Panel Borders – Panel Borders and other podcasts: Recent Episodes
Alex Fitch
Photos of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration: Street Entrance, Shop, stairs up to MURUGIAH exhibition, Queer as Comics gallery show
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration: In this month’s Panel Borders, Alex Fitch looks into and around the new Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. Interviewees include Lindsey Glen, Director, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, MURUGIAH discussing his solo show in the Centre, and Paul Gravett chatting about curating the opening sequential art exhibition Queer as Comics.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 1st July 2026
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about exhibitions at Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
More info about MURUGIAH’s work
Paul Gravett’s website
Donya Todd, Linnea Sterte, Dave Cook, Alex Fitch, and B. Mure at Thought Bubble 2025
Fantastical Worlds: In this month’s Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of creators who make comics about Fantastical Worlds. In a panel discussion recorded at Thought Bubble Festival 2025, Donya Todd (The Witch’s Egg), Linnea Sterte (World Heist), Dave Cook (Killtopia), and B. Mure (Ismyre) discuss creating strange new worlds to tell stories inspired by real world conflicts and personal experiences.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 1st April 2026
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about B. Mure’s Ismyre comics
Linea Sterte’s Instragram
Dave Cook’s Killtopia series
Donya Todd’s website
Excerpts from Meems and Feefs by Liza Cooper / Alex Fitch interviewing Scarlett and Sophie Rickard / Cover and interior art from This SlaveryFighting for Independence: To celebrate Women’s History Month, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of female creators whose recent work depicts characters struggling for independence. The Rickard Sisters chat about their latest graphic novel This Slavery, which adapts a Romance novel by Ethel Carnie Holdsworth featuring a fiery Marxist-feminist polemic. Also, animator turned cartoonist Liza Cooper discusses her series of books about Meems and Feefs – a pair of naughty ferrets from outer space. Both Q and As were recorded at Cartoon County in Brighton.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 4th February 2026
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Publisher SelfMadeHero’s page on This Slavery
The Rickard Sisters’ website
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Scarlett and Sophie / Watch the video of the interview featured in today’s podcast
Liza Cooper’s instgram and website
Info about Meems and Feefs on publisher Simon and Schuster website
Review of book one at Broken Frontier
Creepy Adaptations: In a belated Halloween episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of creators about their work on creepy adaptations. Graphic novelist, Lucy Sullivan, and film director, Dylan Southern, have worked together on The Thing With Feathers, an adaptation to screen of Max Porter’s award-winning 2015 novella. Lucy has created new comic book art for the film, shown as the work of lead character – played by Benedict Cumberbatch – who’s trying to capture on paper a nightmarish crow that continuously haunts his dreams.
Also, Alex chats with Daniel Bell about his folk horror themed graphic novels such as The Fingers of Famhairstone , The Ferryman and adaptation of Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan. Both interviews recorded live in front of an audience of other comic creators at Cartoon County in Brighton.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 5th November 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Daniel Bell’s Comics, including his ‘bigcartel’ shop
Review of Bell’s The Ferryman at Big Comic Page
Lucy Sullivan’s website
Dylan Southern’s page on Mubi
Art from Blacksad by Juanjo Guarnido / Photo of part of the Laughter in the Long Twentieth Century exhibition at the University of Kent British Cartoon Archive
Inspired by the Twentieth Century: Alex Fitch looks at the work of cartoonists influenced by the culture of the Twentieth Century. In a Q and A recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, artist Juanjo Guarnido discusses his much loved anthropormophic graphic novel series Blacksad, and in a conversation recorded at Cartoon County, Digital Archivist Clair Waller discusses the British Cartoon Archive in Templeman Library, University of Kent and their current exhibition Laughter in the Long Twentieth Century.
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns to Windermere on 26th and 27th September, and the exhibition Laughter in the Long Twentieth Century rund until the end of October.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 17th September 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Juanjo Guarnido and Blacksad
The British Cartoon Archive in Templeman Library, University of Kent and their current exhibition Laughter in the Long Twentieth Century
Art from Phoo Action by Jamie Hewlett and Matt Wakeham / Alex Fitch interviews Tini and Blake Howard at Thought Bubble
Comic Book Team-Ups: Alex Fitch talks to a trio of creators about their collaborative work. Matt Wakeham discusses writing and compiling the new coffee table book of Phoo Action, a cult comic by Jamie Hewlett that Wakeham wrote the second series of and adapted for television, which was originally serialised in The Face magazine. And in a panel discussion recorded at Thought Bubble festival, Alex chats to Blake and Tini Howard about working together on such comics as Punchline and Batman: Urban Legends, as well as the latter’s solo work on Harley Quinn and Excalibur.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 5th February 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Tini Howard’s Instagram site
Blake Howard’s profile on League of Comic Book Geeks
Phoo Action website and TV pilot on youtube
Matt Wakeham’s page on Linkedin
Excerprts from Dragman by Steven Appleby and The Weird and Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse by The Mollusc Dimension
Innovative Trans Cartoonists: In the second of two Pride themed episodes of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of innovative trans cartoonists about their magical realist books inspired by autobiography. Artist and musician The Mollusc Dimension discusses his short story collection The Weird and Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse which sees the creator take on a variety of mollusc inspired identities to explore vignettes from the past, in an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton. Steven Appleby discusses the creation of Dragman, a full length graphic novel by the acclaimed Guardian cartoonist, which mixes personal experiences of transphobia and awakening with an irreverent superhero narrative, in a Q and A recorded at Space Station 65 in London.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 2nd July 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Steven Appleby’s website and Instagram
Publisher’s page on Dragman
Info about Steven’s current exhibition I’ve Had Enough of Secrets at Bury Museum
The Mollusc Dimension book page / Instagram
Listenh to the Squid Horse theme tune on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Covers and interior art from Sensible Footwear by Kate Charlesworth, and Forty Lies by David Shenton
Veteran Gay Cartoonists: In the first of two Pride themed episodes of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of veteran gay cartoonists about their auto/biographical books on LGBTQIA+ history. Kate Charlesworth discusses Sensible Footwear: A Girl’s Guide published by Myriad Editions, which tells her history as a lesbian cartoonist, interwined with the history of notable queer lives in the 20th Century; David Shenton chats about his graphic novel Forty Lies – A Work of Ipsedixitism Published by Knockabout Comics, which mixes tongue in cheek autobiography with a chronicle of the gay community, in an interview recorded at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich.
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 4th June 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Kate Charlesworth’s website
David Shenton’s Instagram
Myriad Editions‘ website
Knockabout Comics‘ website
Covers of comics by Warped and Torn / pages from Romo – the Wolfboy by Ilya / excerpts from Acid Box by Sara Kenny and multiple artists
Fantastical Kickstarters: In this feature length episode, Alex Fitch chats to a trio of comic creators who are launching new titles on Kickstarter. Renowned comics creator Ilya discusses his new Graphic Novel Romo the Wolfboy, a beguiling tale of outsiders and intrigue in a Victorian Circus, Science Communicator Sara Kenney chats about her time travel / rave culture mash-up Acid Box, and Warped and Torn Comics’ Harrison Perry explores their latest title Atonement of a Monk, about MMA fighters in the 22nd Century, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton…
N.B./ The Kickstarter campaign for Romo the Wolfboy ends at 8.50am BST, Thu, June 19th 2025
Shorter edit originally broadcast on Resonance FM, on Weds 7th May 2025
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about Acid Box on Kenney’s website
Ilya’s substack, including extracts from Romo the Wolfboy
Warped and Torn Comics’ Linktree
Acid Box / Atonement of a Monk / Romo the Wolfboy kickstarter pages
Kelly Vassie, Myfanwy Tristram, Ian Williams and Alex Fitch at the launch event for the 2025 First Graphic Award at Waterstones Brighton, February 2025. Photo by William Ranieri.
First Graphic Novel Award 2025: In this month’s show, Alex Fitch hosts the launch event for the 2025 First Graphic Award. Available to any unpublished comics creator, the competition looks to providing the winner with a publishing contract for their first graphic novel. 2023 long listed and short listed artists Kelly Vassie and Myfanwy Tristram, discuss how being nominated has had an impact on their work, while Alex and Dr. Ian Williams reflect on their experience of being judges, and the kinds of entries that might do well. Introduced by First Graphic Novel Award founder and publisher Corinne Pearlman. Please note the deadline for entry is April 22nd 2025…
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about the First Graphic Novel Award
The 2023 longlist featuring Kelly and Myf’s work
Watch a video of short interviews with Fitch, Tristram, Vassie and Williams about the award
Info about Ian Williams’ graphic novels
Myfanwy Tristram’ website
Kelly Vassie’s website
Listen to the 2023 First Graphic Novel Award presentation event
Excerpts from graphic novels in progress by Alex Taylor, Corban Wilkin, Cathy Brett, Gareth Cowlin, Anna Trench, Myfanwy Tristram and Mereida Fajardo, and photo of Alex Taylor, Corban Wilkin, Cathy Brett, Gareth Cowlin, Anna Trench, Myfanwy Tristram, Alex Fitch and Mereida Fajardo (on screen) at Waterstone Piccadilly
First Graphic Novel Award 2023: Alex Fitch hosts the presentation ceremony of the 2023 First Graphic Novel Award, featuring short interviews with shortlisted artists Cathy Brett, Gareth Cowlin, Mereida Fajardo, Alexander Taylor, Anna Trench, Myfanwy Tristram, and Corban Wilkin, presentations by Fitch and his fellow judges: Sabba Khan, Corinne Pearlman, Ayoola Solarin, Steve Marchant and Mark Wallinger, and the presentation of the award to the winner by graphic novelist Jenny Robins. Recorded at Waterstones Piccadilly, December 2023. Originally broadcast Wednesday 3rd January 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM + DAB (London)
For more download formats, and to stream the podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: First Graphic Novel Award website including info on how to enter the 2025 competition
2023 First Graphic Novel Award shortlist including social media accounts for artists
2023 First Graphic Novel Award longlist including extracts from each submitted graphic novel in progress
Book a ticket for the launch event of the 2025 First Graphic Novel Competition at Waterstones Piccadilly on January 15th
Photos of Brian Wildsmith exhibtion at Barnsley Museum / excerpts from Breakwater and Follow Me In by Katriona Chapman
Drawing on Artistic Practice: In this month’s podcast episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch presents a pair of interviews about the connections between sequential art and fine art. Simon Wildsmith chats about the major exhibition in Barnsley which showcases the work of his father Brian Wildsmith, and Katriona Chapman discusses the use of her paintings and sketchbooks to create such books as Follow Me In and Breakwater published by Avery Hill.
Partially broadcast 6th November 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM (London)
For more formats and to stream this podcast, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about Katriona Chapman’s graphic novels from Avery Hill
Katriona Chapman’s website
Info about Brian Wildsmith’s exhibtion at Cooper Gallery and Barnsley Museum
Listen to Alex’s interview with Brian Wildmsith and read the transcript
LICAF Rights Market logo / Alex Fitch / Ivanka Hahnenberger / Photo of Legacies panel by Luke Williams
The Past and Future in Comics at LICAF: Alex Fitch chats to a quartet of comics creators about reviving old characters, and to Ivanka Hahnenberger about helping to launch a Comics Rights Market at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. In the ‘Mantles and Legacies’ Panel, Greg Rucka, Ram V, Michael Lark and Mike Perkins discuss creating new comics based on long running titles such as Swamp Thing and Batman, while Hahnenberger chats about how young creators and small comics publishing companies can find new opportunities publishing in Europe, with funding from Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, and the Adlard Foundation.
Originally broadcast 10th September 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about LICAF Comics Rights Market and list of attendees
Info about the 2022 Lakes International Comic Art Festival including the Mantles and Legacies panel
Cover and interior of Pricks: Purple Hate Balloon by Fraser Geesin and Laurie Rowan / Karrie Fransman, Zara Slattery and Myfanwy Tristram launching the CCIC initiative at LICAF
Pricks, and Sea Sick: In an episode on provocation and sequential art, Alex Fitch talks to Fraser Geesin and Laurie Rowan, the creators of Purple Hate Balloon and Pricks, magical realist tales of toxic masculinty set in Worthing, recorded at Cartoon County. Also, in a panel discussion recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Myfanwy Tristram, Zara Slattery and Karrie Fransman, organisers of The Comics Cultural Impact Collective (CCIC / pronounced ‘Seasick’) relate their plans, ambitions and ideas to bring new audiences to British comics.
Originally broadcast 6th December 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Info about Purple Hate Balloon and Pricks: Flat part 1 and 2 on Fraser Geesin’s website
More info about Fraser’s Silence! podcast featuring Gary Lactus and the Beast Must Die
The Comics Cultural Impact Collective website
Previous podcasts featuring Karrie Fransman, Zara Slattery and Myfanwy Tristram
Extract from the Room of Stars by Michelle Freeman / photos of Michelle Freeman, Alex Fitch and Shane Melisse / extract from Skate Knight by Shane Melisse
Young Graphic Novelists to Watch: In a special Summer episode that looks at up and coming graphic novelists, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of creators who are exhibiting at the inaugural Sequent’ull Comic Art Festival in Hull this month. Michelle Freeman chats about turning her interest in fine art to storytelling, expressed in a number of short titles and her graphic novel in progress, The Room of Stars, and Shane Melisse discusses how an influence in street art and skating culture has influenced his ongoing comics project Road Knight and related works.
Originally broadcast 2nd August 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
More info: Shane Melisse’s website
Michelle Freeman’s website
Articles on Shane and Michelle’s work on Broken Frontier
Book free tickets for Sequent’ull, with more info on facebook
Interiors from Big Shoulders by John Dudley and Scott Gray / Interior art and cover of Shelter: Early Doors by Lucy Sullivan plus photos of Dudley, Gray and Sullivan
Fantasy and Horror Locations: In an episode that looks at Fantasy and Horror Comics in memoriable locations, a trio of creators talk about their work in this area. Alex Fitch talks to John Dudley and Scott Gray about their kickstarted title Big Shoulders which mixes music and magic, dragons and immortal storytellers in contemporary and historic Chicago. Plus, in an interview recorded at Cartoon County, Lucy Sullivan discusses her folk horror comics including Black Hammer: Madame Dragonfly and Shelter: Early Doors, with a look at the latter’s London based location inspired by her childhood growing up in a pub!
Originally broadcast 3rd July 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
More info: Lucy Sullivan’s website
Read Black Hammer: Madame Butterfly on Jeff Lemire’s substack
Support Big Shoulders on kickstarter
Info about Scott Gray’s Doctor Who comics
Scott Gray, John Dudley, Big Shoulders, and Lucy Sullivan’s Twitter pages
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Lucy Sullivan about her graphic novel Barking
Art from Je Ne Sais Quoi by Lucie Arnoux / Dylan Dog, Across the Spider-Verse and homage to The Seventh Seal by Gigi Cavenago
Euro Visions: In a pair of interviews with European artists now working in English, Alex Fitch talks to Gigi Cavenago about his work on iconic characters such as Dylan Dog / Batman, and Spider-Man in Across the Spider-Verse, and to Lucie Arnoux about her autobiographical graphic novel Je Ne Sais Quoi and illustrating the comics adaptations of the Enola Holmes novels by Nancy Springer. Recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, and Cartoon County, Brighton.
Originally broadcast 7th February 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
More info: Lucie Arnoux’s website and instagram site
Review of Je Ne Sais Quoi in The Guardian
Gigi Cavenago’s youtube channel and instagram site
Info about Gigi Cavenago on Idea Academy
Excerpts from Free Pass by Julian Hanshaw, and The Raggered Trousered Philanthropists and No Surrender by Sophie and Scarlett Rickard
Learning from the Past and Future: Alex Fitch talks to creators whose work set in the past and future offer salient warnings about the present. Julian Hanshaw discusses his graphic novel Free Pass which tells the tale of a couple who let a robot join in their intimate relationships, while Sophie and Scarlett Rickard chat about their comic book adaptations of Edwardian protest novels The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and No Surrender. Both interviews recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton.
Originally broadcast 7th April 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
More info: Hanshaw’s Instagram site
Interview with Julian Hanshaw in RyeZine
The Rickard Sisters’ website
Info about Julian Hanshaw, and Sophie and Scarlett Rickard on publisher SelfMadeHero’s website
The Rickard Sisters’ Instagram site
Ivanka Hahnenberger interviews Peter Hogan, Posy Simmonds and Luke Pearson at The Century Club
Guest presenter Ivanka Hahnenberger talks to three comics creators whose work has been adapted for film and television. Writer Peter Hogan discusses the TV version of his comic Resident Alien, cartoonist Posy Simmonds chats about the adaptations of Tamara Drew and Fred, and Luke Pearson explores the Netflix adaptation of his children comic Hilda. Recorded at Comica, curated by Paul Gravett, and held at The Century Club, London, April 2024. Recorded and edited by Alex Fitch.
Originally broadcast 1st May 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Comica’s facebook page
Ivanka’s company VIP Brands
Peter Hogan’s instagram page
Articles on Posy Simmonds in The Guardian
Luke Pearson’s website
Listen to Alex Fitch’s interviews with Luke Pearson, Peter Hogan and Ivanka Hahnenberger
Examples of “Nick Draws Neighbours” by Nick Sayers, and extracts from “This Might Surprise You: A Cancer Memoir” by Hayley Gullen
Life Drawing: In a pair of interviews recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of artists whose work is drawn from life. Nick Sayers discusses his projects Nick Draws Neighbours, and Nick Draws Nationals which see the artist pencil likenesses of people met locally and on zoom to compile vignettes of life during lockdown and beyond. Also, Hayley Gullen chats about her graphic memoir in process – This Might Surprise You – which chronicles her diagnosis of, and recovery from cancer, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Caliburn Prize for Comics.
Originally broadcast 6th March 2024 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Hayley Gullen’s pages on Twitter / X and Instagram
Order the short comic Hayley’s Guide to Chemo from Colossal Cartographies
Nick Sayers’ pages on Twitter / X and Instagram
Info about the projects Nick Draws Neighbours, and Nick Draws Nationals by Nick Sayers on Behance
Covers of The Dreaming and Destiny comics written by Alisa Kwitney / excerpt from Die Bubbeh by Sharon Rudahl / cover of Jewish Women in Comics / Art in progress by Sarah Lightman
Jewish Women in Comics: In a special episode looking at the work of Jewish Women in Comics, Alex Fitch talks to Sarah Lightman, one of the editors of a new book with that name, and to Sharon Rudahl, a veteran comics creator known for her strips in Wimmen’s Comix, who is featured in the anthology. Also ahead of her appearance at JewCE in New York, Alisa Kwitney chats about editing DC Comics in the 1990s, writing Sandman spin-off titles, and her parallel career as a novelist.
Originally broadcast 1st November 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Alisa Kwitney’s website
Info about her work for DC Comics and Ahoy Comics
Publisher’s website on Jewish Women in Comics
Extract from Die Bubbeh by Sharon Rudahl, as featured in the collection
List of comics by Sharon Rudahl on comics.org
Sarah Lightman’s website
Previous podcasts featuring Sarah Lightman
Article on the History of Jewish Comic Creators
Transformers, Venom and The Ultimates art by Bryan Hittch / Ivanka Hahnenberger at Bologna comics fair / covers of graphic novels translated by Ivanka
Transformers And Translators: In the first of this year’s autumn series of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to Bryan Hitch, a comics artist renowned for his work on Transformers and super-hero titles, and to Ivanka Hahnenberger who has translated numerous award-winning European graphic novels into English, and works in promoting the medium at various events. Recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, and Cartoon County, Brighton.
Originally broadcast 6th September 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Reviews of books translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger
Info about Hahnenberger’s company V.I.P. Brands who promote comics and graphic novels
Bryan Hitch’s profile on Marvel and DC Comics websites
Hitch’s instagram site
Comic Histories: the Panel Borders Summer Special – in a couple of public talks, a pair of academics discuss the early history of comics. Alice Loxton investigates the saga of 18th Century satirical prints, as made by Gillray, Cruikshank and Rowlandson in a talk recorded at The Cartoon Museum in conjuction with the launch of […]
Historical Comics: In a programme looking at comics from and about history, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of female creators about their work. Alice Loxton discusses her book Uproar! Satire, Scandal and Printmakers in Georgian London which delves into the lives of early cartoon satirists – Thomas Rowlandson, Isaac Cruikshank and James Gillray – […]
Exploring Human Behaviour: In a programme looking at non-fiction graphic novels that explore human behaviour, Alex Fitch chairs a panel discussion with a trio of comic creators about their work. Veronika Muchitsch discusses her book Cyberman which investigates a year in the life of webcammer Ari Kivikangas, plus Daniel Locke and Alex Frith chat about […]
Unusual City Dwellers: In a programme looking at comics which depict unusual city dwellers, Alex Fitch talks to artists Ellice Weaver and Robin Smith about their work. Weaver discusses her urban graphic novels Big Ugly and Something City which tell the lives of friends and neighbours in city environments, Smith chats about the kickstarter campaign […]
Extracts from The English G.I. by Jonathan Sandler and Brian Bicknell / Can’t Not Won’t by Eliza Fricker
Challenging Lives: In this ‘feature length’ podcast looking at comics that detail some extraordinarily challenging lives in biography and autobiography, a pair of graphic novelists discuss with Alex FItch their work on this topic. Cartoonist and designer Eliza Fricker dicusses her book Can’t Not Won’t: A Story about a child who couldn’t go to school, which illustrates her experiences of raising a child who suffers from Pathological Demand Avoidance, and writer Jonathan Sandler talks about turning his father’s wartime memories into the graphic novel The English G.I.: A World War II Graphic Memoir. Both interviews recorded in front of a live audience at Cartoon County.
Shorter edit broadcast 5th April 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Eliza Fricker’s website – Missing the Mark
Books illustrated by Eliza Fricker on the Jessica Kingsly Publishing website
Jonathan Sandler’s Graphic Memoir website
Review of The English G.I. in The Jewish Chronicle
Art from Monster Fun: Hire a Horror by Matt Baxter, covers of books published by Street Noise, art from Junkyard Jack and the Horse that Talked by Danny Noble
Junkyard Jack, Street Noise, and Monster Fun: In this ‘feature length’ podcast looking at comics for young audiences, and a young publisher looking to widen audiences, Alex Fitch talks to editor Liz Frances about her imprint Street Noise Books, who publish a range of graphic novels about diversity and activism, and to artists Matt Baxter and Danny Noble about illustrating Hire a Horror and Junkyard Jack and the Horse that Talked respectively in a panel discussion recorded at Graphic Brighton.
Shorter edit broadcast 1st March 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Danny Noble’s website
Info about Danny’s books with Adrian Edmondson
Alex’s previous interview with Danny about music and comics
Matt Baxter’s design company – Baxter and Bailey
Buy back issues of Monster Fun
Info about Street Noise Books
Follow Danny Noble, Matt Baxter and Street Noise Books on Twitter
Alison Bechdel and Hannah Berry on stage at LICAF / art from G Bear and Jammo, and Don’t Call Me a Tomboy
Youth and Wellbeing: In this ‘feature length’ podcast looking at comics about youth and wellbeing, a quartet of artists discuss their work which touches on these topics. Former Comics Laureate Hannah Berry chats to renowned cartoonist Alison Bechel about her latest book The Secret to Superhuman Strength, as well as her classics Dykes to Watch Out For and Fun Home in a Q and A recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Also, Alex Fitch talks to artists Jaime Huxtable and Zara Slattery about their titles for younger readers including G Bear and Jammo, and Don’t Call Me a Tomboy respectively, in a panel discussion recorded at Graphic Brighton.
Shorter edit broadcast 1st February 2023 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Links: Hannah Berry’s website
Alison Bechdel’s website
Jaime Huxtable’s website and info about his comics course
Zara Slattery’s website and info about her art courses
Covers of Guantanamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi / Guantanamo Voices edited by Sarah Mirk / Photos of Andy Worthington, Alex Fitch and Sarah Mirk / Close Guantanamo website
Guantanamo Voices: To discuss the 21st anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay, and the lives of the people still incarcerated there, Alex Fitch talks to writer Sarah Mirk about her graphic novel anthology Guantanamo Voices, which tells the tale of ten people associated with the prison, and to journalist Andy Worthington about his continuing campaign to Close Guantanamo. Also, Worthington talks with Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a former prisoner of the site about his experiences, in a Q and A introduced by lecturer Sara Birch, recorded at the University of Brighton in 2022.
Partially broadcast 23rd January 2022 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: Sarah Mirk’s website including info on Guantanamo Voices
Alex’s previous interview with Sarah about her political comics anthology The Nib
Andy Worthington’s website and Close Guantanmo campaign
Andy’s band The Four Fathers on bandcamp
Buy Mohamedou’s book The Mauritanian, previous published as Guantanamo Diary from bookshop.org
Info about Sara Birch’s conference ‘Guantanamo: 20 Years After’, at the University of Brighton
Pages from Love and Rockets: Maggie the Mechanic, and Flies on the Ceiling by Jaime Hernandez / Hernandez chats to Alex Fitch at LICAF / pages from Cheery Cak, Big Knickers and work in progress by Susan Sainsbury
Local And Locas Stories: In this ‘feature length’ podcast, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of comics creators whose work is based around representation of marginalised people and cultures in specific times and places. Graphic novelist Susan Sainsbury discusses her Worthing based titles Kitty and Cheery Cak, about female lives lived on the South Coast of England, recorded at Cartoon County; and acclaimed cartoonist Jaime Hernandez celebrates the 40th anniversary of the award winning comic Love and Rockets, featuring L.A. punks, down-at-heel superheroes, and LGBTQ+ musicians in a Q and A recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Partially broadcast 7th December 2022 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more formats to stream or download, please visit archive.org
Links: Susan Sainsbury’s website and instagram site
Buy eBooks of Susan’s graphic novels
Info about Jaime Hernandez at publisher Fantagraphics website
Review of Flies on the Ceiling at ‘How to love Comics’ website
Articles on gay superheroes and comic book diversity by Alex Fitch in The Conversation
Curating and Creating Comics: As the start of a new season of Panel Borders, the UK’s only monthly broadcast radio show about comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of artists whose work includes autobiography, museum display, and responses to Covid and Lockdown. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Henny Beaumont chats […]
Greg Rucka – Desert Island Comics: In the second of a pair of podcast only recordings, Alex Fitch chats to comics writer Greg Rucka about the five titles he would want to have with him, if marooned on a desert island, including classics by Brian Bolland, Matt Wagner, Bill Sienkiewicz, Matt Fraction and Jen Van […]
The Writing Game: In the first of a pair of podcast only recordings, Alex Fitch talks to Simon Spurrier, Rob Williams, and Garth Ennis about their history of writing comics. The three writers discuss their techniques, the characters they’ve enjoyed working on, and their tips for collaboration in a panel discussion recorded at The Lakes […]
New Anthologies: In a pair of interviews recorded at Cartoon County online, Alex Fitch talks to a number of creators about their work on anthologies. Sarah Mirk discusses her work on political comics anthology The Nib with contributions from artists Myfanwy Tristram and Daniel Locke, talking about their strips created for the title. Ben Conan […]
Unusual Buildings: In this month’s show, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of graphic novels set in unusual buildings… Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen and artist Cole Henley discuss the comic book version of You’re Thinking About Tomatoes, in which a boy on a school trip to a country house gets embroiled in an adventure […]
Multimedia Comics: This month, Alex Fitch talks to comic creators about multimedia engagement with their sequential art. Chinese cartoonist Chihoi chats about his comic The Train, which is currently on display in the riverside window of the the Royal Festival Hall, London, and at Graphic Brighton, audio producer Lance Dann and graphic novelist Hannah Berry […]
Sporting Titles: In a pair of interviews recorded at Cartoon County, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonists whose recent work has been on sports themed comics. Ellen Lindner chats about her project ‘A History of Gender Rebellion in Baseball’ – which has generated the comic, Lost Diamonds and two issues of the zine The Cranklet’s Chronicle, […]
David Bramwell performs The Cult of Water at Brighton Festival 2018, Once Upon a Time by Danny Noble, Cover of Black Crown Quarterly featuring a fictionalised version of Will Potter (drawn by Philip Bond) Music, Comics, and Performance: In a pair of interviews recorded at Graphic Brighton Alex Fitch talks to a trio of performers […]
Interior art from Freedom Bound and Incognegro: Renaissance, drawn by Warren Pleece / covers of these books / cover and interior art from Basil & Victoria drawn by Edith Historical Adventures: Alex Fitch talks to artists Warren Pleece and Edith (Grattery) about their work on historical graphic novels. In a Q &A recorded at Cartoon […]
Drawn from Experience: Alex Fitch talks to creators of autobiographical comics and graphic novels inspired by life, about depicting their own experiences on the page. In a panel discussion recorded at the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival, Steven Appleby, Sayra Begum, Rachael Smith and Matt Smith talk about their titles Drag Man, Mongrel, Quarantine Comix, […]
Cover and Interior art from The Roles we Play and Roti, by Sabba Khan and photo from Khan Bonshek website Drawn from Memory: In this episode, Alex Fitch talks to Sabba Khan about her graphic novel The Roles We Play which mixes infographics, comics autobiography, and family history of forced migration from Mirpur in Pakistan, […]
Cover and Interior art from The Middle Ages: A Graphic History and Saxon Gold, illustrated by Neil Max Emmanuel and photo of the artist Drawn from History: In this episode, Alex Fitch talks to former ‘Time Team’ motion graphics creator Neil Max Emmanuel, who explores the various drawing styles he’s adopted to illustrate The Middle […]
Pages from Swamp Thing vol.2 #53 and Miracleman #16 by John Totleben and Alan Moore / Photos of Totleben, Fitch and JMKE / Pages from The Will o’the Wisp and P.S. by JMKE Superhuman Creatures: In a belated Halloween episode, Alex Fitch talks to a couple of artists whose work features mutated humanoid figures in […]
Telling Truths: Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of graphic novelists whose work reflects events from history over the last hundred years. In a panel discussion recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Hannah Berry, Darryl Cunningham and Fumio Obata discuss how their work is based on recent culture and economics regarding graphic novels […]
Edible Ensembles: In the second of two early Autumn specials, Alex Fitch chats to the creators of graphic novels with diverse ensemble casts. Jenny Robins discusses her graphic novel Biscuits (Assorted), which presents a snapshot of the intertwining lives of modern women from diverse backgrounds; Scott Jason Smith explores his book Marble Cake, a magical […]
Diverse Superheroes: In the first of two early Autumn specials, Alex Fitch chats to the creators of superhero comics with diverse ensemble casts. Eve Greenwood talks about their superhero webcomic Inhibit and LGBT+ publishing house Quindre Press, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County. Also, former Eastenders writer Colin Brake discusses the history […]
Good Comics: Alex Fitch looks at the output of small press publishing house Good Comics, in a pair of interviews with two of their creators. Editor / co-publisher Paddy Johnston talks about the founding of the imprint based on the success of their initial title Dead Singers Society, and artist Rozi Hathaway discusses her collection […]
Anticipating the Future: In the 501st episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a couple of creators who work on Science-Fiction Comics. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, writer Alex DeCampi discusses her YA serial Full Tilt Boogie serialised in 2000AD and recently collected as a book, and working with director […]
Discerning The Past: In the 500th episode of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch takes a nostalgic look back at important moments in the history of comics. Alex discusses anthology title The Inking Woman with two of its editors – Dr. Nicola Streeten and Cath Tate – and how they compiled the book’s survey of 250 years […]
With the 500th episode of Panel Borders fast approaching, if you’d like to catch up on memorable interviews with past guests, here’s a selection of 25 interviewees from the first 500 episodes… Various chats with Alan Moore A trio of Q and As with Neil Gaiman A couple of conversations with Audrey Niffenegger Raymond Briggs […]
Fantastical Visions: In an episode celebrating great comic book art, Alex Fitch talks to three artists who bring wonderous visions to the page. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Zara Slattery discusses her graphic novel Coma which depicts her experiences of extreme medical intervention as a journey through a fantastical dreamscape. […]
Defensive Animals: In the second of two programmes looking at anthropomorphic comics, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of comic creators about their titles featuring combative animal characters. Leomi Sadler discusses her strips about insects, gargoyles, bacteria and other creatures battling against adversity, featured in a new collection – Tummy Bugs – published by Breakdown […]
Melancholic Animals: Alex Fitch talks to a pair of creators of anthropomorphic comics whose work features stories of animals in melancholic situations. Richard Short discusses the various publications featuring his popular feline character, including the latest graphic novel Haway Man, Klaus, published by Breakdown Press. Also, in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic […]
Retro Anthologies: In a pair of interviews, Alex Fitch talks to comic book editor Steve MacManus about his new retro comic book anthology Blazer, plus his tenure on 2000AD and other classic titles, and to Julie Hollings and Hunt Emerson about their work on music themed comics such as Revolver and Hot Jazz, plus anthology […]
Educating Comics: In a 2 hour Panel Borders Winter Special, comics creators discuss using the medium as an educational resource. Comics academic Elle Whitcroft introduces Ottilie Hainsworth and her students Charlotte Semlyen, Catherine Moran, Tania Suryabandara, Judith Biddlestone and Nick Cannan regarding their creation of a strip anthology about The Theatre Royal, Brighton featuring untold […]
Dramatising the Real: In a pair of interviews looking at comic creators who dramatise real life events, Alex Fitch talks to Bryan and Mary Talbot about their graphic novels Sally Heathcote: Suffragette and The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia on French revolutionary Louise Michel in a Q and A recorded at Graphic Brighton, […]
Eclectic Horrors: In a belated Halloween special, Alex Fitch talks to three creators of very different horror themed comics. In a pair of interviews recorded at Copenhagen Comics Festival 2019, legendary creator Toshio Maeda explores his grotesque erotic manga Urotsokidoji: Legend of the Overfiend, and John Kenn Mortensen discusses his Edward Gorey inspired sketches of […]
Vectrexians: In a Clear Spot looking at the continuing good fortunes of the Vectrex games console, an arcade style machine distributed in the UK by Milton Bradley in 1983, Alex Fitch talks to programmers Chris Malcolm and Kristof Tuts about their new games for the console, and to graphic novelist Zara Slattery about her experiences […]
Ladies of the Lakes: In the first episode of a new series of the monthly radio show about graphic novels and sequential art, Alex Fitch talks to two female creators working in the comic book industry, in Q and As recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Deborah Tate discusses her role as editor […]
Uncanny Landscapes: In the 2 hour Panel Borders Autumn Special, Alex Fitch talks to three comic creators whose work explores uncanny locations. In a pair of Q and As recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Chris Reynolds discusses the retro-futuristic aesthetic of his Mauretania Comics, set in post-industrial landscapes, and Sarah Gordon chats about the evocative […]
Architecture and Comics: In the last of the current series of the monthly show about culture and the built environment, a pair of writers investigate the depiction of architecture in sequential art. Alex Fitch talks to Sean Azzaopardi about his graphic novel The Voice of the Hall which depicts the history of Hornsey Town Hall, […]
Learning with Comics: In the Panel Borders 90 minute Summer Special, Alex Fitch talks to illustrator Sally Kindberg, ecologist Chris Sandom, children’s writer Alex Frith, graphic novelist Daniel Locke and astrophysicist Kathy Romer about using comics for educational purposes in a panel discussion recorded at the British Science Festival. Also, guest presenter Robin Ince talks […]
Pride in Comics: In this month’s show, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of zine creators turned graphic novelists about their work on gender and sexuality. Eleanor Crewes discusses her forthcoming book The Times I Knew I Was Gay an autobiographical title which dramatised her experiences of coming out, and Dr. Meg-John Barker explores writing […]
Female Flâneurs: In the monthly show about culture and the built environment, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of artists whose work is influenced by their experience of exploring the urban landscape. Lizzy Stewart discusses her book Walking Distance, an illustrated essay on the experience of being a woman out walking, merging the personal and […]
Euro Noir: In this month’s show, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of veteren European artists who specialise in comics influenced by Film Noir. Alex chats to Igort about directing the film adaptation of of his classic graphic novel 5 is the Perfect Number, and how it differs from and homages the original comic. Also, […]
Visions of the Past and Future: In the monthly show about culture and the built environment, architect Susanne Tutsch (Erect Architecture) discusses green and inclusive designs influenced by the work of John Tradescant and the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, and using the language of comics to communicate designs for a communal recycling project in a lecture […]
Cover and interior art from The Epics of Enkidu and Dreadstar Returns
Epic Crowdfunding: In this month’s show, two international graphic novelists discuss their crowdfunding campaigns for sequels to epic narratives. Ahmed Alameen talks about his comic The Epics of Enkidu, a sequel to the Mesopotamian legend of Gilgamesh reimaged with an autistic hero and set in the modern day, and creating motion comic Team Genesis. Also, veteran creator Jim Starlin explores The Return of Dreadstar, a new graphic novel follow-up to his classic 1980s comic; Jim also discusses working on The Death of Captain Marvel and titles featuring his beioved character Thanos.
Originally broadcast 6th May 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: Indiegogo page for The Epics of Enkidu
Ahmed Alameen’s youtube channel, featuring Team Genesis
Kickstarter page for The Return of Dreadstar
Info about Jim Starlin at marvel.com
Listen to more interviews with comic book creators and filmmakers about the crowd funding campaigns
Poster of and image included in Childhood in Dickensian London exhibition / Cover and interior art from smartcities, resilient landscapes + ecowarriors by C.J. Lim and Ed Liu, C.J. Lim lecturing at University of Brighton
Charles Dickens and EcoCities: Alex Fitch talks to architects, curators and practitioners who promote architecture in wider culture. This month: exhibition designer Rebecca Simpson discusses the creation of ‘Childhood in Dickensian London’ at Senate House Library, the process of chosing images for display and collaborating with curators. Also, architect C.J. Lim talks about his visual explorations of EcoCities and other futuristic concerns in a variety of illustrated books, which incorporate comic strips, diagrams and models, including such titles as smartcities, resilient landscapes + ecowarriors, and his Realms of Impossibility trilogy.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 15th April 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: Childhood in Dickensian London microsite on Senate House website
More info at Social History website
Senate House Instagram page
C.J. Lim’s profile on UCL website
C.J. Lim / Studio 8 Architects website
Order books by C.J. Lim and Ed Liu from Amazon UK