Charlie Adlard, Viz creators and more join Lakes Festival line up

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has revealed more of the writers and artists who will be taking part in the event later this year.

The festival, which will run from 18-20th October 2013 in Kendal in Cumbria, has a guest list running to more than 50 writers and artists from the United States, Europe, South America and the UK, who work in a wide range of different genres.

The latest group of guests range from Charlie Adlard, the artist on the hugely popular zombie comics The Walking Dead, to the men who created Britain’s most irreverent comic Viz, and American cartoonist Gilbert Shelton.

Charlie Adlard currently works with American writer Robert Kirkman on The Walking Dead, which dominates the list of US best selling graphic novels month in and month out.  It has been turned into a popular TV series, which is currently being broadcast on FX UK, with the third series due to start on Channel 5 around late spring.

Charlie says: “I'm very much looking forward to the event, particularly because the organisers are trying to style it on an Angouleme-style show, which I'm a big fan of.”

Simon Thorp and Graham Dury are two of the people who created Viz, which introduced characters like Raffles the Gentleman Thug, The Fat Slags, Felix and his Amazing Underpants and Roger Mellie the Man on the Telly to the world.

Viz parodies British comics like The Beano and The Dandy, with crude toilet humour, black comedy and surreal jokes. This will be the first comic event they have attended for more than 25 years (as far as they can remember!)

After a period producing underground comix in the sixties American Gilbert Shelton created The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Fat Freddy’s Cat. Unlike many cults from the sixties which have since faded away, The Freak Brothers are still going from strength to strength and are acquiring new fans all the time. They are published in 15 languages and worldwide sales are now over forty million copies.

Bryan Talbot, who is a patron of the new festival, says: "Gilbert Shelton is a comedy genius and a true original. His strips furnished catchphrases to the entire underground counterculture."

Hannah Berry is one of the talented young artists at the forefront of the new golden age for British comic art.  Her first graphic novel, Britten and Brulightly, was published by Jonathan Cape while she was still studying.  The Daily Telegraph said it was ‘superb’.  The New Statesman described her second graphic novel Adamtine as doing 'horror in the traditional way, while using the quirks of the medium to ratchet up the fear'.

Hannah says: "Just as comics are finally creeping into the public consciousness in the UK, The Lakes International Comic Art Festival takes the stage as the biggest, boldest and brightest celebration of their place in our culture. Long may it continue!"

The prize winning Argentine writer and illustrator Oscar Zarate has created two graphic novels with comedian Alexei Sayle - Geoffrey The Tube Train and The Fat Comedian.  He has also worked with Alan Moore on A Small Killing and produced several graphic novels with Carlos Sampayo. He will be celebrating his new book The Park at the festival as well as running an exclusive masterclass.

Karrie Fransman's autobiographical comic strips were published in The Guardian and her comic serial The Night I Lost My Love ran in The Times. Her graphic novel, The House That Groaned has been praised by film director Nicolas Roeg and was chosen as Graphic Novel of the Month in The Observer.

Robbie Morrison is best known for the Eagle award-winning Nikolai Dante saga which was serialised in 2000AD and, as we reported recently, he has written Drowntown, an epic adventure set in a flooded, futuristic London, which will be published by Jonathan Cape in the summer.  He is also a regular writer on Judge Dredd, and has scripted Batman and Spider-Man.

Spanish cartoonist Pau has won The Oscarcomix children's comics award, the Luis Molina International contests award (Italy) as well as the Haxtur Award for Humor, for his daily editorial cartoon Pau Per Tots.

Ravi Thornton is a multi-award-winning fiction writer whose work often involves a mix of different artistic approaches including graphic novels, sound and theatre.  Her work deals with adult subject matter and ranges from dark and disturbing, through wickedly outlandish, to heartbreakingly insightful. Her graphic novel The Tale of Brin and Brent and Minno Marylebone, published by Jonathan Cape, has been nominated for this year’s Bram Stoker Awards by the Horror Writers of America

Ravi says: "As a cross-media writer, I think very visually. I don't, however, draw. This means people who do draw are one of my most favourite things. At The Lakes International Comic Art Festival I'll be surrounded by them. It doesn't really get any better than that."

Luke Pearson is the writer and artist behind the highly-acclaimed Hilda series of comics published by Nobrow, which are aimed at both children and adults, and the short graphic novel Everything We Miss.

INJ Culbard won the award for Best Graphic Novel or Comic at the 2011 British Fantasy Awards for At the Mountains of Madness, published by SelfMadeHero.  He has also illustrated Deadbeats, which was published by SelfMadeHero late last year, in which a trio of 1920s Chicago jazz musicians find themselves battling with monsters, moonshiners and mobsters.

Inko is a Japanese Manga artist who now lives in the UK.  Her work includes Milk The Cat Comix and MangaQuake. She was also commissioned to create 19 Manga posters at Embankment Station in London as part of Art on the Underground.

Hannah Eaton was shortlisted for the First Graphic Novel competition in 2012 for Naming Monsters, which was published by Myriad Editions, the story of Fran a keen amateur crypto-zoologist – an expert in the study of animals that may not exist.

Kate Evans is an environmental campaigner who marries words and images for political effect.  Her latest book The Food of Love, published by Myriad Editions, is an ironic, self-deprecating view of the impossibility of perfection in an imperfect world.

They join founder patrons Bryan and Mary Talbot, and Sean Phillips, as well as writers and artists like Ed Brubaker, Jose Munoz, Posy Simmonds, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra and Joe Sacco.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is modelled on the European comic festivals rather than comic conventions that UK audiences are more familiar with.

The aim is create an ‘en fete’ atmosphere, making the whole town part of the festival.  There will be a much bigger emphasis on the range of talks, special live drawing events, workshops, films, exhibitions and a kids’ zone.  Some of the events, including the exhibitions and the kids’ zone will also be free.

There will be a marketplace – The Comics Clock-tower - in Kendal Town Hall, where people will be able to buy comics and where authors and artists will be signing copies of their work. It will be smaller than at most comic conventions and will focus on writers, artists and publishers who are pioneers of a new wave of innovators in the field of comics and graphic storytelling.

Festival Director Julie Tait says: “We’ve now revealed more than half the line up for this year’s festival, so hopefully people have a real sense of the range and quality of what will be on offer later this year.   There’s an exciting mix of some of the big names from the world of comic art over the last few decades, as well as some of the best up-and-coming young writers and artists working in comics.

“We want to create something that is modelled on the European comic art festivals rather than the comic conventions that UK audiences will be more familiar with.

“We hope to take Kendal over for the weekend with comic art and we’ll be putting a lot of effort into individual events to give visitors a special experience.

“So people should expect something a bit different from most other comic events.  We hope it will not only appeal to the fans but also help to bring a new audience to comics, including many local people who may still be wondering what it’s all about!”
          
• More details about the new event are available at www.comicartfestival.com.  It is also possible to keep up to date with plans for the festival by following @comicartfest on Twitter or by liking the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Facebook page. Tickets will go on sale 7th May 2013.

British Zombie-guests galore at F.A.C.T.S. 2012

While the Mayan civilization has proclaimed 2012 to be the end of the world, F.A.C.T.S. – a Belgian convention  organized once a year by Con-Fuse bvba, an organisation promoting Science Fiction, Comics, Fantasy and Japanese animation – found it appropriate to invite "zombie-guests" for 20th - 21st October 2012 and to celebrate the event even more F.A.C.T.S. has developed a ZOMBIE-COMIC with the help of the artists invited to the show.

"I really do not care much about this heralded End of the World so inviting Zombies - or rather guests in movie and comics, who have something to do with the zombie-phenomena - is entirely making sense to me, in a 'living life on the edge' kinda way", said Emmanuel van Melkebeke, F.A.C.T.S. Convention Director. "and this year we have something amazing, as many artists have supported the idea to publish a Zombie Comic – with all profit going to charity!"

Artists included are Sean Philips, Paul Duffield, Dean Yeagle, Colin Wilson, Tyler Kirkham, Lectrr, Romano Molenaar, Louis & Lamirand, XA, Emmanuel Nhieu, Popescu, Kristof Spaey and Sophian Cholet.

The cover will be provided by Guest Of Honor Charlie Adlard, who also provided an introduction as well as picked Greenpeace as beneficiary to the proceedings of this special edition, called “Dead Cold… zombie art”.

F.A.C.T.S Convention is the signature pop culture event of the Benelux, presenting guests and programming to cater for the top segments of the comics, anime, sci-fi, film, TV, and gaming industries.

Entering its 22th edition, F.A.C.T.S. is expected to draw over 21,000+ attendees to its October 21-22, 2012 convention held at the Gent Flanders Expo Convention Center located in Gent, Belgium.

The show will sport 3,000 extra meters compared to its last edition and will now have 15,000 square meters. FACTS will host over a mile of dealers of toys, comics, movie merchandise, fantasy merchandise, manga and will see 2,500+ cosplayers and a cosplay competition, life size props, model kit exhibitions, an entire fan-village, a Japanese Village, a huge game zone with dozens of consoles, as well as loads of surprises, to brighten up the already amazing venue!

• For more information, please go to http://www.facts.be

Titan announces Walking Dead Magazine

Titan Magazines and Skybound have announced the launch of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine, based on Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning comic book series, best-selling graphic novels and Emmy-winning AMC television series based upon them.

The magazine will debut in the US in October and the UK in November.

Following its transition from groundbreaking comic book to the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time, The Walking Dead has cemented its status, not only as a phenomenon with the wildly diverging fans of horror and of character-driven drama, but as a milestone in quality, mainstream television.

Robert Kirkman, creator/writer of The Walking Dead debuted the groundbreaking Skybound/Image comic in 2003. In 2010, AMC debuted the hit television series, The Walking Dead, based upon the comic series, which became the highest-rated original basic cable drama of all time and an international success in 120 countries and 250 million homes, and counting.

In 2011, The Walking Dead graphic novels were the best-selling graphic novels of the year. Now, in 2012, Titan Publishing/Skybound and AMC bring you The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine to answer the burning questions insatiable zombie-loving fans have about the Emmy-winning television show, comics and graphic novels.

The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine will feature an inside look at the comic and show as only a fully sanctioned quarterly can. No one will get more exclusives than this magazine. Get exclusive access to the most successful television adaptation of a comic ever, including in-depth interviews Kirkman, Executive Producer/Writer on the show; Glen Mazzara, Showrunner/ Executive Producer/Writer of the series and David Alpert, Executive Producer of the series.

And that's not all – readers will hear from all of the leads on the hit TV show Andrew Lincoln, who stars as Rick Grimes; Sarah Wayne Callies, who stars as Lori Grimes, Jon Bernthal, who played fan-favourite bad boy Shan.

To get behind-the-scenes on the set with co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and see how he creates the greatest on-screen zombies ever, fans should read The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine. The only way into the closed door writers’room to learn about the scripting process lies within the magazine’s pages.

Robert Kirkman commented, "This magazine will be your one stop destination for all the news pertaining to the comic, TV show, video game, toys, games, and whatever else exists in the ever-expanding Walking Dead universe! If it's happening, you'll find out all about it right here!" Nick Landau, Titan Publisher, added: "We're very excited to be publishing the quarterly The Walking DeadMagazine with Robert Kirkman and Skybound, which will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for fans to get unlimited access to the show and comic."

Fans will also get the opportunity to ask Kirkman what's coming up in future issues of The Walking Dead, or find out how the series artist Charlie Adlard keeps up with the fast pace of the monthly comic so brilliantly.

The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine debuts on 23rd October in the US with 100 pages of all access, no holds barred zombie festing and feasting. With all the latest news, revelations and tips for fans of the television show and the graphic novels.

Issue #1 of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine comes with an alternative cover featuring an exclusive, coloured zombie scene by The Walking Dead comic artist, Charlie Adlard. This alternative collector's edition is only available through comic stores. Retailers can order via August Diamond PREVIEWS.

Fans of the show are urged to join The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with exclusive developments and deals. The magazine is currently offering fans a special pre-order subscription saving 20% off the newsstand cover price – click here


• The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine issue #1 will be available on newsstands and in specialty comic book stores in the US on 23rd October in the UK on 8th November and Australia & New Zealand on 18th December


• For more information on The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine visit: http://titanmagazines.com/t/the-walking-dead/

Kapow!@GFF 2012 Kicks Ass

As Jeremy Briggs first reported last month, Glasgow Film Festival ambassador and local superhero Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch are to helping to kick ass with Kapow!@GFF – Glasgow Film Festival’s film strand next week, dedicated to graphic novels, gaming and beyond.

Now in its second year, Kapow!@GFF offers superhero classics old and new, unmissable discussions and debates, documentaries and premieres and this year includes appearances from artist Charlie Adlard and writer Gordon Rennie.

This year Mark introduces Flash Gordon and tells us why it’s his favourite ‘Geek Film’, while Bryan Hitch does the same for the 1978 groundbreaking Superman. Other vintage screenings are Alex Proyas’ brooding, bravura The Crow and David Cronenberg’s taut thriller A History of Violence.

Coming right up to date they have Tatsumi, a completely animated tribute to Yoshihiro Tatsumi, the father of gekiga (‘dramatic pictures’), by former comic artist Eric Khoo. Death of a Superhero is a poignant story of a teenager dealing with cancer who finds a retreat in his comic book drawings and becomes a brawny superhero in his alternative universe. The screening is introduced by a representative from Teenage Cancer Trust.

Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters is Adam Cornelius’s addictive documentary about one of the most addictive games in the world as he follows the preparations for the Tetris World Championships in Los Angeles, while Superheroes examines the appearance of an extraordinary American subculture; the self-appointed caped crusader.

Emerging Scottish talent is represented by Night is Day, filmmaker Fraser Coull’s Glasgow-set sci-fi tale of a normal teenager who ends up having to save the world, a film that was self-funded with the help of local supporters and businesses.

Plus there's the eagerly-awaited Electric Man - an impressive micro-budget Scottish comedy-chase thriller set in the impoverished world of the owners of Deadhead Comics, directed by David Barras.

In a series of events with very special guests, potential comickers get the chance to hear expert testimony of adventures in the graphic art industry when Mark and other premier exponents relate their journeys through time and space. Bryan Hitch, Kate Brown, Frank Quitely, Charlie Adlard, Rhianna Pratchett and Gordon Rennie will all take part in conversations with the audience while Dr Chris Murray and John McShane discuss Scotland and the Future of Comics and Denise Mina, Penny Sharp and Gillian Hatcher talk about women’s experiences in the industry and the future of how women are drawn.

KAPOW!@GFF 2012 FILMS

• Flash Gordon (Geek Night Special) Glasgow Film Theatre, Tuesday 21 February, 20.15 (PG)

• Superman GFT, Wednesday 22 February, 17.45 (PG)

• The Crow GFT, Thursday 23 February, 23.00 (18)

• A History of Violence CCA, Thursday 23 February, 15.00 (18)

• Tatsumi Cineworld, Tuesday 21 February, 18.00 and Wed 22 February, 12.00 (15)

• Death of a Superhero Cineworld, Wednesday 22 February (20.30) Thursday 23 February, 13.00) N/C 15+

• Superheroes GFT, Thursday 23 February, 19.20 N/C 15+

• Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters CCA, Thursday 23 February, 13.15 N/C 12+

• Night is Day CCA, Wed 22 February, 18.30 N/C 12+

• Electric Man CCA, Thursday 23 February, 16.45 N/C 12+


KAPOW!@GFF 2012 EVENTS

Setting the Scene: Scotland and the Future of Comics
Tuesday 21 February (14.00), CCA, £8/6, N/C 8+

Two of the stars of the BBC film Scotland’s Amazing Comic Book Heroes will use their powers to step off the screen and expand the discussion on the future of comics in Scotland. Dr Chris Murray runs the Comic Studies MLitt/PGDip course at the University of Dundee. John McShane is chairman of the Scottish Cartoonists Society and his company, Fat Man Press, published The Bogie Man, one of the early examples of a comic book to film adaptation. John and Chris will expand upon ideas raised in the film and answer your questions.

Mark Millar and Frank Quitely
Tuesday 21 February (16.00), CCA, £5, N/C 8+

Writer Mark Millar and superstar DC and Marvel artist Frank Quitely talk about their first collaboration together in ten years, taking us through the step-by-step process of an idea becoming a script, a comic book and eventually a big budget movie. Both living and working in Glasgow, they explain how geography is no disadvantage in the world of Hollywood movies or New York publishing. Their new, yet-to-be-revealed project is already one of the most anticipated comic-book events in 2012.

Writing for Games and Comics
Wednesday 22 February (12.30), CCA, £5, N/C 8+

If you have a great idea for a video game or comic where do you start? A panel of distinguished video game and comic book writers, including Rhianna Pratchett and Gordon Rennie, give tips on how to get into the industry and get ahead. They discuss the ups and downs of being involved in the industry, the difference between writing for games and comics and the challenges to be faced.

Kate Brown in Conversation
Wednesday 22 February (13.45), CCA, £5, N/C 8+

What does it take to build a full-time career as a comicker? Kate can tell you everything you want to know. In 2010 Kate was awarded the Arts Foundation Fellowship for Graphic Novels. She used it to fund the completion of her self-published comic Fish + Chocolate which has since been picked up for publication by SelfMadeHero. Kate will speak about her wide experience in the comics industry and take questions from the audience.

Bryan Hitch in Conversation
Wednesday 22 February (15.00), CCA, £5, N/C 8+

British comic book artist Bryan Hitch is widely recognised as one of the industry’s leading artists and storytellers, with his books regularly selling over 100,000 copies an issue in America alone. His designs have appeared in the successful relaunch of Doctor Who in 2005 and numerous feature films, including Captain America and Star Trek (2009), as well as the upcoming The Avengers film, based on The Ultimates comic book by himself and Mark Millar. Bryan will discuss his career, including his new book co-written with Jonathan Ross.

Walking Dead illustrator Charlie Adlard in Conversation
Wednesday 22 February (16.15), CCA, £8/6, N/C 15+

Apocalyptic graphic novel The Walking Dead, a survival story of a world overtaken by zombies, captured the imaginations of a legion of fans and is now a multi-million dollar US TV series. In this unique event, the Shropshire-based artist discusses how he came on board as illustrator for the series and the effect it has had on his career. After the conversation we will screen one of Charlie’s favourite episodes from the Golden Globe-nominated series.

Women in Comics
Thursday 23 February (15.15), CCA, £5, N/C 8+

Casual graphic fiction readers might see the way women are represented and decide that the medium must be male dominated and that the industry is a prejudiced place for women to work. But is all as it seems? And what are the actual experiences of women working in the comics industry? Women in Comics presents original research by Graphic Scotland and brings together Denise Mina, Kate Brown, Penny Sharp and Gillian Hatcher to talk about the difficulties of getting into the industry and the future of how women are drawn.

• Tickets for all shows are on sale now from the Central GFF Box Office at GFT, by phone on 0141 332 6535 and online via www.glasgowfilm.org/festival. Tickets for events taking place at the CCA can be bought there on the day of the event.

Thought Bubble convention to publish charity anthology

(Spotted on Broken Frontier): This year sees the Leeds Thought Bubble Festival (14th-20th November) celebrate its 5th birthday, and to mark this momentous occasion they'll be publishing  the first ever Thought Bubble Comic Anthology.

On sale in October, the comic will feature a variety of original tales by incredible industry talent from around the world, including Duncan Fegredo, Charlie Adlard, Andy Diggle, D’Israeli, Antony Johnston, Robin Furth, Becky Cloonan and film director Stuart Gordon.

"This first anthology has been curated with the ultimate aim of showcasing the very best that sequential art has to offer," say the editors.

Issue #1 will also feature all the winning entries from 2010′s Northern Sequential Art Competition with stories from Gavin Ross, Sally Jane Thompson, Will Morris, Alice Summerscales, Sophie Kamlish, and Raymond Mak.

All profits from the sale of the anthology will go to the charity Barnardos.

Distribution is being handled by Image Comics and the comic will retail at $2.99 (which should be around £2.20 in most UK comic and book stores).

• More info about the anthology here on the official Thought Bubble web site

Panel Borders: Charlie Adlard and the Walking Dead

Concluding UK comic radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at depictions of masculinity in America comics, Alex Fitch talks to British artist Charlie Adlard about his ongoing zombie comic The Walking Dead, recently turned into a TV series by Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption.

Alex and Charlie also look at the latter’s work on 2000AD, The X-Files and CodeFlesh plus the evolution of The Walking Dead over the last seven years. The talk was recorded live at the London Print Studio, Harrow Road as part of 2010′s Comica Festival.

Talking of Panel Borders, online now is Chase Promethea, Batwoman!, an episode of Panel Borders from November 2010 now available as a three part video. Alex Fitch talks to comic book artist and graphic designer J. H. Williams III about his work from early forays into the superhero genre for DC’s imprint ‘Milestone’ to his acclaimed renditions of female characters in Chase, Detective Comics and Alan Moore’s epic Promethea. Alex and Jim talk about the latter’s approach to creating sequential art, from the layout of a page to the relation of a sequence to its surrounding comic or graphic novel and the delegation of work on his new ongoing Batwoman comic.

• Panel Borders: Charlie Adlard and the Walking Dead: 5.00pm, 27th January 2011, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

• Panel Borders: Chase Promethea, Batwoman! is at: http://orbitalcomics.com/j-h-williams-iii-video-interview (audio only podcast here: http://panelborders.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/panel-borders-chase-promethea-batwoman/ )

AMC renews The Walking Dead

A zombie from AMC's
The Walking Dead
series, which launched at
Hallowe'en 2010 on AMC
and FX UK

Add a Caption

The Walking Dead, shown in the UK on FX TV and based on the hit comic book series created by Robert Kirkman and drawn by British creator Charlie Adlard, has been renewed by US producer AMC after just two episodes.

Sold to 120 countries worldwide, the show has been a huge ratings success, with World Screen reporting that the debut episode of the zombie-themed series was the highest rated show in its time slot on pay TV in the UK. It was also the highest rated premiere for a new show on FX in five years.

FX UK notched up 659,000 viewers for the show, after adding up all of the airings by Sunday. Based on the pattern of previous series, distributor Fox International Channels expects the show to get to one million once delayed viewing is added in.

The multi-award winning book published by Image in the US has been brought to life by American production company AMC -- the US channel that gave us the Emmy award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

Produced by Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption) and Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator), the  six-episode series The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, Steve Yeun, Emma Bell, Chandler Riggs, Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus.

“In just a few months, FIC and AMC have demonstrated the effects of a truly global collaboration resulting in the biggest global launch in TV’s history,” said David Haslingden, the CEO and president of Fox International Channels. “The strong performance results and numbers we are seeing this week, demonstrate the strong appeal of this high quality drama, as well as, the tremendous marketing efforts of our teams worldwide.”

“The Walking Dead is Must-Subscribe-To-Pay-TV at its best,” added Hernan Lopez, the COO of Fox International Channels. “As our platforms around the world continue to seek exclusive first run series in order to drive subscriptions, we’re thrilled to bring them exactly that, on a massive global scale.”


• Charile Adlard's Official web site: www.charlieadlard.com

•  Newarama Interview: Charlie Adlard

• The Walking Dead Blog on FX UK  

• To watch an interview with the series' stars, visit this page on World Screen

Walking Dead set to invade British International Comic Show

Charlie Adlard's original art for
the cover of The Walking Dead Issue 27,
published by Image Comics.
© 2010 Charlie Adlard

Add a Caption

No, it's not a commentary on how many comic creators might appear come Sunday morning at any comics event...

Fans of the Walking Dead will be chomping at the bit this year as the organisers of The British International Comics Show and FX TV join forces to bring them a special sneak peek screening of scenes from the first episode of the forthcoming TV series based on the hit comic book series created by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard.

The multi-award winning book published by Image in the US is being brought to life by American production company AMC -- the US channel that gave us the Emmy award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

Produced by Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption) and Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator), the  six-episode series The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, Steve Yeun, Emma Bell, Chandler Riggs, Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus.

A zombie from AMC's The Walking Dead
series, launched at Hallowe'en 2010
on AMC and FX UK

Add a Caption

Fans attending this year’s BICS in Birmingham on the 17th October will have the chance to meet artist Charlie Adlard (who also cameos as a zombie in the series) and other special guests as he hosts a special screening that includes behind the scenes footage and scenes from the pilot episode.

There will also be a chance to win rare Walking Dead merchandise and to get copies of the comics and graphic novels signed by the artist.


• For more information about the show and to book tickets go to: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk

• Walking Dead Blog on FX UK

Birmingham's International Comic Show guest list shapes up

This year’s British International Comics Show over the weekend on 16th-17th October is getting closer and 2010’s incredible international guest list is the largest since the show began in 2006.

Some of the most renowned artists and writers from all over the globe, as well as here in the UK, will be appearing for signings, exclusive interviews and guest panels.

Creators attending include Paul Cornell, Tommy Lee Edwards, Gary Erskine, Peter Gross, Dave Hine, PJ Holden, Charles Vess and Bryan Hitch will be discussing their work and revealing secrets to fans in live events as well as launching new books.

Other top names attending include Australia’s Nicola Scott, Japan’s Yuko Shimizu, Turkey’s Mahmud A. Asrar and Canada’s Yanick Paquette, not to mention some of Britain's most respected creators including Walking Dead’s Charlie Adlard, Hellboy’s Duncan Fegredo, Criminal’s Sean Phillips and the legendary Dave Gibbons of Watchmen fame -- plus many many more.

“We’re really pleased to be in a position to offer fans the chance to meet so many huge names at the show this year as well as offering such a fantastic events schedule” said show Co-organiser Shane Chebsey.

“It’s been a real challenge to keep making BICS better and better each year, building up the guest lists and improving the quality of events isn’t easy when you set such high standards in early years, bust I honestly think fans are going to find this to be the best BICS ever!”

The now Legendary Friday Night BICS Launch Party is also back this year with all guests, exhibitors and early pre registered attendees getting free entry at Birmingham’s popular Oceana Nightclub with a special VIP area.

What better way for fans to start their weekend of comics heaven, than mingling with their favourite comic creators?

• To find out more about BICS or to book tickets visit the official website at: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk

Darabont Takes on The Walking Dead?

Writer director Frank Darabont - whose impressive credits include The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile - looks about to take on zombies currently being drawn by British artist Charlie Adlard for a new TV project.

Variety reports cable network AMC is close to finalizing one of the richest development deals ever with Darabont to write and direct a series adaptation of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead.

Published by Image Comics since 2003, The Walking Dead was created by writer Robert Kirkman - also the creator of Invincible and Marvel Comics' Marvel Zombies miniseries - and artist Tony Moore (replaced by Charlie Adlard from #7 onward). First published in black and white, but now coloured by Cliff Rathburn, the series chronicles the travels of a group of people trying to survive in a world stricken by a zombie apocalypse.

Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior veep of programming, production and original content, said the project appealed to the cabler because of "the quality of the storytelling" in Kirkman's work. The series will stay faithful to the tone of the original novels.

"This is not about zombies popping out of closets," Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior veep of programming said. "This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in 'Walking Dead') is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way."

• Read the story in full on the Variety web site

• Visit The Walking Dead Official web site

• Visit Robert Kirkman's web site

• Visit Charlie Adlard's Official web site

Adlard, Reppion and Moore Interviewed

Along with its usal mix of great comic strip, the new issue of the Judge Dredd Megazine (Issue 283) contains two articles by downthetubes contributor Matthew Badham. They're both interviews. The first, Drawn of the Dead, is with artist Charlie Adlard. The second, The Writer with Two Brains!, is with writing team Leah Moore and John Reppion.

The issue also contains various articles and comic strips by all sorts of venerable creators, including Insurrection by Dan Abnett and Colin MacNeil; and a stonking Judge Dredd tale, The Americans from Al Ewing and Nick Dyer.

The issue is on sale now in all good UK newsagents and available as an online download Clickwheel, which has had a re-design recently, as is 2000AD.

Hi-Ex in the Highlands This Weekend

Hi-Ex 2, currently Scotland's only comics festival, will be "bigger and better" this weekend when it opens in Eden Court, Inverness, tomorrow.

Organisers Richmond Clements and Vicky Stonebridge are determined to make Hi-Ex and annual event, even though bad weather and heavy snow forced some of the event's star guests to call off their planned appearances last year, the response from the public easily justified the return of the festival for 2009.

"Even with the bad weather, we were surprised by the number of people through the door," Clements told the Inverness Courier this week.

"We had no choice, but to do it again."

While pressure of work and other factors have forced some comic creators who intended to come to the Eden Court event to cancel their appearances, there are still some top guests to entice fans to the Highlands event, including appearances by Strontium Dog writer Alan Grant and artist Frank Quitely.

There will also be a major charity auction which includes signed art from Charlie Adlard and Simon Coleby, workshops and more.

While there have been some guest cancellations, almost a dozen artists and writers who cannot make this year's event have pledged to come to Hi-Ex 2010 if possible.

"We don't want it to get too big," Clements told the Courier, which features a full schedule for the event.

"It's a family event and we want to keep it that way. A lot of big festivals can become a bit impersonal."

The details of the items in the Hi-Ex charity auction are available here.

More details of the convention and its guests are on the Hi-Ex website.

The downthetubes reviews of Hi-Ex 2008 are here and here.