It was smashing to catch up with Kate Charlesworth, Mary Talbot, and Bryan Talbot, too, at a Lancaster University organised event last night, titled “The Graphic Novel and Political Activism”.
Despite unexpected microphone problems at The Storey, Lancaster – event organisers, just because something worked properly last time, it’s wise to test it before an event, in case it’s been sabotaged! – Kate regaled us with fascinating stories from her well regarded, amazing career, many of her cartoons documenting the history of LGBT culture in the UK, although of course she’s also well known for her fantastic work for New Scientist and “Millennium Basin” for The Guardian.
Mary, too, related the course of her work, spanning the COSTA Award-winning Dotter of her Father’s Eyes, its success for a time helping spark a mini boom in graphic novel commissions and publishing in the UK, through to RAIN and Armed with Madness.
Over an all-too short hour, with little time for questions due to a strict time slot (event organisers, book longer slots!), Kate revealed how her work with Mary and Bryan on Sally Heathcote Suffragette proved invaluable in the creation of the award-winning Sensible Footwear.
We also got a sneak peek at two new projects: Kate’s new “Auntie Studs” strip, set around “An Old Dykes Home”, title yet to be decided; and Bryan and Mary’s new tale of the mother of Frankenstein creator Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
Both projects are seeking a publisher, today’s British publishing world sadly a much harder and leaner place today than of yesteryear, even though it appears to be growing again in countries such as France and Germany. (Bryan’s new graphic novel, The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor, is released in French in September, and in English in November).
Despite the technical hitches, the night proved a spirited discussion of comics past and present. Unfortunately, the University didn’t record it, let alone publicise it locally, so you’ll just have to take my word for its success!
• Kate Charlesworth is online at katecharlesworth.com
BlueSky: @auntiestuds
• Mary M. Talbot is online at mary-talbot.co.uk
BlueSky: @EyeDotter | Facebook
• Bryan Talbot is online at bryan-talbot.com
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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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