We have been so very busy behind the scenes at Broken Frontier these last few months that our customary ‘A View from the Frontier‘ opener to the week has had to take something of a back seat. Sometimes time is at such a premium that something has to give and, sadly, in the early part of 2018 it’s been our weekly look behind-the-scenes of all the events and appearances that the BF crew have been a part of in the preceding seven days.
But with Spring (supposedly) upon us, the invitations to be a part of various launches, panels and festival happenings are coming thick and fast. And with such a momentous occasion last Thursday as the heaving private launch night for Myriad’s upcoming double debut of their impressive comics reference works on 19th century cartoonist Marie Duval and The Inking Woman, celebrating 250 years of British women cartoonists and comics artists, the time seemed right to begin revisiting our off-site activities again. Below are some pictures from the evening capturing the wonderful atmosphere of the night.
The acclaimed tomes in question and the editorial team of The Inking Woman – Nicola Streeten and Cath Tate (photos by Anna Burtt)
Marie Duval (Simon Grennan, Roger Sabin and Julian Waite) will be published on March 22nd while The Inking Woman makes its official debut on March 29th. Also on the 29th, The Inking Woman‘s editors Nicola Streeten and Cath Tate will be appearing at the Idea Store in Whitechapel from 6.30pm to celebrate the publication day of the book. This is a public event so please take the opportunity to join them and discover more about a book of which I said in my recent BF review “Indispensable and obligatory, The Inking Woman an absolute triumph on every level.”
Marie Duval’s Simon Grennan and a souvenir copy of The Inking Woman (photos by Anna Burtt)
If you haven’t checked out that review yet make haste and grab your copies of both books. From Rozi Hathaway to Jessica Martin, Alice Urbino to Danny Noble, Wallis Eates to Broken Frontier’s own EdieOP, The Inking Woman is full of the work of artists we’ve championed on the site over the years. There’s even an art section dedicated to Broken Frontier Small Press Yearbook contributors within its pages! And you can look forward to some solo coverage of Marie Duval too in the near future at BF.
Roger Sabin highlighting the Ally Sloper/Marie Duval link and, left (photo by Ian Williams), just a tiny fraction of the Inking Women in attendance
While The Inking Woman spotlights the story of women cartoonists to the present day, this weekend sees an event that looks forward to the next chapter of that story. The Laydeez do Comics Festival at the Free Word Centre in London provides an opportunity to view the competition comics (in zine form) of the Laydeez do Comics Prize entrants. It’s free to the public from 3.30 to 5.30pm though advance booking is necessary. You can find full details here. The winner will be announced at a special VIP event in the evening where I’ll be representing BF and playing a small role in the festivities.
If you’re unaware of the vital work and welcoming ethos of the international Laydeez do Comics groups then check out their site here. They’ve made such a positive difference at a grassroots level for several years now and are fully deserving of your support for the work they do in promoting new comics voices.
Next week in this space we’ll be taking some time to talk in depth about Small Press Day 2018. Until then make sure you’re following the Small Press Day Twitter account here and the Small Press Day Instagram here…
– Andy Oliver, Broken Frontier Editor-in-Chief, March 19th, 2018
For regular updates on all things small press and Broken Frontier follow Andy Oliver on Twitter here.
