The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Alex Fitch updates us with the latest comics and SF related audio heading our way via the magic of radio and podcast; as ever check the Panel Borders blog for more information and links:

“Strip!: The DFC and the future of kids’ comics, this evening at 5pm on Resonance FM

Alex Fitch presents a special report on the new kids’ comic The DFC published by Harper Collins / David Fickling Books, including David Fickling, Nick Abadzis and Philip Pullman’s speeches about the comic, recorded at the launch party for the periodical. Alex also interviews Philip Pullman about writing the lead story in The DFC and how this is a natural successor to his episodic narratives for children in His Dark Materials and elsewhere. Alex also talks to Philip’s illustrator on the strip, John Aggs, to John’s mother Patrice who is also producing a strip for the comic with her son called The Boss and to Jim Medway who is creating a comedy strip in The DFC called New at the Zoo.

Reality Check: Darren Shan’s Supernatural Sagas, online on the 4th of June at SciFi London

Guest presenter Robert Grant talks to the popular and prolific young adults writer Darren Shan about his Cirque du freak and Demonata serials…

Previous podcasts of interest -

Panel Borders: Autobiographic comics – Alex Fitch talks to a couple of small press comic book creators who work in autobiographical comics – Oli Smith and Sean Azzopardi – about their continuing success selling comics in Camden Market and beyond; about their recent diary work (Weekend Friends and the collected version of 12 Hour Shift respectively) and how they’re both now collaborating with other comic book creators (Oliver Lambden and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey) to produce work in the fantasy genre.

Reality Check: Julian Doyle’s Chemical Wedding – guest presenter Chris Patmore talks to Julian Doyle, director of the new horror / black comedy film Chemical Wedding, which sees the spirit of Aleister Crowley possess a mild mannered lecturer (played by Simon Callow) in modern day Cambridge. Chris and Julian also talk about the latter’s involvement in a variety of films by Monty Python alumni from …and the Holy Grail to Brazil and Erik the Viking.

Coming soon:

Strip!: New European Manga, broadcast on Resonance FM, 5th of June at 5pm

Continuing our shows recorded at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, we’re looking at new Manga creators who live up to that International tag; Strip!’s new roving reporter Dickon Harris has recorded a panel about a studio of Japanese comic artists who are producing new manga for the Swedish market.

Also, Alex Fitch talks to two British artists who have illustrated Shakespeare Manga adaptations – Kate Brown who also illustrates a strip for The DFC and Paul Duffield who illustrates Warren Ellis’ online steam-punk comic Freak Angels.”