It was smashing to see Bryan and Mary Talbot at The Dukes in Lancaster last night, for a screening of Leonora in the Morning Light, which stars Olivia Vinall as troubled surrealist Leonora Carrington.
Bryan provided four “Chapter Titles” for the new biopic, (more info about the film here) which is beautifully filmed, although I would caution that if you aren’t familiar with Leonora’s story, you may find it hard to follow. And yes, that is roundabout plug for Bryan and Mary’s brilliant graphic novel, Armed With Madness: The Surreal Leonora Carrington, published by SelfMadeHero in 2023, available here (Affiliate Link)
The screening was followed by a discussion with the film’s directors, Thor Klein and Lena Vurma. It was interesting to learn more about the origins of the project, the challenges of casting during COVID, and some of the production choices. Leonora’s art now sells at higher prices than many better known Surrealists, and it’s surprising her story isn’t well known.
Bryan very kindly gave me a sneak peek at Lo! An Amazon! The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Mary Wollstonecraft scheduled for publication by SelfMadeHero on the 1st October 2026 (UK) and 3rd November (US). Mary suggested Bryan has excelled himself on the art on this, and I certainly won’t disagree, it looks incredible! The forthcoming graphic novel is available to preorder here (Affiliate Link).
Mary and Bryan have both shared some teaser pages,Mary on her official site here.
Over twenty years before her daughter, Mary Shelly, created the science fiction genre with Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft’s 1792 manifesto, Vindication of the Rights of Woman, took the world by storm. Forthright and fearless, she mingled with other radical thinkers of her time and travelled widely. In the same year she published her magnum opus, she even ventured alone to Paris during the Reign of Terror.
Bryan also told me he’s now already working on a new “Hawksmoor” project, a three tale anthology, set in his astonishing Grandville universe. I’m sure there will be more news on that via his official website, or the Bryan Talbot fans Facebook group, soon.
• Preorder Lo! An Amazon! The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Mary Wollstonecraft (AmazonUK Affiliate Link) ISBN: 978-1914224492
• Bryan Talbot – Official Website
• Mary Talbot – Official Website
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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