Do join us for a session with graphic novelist and Cartoon County regular Jaime Huxtable, as his latest work, a graphic novel version of George Orwell's Such, Such Were The Joys is about to be published by Pluto Press. The roots of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four began to grow in Orwell's formative years as a pupil at a strict private school in Eastbourne. His essay Such, Such Were The Joys ably adapted here by Sean Michael Wilson, recounts the ugly realities of the regime to which pupils were subjected in the name of class prejudice, hierarchy and imperial destiny.

This graphic novel vividly brings his experiences at school to life. As Orwell earned his place through scholarship rather than wealth, he was picked on by both staff and richer students. The violence of his teachers and the shame he experienced on a daily basis leap from the pages, conjuring up how this harsh world looked through a child's innocent eyes while juxtaposing the mature Orwell's ruminations on what such schooling says about society.

Today, as the private school and class system endure, this is a vivid reminder that the world Orwell sought to change is still with us. For those who are eagerly awaiting the Soaring Penguin publication of Tobias Taitt's autobiography Black, stunningly brough to life by artist Anthony Smith, and as serialised in Aces Weekly, you will see that Orwell's experiences are sadly as fresh and relevant as ever.

Adapted by Sean Michael Wilson, and illustrated by Jaime Huxtable, Such Such Were the Joys is available from Pluto.

Please register on eventbrite for a link to the session, with Alex Fitch in the chair.

Join us for another online version of Brighton's friendly comics meetup, in which Alex Fitch interviews Sabba Khan for the Resonance FM show Panel Borders, with audience Q&A afterwards. Free, open to all, starting at 7pm on Monday 6th September.

Sabba is a cartoonist and architect who has contributed short comics to exhibitions in the British Library, Ort Gallery Birmingham, and Truman Brewery, Brick Lane and her work has been featured in titles released by Abrams New York, the Wellcome Trust and Popshot Magazine.

She'll be discussing her first book length project, The Roles We Play, which was shortlisted for the Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel competition in 2018 and has just been released by the publisher.

The book explores what identity, belonging and memory mean for Sabba and her family against the backdrop of the history of British Pakistani displacement from Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, a district submerged by the waters of a dam built after Partition.

For a free ticket, register here and the link will come your way! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cartoon-county-with-sabba-khan-tickets-167144233903

Join us online on 7pm Monday 26th July as Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist Scott Jason Smith about Marble Cake. The book mixes kitchen sink drama with elements of magical realism as the lives of various characters intertwine in and beyond a supermarket in South London against a backdrop of disappearances and petty crime. Alex and Scott discuss the latter's catalogue of short strips as well as this longer work, including Scott's involvement with Top Shelf's 2.0 webcomics project, adapting poetry for comics, and moving back and forth between monochrome comics and colour.

To join us, head over to eventbrite and use this link.

More info at https://www.scottjasonsmith.com / https://averyhillpublishing.bigcartel.com/product/marble-cake-by-scott-jason-smith

Cartoon County welcomes Eve Greenwood, small press comics publisher and creator, for an online chat followed by Q&A.

Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Eve Greenwood about their self published comics such as Orange Plates, Horse Bursts Out of Ground, Track and Field, and the acclaimed title Inhibit which was nominated for a number of Scottish Independent Comic Book Alliance awards.

Alex and Eve also discuss the small press publishing company that Eve runs - Quindre Press - which channels a percentage of profits into charities helping LGBT+ people, and other marginalised / vulnerable members of the community.

Join Brighton's friendly comics meet-up, now online and open to anyone, anywhere in the world, for free. Cartoon County lasts just an hour, and talks are recorded for Alex's Panel Borders radio show on Resonance FM.

Free, but online registration via Eventbrite essential for the zoom link to join us.

Join us as Alex Fitch converses with Alex De Campi, Eisner Award nominated comic book writer at this online Cartoon County meetup.
Alex de Campi is an Eisner Award nominated comic book writer who has been penning tales for the comics industry since 2005, published by Image Comics, Dark Horse, Archie Comics and Rebellion. Her most recent titles are the graphic novel Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future, co-written by director Duncan Jones and intended as the third part of his cinematic sci-fi trilogy, following Moon and Mute; and Full Tilt Boogie, a Young Adult space opera originally serialised in 2000AD and 2000AD Regened, as part of the title's initiative to bring younger readers to the comic.
Alex and Alex will be discussing these titles, as well as her career so far, and her intent to work on more titles for young audiences.
There will be a chance for Q&A from the audience. Please do join this friendly Brighton based meetup, now open to everyone no matter where you are in the world. Free event, but do register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cartoon-county-presents-special-guest-alex-de-campi-tickets-157509730845