The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

It’s Thursday and here’s Alex Fitch waving the Flagg for some quality  aural entertainment with details of shows he’s involved with and welcome news of a brand new show dedicated to the alternative press; as ever for more details and links to podcasts of previous shows check the Panel Borders site.

Strip! – The art of Howard Chaykin, tonight at 5pm on Resonance FM, podcast afterwards on Panel Borders

Continuing our month looking at depictions of masculinity in American comics, Alex Fitch talks to veteran artist Howard Chaykin about his career from collaborating with masters of Science Fiction literature in the 1970s – such as Michael Moorcock and Fritz Leiber – to producing creator owned titles in the 80s and 90s such as American Flagg! and American Century and his most recent work drawing iconic Marvel characters such as Wolverine and Blade plus writing the origin of John McClane in Die Hard Year One.

(American Flagg by and (c) Howard Chaykin)

plus, a show I’m not involved in, but happy to promote:

The Alternative Press Hour episode 1, on Resonance FM on the 15th at 9pm, podcast afterwards at alternativepress.org.uk

The first Alternative Press Hour will go out on Resonance 104.4 FM this Friday 15th January at 9pm! Its a monthly show dedicated to comix, zines and DIY culture, presented by Jimi Gherkin and Gareth Brookes. The first show features interviews with Edd Baldry (of the Last Hours collective and organiser of the London Zine Symposium) and Mike Lake, (co-founder of Titan Distribution and Forbidden Planet), who chats to us about getting started in the early days of UK comic distribution. There’s also music by comix and zine creators Shug, Paul O Connell and our own Jimi Gherkin. So tune in!

Previous podcasts:

Panel Borders – Philosophers, Gods and Monsters

In the first of this month’s shows about the portrayal of masculinity in American comic books, Alex Fitch talks to writer Fred Van Lente about penning the adventures of undead superheroes in Marvel Zombies, bringing to light the exciting adventures of Action Philosophers from Aristotle to Derrida and co-writing tales of the Incredible Hercules which depict the travails of the Classical demi-god on modern day Earth and beyond. The interview was recorded at Gosh! comics in Great Russell Street, London following a signing by the writer…  Originally broadcast as an episode of ‘Strip!’, 07/01/10 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Panel Borders: Tales of Diversity

Sarah Lightman visits the Eastside Educational Trust in Hackney and talks to two of the tutors / mentors from the organisation – Rakhee Jasani and Truly Johnston – who have set up a project called ‘Graphic Truths’ as a way of engaging young people with comic book creation to tell stories that are personal to them. Sarah also talks to four of the young creators – Chantelle, Shantel, Leke and Nickita – who have worked on the project and are seeing their comics printed in an anthology called ‘Tales of Diversity’ being launched 16/01/10.