Celebrating Women’s History Month, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of female creators on comics radio show Panel Borders this week, whose recent work depicts characters struggling for independence.
The Rickard Sisters chat about their latest graphic novel, an adaptation of Ethel Carnie Holdsworth’s This Slavery, and animator turned cartoonist Liza N. Cooper, aka Siberian Lizard, discusses her series of books about Meems and Feefs – a pair of naughty ferrets from outer space.
Scarlett and Sophie Rickard are sisters who work together to make graphic novels. Sophie does the words and Scarlett draws the pictures. Scarlett has been drawing since before Sophie was born, and Sophie has been telling her what to draw since she learned to talk.
They were brought up in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire in the shadow of Pendle Hill, and this landscape can be found in much of their work. They say they squabbled non-stop as children, and went in their own directions as young adults.
Scarlett has worked as a commercial artist, illustrator, signwriter and portrait painter. Sophie has worked as a civil servant, pub landlady, cabin crew and child counsellor.
This Slavery is their third graphic adaptation published by SelfMadeHero, which was written by Ethel Carnie Holdsworth.
This classic novel about women’s place in capitalism follows Constance Maud’s No Surrender (2022) and Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (2020) which was Eisner nominated for Best Adaptation.
Their first graphic novel, an original fiction called Mann’s Best Friend, was self-published.
They work collaboratively from 200 miles apart, without arguing.
Liza N. Cooper is an artist and digital content creator who goes by the pen name Siberian Lizard online. Originally born in the wild and frosty Siberia, she has since settled down in a much warmer (and wetter) London, where she lives with her two naughty ferrets and a Pomeranian puppy.
Her debut graphic novel series, Meems & Feefs, published by Andrew McMeels Publishing, centres on two naughty ferrets from the planet Ferretonia, and their adventures on Earth. You can read some of their adventures on Webtoons.
When they secretly carry out an experiment using Ferretonia’s forbidden Ancient Tech, it all goes wrong, and they end up crash-landing on Earth!
Two books in the trilogy, Ferrets from Planet Ferretonia!, and Meems and Feefs: The Council of Ferrets, have been published so far, with the third currently in the works.
She’s also the creator of Keeko, a Patreon exclusive mini series about a naughty new arrival. She is small and cute, but underestimate her, and you will be in the world of trouble…
Panel Borders: Fighting for Independence airs at 5.00pm, Wednesday 4rd March 2026, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 7th March, Resonance 104.4 FM + DAB (London) / more info and podcast after broadcast at panelborders.wordpress.com
Head downthetubes for…
• The Rickard Sisters: Official Site
• Liza N. Cooper aka Siberian Lizard: Official Site | Patreon
• Meems and Feefs: Ferret Comics on Webtoons
• Read an interview with Liza N. Cooper on MixedUpFiles
- About the Author
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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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