Oscar Zarate heads to Cartoon County

By John Freeman on August 19, 2023

Graphic novelist Oscar Zarate is the guest of regular Brighton comic creator get together Cartoon County.

He’ll be chatting about his new book, Thomas Girtin: The Forgotten Painter, published by SelfMadeHero.

This beautiful and epic comic by Zarate mixes a real life biography of the little known fine artist, with fictional stories of three people in the present day – an Argentinian exile, coping with experience of the junta, an architect, struggling with her faith, and a Customs man, being framed for a cover-up – who form a connection over Girtin’s work.

Alex Fitch will be talking to the author about the many intriguing aspects of his new book, how it followed his previous tome – The Park – about lives intersecting on Hampstead Heath, and his career in comics so far.

Oscar Zarate is an award-winning graphic novelist. His books include collaborations with Alan Moore (A Small Killing) and Alexei Sayle (Geoffrey the Tube Train and the Fat Comedian).

He was the editor of It’s Dark in London, and he wrote and illustrated The Park. He collaborated with Richard Appignanesi on Dr Faustus, Hysteria, Introducing Freudand Introducing Existentialism. Born in Argentina, it was over fifty years ago that Oscar decided to visit London, where he has lived and worked ever since.

If you’re not local to Brighton or can’t make it in person, you can register via eventbrite to watch on zoom. Sound and image much improved recently!

• Cartoon County with Oscar Zarate Monday 21st August, doors open at 6.30pm, Q&A at 7.30pm, The Walrus, 10 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AD and online via zoom | Full details on Cartoon County website here

Please register on eventbrite if you would like to join us for the zoom session. There is no need to register if you would like to join in person

John Freeman

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.