Manchester Digital Laboratory

Graphic Novel

Title: Mad Graphic Novel Group
Location: MadLab
Description: A discussion group for those looking to talk, argue, debate about graphic novels, comics, comix and web-comics.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-11-01
End Time: 21:00

For November’s session, Blankets by Craig Thompson was elected which considering winter is definitely here, seems appropriate. The discussion will be lead by our very own Roberta Vasquez. Published in 2003 it has often been held up as a shining example of autobiographical graphic novels as a genre and several translated editions have been made of Blankets. In 2005, Time chose it as one of the 100 best English language graphic novels ever written. It is a coming-of-age autobiographical graphic novel that tells the story of Thompson’s childhood in an Evangelical Christian family, his first love, and his early adulthood. Thompson has said that the novel grew out of a simple idea: to describe what it feels like to sleep next to someone for the first time.

The chosen webcomic is Sin Titulo by Cameron Stewart. This intriguingly weirdly tale is about Alex Mackay, a guy who on a visit to his grandfather finds himself sucked into a confusing adventure involving recurring dreams and nightmares, distortions of reality and recurring individuals who are shady at best.

As usual there will be Pizza or Leo’s fish bar ordered while we discuss the book, the webcomic and probably all things comics related. For more information have a look at the madlab site, facebook group

Hope to see you there.

Graphic Novel

Title: Mad Graphic Novel Group
Location: MadLab
Description: A discussion group for those looking to talk, argue, debate about graphic novels, comics, comix and web-comics.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-10-04
End Time: 21:00

For October’s #Mad_Gng, we will be reading a freakish teenage drama written and illustrated by Charles Burns. The book was actually released as a 12 part comic book series (which had a sporadic run over a 10 year period) and tells the story of a group of teenagers affected by a sexually transmitted diseases which causes, to put it lightly, changes.

These changes came in many shapes and forms, some grotesque and deformed others more subtle but ultimately for whoever had it; things would never be the same again. The story focuses on a set of core characters affected by the disease, some who have it, some who are about to contract it.

There is a short film adaptation of the comic at this link here: http://www.rupertsanders.com/blackhole.html?ref=0 We could bring it up and discuss it along with the book.

We have a webcomic to go (loosely) along with the graphic novel of freaks this month. It’s called Darwin Carmichael is going to hell and is overall a humorous comic about a guy who screwed up spectacularly (you’ll find out as you read it) and because of this is pretty likely to go to hell, to redeem himself, he has to boost his Karma level. This would be much easier if not for the stoned angels, a drunk Minotaur and many a mythical creature great and small keep coming into your apartment and raiding your fridge.

We may order pizza or fish and chips so it will be put to a vote, either way if you want in on this, please bring some money and as usual, being a donation for the Mad Lab.