The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

On the Steampunk Magazine blog the lovely man who is John Reppion talks to one of our best artist/writers, Bryan Talbot, discussing the influence of Steampunk (and proto-Steampunk) on his work and indeed the influence he in turn has had on other creators, taking in the Luther Arkwright classics and also talking about Bryan’s current work in progress, Grandville:

“John Reppion: How and when did the idea of Grandville come about? I think you said you were still working on Alice at the time weren’t you?”

“Bryan Talbot: Yes, just at the tail end. That’s when I usually start to get new ideas for graphic novels – just as I’m finishing the previous one. I was looking through a book I have on the work of 19th century French illustrator Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard who worked under the nom-de-plume of Grandville. He was a big influence on the original Alice in Wonderland illustrator John Tenniel. He frequently drew anthropomorphic animal characters, dressed in contemporary French fashions and his pictures were often politically satirical.

It suddenly occurred to me that it could be the basis of a graphic novel – Grandville could be the name of Paris in the centre of a French Empire in a steampunk setting. The 19th century proto-SF French illustrator Albert Robida is another influence.”

(Bryan Talbot portrait by Leah Moore, borrowed from the Steampunk interview and (c) Leah Moore)

Bryan talked about Grandville at this year’s Edinburgh Book Festival and I have to say I’m very keen to see the finished article – certainly be on my books to watch for list for 2009. To get a little taste of what’s coming, have a look at Bryan’s site where he’s been posting up some preview pages. (Thanks to Leah for the link)

(Inspector LeBrock of the Yard from Bryan’s upcoming Grandville, to be published in 2009; art by and (c) Bryan Talbot)