The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Lew on the new-look Beano

29. October 2007

Comics writer, artist and commentator Lew Stringer looks at the new-look Beano (issue 3404) and seems impressed with it, not just the style, look and new strips but a major change in policy from D.C. Thomson which is long overdue: “First off, the cover gets an attractive new design, with a Photoshop-embossed logo, new strapline style, [...]

Comics as cultural bridges

29. October 2007

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Middle East Online has an interesting article by Michael Chou and Youssef Morshedy, where they discuss cultural misunderstandings (and cultural ignorance) between the West and Islamic nations and how better communications could help different people to understand one another better and perhaps be more tolerant rather than adversarial. Comics and animation, they argue, are extremely [...]

Hi-def art

29. October 2007

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This isn’t comics but the BBC has an article on a fascinating new take on one of the world’s great works of visual art, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper. The incredibly delicate painting hangs in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, where it is viewed by some 350, 000 visitors each year. Now [...]

David Michaelis on the Bat Segundo show

29. October 2007

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The always-excellent Bat Segundo literary podcast has several new shows up with writers, ranging from Naomi Wolf (a writer usually worth taking note of, regardless of whether you agree with her or not), scientist and writer Steven Pinker (author of some fascinating popular science works) and also David Michaelis, the author of the new biography [...]

It’s interrogation but not as we know it

29. October 2007

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Rendition and covert, illegal interrogation, those activities usually denied by politicians and spymasters but something most folk probably accept is going on all the time. But when it involves Adi Tantimedh’s La Muse it takes on a whole new level as we find out after several days of nasty interrogators grilling our gal that she’s [...]

Exotique CG art

29. October 2007

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Exotique 3 Edited by Daniel Wade and Paul Hellard (cover to Exotic 3, ‘Umbrella Sky’ by Marta Dahlig; the title comes from the old Sinatra song “The Summer Rain”) Regular readers of the blog will have heard me extol the qualities of Australian-based publisher Ballistic’s beautiful CGI digital arts books before and this, the third volume in their [...]

Shatner peeved at not being in new Trek movie

29. October 2007

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William Shatner has told reporters that he is upset and also mystified at why he hasn’t been asked to play a role in the upcoming JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movie. “I thought, ‘what a decision to make’, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the [...]

The art of CG

27. October 2007

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(These gun-totin’ punk gals are ‘Electric Boogaloo’ by Jaysin and Embrio, DPI Studios, Canada, taken from Exotique 3, published Ballistic) Alan at Australian publishers Ballistic – home of some exceedingly fine digital art books- kindly sent me a copy of their latest title, the third in their Exotique series which focuses on character art and boasts [...]

Political cartoons auctioned for charity

26. October 2007

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Luckner’s, the the London-based internet auction house, is holding an ongoing auction of political cartoons to raise funds for the charity CARE International, which campaigns to end poverty around the globe. There is a range of cartoons on offer, ranging from (estimated) prices of around £20 to several hundred, so for once it looks like [...]

A British comic book archives?

26. October 2007

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Over on ComicBits Terry Hooper laments the idea of a ‘central library’ of British comics falling through, but, undaunted, he has now started thinking along the lines of a virtual rather than physical collection. To this end he is asking readers with decent collections of work from the Diamond and Golden ages of British comics [...]

Propaganda – Forget the fairy, ’tis the season to be scary!

26. October 2007

1 Comment

This is Propaganda, I’m Richard Bruton and this is what I’ve been reading lately: a special seasonal selection for this spookiest of seasons. Witches, ghosties and spooks abound in Jill Thompson’s Scary Godmother series of beautiful illustrated books. These gothic children’s books are equally suited for young and old ghouls. (Jill Thompson looking rather witchy herself, [...]

Before you were here

25. October 2007

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Dan Goldman has put up his 24 Hour Comic Day work on his website: ‘Before you were here‘. Its a beautiful little story of a man trying to fill the aching void in his life (his ravenous ‘volcano’) with meaningless flings, drink and drugs until he finds what it is he needs in his [...]

Rich Johnston on Strip!

25. October 2007

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On tonight’s broadcast of Strip! on Resonance FM Alex Fitch and Duncan Nott interview noted comics commentator Rich ‘Lying in the Gutters’ Johnston about his column, being a victim in a comic version of CSI and working on the Flying Friar. The show goes out at 5pm on Resonance FM and if you can’t tune [...]

Bob Dylan meets Jaime Hernandez

25. October 2007

1 Comment

Eddie Gorodetsky, producer of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s show ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’, approached another legendary artist, Jaime Hernandez, to create an incredibly cool poster for the show; apparently each vignette in the poster is based on the voice-overs which kick off each episode of the show, which goes out from XM in [...]

Hi-Ex in the Highlands

25. October 2007

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The Scottish Highlands – surely home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world, he said in a totally unbiased way (ahem) – is to enjoy its very own comics bash: the first Highland International Comic Expo – Hi-Ex (Dredd-heads will get that reference right away). On February 2nd and 3rd Hi-Ex will [...]

Archive | October, 2007

Lew on the new-look Beano

Comics as cultural bridges

Hi-def art

David Michaelis on the Bat Segundo show

It’s interrogation but not as we know it

Exotique CG art

Shatner peeved at not being in new Trek movie

The art of CG

Political cartoons auctioned for charity

A British comic book archives?

Propaganda – Forget the fairy, ’tis the season to be scary!

Before you were here

Rich Johnston on Strip!

Bob Dylan meets Jaime Hernandez

Hi-Ex in the Highlands

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