Upcoming Panel Borders radio show: “Local / Locas Stories”, with Susan Sainsbury and Jaime Hernandez

By John Freeman on December 2, 2022

On next week’s Panel Borders radio show, Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist Susan Sainsbury about her Worthing-based titles Kitty and Cheery Cak, about female lives lived on the South Coast of England.

Plus, enjoy a chat, too, with acclaimed comic creator Jaime Hernandez, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the award winning comic Love and Rockets, featuring L.A. Punks, down-at-heel Superheroes, and LGBTQ+ Musicians.

Susan Sainsbury has worked as an illustrator for clients including DC Thomson, where she drew for Jackie and Blue Jeans, The Girl Guide Association, National Childbirth Trust, Brighton and Hove City Council and Spare Rib.

As a writer she had work commissioned by BBC Radio 4, was a winner in the Euroscript Annual scriptwriting competition, and had her work produced at; Theatro Technis – Camden, The Hawth Theatre – Crawley, Nightingale Theatre – Brighton and Komedia – Brighton.

She was short listed for the Jonathan Cape/Observer short graphic novel competition for her graphic novel, Big Knickers.

Kitty was published by Markosia in In December 2019, created while on the sequential Design and Illustration MA at Brighton University. Susan’s second graphic novel, Cheery Cak, followed in February 2022.

As a young aimless Latino punk rocker, Jaime Hernandez, along with his brothers Gilbert and Mario self-published the first issue of Love and Rockets in 1981. It was picked up by Fantagraphics Books in 1982 and ran 50 issues before the brothers took a break to pursue solo projects.

Jaime’s titles included Whoa, Nellie!, Maggie and Hopey Color Fun, and Penny Century.

Love and Rockets was revived in 2000, and still continues today.

Outside of L&R, Jaime has also done other comic work, magazine illustration and album covers. He lives in Los Angeles.

• Panel Borders: Local / Locas Stories airs at 5.30pm, Wednesday 7th December 2022, repeat broadcast 11am, Sunday 11th December 2022, Resonance 104.4 FM + DAB (London) / podcast after broadcast at panelborders.wordpress.com

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.