talks to cartoonist Martin Rowson - who is currently exhibiting his illustrations for New Humanist magazine at Menier Gallery (51 Southwark Street until 12th June) - about his adaptation of the humorous and experimental Eighteenth century novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman into graphic novel format.

Dickon Harris also talks to comedienne Josie Long about creating 'zines and comics for distribution at her gigs and contributing comic strips to Alan Moore's new magazine Dodgem Logic...

• Clear Spot airs tonight, Wednesday 9th June at 8.00pm on Resonance 104.4 FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast in three parts at www.panelborders.wordpress.com on Thursdays 10th / 17th / 24th June

• Tate Britain is at Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. Tel: 020 7887 8888 E-mail: visiting.britain@tate.org.uk. Web: www.tate.org.uk/britain/. Entry is free except for major exhibitions: Entrance to Rude Britannia is £10, Concessions £6. Open every day 10.00–18.00. Last admission to exhibitions