In this month’s episode of Britain’s only regularly over-air comics show, Panel Borders, show host 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 graphic novel version of You’re Thinking About Tomatoes, in which a boy on a school trip to a country house gets embroiled in an adventure with a girl from a painting and a mummy come to life.
The new version was funded through Unbound, and goes on sale from 7th July.
Michael Rosen has been writing books for children since the early 1970s. His most famous collaboration We’re Going on a Bear Hunt has sold over eight million copies worldwide. He has won numerous awards, and from 2007 to 2009 he was the British Children’s Laureate.
Cole Henley is an illustrator, recovering archaeologist and maker of websites based in Somerset.
Also in this episode, cartoonist Clarrie Pope explores the graphic novel Welcome Home, published in April by Minor Compositions, about the lives of a community of squatters in a condemned tower block, co-written with her sister Blanche.
Shortlisted for the Myriad First Graphic Novel Prize, Welcome Home manages to deal with the heavy topics of urban regeneration, care homes, and dementia, while maintaining a light touch.
A group of squatters occupy an empty flat in a condemned tower in London, aiming to unite their neighbours to resist the demolition. Weaving together confused memories, Welcome Home moves between the squat and our protagonist’s work in a care home.
Sisters Clarrie Pope and Blanche Pope were inspired by their experience in squatting and housing struggles, as well Blanche’s time spent working in care homes. They want to give readers insight into the class, race and gender politics involved in both through a humorous look at the way in which these issues affect the minutiae of people’s lives.
• Panel Borders: Unusual Buildings 5.30pm Wednesday 6th July, repeated 11am Sunday 10th July, Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
• Buy You’re Thinking About Tomatoes by Michael Rosen and Cole Henley from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | ISBN 978-1800181441
• Buy Welcome Home by Clarrie and Blanche Pope from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | ISBN 978-1570273940
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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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