Oscar Zarate and ILYA are both London-based graphic novelists who record and reflect their individual relationships with urban life. Both creators are in conversation with Paul Gravett as part of this year’s Comica Festival, revealing how London has helped shape their creative ideas, exploring the longing for belonging through sharp observation in their latest books, The Park and Room For Love which they will also be signing.
The Park is Zarate’s first full-length solo fiction on his beloved Hampstead Heath. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon walk, Chris is accidentally bitten by a dog, and kicks out in defence. The dog’s owner vents his anger in his widely-read blog, elaborating the story for added effect but their children don’t understand all the fuss. The Park is a measured examination of how we respond to our confused emotions.
In ILYA’s Room For Love, Pamela Green is a middle-class, middle-aged romance novelist with writer’s block and a lonely heart. ‘Cougar’ is a teenage runaway from Ireland, surviving life on London’s streets by his looks and his wits. Their lives couldn’t be more different but both seek the same thing: love. ILYA has created an ultimately life-affirming anti-romance tale that takes us from seedy Soho nightlife to the leafy suburbia of North London.
Oscar and ILYA will also be attending the Comica Comiket independent comics fair at Central St Martins College on Sat 2nd November, which runs 11.00 to 5.00pm.
• Comica: Living and Loving in London : Oscar Zarate & Ilya 6.30pm Thursday 31st October 2013, The Gallery, Foyles Bookshop, Charing Cross Rd WC2. Tickets are £6 and can be booked from WeGotTickets.
• Full details are here on the Comica web site
• Buy The Park by Oscar Zarate from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Room for Love by ILYA from amazon.co.uk
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Events
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