| 18 June Graphic Novel Readers Group meeting: The Avengers |
[May. 29th, 2012|04:00 pm] |
We will be meeting in Streatham Library on the 21 May to discuss The Avengers, Bendis' the Ultimate series and the Avengers movie. It has taken Marvel Comic's Avengers almost 50 years to make it to the big screen. But I doubt that american comic fans are griping too much. With the recent spate of american superhero comics to films comic geeks have become the local pundits on what's cool and what's not. The Avengers movie is an unqualified success with all credit to Bendis whose recent work and makeover of The Avengers is undoubtedly what caused Marvel to finally push for a movie of this title. 
Bendis's contribution certainly raised the bar but was the Avengers comic ever any good? The Avengers popular has waxed and waned over the years. The past 40 years or more sales have gone up and down like a yoyo. As its flagship title Marvel has allways been keen to see The Avengers make a profit but did they sacrifice quality of content for sensational sales tactics? The Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group is meeting at Streatham Library at 19:30 on the 18 June to discuss The Avengers.
If you cannot find us at Streatham Library we will be at the Holland & Tringham from 8pm onwards.
Venue:
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road
London SW16 1PL | After Meeting drink:
Holland and Tringham
107-109 StreathamHigh Road
London SW16 1HJ | | Printable Map | Printable Map |
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| The argument for paying comic creators the money they don't have... |
[May. 8th, 2012|04:13 pm] |
The argument for paying comic creators the money they don't have...
Hero Initiative: Helping comic creators in need
The majority of comic creators work their whole life trying to make something we like. That's a fact. They know this because if we don't like it we don't buy it which means they don't get paid.
Most comic creators do not make millions out of films made out their work. Comic creators often work for comic companies to make certain they get enough money to feed themselves and any dependents. Comic companies only ever rarely employ comic creators on anything else than a casual basis. So they have no job security, no medical insurance and no pension for many comic creators. And the comic creators who do decide to self-publish their own comics do so without any financial safety blanket.
Comic creators who do choose to work for comic companies, unlike many other authors, rarely get copyright ownership of stories or characters they have created or developed. Which means they do not get any royalties for the work they have done. And now some comic companies are filing 'cease and desist notices on any comic creator that dares to draw and sell characters they have created and developed to private collectors.
Some comic creators also have families. Many comic creators of very popular comics and comic characters have died without a penny. And while we are all keen to see new legislation appear that awards copyright ownership to the creators and not corporations in the meantime there are some guys that could do with a helping hand just to survive.
Want to help? Click on the link below...
Hero Initiative: Helping comic creators in need
Still in doubt? They can dig ditches? Sure^^ They can also draw porn(: They can also work on advertisements to help make them just that little bit more convincing so you spend more money on things you don't want:)
If you appreciate comics you could do worse than show that appreciation by donating some cash to the Hero Initiative. Think of it as a Kickstart Project in reverse. You've already had the product, or at least a taster, now I'm asking you to reach into your pockets. Click on the Hero Initiative link...
Hero Initiative: Helping comic creators in need
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| 21 May Graphic Novel Readers Group meeting: Viz |
[Apr. 22nd, 2012|10:54 pm] |
Viz is a phenomena in British comics. It appeared from nowhere in 1979 and it's success and growth has mushroomed to the point where it has been able to buy up and invest in subsidiary companies. We will be meeting in Streatham Library on the 21 May to discuss a very British comic; Viz.
Viz is a very popular British comic in the style of postwar British comics. It has been running since 1979. Its popularity and meteoric economic rise is due, in large part, to its crude humour often lampooning political correct attitudes. This irreverence towards political correctness is, practically, canonised by the United Nations reprimanded Viz received over a featured strip, "The Thieving Gypsy Bastards".
The Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group is meeting at Streatham Library at 19:30 on the 21 May 2012 to discuss Viz, its strips and its popularity.
If you cannot find us at Streatham Library we will be at the Holland & Tringham from 8pm onwards.
Venue:
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road
London SW16 1PL | After Meeting drink:
Holland and Tringham
107-109 StreathamHigh Road
London SW16 1HJ | | Printable Map | Printable Map |
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| Graphic Novel Readers Group meeting: Mœbius 16 April |
[Mar. 27th, 2012|05:45 pm] |
'Mœbius' / Jean Giraud passed away on 10 March 2012.
'Mœbius' and occasionally 'Gir' were the pen names of one of the most highly regarded and influential bande dessinée writer and artist since Hergé. His birth name was Jean Henri Gaston Giraud.
The Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group is meeting at Streatham Library at 19:30 on the 16 April 2012 to discuss 'Mœbius' work. You may wish to discuss 'Blueberry' which he sometimes worked on as 'Gir'.
'Mœbius' was prolific so the only trouble you may have finding his work in a library will be that they are so popular they rarely stay on the shelves long. You easily find his bibliography on his Wikipedia page. Click on link below...
Wikipedia: Jean Giraud
If you cannot find us at Streatham Library we will be at the Holland & Tringham from 8pm onwards. Venue:
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road
London SW16 1PL | After Meeting drink:
Holland and Tringham
107-109 StreathamHigh Road
London SW16 1HJ | | Printable Map | Printable Map |
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| The last meeting: Tamara Drewe |
[Mar. 27th, 2012|05:05 pm] |
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We had a very good meeting and a new, prospective, member turned up. Hi Gemma. Also we saw Edgar, a local who is a tentative fan of reportage, biographical, and British and European comics. Hi Edgar
The enthusiasm in discussion of Tamara Drewe was inspired partly because it was a British Graphic Novel, already serialised in The Guardian newspaper, and because it was made as a film and released in only 5 years after it had first appeared in The Guardian. But also because it was created by a British woman, Posy Simmons.
We all agreed that Posy Simmonds' work was more representative of graphic narrative found in mainstream publications such as magazines and newspapers. Her graphic narrative style uses a lot of text but loses nothing to the flow flow of the narrative. Although some of us who were more used to comics that use a lot of art with a more obvious structured use of frames were surprised that Posy Simmonds' worked as a graphic narrative. Posy Simmonds' comic work flows by use of an elegant use of written narrative. There is very little wasted in any text Posy Simmonds uses in any of her work. I would go as far to say that she is ruthless in her use of written narrative in her work. The same could be said for her illustrations. She uses the graphic narrative as an integral component of her stories to convey ambivalent or complex emotions where any use of written narrative may slow down the story. This is can be seen easily seen in the page were Tamara Drewe makes her entrance at the Hardiman's soiree...
 Tamara Drewe is a very well paced story. The characters and enviroment are convincing. The English middle class in their bespoke trimmed British countryside. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would and certainly recommend it as some of the best in British graphic narrative to be read today. But you don't have to take my word for it. You can check it out by clicking on the link below... The Guardian: The Tamara Drewe Archive
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| 19 March 2012 meeting: Tamara Drewe |
[Mar. 2nd, 2012|06:29 pm] |
Tamara Drewe The Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group is meeting at Streatham Library at 19:30 on the 19 March 2012 to discuss Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmons in support of womens literature events in Lambeth that celebrate the World of Women festival. Posy Simmons work has appeared in the Guardian from 2000 to 2006. the Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group will be discussing Tamara Drew and Posy Simmons work and other women's comic creators that have been supported by British mainstream publishers. Tamara Drewe is very popular so you should be able to find a copy in most London Library collections.
If you cannot find us at Streatham Library we will be at the Holland & Tringham from 8pm onwards. Venue:
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road
London SW16 1PL | After Meeting drink:
Holland and Tringham
107-109 StreathamHigh Road
London SW16 1HJ | | Printable Map | Printable Map |
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| Meeting 20 February : Kiki de Montparnasse |
[Jan. 22nd, 2012|09:43 am] |
Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group Meet to discuss
The Kiki de Montparnasse Graphic Novel If there is a role model from the 1920s for Maddonna and lady Gaga it is Kiki de Montparnasse. The Lambeth Graphic Novel Readers Group is meeting at Streatham Library at 19:30 on the 20 February 2012 to discuss the Graphic Novel; Kiki de Montparnasse. Queen of the Montparnasse in the 1920s, Kiki de Montparnasse was the original punk muse to Fernand Léger, Maurice Utrillo, Alexander Calder, Tsuguharu Foujita and Man Ray. She emerges into the 1920's Paris art scene kicking and screaming. This is story of an emancipated woman who made her mark on the art world with nothing but her wits. The book is fairly easy to find so please pick up a copy read it and bring it and your thoughts on the book along to the 21 February Streatham Library Graphic Novel Readers Group meeting
If you cannot find us at Streatham Library we will be at the Holland & Tringham from 8pm onwards. Venue:
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road
London SW16 1PL | After Meeting drink:
Holland and Tringham
107-109 StreathamHigh Road
London SW16 1HJ | | Printable Map | Printable Map |
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| The last meeting: Arab Winter |
[Jan. 19th, 2012|05:42 pm] |
Not the best turn out we've ever had but I did meet Virpe whom we hope to see on a regular basis... Please say hello to Virpe everyone:)
I also talked to the new Comics Librarian at Streatham Library. Any suggestions for graphic novels that should be bought for the Streatham Library Graphic Novel collection will be appreciated.
One of the things we discovered about North African comics in the Lambeth Libraries is that they are woefully underrepresented. Perhaps our new librarian can fix that:) Political cartoonists are very well known in North Africa. But not always appreciated. In August, last year, 60 year old Ali Ferzat a Syrian cartoonist, well known for lampooning Saddam Hussein, Muammar, Gaddafi and the Assads, highlighting their appalling human rights outrages had his hands broken during Syria's crackdown on any verbal opponents.
Telegraph: Syrian cartoonist has hands broken
So one would assume things should be better for comic creators, especially now after the Arab Spring has swept away any opposition to free speech. Maby not. The animation of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi was broardcasted in Tunisia by a loacl station Nessa and sparked an outrage. Nessa is being sued for showing the film.
The Beat: Persepolis showing creates uproar in Tunisia
Also discussion Arab comics it became obvious that Jewish comic creators writing of Israel and North Africa were more well known than Arab comic creators. Palestine by Joe Sacco is a typical case in point Also I expressed interested if examples of orientalism like Craig Thompson's Habib attract any interest to Arab comics.
If you have interest in Arab comics please feel free to start with the source sites sites I have included below as references...
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| 19 December Meeting. Discussing 'Protest' and alternative ploitcial views in comics. |
[Dec. 19th, 2011|07:04 pm] |
Tonight's meeting went well. We welcomed a new face; Olu (I think I spelt it right:( ). Who is very keen on comics and is an actual illustrator. Olu may be an occasional visitor to our meetings as she has a job which keeps her busy Monday nights. But
we hope to see more of her in the future when she has time:)
We discussed 'Protest' and alternative political views disseminated in comics. There was a general consensus that comics being dominated, in the UK, by mainstream publishers gave little representation to alternative political views except for a few outstanding examples. I quoted 'V for Vendetta' as an obvious if rare example. It was written during the Thatcher regime and was very topical and hit a nerve for many people living through that time.
As for contemporary comics there are few comics in the UK today, that we were aware of, offering alternative political views of UK political events and topics. But I would be very glad to hear of any??
We also discussed topics for the next meeting. In keeping with our focus on current events we thought the topic of an 'Arab Winter' would be a contemporary topic to discuss since the optimistic advent of the 'Arab Spring' may not be living up to it's promise. However this is not set in stone and we are happy to discuss the topic for the next meeting here. Please contribute within 5 days if you would like to have some say on the topic for the next meeting:) |
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