Blank Slate announces 'Nelson' graphic novel, firms up 2011 schedule

Nelson, a new collaborative graphic novel from Blank Slate Books will be launching this November at the Thought Bubble convention in Leeds, and features an awesome line-up of British comics talent (detailed below).

So, who is Nelson? Well, Nel Baker’s story starts in 1968 (the year of her birth) and takes us through to the present day, with each creator presenting a snapshot of one year of her life.

“I don’t know if anyone’s tried anything like this before," says Rob Davis (Doctor Who, Don Quixote) the anthology’s editor. "I just think it’s a great way to show what separates comic artists from other artists – we don’t just draw pictures, we tell stories!

"I wanted us to avoid the ‘pick-and-choose’ aspect of most anthologies and get everyone writing their own chapters, working together to tell one continuous story. So whether a creator is your favourite or someone whose work you’d never normally go near, they all become an essential read.”

Nostalgia and Comics Opens Doors to Small Press

Some good news for British small press publishers - another store wants your comics. The Manchester Comix Collective reports that part of a major makeover for the Nostalgia and Comics shop in Birmingham - which is owned by Forbidden Planet International - is to include more space for small press titles.

Kenny Penman, director of Forbidden Planet International (and Blank Slate publisher) has recently been overseeing the refurbishmet of Nostalgia & Comics and is fired up with his aim to make the store one of the best comic shops in the country with a stock range second to none.

Part of the re-development will include greater emphasis on British comics. "Small Press, self-published, call it what you like, the British scene is vibrant and interesting and really adds another dimension to a comic shop," says Forbidden Planet International staffer Richard Bruton.

To that end, FPI is now contacting small press publishers about getting their comics into Nostalgia & Comics.

The trading terms being offered to small publishers are as follows: N&C will take 30% of cover price, whatever is set by the publisher; N&C will get full Sale or Return on any comics that are not sold; and publishers must meet the incoming post costs (FPI/N&C will meet the return postage).

Payments will be 30 days end on month terms - in effect that will mean 60 days. Publishers can ask for info on their sales once a month on the 1st - via Kenny and by e-mail.


"If [publishers] are local I'd encourage them to go in and make pals with [manager] Dave Hopkins," Kenny Penman suggests.

If enough publishers respond, Kenny plans to devote a specific section to the material

• More info on this project on the Forbidden Planet International blog

• Publishers wanting more information should contact Kenny Penman's via MANPEN AT aol.com.


• Nostalgia & Comics can be found at Nostalgia & Comics, 14-16 Smallbrook, Queensway B5 4EN. Phone: 0121 643 0143. E-mail: noscomic@noscomic.plus.com

Strip!: Publishing a Blank Slate

Concluding comic book publishing month on radio show and podcast Strip!, Alex Fitch interviews Kenny Penman who runs Blank Slate Books, a new British publishing company that has been around for just under a year and have four books to their name so far, including Eisner award nominee Trains are... Mint by Oliver East and and Mawli's We can Still be Friends.

Alex and Kenny talk about what factors decide the choice of books he publishes, the travails of finding a market for new graphic novels in the middle of a credit crunch and how his history as one of the founders of Forbidden Planet International has helped his new career as a publisher.

Trains are... Mint received high praise from several quarters on release. It's a diary of walks tracing the train tracks between Manchester and Blackpool in the northwest of England, the comic dispensing with word balloons in favour of text and speech written in longhand superimposed upon the images.

"Oliver East has produced one of the most unique works to come out of the UK small press scene," says Kenny Penman, "and one that I believe has a chance of crossing over to a much wider audience."

• Strip!: Publishing a Blank Slate airs later today, Thursday 30th April 2009, at 5.30pm, repeated Sunday 3rd May 11.30pm, onResonance 104.4 FM (London), streamed at www.resonancefm.com, extended podcast online now at http://panelborders.wordpress.com