"Al Davison's entertaining and powerful performance culminates in his struggle to overcome "disability", the prejudice that surrounds it, and his mission to end a cycle of astonishing events in his family's history. His story spans 100 years from the suffragette movement, death, war, imprisonment, love and attempted murder."

Scar Tissue is a free performance presented by The Hebert Art Gallery, as part of the Coventry Festival of Literature and Liberty. The show takes place Thursday 8th May 7.00pm - 9.00pm in the relaxed atmosphere of the Herbert Café, and is suitable for adults only. For more details contact Jack Shuttleworth, Community Events and Exhibitions Officer at The Herbert on 024 7678 5168 or jack.shuttleworth (at) coventry.gov.uk Or join the facebook group somewhere near to this hyperlink here.

Also on Thursday, an exhibit on of Cartoonist Diaries. Its curated by Sarah Lightman and taking apart hyperlinks I discover its at Centre for Recent Drawing, 2-4 Highbury Station Road LONDON N1 1SB. (Main page)

The opening night private view runs 7-9pm, and the festival goes on until the 23rd May, Wed-Fri 12-6pm. And if you miss that, its also playing Northampton on 6-7th June at Paraliterary Narratives: Reassessing the Graphic Novel. Names involved include: Paul Gravett, Gabrielle Bell, David Blandy, Oliver East, Alex Fox, Miriam Katin and loads others. http://www.c4rd.org.uk/C4RD/Current_Exhibition.html

The Bugpowder mailbox is very full. If you've sent us something about the upcoming Bristol festival or something else we've probably got it. We're just too damn busy !

"In 1995 Alan Moore wrote the text for a set of 24 cards, called Outbreak of Violets, which were given away at the MTV Europe Music Awards 1995, and have since become something of a Holy Grail for fanatical Alan Moore completists..." - Padraig O Mealoid

Its comics season on Radio 4 again,

Kirsty Lang talked to Iranian graphic novelist Satrapi on 'Front Row' on Friday and you can listen to it for the next six days.

Oli Smith, Alex Fitch and David Bailie are guests of 'Word of Mouth' show on Tuesday 29th, at 4pm. Also available in temp archives.

And word is theres some more comics stuff going on at BBC Radio4 this week. Keep a listen and look out for it

Former Cartoonist, jazz musician and foul-mouthed presenter of 'I'm Sorry, I haven't a Clue' Humphrey Lyttelton, has died, aged 86. Lionel Blair's tribute, delivered in the form of a mime, was said to be touching in all the right places, and some of the wrong ones.

Excitement! Woodrow Phoenix, one of comics finest stylists (and a dapper dresser to boot) has a new book, Rumble Strip, coming out in June. Take a peek, it looks kind of remarkable.

Darren Di Lieto writes,

'Last week a British illustrator called Jonathan Edwards informed me that he had come across a book that contained his illustrations along with other illustrators work. He contacted me because the book is also riddled with interviews that he recognized as being the interviews I conducted for the LCS.'

Full story at ApeFluff

Oli Smith comes clean about No Barcodes, the Camden Comics Mini-Con from 10-6pm on Saturday 31st May.

The event features cheap food, glorious scenery (see video for more on this). sketching tables, entrance is free, and exhbitors a small fee. Theres also an after-drinks event. If you'd like to exhibit, email camdencomics at hotmail dot CO.UK

Press release available here
Facebook event listing here

The new edition of my column is up. Recent subjects covered include the Reviewers Trade Principle, Grow Your Own Comics Festival, Pub Meet Blog Roll Concept, Were you must not DIY, and this week an interview with Mike Allwood of the Bristol Comics Expo.

Panel Borders: The Lambden Thing

"Oliver Lambden talks with various fans and small press creators who attended and boycotted the UK Web and Mini Comix thing including Jake Harold, David Baillie, Mike Rouse-Deane, Dan Lester, Laurence Powell, Sean Azzopardi, Oli Smith, Adam Cadwell and Anna Petterson." Here

Friday 11th London Comics Events,

The Camden Comics Storefront Exhibit at BookArt Bookstore. See following post. The event now begins at 6pm, contact seanazz at googlemail.com and see following post for more details

Shooting the Witness: Cartoon County invites you to join Steve Bell and Woodrow Phoenix in conversation at The Political Cartoon Gallery on Friday 11th April 6pm —8pm
Twenty years after the Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali was
shot dead in London,cartoonists debate the relative freedoms of
drawing criticism of politicians and politics around the world.
The debate is part of a commemoration of Al Ali ’s work at the
Political Cartoon Gallery
32 Store Street
London WC1E 7BS
Free entry and refreshments but booking essential
RSVP Corinne Pearlman comicopera at btinternet.com

The ARTRMX Festival takes place in Cologne, 22nd August-30th August. The theme is "Where is my mind ?" and there are about six days left for entrances to the exhibit. The fee is 40 euros and more details can be found out downloading the press release

Previous contributor to The Girly Comic Josceline Fenton writes of her 80 page comic "Circle". Copies can be ordered via Lulu and rather than write some irrelevant text, Josceline has made the first chapter available online at Mild Tarantula.com

I've been fortunate enough to see the collected work pre-print and it strikes a great balance incorporation of manga and zine styles. Distribution plans for Gosh!, Orbital Comics and the Camden Comics Stall are planned. The collection costs £5.

Marc Ellerby has some new comics ready to post out. Ellerbisms (£3) and Speed Trail (£2), more details available.

At Marc Ellerby.com

"Authors Benjamin Dickson and Jelena Stanovnik are looking for an illustrator for their new project, Unfinished City. The story is about a girl who, having lived in the UK since the breakup of Yugoslavia, returns to her home town of Niksic in Montenegro and becomes caught up in its criminal underworld. The book contains much social commentary on the current state of former communist countries in Europe, and western attitudes towards them. It's a heavily-researched piece of work and uses many real locations - and as such we would really like to find an illustrator from Montenegro, or at the very least, former Yugoslavia, who could do the visuals justice. If you're interested in the project, or if you have any leads or contacts, please email Benjamin Dickson at dickson_benjamin at hotmail.com"

Theres a fantastic interview with Persepolis author that went up in the Guardian yesterday.

I'm looking forward to experienced writer and supporter Gavin Burrows comprehensive review of the Uk Web and Mini Comix Thing and the people who made it for him. This can be found on his Lucid Frenzy blogspot.

Chris Staros throws over a link to a feature of Jeffrey Brown from Sex TV

Its really The Year of Oli on the Uk Comics scene. Oli East this week,

"i went to the Exhaust Exhibition at Cow Lane Studios in Salford that was advertised on Bugpowder a while back and i've just stuck some pictures on Flickr."

Before there was Trains Are...Mint there was The House Of Fire To Black Hill trilogy of b&w minis. Since i've now run out of copies i've made them all avaialible as PDFs. (Rolling Stock Press)

Hes also interviewed steve Tillotson of Banal Pig

This Oli is also hanging out with pop stars. His images were used in the latest Elbow ad

Thats the news brought to you today by Andrew Luke, craving retirement.

Bookartsbookshop, an independent book distributor will be hosting an exhibition of comics from the Camden Comics Stall. Regular titles such as Modern Monstrosity, Summer Ball Tongue of the Dead, Monkeys might Puke, Ninja Bunny, Twelve Hour Shift will be displayed along with the vast talents of the every changing table stock.
Opening night and private view will be April 11th 2008 around 6ish, and the show will run until the 25th.

Bookartsbookshop, 17 Pitfield St, Hoxton, (nr Old Street Station)N1 6HB, London
Friday, April 11, 2008 at 6pm

Contact Info sean at phatcatz.org.uk
Phone: 07951124040

Good news for fans of quality comics over at Blackshapes: "Since Lint is now out of print and won't be reprinted, (i.e. I've run out of photocopies) I'm going to post up the stories from it online over the next while, starting with Little Boyfriend."

http://resonancefm.com/listen

Alex Fitch's Resonance Fm 'Panel Borders' today features Chinese comics artists, more from The Daniel Merlin-Goodbrey, and a quite drunk myself. Really, check in for the Merlin and Manhua.
Show starts 5pm.

'Newcomer' Oli Smith has a new comic coming out for 2008, illustrated by Oliver Lambden from ModernMonstrosity. Bloc will be a post-modern fairy tale about a stone man washed up on the shores of an island covered in giant floating blocks...

Issue 25 of Douglas Noble's 'Strip For Me' contains the story A Man of Certain Talents, and it’s now available to buy. It's his best yet I think. Here's the enigmatic pitch, direct from the source:

A man must complete a number of mysterious actions on behalf of an equally mysterious employer. It’s a puzzle about identity, set in a world without names. Where no answers are supplied and the questions are left unsaid.

A man of certain talents.

£2 including UK postage.

Scroll down for Dan Fish's exciting announcement about the Derry 2-D con.
Some news thats been backing up.

Violent ! Gets Virtual and Girly Goes Global !
Factor Fiction Press has relaunched The Girly Comic and Violent! as a webcomics publisher, including

Sisters of The Head by Daniel O'Mahony and Terry Wiley (updated daily from Saturday)
The return of The Silent Service by Jay Eales and Paul Mccaffrey
An online archive of The comics of The Lee Kennedy
Making available archives of Oddcases by Alistair Pulling & Bevis Musson, including rare unseen material.

Theres also a long-term plan to get some books into print, and make the entire archive of Factor Fiction comics available online. Did I mention most or all of these gems are free ?

Melissa Cox writes to announce,
THE GLADSTONE MINI-COMIC CON
@ The Gladstone Pub, 123 Lewes Road Brighton www.myspace.com/thegladdy
SATURDAY APRIL 5TH FREE ENTRY!
At last, a small press comics event, showcasing local talent...in a pub! Participants/ barflys will include: Paper Tiger Comix, Dr Parsons, The Bedsit Journal, Danny Noble, The Sound Of Drowning, & many more comics creators from Brighton and beyond!
The brilliant artist Glenn Fabry, known for his work for 2000AD, Hellblazer & Preacher will also be making an appearance.
Highlights will include Drawing workshops, Comics for sale, Animation screenings, Fun & Games, Drink Promos and Live Music in the evening!
1pm till late.

The Kirby Plaza event at the ICA, a night of talks and images featuring some noteable people, is on April 15th.
Though spaces are filling up fast..

Non-subject, non-theme, No style limitations. Shane Chebsey writes to recommend Acclaimed Polish Comics Anthology, who are looking for submissions from British creators. The maximumpreferred length for strips is 10 pages, and the print run is between 400-500. A non-profit event, black and white format, the deadline is September 2008. For more details contact karolwisnia (at) googlemail (dot) com

A brilliant article by Alexander Danner on the "Static Comics of Daniel Merlin Goodbrey". Over at webcomics.com

The strangeness of Brendan McCarthy (weblog)

This is a heads up for a brand new comics festival in Northern Ireland, 2D, now entering its second year and promising to feature the independent press at this years 2008 event. Newly established by the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry, an arts charity whose aim is to promote literacy and language arts (See their website), 2D will run from 5 – 7th of June 2008.

The event is organised by the Centre’s artist in residence Mr. David Campbell whose specialism is in comic book art. An artist with many strings to his bow, (David’s degree is in Visual Communication, with an MSc in Computing and Design), he has worked as a designer, illustrator and web designer. However The Verbal Arts Centre were particularly keen to have him because of his back ground in comic art, previously having been employed by Marvel and D.C as a digital colourist on a range of top titles including Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk.

The 2D festival 2007 was comprised of exhibitions, workshops with school kids, (facilitated by workshop regular Kev Sutherland), while discussion panels for a more adult audience took place in Sandinos Bar in the early evenings. Most, but not all, of Last years guest list boasted some Irish connection and included such comic book luminaries as Rufus Dayglo, John McCrea, Will Simpson and PJ Holden. This year’s 2D is going to be even bigger and better with the inclusion of a small press presence and a wider range of special guests including Garry Leach, Rufus Dayglo, David Hine, Alan Martin, Bob Byrne, Stephen Thompson, Stephen Mooney, Nick Roche, Declan Shalvey, Ed Hillyer and Laura Howell

As an incentive to small independent creators, 2D is offering exhibitor’s tables free of charge and while travel to Derry and accommodation can not be subsidised, information and advice on where to stay in the local area will be made available. If you are interested in exhibiting at this brand new event please email David Campbell david.campbell@verbalartscentre.co.uk as soon as possible as places are limited.

More information on the event will soon be available on the 2D official website. In the mean time you can check out the activities of Last year’s 2D festival here.

The London Zine Symposium takes place on April 27th and judging by the information page they're quite welcoming to mini-comics creators.

Like Caption, the Symposium have a collective point-of-sale. You can leave your zine or comic on the ‘Individual zine rocks’ table and receive all of the money sold. Donations are being asked for to help fund the event.

I notice theres also vacancies for anyone interested in organising a workshop.

In December of last year Oli Smith assessed and evaluated the market to try to get one of the fairest deals for self-publishing cartoonists in the UK. Adopting a business model that circumnavigated and opposed the conventional model which saw cartoonists share of the profits and audience share marginalised, we set up a stall at Camden. On March 22nd 2008, just another Saturday, we opposed one such example of curator greed. Heres a video record of what happens when some of these creators work in union.

Oli Smith and London Underground Comics don't need an award. I've talked to people, and it's been theirs for some time.

(Update : My own festival report with photolinks has been uploaded here)

Indo, 133 Whitechapel Road, appears to be the meet-up point for a few of the pre-Thing drinkers, around about 9:30 or earlier. (Map here)

The guest list for the Saturday Camden based alternative be quite impressive

Oli East of Trains are Mint has a column at US indie comics blog The Daily Crosshatch and he'll review comics sent to him

Matthew Badham interviews Jim Medway's Garden Funnies at Overspill

Trains Are...Mint 5 by Rolling Stock Press is out now. For only £4.99 on your money you'll get 52 pages, full colour throughout and on 100% recycled paper.

Jenny Linn-Cole of "Gurkin Trifle" has a big new website, with as you'd expect, sprawling pub crowd scenes. Smashing.

British-born webcomic artist Chuck Whelon teams up with fellow leaders in the fantasy webcomics field including Heavy Metal Magazine artist A.P. Furtado, Atland creator Nate Piekos and James V. West to start a new sketch blog for all fans of old-school, Heavy-Metal inspired, cartoon fantasy webcomics.

Convicted hashish smuggler Tony Spencer and ex-animator Jas Wilson have created webcomic Smuggling Vacation, previously only available to selected inmates in a Spanish prison.

Just a reminder: Not long now till The UK Web and Mini Comix Thing 2008 on Easter Saturday 22nd March.

As you'll be in London anyway, you can check out the alternative too.

New comic publishers Blank Slate (they're publishing Trains are Mint) are open for submissions.

14th-16th March Exhaust Exhibiton.
Exhibition of work from the Black and White Cat Press' presses David Birchall and long term collaborator Zeke S Clough promises to feature illustrations, comics, prints, books, and more.

The opening night Friday 14th March 8pm-12am will feature audio elements from the infamous Levenshulme Bicycle Orchestra in which both scribblers partake and a live set from dubstep hero Shackleton with whom Zeke is house artist.

see www.blackandwhitecatpress.org and www.shoogooble.blogspot.com for more info/directions.

Artist PJ Holden now writes for 2000 AD Review

New and exclusive web comics by Leonie O'Moore at Apocalypse comics and Indie Review

Oliver Lambden sent me the cover art for Tales From The Flat #7 to look at, and it doe look lovely. You can view that and the new collected edition cover art at the TFTF site or pick up copies very soon !

Matthew Badham has been talking to Sean Azzopardi over at his blog Incidentally I read Sean's 24hr comic last night. Thats called 'Reeling In The Years - A Steve Jones story. It really is quite moving, and so it should be in terms of sales !

Mam Tor Publishing Ltd. has collaborated with Mother (London) Advertising Ltd. to produce a 16 page quarterly comic inside the London edition of "Time Out" magazine (March 19th 2008).

Copies of the comic will also be available from Mam Tor at the Bristol Expo in May.

Karrie Fransman has been uploading new comics to her website every Sunday night since the start of the year. And they're always really very good.

My Comics Village column, 'Maps At The Crossroads' is up now. On the subject, I've incorporated Paul Gravett's events guide for March 22nd into a London Underground map using MS Paint.
(flick-tagged version here)

No, but seriously go and check out Karrie's stuff.

Alex Fitch interviews the future of comics, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, for Resonance FM

Comics festival, free of charge ? A charity's festival, With A-listers ? How do they do that I wonder ? Certainly theres got to be material in there for my home column.

2D, The Northern Ireland Comics Festival, will return this year and will take place from the 5th - 7th June in the Verbal Arts Centre and other locations here in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Theres a forum, some gorgeous photos from last year on the website. and more information on this year's event, from the Artist in Residence's livejournal.

See that ? Thats the attitude cartoonists need to get into their work as much as possible.

Its also the theme of a new comic anthology Cliodhna Lyons is putting together. Maybe see yours on those pages ? More details here.

Just in case I wasn't making myself clear earlier....

Multi-part article, "The Road To London", covering the run-up to three London comics festivals on the 22nd, begins this Monday.

Controversial small-presser Oli Smith is film-making again - this time he wants to talk to you about the Eagle Awards:

Oliver Lambden interviews TFTF cover colourist Jake Harold about his comicbook "Tards", and presents a report on the Whitby Comics Retreat, with some photos of the smashing paintings. On the Modern Monstroblog.

Phlegm Comics write:
Hello
Just a short note to say issue seven of phlegm comic is out now!
I’ve also got a new website up packed with new photos and all that jazz. There’s also a revamped shop section selling issue five through to issue seven with paypal.
Most of the outlets are now stocked too, but if you’re traveling out of your way you may want to check with me first because I’m notoriously rubbish.
Also attached to this email is the flier for my next exhibition. It’s at spine in Worcester and I’ll be showing full digital a3 prints of all the pages of issue seven on quality card stock, some new a2 size screen prints hand screened by myself, pen and ink drawings, new etchings, and comics.
For weekly updates on what’s happening in all things phlegm just pop along to my blog linked at the bottom of this email.

x phlegm tonic x

www.phlegmcomics.com www.myspace.com/phlegmcomics www.phlegmcomicnews.blogspot.com

This March you’ve got two chances to catch up with the crew behind Orang Utan Comics. The UK indie favourites are taking to the road to promote two new titles.

On March 8th-9th OUC will be attending Collectormania at the GMex in Manchester. And later in the month on the 22nd Orang Utan Comics will be appearing at The Web & Mini Comix Thing in London (http://ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/).

The two titles that Orang Utan Comics are unleashing in March are Baby Boomers and Eleventh Hour (Collector’s Edition). Baby Boomers, from the twisted minds of new creators Richard McAuliffe and Chad Cicconi, has been described as “Calvin and Hobbes meets Spy vs Spy”.

The Collector’s Edition of Eleventh Hour combines both existing issues of the critically acclaimed anthology title in a 64 page softcover trade.

For more information on Orang Utan Comics and what else they have planned for 2008, visit them online at www.orangutancomics.co.uk