The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Today’s Best of the Year picks come from a long-time stalwart of the Brit comics scene, a creator whose work I’ve really enjoyed for a number of years now, he’s been strongly involved in the promotion of the Brit comics scene too through London Underground Comics, flying the flag at Angouleme and Malta and numerous other projects. He’s also been a good chum of the blog for years so I’m delighted to have Sean Azzopardi return once more to offer up his faves from the year; over to Sean:

FPI: Can you pick three comics/webcomics/graphic novels which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Sean: Acme 20 by Chris Ware.

I love Chris Ware’s work, but this one stands out. There is a very humane feel to the story, and it’s enjoyable piecing together the main characters life, through a year a page. The graphics are leaning towards naturalistic as well.

(a thoughtful scene from Acme 20 by and (c) Chris Ware, published D&Q)

Complex by Douglas Noble. Excellent writing in a Ballard styling.

(cover art to a recent print collection of the Complex web series by and (c) Douglas Noble and available from his site)

Galavant by Kayla Marie Hillier. Lovely Diary comic with a refreshing unfettered approach.

(the artist goes galavanting in snowy Edinburgh in Galavant by and (c) Kayla Marie Hillier)

FPI: Can you pick three books which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Sean: Once again I have read nothing that was published this year, I sit shame faced asIi type these words. Pontypool changes everything. A book which bears little relation to the film, apart from the DJ. Totally baffling in most parts. Interesting premise of aggressive cannibalism starting in the molecular stage of bio organisms. Or something like that.

Apartment 16 by Adam Neville. A story about a concierge who discovers a terrifying supernatural element in the room of one he flats. This is meta fiction of the highest order, I worked with Adam in a block of flats, the one in which I wrote 12 Hour Shift. Apartment 16 takes place in a block of flats next the one I currently work in. Also, It’s a good read.

FPI: Can you pick three TV shows and/or movies which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Sean: Enter the Void. I’m not sure wether enjoy is the phrase that come to mind, but was film that stayed with me. It’s far to long, but is also awkward and different and has some memorable and vivid scenes.

Four Lions – an interesting black comedy, that was surprisingly moving.

Sons of Anarchy – my favourite TV fodder. Bikers and Ron Perlman’s chin, wonderful.

FPI: How did 2010 go for you as a creator? Are you happy with the way you got your work out this year?

Sean: I would say it was my best year since I started this comics stuff. Conventions were excellent his year. Angouleme, Malta, MCM, Leeds, Comiket. I actual sold really well at all these events, and received a lot of positive comments.

The publishing side was a mixed bag. Started well, with my two page back up for Phonogram 7. Necessary Monsters fell down in January, and just became this dead weight. I had no new material for the year, so returned to making mini comics.100 days of Winter, Sightings of Wallace Sendek, three issues of Ed, to make a trade. One of these I used in the awsome B.A.S.T.AR.D.S anthology. Finally Monsters was self published by me, Ed failed to appear this year, apart from a mini comic of the extra material.

I love self publishing, but I really feel that next year I have to be published by someone else, to get the full rounded experience.

(12 Hour Shift, Ed, Necessary Monsters and more, a nice comics buffet at Thought Bubble, work (c) Sean Azzopardi, photo shamelessly borrowed from his Flickr)

FPI: What can we look forward to from you in 2011?

Sean: I have the Ed trade coming out in January, plus a mini comic called 9 Months of Beige. After that, I’m taking some time out to pitch some work and try something new. I feel that it’s time to tear up what I know, and see what develops. What do have to lose?

FPI: Anyone you think is a name we should be watching out for next year?

Sean: I met Jessica Penfold at MCM this year. I like her mix of typography, autobio and fine art.

(“Insecurity” by and (c) Jessica Penfold)

You can find all of the 2010 Best of the Year guest posts so far here.