Graphic Details

Here are six links to comics news.

(1) Alys Jones has done some highly creative artwork based on the First World War. Lots of examples from Jones’ new book, plus James Bacon’s interview with the artist, at Forbidden Planet.

James: How did the idea of cutting holes come about?

Alys: In the very early stages of the project I made a mistake in a drawing, which had been going quite well, so I cut part of it out. I then began to experiment with laying images over each other in various formations, to see how that could be used as a narrative device. Because of the setting and subject matter, the holes began to take on an unexpected significance and became quite central to my project.

They started to raise all kinds of questions relating to missing memories and trauma, injury and amputation, and a blasted landscape. They also began to reflect the unfinished nature of the poem in which the story takes place, as well as allowing an unusual way to progress the narrative and create unusual shifts and jumps from place to place. They can take you through a series of events, allow you to see through a dugout into the trench, and shift the viewer’s position within the narrative.

(2) The Northern Ireland Comics Festival program was exceptionally rich in thoughtful, substantial commentary. Read the quotes here.

(3) James Bacon and many other fans would prefer otherwise, but China Miéville’s comic Dial H will come to an end in August, with a double-sized issue 15. One hopes the critical acclaim will lure him back to comics.

(4) Zenith is a British Superhero comic from Grant Morrison that hasn’t been reprinted for nearly twenty years. The last Morrison had to say was “Fleetway have no paperwork to confirm their ownership of ‘Zenith’, so I’m currently involved in legal proceedings to clear things up.” Is this a gambit to break the deadlock?

(5) Fans heading to London for next year’s Worldcon may want to add the Cartoon Museum to their itinerary. It currently boasts a Ralph Steadman exhibition.

(6) In 1987, little did residents of San Futuro know what was in store for them, and the unlikely heroes who would patrol their neighborhoods including Sin-Gorger, Monstrance, Private Eye, Devil’s Tool, Black Abbot and his ward Red Riding Hood, Purgatory and Whipping Boy. Now available in a deluxe edition.