Ben Haggarty, Bringer of Dreams, in London

Ben Haggarty, writer of the Stone Age graphic Novel, MeZolith (illustrated by concept artist, Adam Brockbank) and sometimes contributor to the Phoenix comic, is performing his storytelling piece: Mr Sandmann: Bringer of Dreams and Nightmares at Rich Mix Theatre, Shoreditch, East London on Saturday 8th December.

This disturbing piece of adult storytelling has nothing to do with Neil Gaiman’s take on the character, (and even less to do with the Rise of the Guardians) and everything to do with the raw folklore and mythology of the Sandman…

‘Renowned for his dynamic and challenging performances, Ben Haggarty slips behind the lights into the dark side of ‘fairground’, where you risk getting more than you bargained for. Via freak-show and moonshine bar, ready yourself for an intense and alarming journey through the ambivalent mythology of the Sandman. Flirting with Americana; drawing on urban legend, fairytale, myth and folklore, and paying oblique homage to Heinrich Von Kleist, ETA Hoffman, Hans Andersen and Nick Cave, Ben Haggarty surrenders his sanity to the magnetic pull of a ravenous moon.’

Mr Sandmann – Bringer of Dreams & Nightmares
Sat 8 December 7.30pm
Rich Mix
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA.
£9, £7 student + concs (Theatre Upstairs)
Book tickets / Box Office: 020 7613 7498
More info: www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/crick-crack-club-mr-sandmann-bringer-of-dreams-and-nightmares/

The DFC LIbrary goes on air!

Between May 2008 and March 2009, children’s book publisher David Fickling launched a bold experiment in creating a new kids comic – The DFC – for the British market, which on a weekly basis featured new stories in a variety of genres from some of Britain’s best up and coming comics creators, not to mention a lead strip written by Philip Pullman.

Unfortunately the comic folded after 43 issues, but now a year on, the first three volumes of The DFC Library have been released, reprinting collections of material in European Graphic Album format.

On tonight's Strip! radio show on ResonanceFM, Alex Fitch talks to Kate Brown, the award winning creator of Spider Moon, Dave Shelton, the creator of Good Dog, Bad Dog and Ben Haggarty, the writer of MeZolith, who, with artist Adam Brockbank has created a book that one critic has already called “the most important British graphic novel of the last twenty years”.

The story is set 10,000 years ago, when the Kansa tribe live on the western shores of the North Sea Basin, where danger is never far away. Each season brings new adventure, each hunt has its risks, and each grim encounter with the neighbouring tribe is fraught with threats. Poika, a boy on the verge of manhood, must play his part and trust the strength and wisdom of his elders. This is a tale of beasts and beauty, man, magic and... horror.

Kirk Bergman and Duncan McBoo are the stars of Dave Shelton's Good Dog, Bad Dog: two pedigree police, the finest canine cops in all Muttropolis. And they're never short of work. The city is heaving with cunning crooks and malevolent mongrels who would sell their own mother for a bone. Join our dog detectives as they chase leads, sniff out crime, collar the bad guys and generally get their teeth into adventures full of action, suspense and ...milkshakes. Criminals beware: McBoo and Bergman are on your tail!

Spider Moon starts with tales of a prophecy, of homelands being crushed by a falling sky, at a time Bekka and her people are facing the end of days. They must do all in their power to save themselves from the fate they believe is theirs. But destiny is like a tightly coiled snake. Which Bekka must unfurl without getting bitten...

• Strip!: The DFC Library airs at 5.00pm today (Thursday 18the March) on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast online tonight at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

DFC Collections On Their Way

Collections of some of the brilliant strips that featured in the subscription-only comic The DFC are in the pipeline for 2010 release.

Due in April, March and May respectively are MeZolith by Adam Brockbank and Ben Haggarty, Good Dog, Bad Dog by Dave Shelton and Spider Moon by Kate Brown, all to be published by David Fickling Books.

MeZolith is set 10,000 years ago, when the Kansa tribe live on the western shores of the North Sea Basin, where danger is never far away. Each season brings new adventure, each hunt has its risks, and each grim encounter with the neighbouring tribe is fraught with threats. Poika, a boy on the verge of manhood, must play his part and trust the strength and wisdom of his elders. This is a tale of beasts and beauty, man, magic and ... horror.

The story is the work of Ben Haggarty and artist Adam Brockbank. Adam says comics were his first love, notably the black and white reprints of Silver Age Marvel comics that he found on the shelves of his local newsagent.

Adam spent seven years studying painting only to end up working in the film industry, first as a Storyboard artist then later as a Concept artist, working on many films including X-Men, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Tomb Raider, but it is for his work on all of the Harry Potter films that he is best known, designing creatures, props and vistas.

Kirk Bergman and Duncan McBoo are the stars of Dave Shelton's Good Dog, Bad Dog: two pedigree police, the finest canine cops in all Muttropolis. And they're never short of work. The city is heaving with cunning crooks and malevolent mongrels who would sell their own mother for a bone. Join our dog detectives as they chase leads, sniff out crime, collar the bad guys and generally get their teeth into adventures full of action, suspense and ...milkshakes. Criminals beware: McBoo and Bergman are on your tail!

Spider Moon starts with tales of a prophecy, of homelands being crushed by a falling sky, at a time Bekka and her people are facing the end of days. They must do all in their power to save themselves from the fate they believe is theirs. But destiny is like a tightly coiled snake. Which Bekka must unfurl without getting bitten...

David Fickling Books say there was strong interest at Frankfurt Book Fair for the first three titles.

"We have had a fantastic response to The DFC novels at the fair from lots of US and European publishers," says Maeve Banham, Senior Rights Manager at Random House Children's Book. "The graphic novel market is growing and publishers are keen to be a part of this."

The DFC Library will showcase a single strip from The DFC - and of course 2010 may also see the comic's return...