(one of Steve Bell’s picks from his own cartoons from 2011 – “The Lowry Crapper”, commenting on the announcement of massive public sector cuts in Manchester while drawing on the iconic work of Lowry)

Paul Gravett reminds us that Comica has a corker of an event coming up this month – the excellent Craig Thompson (who created one of my favourite comics works, Blankets) is in town to promote Habibi and will be giving an illustrated talk, then talking about his work with Marcel Theroux, to be followed by a book signing and sketching session organised the the good folks at Gosh. The event is in the Saint Albans Centre, Leigh Place, Baldwin Gardens, London (closest tube stations: Farringdon, Chancery Lane and Holborn) on Mondy January 23rd at 7pm. Space is limited and since Craig doesn’t get over here too often they’re expecting it to be pretty popular so you’d be best to book now; more details on Paul G’s site. I’m hoping for those of us nowhere near London that perhaps that man with the wandering microphone, Alex Fitch, will be there recording it…

(Liberation themed cover to Arabic comic World War 3 Illustrated #42, art by Magdy el Shafee)

How about a stage adaptation of Alan Moore and Ian Gibson’s Halo Jones?

Or maybe a staging of the Doctor Who episode Midnight – all taking part in a small, small room in front of a strictly limited audience:

And not on comics or sci-fi, but sounding really, really great – the Lass has negotiated the rights with ITV to allow them to put on a series of jack Rosenthall written episodes of Coronation Street – including two taking place as immersive pieces happening on the ground floor of the pub.

The Blank Slate Books posse proudly announce Nelson week from the 19th to the 27th of November, taking in a whole pile of exciting events, including a busy signing schedule at the fab Thought Bubble festival in Leeds, original art exhibited in the Cartoon Museum, a signing at the Forbidden Planet megastore in London and and exhibition and signing session in the fab Gosh! Comics too.

Now okay, disclaimer – the blog team are obviously friends with many of the folks involved in Nelson and Blank Slate. But I can honestly say that doesn’t colour my judgement on the book – and I hope that over the years we’ve built a decent rep for being honest here on the blog so when I say that you know we mean it. And my honest opinion is that we should all be damned excited about this. I’ve been lucky enough to get an advance read at Nelson recently and it is a highly unusual and quite engrossing comic, bringing together dozens of brilliant comics creators into one story, the story of a woman’s life from birth in the 60s through the 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s, each artist taking a different segment of her life.

(a few panels from Rob Davis’ lovely art in the 1968 chapter, as Nel’s dad looks for just the right item to give to his about to arrive child)

As you’d expect the art styles vary enormously, from delightful, children’s book-like illustrations from Sarah McIntyre and Jamie Smart to the utterly gorgeous 1960s set pages by co-editor Rob Davis as Nel’s dad prepares for her arrival on Planet Earth, followed by another lovely 60s set chapter from co-editor Woodrow Phoenix which also managed to evoke some pop culture nostalgia with the period On The Buses references. Actually I had quite a few surges of nostalgia reading Nelson – we’re almost the same age and more than a few chapters brought a wave of recognition, with scenes like the joyful playing by Nel on her orange Spacehopper by Sarah McIntyre making me smile and reminding me of playing on one of those myself as a kid (way before they were associated with the Meatsafe Murderer!):

(the 1973 segment sees Nel about to have her first day at school, drawn by the wonderful Sarah McIntyre)

You might think that changing artists every few pages might throw you off; normally in a long-form comic we have one or two artists working through the entire story, giving it a uniform look. But to be honest the constant changing suits the story perfectly – each different creator is telling a different, small part of Nel’s life story, from birth through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, the ups and downs of family life, the struggle to define yourself as yourself (do any of us ever really finish that struggle?), and each is in a different time, so the constantly changing art styles actually compliment the idea of snapshots of a person’s life at different times, each having a different look, just as we ourselves and the world around us changes constantly (we only need to flip through old family photo albums to confirm that).

We’re going to be talking more about Nelson on here, I’m sure, but again I’d like to say how cool it is that we have a publisher right here in the UK who will put out a work as unusual and daring as this? It really does deserve your support – the Blank Slaters have been an integral and important part of the strong surge in quality British comics publishing in recent years and I’d like to think most of our readers would strongly support that, especially when they take a chance on something unusual like this; it deserves lots of support. And as if the book being superb isn’t enough motivation, you’re also doing the world some good by buying it as the profits are going to the homeless charity Shelter (and indeed I am delighted to say several comics retailers are also giving profits to the charity from the book too). And for what it is worth I can tell you right now that this book is going straight on to my Best of the Year list in December.

(that wonderful childish delight of finding something wondrous in a book – a quality some of us never grow out of I’m glad to say – in Nelson’s 1976 chapter by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell)

As I said we’ll be talking more Nelson in the next little while, but meantime let me leave you with several dozen other reasons why you should be buying this fine book: Paul Grist, Rob Davis, Woodrow Phoenix, Ellen Lindner, Jamie Smart, Gary Northfield, Sarah McIntyre, Suzy Varty, Sean Longcroft, Warwick Johnson–Cadwell, Luke Pearson, Paul Harrison–Davies, Katie Green, Paul Peart–Smith, Glyn Dillon, I.N.J.Culbard, John Allison, Philip Bond, D’Israeli, Simone Lia, Darryl Cunningham, Jonathan Edwards, Ade Salmon, Kate Charlesworth, Warren Pleece, Kristyna Baczynski, HarveyJames, Rian Hughes, Sean Phillips & Pete Doree, Kate Brown, Simon Gane, Jon McNaught, Adam Cadwell, Faz Choudhury, JAKe, Jeremy Day, Dan McDaid, Roger Langridge, Will Morris, Dave Shelton, Carol Swain, Hunt Emerson, Duncan Fegredo, Philippa Rice, Josceline Fenton, Garen Ewing, Tom Humberstone , Dan Berry,Alice Duke, Posy Simmonds, Laura Howell, Andi Watson, and Dave Taylor.

(Dan McDaid’s 1997 chapter for Nelson. Black hole sun, won’t you come, won’t you come… )

I mean look at that contributor list! How often do you get Posy Simmonds alongside Tom Humberstone and Sean Phillips and Rian Hughes and Luke Pearson and Paul Grist and Rob Davis and D’Israeli and Hunt Emerson and… okay, you can read the names for yourselves, but you take my point – how often do you get a high quality, unusual comics project with so muchdiverse and brilliant talent in one volume? And published right here in Blighty. In the words of the late, great Sir Jimmy Saville “how’s about that then, boys and gals?”

The company ‘Showmasters‘ who run some 27 events and conventions a year have taken over the mart, an interesting and unusual move. Considering Showmasters use Earls Court for their London Film and Comic Con, this event is a real gear change.

It’s a Comic Mart, something that has been lost I think, it could be the Bluecoat chambers in Liverpool or back at Westminster. There is a timelessness to it.

As I walk in, I immediately see bargains. Comics just a month or more old, at 75p. Many retailers have seen that clearing through unwanted stock, creates revenue and drives their business forward and I chance upon such a dealer. Recent comics at great value are a thing to behold, and there are flurries of arms at each and every box, a politeness exists though, as both men and women flick through the boxes looking for bargains.

It’s the wide variety in the rooms that stands it apart. A stall selling signed Jerry Robinson Batman prints for a tenner, next to original Will Simpson Aliens comic art and Old Robotech toys figures.

I am taken by the variety of animation cells one dealer has on offer, and the vast amount of old British comic art at another. Under a stall of over 100 boxes, just in case you fancied a browse, there are DVDs just open and there for you to see, no one minds if you get down and look.

There is so much of the unusual. You might find that gem you have always sought, but you will definitely find comics, people with lists ponder their lot as the search fervently, while relaxed regulars, are instantly informed of new oddments if interest. The dealers know their markets, they see what people are buying and point out related or similar titles, just in case, mostly scoring on target, and well at 75p or a £1 a comic, you can’t go wrong.

There is much talk of Justice League 1 already on ebay for over £20, and of course there is demand for a variety of ‘last issues’, both Marvel and DC

I am impressed by Evening News June 8th 1944 for £18, with a Rundsteadt headline, and astonished at the 10 and 20p boxes. And wonder whether all those Dr Who fans would think a Tom Baker Doctor Who Annual from the late seventies would be worth a quid. Graphic novels seem to be in abundance, and one stall has about ten Boxes at £3 or 4 for tenner. I browse and buy a few items.
The dealers and regular characters are also worth the visit, there are collectors here who have been in the trade and collecting for a very long time it is pretty obvious that they are well known, and there is something of the ‘London feel’ about the place. Young guys looking sharp, street dressed youths, a slight mix of back grounds and ethnicities and of course now and again the hard cockney accent comes across. It’s a lot more like London than many of the middle class white boy conventions I am used to.

There is character and definitely people of a different era present. This is a mart, and therefore all the dealers are in a way out there hunting for the best product to turn around and sell, you can bargain, negotiate, and of course find value. Where would you find a box full of San Diego exclusives, from Peanut Badges, to a Holy Terror Promo card to the Captain America Sheild. Here in London, miles from that balmy west coast city, smiling sellers know that for those of us who couldn’t travel, and are yet fans and have desires, want these strange trinkets.

I speak to Dave Finn of Incognito Comics, a massive stand selling premium back issues, Golden and Silver aged gems, some rated some not, his stand is beautiful and his comics on display Museum calibre. ‘Its definitely Busier’, he quickly says, ‘and there’s been actual advertising, I can see it growing, and Jason likes it’. Dave is selling a sketch of Marv by Frank Miller on a huge piece of board about eight inches by fifteen, and its this which makes me smile, as well as the Alex Ross original, where would you find such things.

I yearn for that type of individual element, which I sometimes fail to get in comic shops which are equally the same as the last. Sure, its the staff that makes some shops, but I want the unusual, the hard to find, the unexpected.

As for the owner of Showmasters, Jason Joiner, himself a massive Star Wars collector, (Guinness book of records rated the largest) was once involved with the Westminster Marts, but went on to pursue other events, so he has willingly come back to his roots to something he feels is important.

I briefly speak to him, at a quieter point later in the afternoon, ‘I”m pleased to be here, and I am going to build it. ‘ he says, ‘it’s very old school, which I like and appreciate, but the opportunity arose and I took it’. This is not his usual fare, but he has plans ‘signings and there is another room to grow into’ are part of his vision. ‘it’s a good start today’.

And I tend to agree, it was a good start, and there was definitely a buzz going on, and I noted a few people making good use of the Indian ‘All you can eat’ Buffet next door, and the seats in the lobby were always full of chatting comic readers, if there was a bar nearby, it might just be perfect.

It was free in, which is always a good price and a great way to spend an hour or two on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

The London Comic Mart runs monthly, with the next couple being scheduled for Sunday 6th November and Sunday 4th December at the Royal National Hotel, London WC1H- more details on the official site.

The excellent Anders Nilsen has been over doing a short UK tour to support the launch of his massive Big Questions graphic novel (just out from the nice folks at Drawn & Quarterly). One of his stops was at Page 45 in Nottingham and good chum of the blog Oli East was there and managed to get a bit of Anders’ talk on video:

The latest in a rather impressive list of regional comic events was announced this week – Canny Con:

“The Canny Comic Con is a little festival of comics and sequential art. It will be held at Newcastle City Library all day on Saturday 10th December 2011.

“Whilst it won’t be on the same scale as some of the bigger UK comic conventions, we’re going to have a full range of activities, including: talks and panel discussions, workshops, and a hall of stalls where you can meet some of the finest comic-creating talent from the region and beyond. Entry to the CCC will be FREE. That’s right, no charge. You don’t need to book tickets, you don’t need to pay us anything. Come along and support the biggest comic event to be held in the North East for over fifteen years.”

Few details yet, but I imagine the eventual guest list will be eclectic and interesting, as there’s a lot of talent up in the North-East. The big name so far is the esteemed Bryan Talbot.

More details in the coming months.