Bryan Talbot - Writer and artist: comics, graphic novels and illustrations (original) (raw)
Welcome to the official website of Bryan Talbot: writer and artist of comics, graphic novels and illustrations
Welcome to the official website of Bryan Talbot: writer and artist of comics, graphic novels and illustrations
Sunday 3 November 2024 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright US edition finally to be published!
Delayed because of contractual complications, The North American edition is finally going to be published on the 3rd of December by Dark Horse Books!
Sunday 27 October 2024 update:
The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor - progress report
Bryan is currently working on pages 160 and 161 (out of 172) and as a special treat here is one of our now-famous animations of the progress on a single page from first rough version, to pencils, to final colour.
And here's the individual images:
Page 159 - rough version.
Page 159 - pencils version.
Page 159 - colour version.
Saturday 12 October 2024 update:
Leonora in The Morning Light
A feature film about the life of the amazing Leonora Carrington, the subject of Bryan and Mary's recent graphic novel Armed With Madness is almost complete. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to finish some visual effects after the loss of a major funder.
The film follows the life of Leonora Carrington, one of the most significant female surrealist artists who combined indigenous Mexican mythology and Celtic folklore in her art to create fantastical, abstract worlds that reflected her unique perspective. While she has recently been touted as one of the best-selling female artists, her life has yet to be explored on film.
Bryan produced chapter cards used in the film, the original art for which is available as pledges to the campaign.
Support the Leonora in The Morning Light kickstarter here.
Thursday 29 August 2024 update:
Bryan Talbot 2024 French signing tour
Bryan will also be a guest at the Festival des Livres d'en Hauthttps, 5th & 6th October in Lille.
Saturday 3 August 2024 update:
Bryan's induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame featured on the BBC
Bryan was recently inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame at Comic-Con and the BBC wrote an excellent article on it.
Saturday 13 July 2024 update:
The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor - progress report
The Grandville books were set in an imaginary Belle Epoch. This is set 23 years earlier, in a late-19th century Victorian setting, taking place before the steam technology revolution in a London of hansom cabs and pea-soupers during the last days of the French occupation of Britain against a background of ongoing terrorist atrocities.
The protagonist and narrator is Detective Inspector Stamford Hawksmoor of Scotland Yard, LeBrock's mentor, first introduced in Grandville Force Majeure.
Bryan has completed 140 of the 172 pages in an atmospheric ink line and monochrome sepia watercolour style. The book will be published by Jonathan Cape, November 2025.
Saturday 1 June 2024 update:
Brainstorm! back in print!
For the first time in 24 years, the collection of all three Chester P Hackenbush stories, The Omega Report and Bryan’s Smokey Bears strips will return in a 108-page paperback, published by About Comics (Diamond order code JUN241252).
Get ready to have your mind blown by his early underground psychedlic adventure comic strips! Far out!
Thursday 16 May 2024 update:
Eisner Award Nomination
Bryan and co-writer JD Harlock have been nominated for a 2024 Eisner Award for the crowdfunded biography Bryan Talbot: Father of the British Graphic Novel.
Now all they need is someone to publish a bookstore edition!
More details over on the Comic-Con site.
Thursday 16 May 2024 update:
Festival BD Pyrénées 2024
Bryan and Mary will be guests of the free festival, which takes place 7-9th June, 6 Rue du Baron d'Este 64140 Billère.
Thursday 18 April update:
Sunderland graphic novelist Bryan Talbot to be inducted into comic industry Hall of Fame
A look back on the career of graphic novelist Bryan Talbot ahead of his induction into the comic industry's Hall of Fame.
Thursday 11 April update 2024:
Bryan Talbot: The comics legend lurking in a Sunderland basement
Extremely good interview with Bryan from the BBC.
Saturday 9 March 2024 update:
Inerview with Bryan at Angoulême
Bryan was a guest at the Angoulême 2024 festival, to mark the publication of “Grandville – Noël” in French with publisher Delirium, and they took the opportunity to meet and interview "the father of British graphic novels" and chat about his books.
Read the English version of the interview here - and the French version here.
Wednesday 28 February 2024 update:
Bryan to enter the Eisner Hall of Fame!
At the San Diego Comic-Con in July, Bryan will be one of the inductees into the Eisner Hall of Fame!
Friday 16 February 2024 update:
Spanish signings
Bryan and Mary will be at the Salon del Comic de Valencia 1 - 3 March to promote the Spanish edition of Armed With Madness, (Armada de Locura) signing at the booth of the publisher Editions La Cupula. La Cupula have had a big success with the previous graphic novels they've worked on together. Sally Heathcote, Suffragette is now in its 9th printing and The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia in its 7th.
Full details at the Salon del Comic de Valencia site.
Sunday 11 February 2024 update:
Armed with Madness: The Surreal Leonora Carrington – An Uncanny Exploration of Leonora Carrington and the Surrealist Movement
A review of Armed with Madness from Broken Frontier:
"The attention to detail from artist Bryan Talbot is a sight to behold. From the backgrounds in Leonora’s nursery being inspired by her painting ‘Night Nursery Everything’, to the depiction of her beloved rocking horse Tartar, who appears in her short story ‘The Oval Lady’, the pages feel laced with Leonora’s spirit...
With so many references to novels and paintings, the notes at the back of the book from Mary Talbot are incredibly helpful in pinpointing important moments from Carrington’s life and what inspired her, only adding to the detail throughout. With a blend of outlandish and absurdist artwork as well as a compelling narrative, Armed with Madness is a fantastic multi-faceted journey into the life of Leonora Carrington and the surrealist movement.
Wednesday 17 January 2024 update:
Bryan and Mary interviewed on Armed With Madness
The International Society for the Study of Surrealism recently interviewed Mary and Bryan Armed With Madness: The Surreal Leonora: listen to the whole interview.
Sunday 7 January 2024 update:
Hawksmoor pages completed now at 95 out of 172!
The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor - a prequel to the Grandville series - is now at 95 pages out of 172 pages completed.
And as a taste of what to expect, here is page 68 panel 1 pencils and page 68 panel 1 finished page - and as a bonus the front cover and an animation of the page creation process.
Friday 5 January 2024 update:
Angoulême 2024
Bryan will be attending the 51st International Festival of Bande Dessinée of Angoulême, from 26 - 29th January 2024 to launch the French edition of Grandville Noël, the 4th Volume of the Grandville series, and will be signing copies at the Delirium booth, Stand D36 in the Bulle Nouveau Monde, Place New York near the Theatre entrance.
Tuesday 5 December 2023 update:
New original Bryan Talbot comic artwork released for sale
Bryan has just released the latest batch of original comic arwork for sale - including the Papist Affair, the first ever appearance of Luther Arkwright in print.
Also see the Legend of Luther Arkwright original comic art, and original pages from Grandville, Grandville Mon Amour, Grandville Noel, and the Tale of One Bad Rat.
Saturday 18 November 2023 update:
The Talbots in Lucca and Florence!
Read Mary's new post about their visit.
Monday 9 October 2023 update:
Lucca Comics Festival 3rd - 5th November
Bryan and Mary will be attending the Lucca Comics Festival this year to promote the new Italian editions of The Tale of One Bad Rat by Ténue and Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Edizioni NPE.
Saturday 23 September 2023 update:
Bryan and Mary will be at LICAF this year!
In a change of plans, Bryan and Mary will be having a table in the Comic marketplace during LICAF this year, selling books, prints and artwork!
Friday 22 September 2023 update:
Tin Dog podcast reviews the audio adventure of "Heart of Empire"
Tin Dog podcast reviews Heart of Empire from Big Finish, and shows he's just as much of a huge Bryan Talbot / Luther Arkwright / David Tenant / Big Finish fan as I am!
This is a glorious thing to watch: the enthusiasm and love for Bryan's work just oozes out of every word: you need to go watch this review right now!
And then get over to Big Finish and buy their new Heart of Empire audio adventure!
Monday 18 September 2023 update:
Collectives for Change: Comics from the Arab World
Friday, 29 September, 2023 - 10:00
Introducing a variety of comics genres breaking the boundaries of social and political taboos from across the Arab world!
At the Lakes International Comic Art Festival!
Tuesday 12 September 2023 update:
Misogyny, class and madness
A review of Armed with Madness: Steven Howson welcomes an accessible glimpse into the life and work of a great surrealist painter.
Sunday 10 September 2023 update:
Heart of Empire audio version now released!
The description is:
Part 1 Daughter of Albion
Princess Victoria Arkwright never knew her father, a man whose shadow she has lived under since he saved the multiverse from the cataclysmic forces of the Disruptors. 23 years after she and her brother Henry were born in the flames of war, Victoria seeks answers, but the truth lies deep in shadow. As rebellion gains momentum against Queen Anne’s totalitarian rule, dark forces grow at the heart of the British Empire, forces that threaten all realities. The multiverse needs Luther Arkwright to save it once more, but Luther Arkwright is dead...
Part 2 Cataclysm
Victoria Arkwright is drawn towards destiny as she unravels the dangerous secrets that have remained hidden since her brother’s brutal murder. Prophecy says that reality will cease on her 23rd birthday - Victory Day - but with the help of Harry Fairfax and Rose Wylde, Victoria is determined to prevent the new apocalypse. To unlock her true self, Victoria must embrace painful realities and the enormity of the multiverse; only then will she discover the legacy of Luther Arkwright.
[Go buy it now from the wonderful people at Big Finish!](Part 1 Daughter of Albion Princess Victoria Arkwright never knew her father, a man whose shadow she has lived under since he saved the multiverse from the cataclysmic forces of the Disruptors. 23 years after she and her brother Henry were born in the flames of war, Victoria seeks answers, but the truth lies deep in shadow. As rebellion gains momentum against Queen Anne’s totalitarian rule, dark forces grow at the heart of the British Empire, forces that threaten all realities. The multiverse needs Luther Arkwright to save it once more, but Luther Arkwright is dead... Part 2 Cataclysm Victoria Arkwright is drawn towards destiny as she unravels the dangerous secrets that have remained hidden since her brother’s brutal murder. Prophecy says that reality will cease on her 23rd birthday - Victory Day - but with the help of Harry Fairfax and Rose Wylde, Victoria is determined to prevent the new apocalypse. To unlock her true self, Victoria must embrace painful realities and the enormity of the multiverse; only then will she discover the legacy of Luther Arkwright.)
Thursday 7 September 2023 update:
Bryan is back from Paris, where he's been promoting the French edition of Grandville Bête Noire with a four and a half hour signing and a couple of interviews. Here's him and Mary relaxing with old friends Gilbert Shelton and Lora Fountain.
Tuesday 16 August 2023 update:
Luther Arkwright in Interzone!
IZ Digital, the free-to-read online sibling of the famous SF and fantasy magazine has just posted an essay Alexander Glass on the Luther Arkwright stories, "Matters of the Multiverse" and a new interview with Bryan, "A Legend of the Time Streams".
Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth-longest-running English language science fiction magazine in history.
You can subscribe to IZ Digital here.
Signing in Paris
Bryan will be in Paris for the release of the Delirium French edition of Grandville Bête Noire, and will be signing at La Planete Dessin, 17 Rue Littré, 75006 Paris from 2.30pm on the 2nd September. (map of how to find them)
Book at the Excalibur Comics site.
Friday 4 August 2023 update:
Bryan on Czech Television to promote their edition of The Legend of Luther Arkwright
Thursday 27 July 2023 update:
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2013
The festival runs from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October and this year's fabulous line-up of guests and exhibitors is as impressive as ever. You can check it all out on the festival site, where you'll be able to find out what's on, browse the lists of guests and exhibitors, book your tickets and more.
Bryan and Mary will be presenting their latest collaboration Armed with Madness, the Surreal Leonora Carrington. On Saturday 30th September at noon they'll be in conversation about The Last Surrealist with Dr Harriet Earle in the Lake District Boat Club. There will be a signing session close by after the event, at the SelfMadeHero tables in the Exhibitor Marketplace.
Wednesday 5 July 2023 update:
Free event with Bryan and Mary Talbot in Sunderland
Join the North East Group of the Society of Authors on Saturday 15 July from 12pm for their next in person meet-up. This month, we will be joined by graphic artist Bryan Talbot and writer Mary M Talbot for a audio-visual presentation about their new book Armed With Madness, at Sunderland Museum.
Free entry but tickets need booking in advance!
Sunday 25 June 2023 update:
Long-lost and out of print comics available to buy
We have a huge new selection of out of print or long-lost comics and videos available for download in the official Bryan Talbot online shop!
- The Naked Artist - The book you've all been waiting for! The Naked Artist is an outrageous collection of the unreported exploits of comic creators, the stories only usually told late at night between the hallowed walls of convention pro bars!
- The Graphic Novel Man: The Comics of Bryan Talbot - a Digital Story Engine documentary series available on HD Download providing the definitive Bryan Talbot experience for established fans and first time readers.
- Scumworld - available for the first time in 40 years! In 1983, Bryan was commissioned to create a weekly half-page comic for Sounds music newspaper. His brief - to produce a strip as underground and as outrageous as possible without the publisher ending up in court!
- The Complete Brainstorm - featuring 104 pages of Bryan's early underground comics.
- Metronome - unavailable since 2008, the 64-page graphic novel Bryan produced under the nom de plume Veronique Tanaka. A "silent", erotically charged visual poem, an experimental non-linear story using a palette of iconic ligne clair images.
- Frank Fazakerly - Space Ace Of The Future - all 17 pages of the late 70s Space opera spoof from the pages of Ad Astra magazine in a newly digitally remastered high-res PDF, with a new introduction by Bryan and the original collected edition intro by Stephen Gallagher.
- Heart of Empire Directors Cut - contains the whole of the Heart of Empire graphic novel in its final printed full colour format together with every page in it’s penciled and inked forms - as well as the entire Adventures of Luther Arkwright.
Thursday 15 June 2023 update:
Front cover of the Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor and progress update
The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor is fully scripted and Bryan has drawn and painted 50 of the 172 pages. Set during the last days of the French occupation and before the steam technology revolution, it is very different in tone and art style to the Grandville books, as you can see from the cover.
Thursday 11 May 2023 update:
Armed with Madness - The Surreal Leonora Carrington special bookplate
Armed with Madness - The Surreal Leonora Carrington is released today from Self-made Hero. Bryan has drawn this special bookplate, available at the Gosh! signing, the Cartoon Museum and selected stores
Bryan Also did a bookplate for a recent crowdfunding campaign for a Finnish edition of Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun's Charley"s War.
Thursday 6 April 2023 update:
Mary & Bryan Talbot present Armed with Madness - The Surreal Leonora Carrington
Mary & Bryan Talbot present Armed with Madness - The Surreal Leonora Carrington:
- Friday, May 12, 2023
- 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
- The Cartoon Museum (map)
Join Mary and Bryan Talbot as they discuss their latest graphic novel looking at the life of Surrealist, Leonora Carrington!
Book here at the Cartoon Museum.
Armed with Madness - the trailer!
This short but perfectly-formed trailer has been released to promote the new graphic biography by Mary M Talbot and Bryan Talbot, Armed With Madness: The Surreal Leonora Carrington. Directed and edited by designer Jordan Smith, it features music composed by Gary Lloyd.
Jordan has collaborated with Bryan before, notably producing the cover to Alice in Sunderland, based on Bryan's pencil rough.
Gary, who in the past has worked on projects with Alan Moore and Iain Banks among others, composed the music for the modern dance performance piece When You Light a Candle You Also Cast a Shadow, featuring a poetry cycle written by Mary. The trailer soundtrack includes a specially recorded cameo by composer-musician Gary Carpenter playing the same Nordic Harp that he used for Willow's Song in the film The Wicker Man (1973). The vocals are by Isabelle Mohan.
Armed With Madness: The Surreal Leonora Carrington is published in April in the USA and May in the UK by Self-Made Hero.
And, while you're here...
Lakes International Comic Art Festival hacked!
The LICAF Twitter account has been hacked and they have lost the 12.000 followers they have gathered over the last twelve years. Please help them by retweeting their new account.
Friday 17 March 2023 update:
Armed With Madness launch party signing
Mary and Bryan will be signing their new graphic novel on Saturday 13 May 2023 at Gosh Comics: full details on the Gosh events page.
Thursday 9 March 2023 update:
Cover of the Czech edition of The Legend of Luther Arkwright, published in May by Comics Centrum
Friday 24 February 2023 update:
David Tennant returns as Luther Arkwright in the Big Finish audio adaptation of Heart of Empire
Wednesday 1 February 2023 update:
Mary and Bryan Talbot's next book announced!
Armed With Madness
Mary M Talbot and Bryan Talbot
Reluctant muse and feminist champion... society heiress and rebel refugee... the last of the Surrealists: Leonora Carrington played many roles in her long and extraordinary life. Renouncing her privileged upbringing in pre-war England for the more exciting elite of Paris's 1930s avant-garde, she comes to rub shoulders (and more) with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, and Salvador Dalí, after embarking on a complicated love affair with Max Ernst.
But the demons that have both haunted and inspired her work are gathering, and when the world goes mad with the outbreak of war and the Nazi invasion, Leonora's own hold on reality collapses into a terrifying psychotic episode of her own. Eventually fleeing war-torn Europe, she emerges into a new and richly creative life in Mexico City, establishing herself as a prodigious painter, writer, and advocate of women's rights. This new work by the acclaimed partnership of Mary M. Talbot and Bryan Talbot celebrates the life and career of a truly remarkable woman – and artist.
RRP £19.99 (144pp, colour, hardback) ISBN: 978-1-914224-12-6
Published in May by Self-Made Hero
Sunday 22 January 2023 update:
Here's your chance to vote for a Comic Scene 2023 Award for The Legend of Luther Arkwright! And, while you're at it, the Lakes Comic Art Festival and Down the Tubes!
Vote for the Legend of Luther Arkwright and the Lakes Comic Art Festival and Down the Tubes here!
LICAF names two new patrons
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce its first American patrons, comic artist Michael Lark and filmmaker and fundraiser Keli Lark.
More details at the LICAF site.
Monday 4 January 2023 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright is now in its second edition
Jonathan Cape has reprinted the graphic novel, with different (matt) paper and two or three pages with slight improvements to the artwork, done by Bryan. The most noticeable difference though, will be page 109. In the first edition this page was somehow seriously darkened during the production process and has now been printed properly. This is what it should have looked like.
Monday 12 December 2022 update:
First original art pages from the Legend of Luther Arkwright go on sale
Bryan has released the first batch of pages from the Legend of Luther Arkwright for sale. These are all literally unique - and when they are gone, they are gone!
Tuesday 8 November 2022 update:
RIP Kev O'Neill
Bryan is shocked and extremely sad to hear the news that his old colleague Kevin O’Neill has died. His condolences to his family and close friends. RIP Kevin.
Read the wondeful tribute at the 2000ad site.
Sunday 30 October 2022 update:
"This is image-based storytelling at its most entertaining, provocative and visually striking"
The Morning Star reviewed the Legend of Luther Arkwright, and came to the conclusion that: "This is image-based storytelling at its most entertaining, provocative and visually striking."
They add: "Graphic novels are well suited to adventure, incident and appearance – introspection and psychological depth are more elusive – but The Legend of Luther Arkwright raises questions of morality, metaphysics and politics. This is image-based storytelling, at its most entertaining, provocative and visually striking."
See the full Legend of Luther Arkwright review at the Morning Star site.
Tuesday 25 October 2022 update:
Heart of Empire is being made into an audio drama - and David Tenant is reprising his role as Luther!
The amazing people at Big Finish have announced that they are creating an audio drama of Heart of Empire - and that David Tenant will be back as Luther Arkwright!
Here is the [Heart of Empire audio drama press release in full](images/art/2022stuff/The-Adventures-of-Luther-Arkwright%5F Heart-of-Empire.pdf), and you can pre-order it now directly from Big Finish!
Tuesday 4 October 2022 update:
Orpheus and Eurydice
A new private commission just done by Bryan - Orpheus and Eurydice from the Sandman story "Song of Orpheus", also drawn by Bryan.
We've also just added this image to the Bryan Talbot t-shirt shop.
Monday 29 August 2022 update:
Bryan and Mary Talbot donate a number of their works to Cambridge's first Graphic Novels Collection
Lucy Cavendish Fellow Dr Joe Sutliff Sanders is raising funds for an exciting new collection of Graphic Novels in the College Library.
The world-class collection will be the first of its type within the University of Cambridge, and - with multiple new academic journals on comics and graphic novels launched in recent years – it will support this cutting-edge academic field. The Lucy Cavendish Library will become the go to place for graphic novels in Cambridge.
"It's a real pleasure to get behind this initiative, and I can't wait to see this collection grow at one of the world's oldest universities. I'd encourage anyone with an interest in the field to join me in supporting Lucy Cavendish in this endeavour. As the field of the academic study of graphic novels continues to grow and the comics medium is increasingly embraced by the general public, this collection will be an invaluable resource and a national cultural centre for the art form."
The College is thrilled to have received a number of donations to the Graphic Novels initiative. To donate, please visit their online donation page.
Read more about Bryan and Mary's donation.
Tuesday 16 August 2022 update:
Bryan and Mary at LICAF
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival takes place in Bowness-on-Windermere 14–16 October 2022.
For the first time, Bryan and Mary will have a booth in the Lakeview Comics Marketplace
The Legend of Luther Arkwright: Bryan Talbot
Saturday, 15 October, 2022 - 10:00
A not to be missed opportunity to hear Bryan Talbot in conversation with Pavel Kořínek talking about his iconic 'The Adventures of Luther Arkwright' graphic novels.
Tuesday 9 August 2022 update:
Bryan Talbot: The Father of the British Graphic Novel: press release
[Los Angeles, CA] - The influential creator launches his autobiography on Zoop!
Now live on Zoop is a new campaign to fund the autobiography of legendary UK comic book creator, Bryan Talbot. The campaign runs for 30 days, and backers will receive a 400+ page hardcover edition of the book, detailing Talbot's career, his work, and never before heard stories of his time in the comics industry. From his time working with DC Comics to industry events and some landmark happenings, you don't want to miss these tales from behind the pages!
The A4-sized book features a cover and interior illustrations by Talbot himself, with intros by industry titans Neil Gaiman and Ed Brubaker. Painstakingly compiled over 2 years, this exquisite and lavishly-illustrated book is a must-have, not only for fans of Talbot's legendary oeuvre but for anyone with an interest in the history of comics and the craft that goes into creating them!
Bryan Talbot is an Eisner Award Winning British comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire, as well as the Grandville series of books. He has worked on The Sandman, 2000AD, Batman, Fables, Hellblazer, Judge Dredd, and many other high profile books, with collaborators such as Neil Gaiman, Bill Willingham, Peter Milligan and other writing icons.
Zoop CEO, Jordan Plosky shares: "to work with an icon like Bryan Talbot is a huge honor, and a responsibility we don't take lightly. As fans of his work and the work he's inspired, we feel privileged to be working with him to bring his most personal of stories to his fans."
Zoop is the new home for creator-owned crowdfunding. For publishers and creators, Zoop is an all-in-one pre-order, production, fulfillment, and marketing solution that connects them directly to their fans.
For more information, interview requests, or more, please contact us at hello@wearezoop.com and buy Bryan Talbot: The Father of the British Graphic Novel now.
Some preview pages from Bryan Talbot: The Father of the British Graphic Novel:
Saturday 6 August 2022 update:
Bryan Talbot: The father of the British graphic novel
Experience the sweeping biography of the one and only Bryan Talbot, the writer and illustrator behind some of the most acclaimed comics in British and American history.
From his work at DC on Batman and The Sandman to his work at 2000 AD on Judge Dredd and Nemesis the Warlock to his creator-owned comics like The Tale of One Bad Rat, Alice in Sunderland, Grandville, and the legendary The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, the first British graphic novel, you'll discover never before revealed information about his life and work in this beautiful new hardcover designed by Alan Fisher with an exclusive cover illustration by Bryan himself and intros by industry titans Neil Gaiman and Ed Brubaker.
Painstakingly compiled over 2 years, this exquisite and lavishly-illustrated book is a must-have, not only for fans of Talbot's legendary oeuvre, but for anyone with an interest in the history of comics and the craft that goes into creating them!
"A fascinating and detailed dive into the life, influences and artistic journey of the internationally-acclaimed comics visionary. Take a walk through Bryan's life and see his work come alive in a whole new dimension."
- Kurt Busiek, writer of Marvels, Astro City, Avengers, etc
"I can think of only a handful of cartoonists in the history of the medium who are as dedicated, and versatile, and experimental, as Bryan Talbot."
- Ed Brubaker, writer of Criminal, Fatale, Reckless, The Winter Soldier etc
"This book vividly shows how Bryan took Nemesis forward and brought back the ABC Warriors. Both were huge achievements, especially the ABC Warriors because - previously - they were destined for oblivion."
- Pat Mills, Writer, Nemesis the Warlock, Slaine, Marshal Law etc
"Bryan Talbot is an astonishingly original writer and artist. Rarely, if ever, repeating himself, his prolific imagination has brought us works like The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, The Tale of One Bad Rat, and in conjunction with his partner Mary M. Talbot, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes. Thanks to this comprehensive volume, we can see his development and explore the places, the art, the films and the comic books that inspired this ground-breaking career!"
- Jeff Smith, cartoonist and creator of the BONE and TUKI graphic novels
"Bryan Talbot is the David Bowie of comics."
- Dez Skinn, Editor, Marvel UK, Warrior, Comics International
Sign up to support the Bryan Talbot biography campaign.
Tuesday 19 July 2022 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright is going back to print less than a week after being launched!
Saturday 16 July 2022 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright is now officially launched!
Buy your copy from the Cartoon Museum!
Also: Bryan will be signing copies of The Legend Of Luther Arkwright at Forbidden Planet Newcastle on Saturday 23 July 2022 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm!
Monday 11 July 2022 update:
Bryan on the Geek Pride podcast
Bryan is interviewed by Pete Indiana Allison at the Geek Pride podcast.
Sunday 10 July 2022 update:
The Nazz by Tom Veitch and Bryan Talbot
The long out of print The Nazz by Tom Veitch and Bryan Talbot is now available via a kickstarter campaign as a graphic novel.
There's a number of levels of purchasing available - buy it purely digital, or as a hard cvover, or signed - and even an option to get a sketch from Bryan!
Get the Nazz from the It's Alive crowdfunder page.
Friday 8 July 2022 update:
Fifty years of Luther Arkwright
Bryan talks about the Legend of Luther Arkwright and the current exhibition of artwork at the Cartoon Museum on the opening night. With guest appearances from many distinguished fans!
Tuesday 14 June 2022 update:
Tales of writers, revolutionaries, suffragettes and storms...
An exhibition of the art from the graphic novels of Mary Talbot by Bryan Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Alwyn Talbot, at the Bookery Gallery until Friday 8 July.
Thursday 9 June 2022 update:
An evening with The Talbots live
This saturday you can watch Bryan and Mary's presentation from the comfort of your own home!
Saturday 11 June, 2022 7:30 pm .
Saturday 28 May 2022 update:
Final reminder: your last chance to buy original Bryan Talbot artwork at the current prices
As Bryan's original artwork prices in our online shop haven't risen for 10 years and given the fact that Bryan's pages are increasing rapidly in value, with some changing hands for up to £5000, we are raising the prices of all pieces in the shop by 20%. This will take effect at the end of May to give any of our regular followers who've been considering a page a chance to pick it up at the old price before the new ones kick in.
Sunday 22 May 2022 update:
An evening with the Talbots
London’s The Bookery Gallerie is hosting an evening with Mary and Bryan Talbot on 11 June to kick off an exhibition celebrating Britain’s revolutionary past in comics.
The evening will be dedicated to the ongoing collaboration of two creative minds, combining the expansive reach of Dr Mary Talbot’s writings and the brilliance of Bryan’s graphic storytelling. Together they have co-created thought-provoking graphic works that combine novels, memoir and historical biography such as Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes, Sally Heathcote, Suffragette, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia and Rain.
After there will be a Q and A and refreshments.
Friday 13 May 2022 update:
The Dark Knight returns!
Bryan's 1992 Legends of the Dark Knight story, Mask, is discussed in depth in a brand new Comic Books Burn in Hell podcast by the Co-editor of TCJ.com, formerly of Comics Comics, Savage Critics, and the legendary Jog the Blog, Joe McCulloch.
In case you haven't seen it, this is the extra page especially created for the Dark Legends graphic novel. They are wrong: he's not dead, just comatose.
Sunday 8 May 2022 update:
Frank Fazakarely: Space Ace of the Future!
Frank Fazakerly was one of Bryan's earliest published works - and is available to download and read it it's entirety for free from the Frank Fazakerly: Space Ace of the Future homepage.
Saturday 30 April 2022 update:
GOSH! limited edition Arkwright bookplate
The top London Comic and graphic novel store Gosh! has produced a bookplate to accompany The Legend of Luther Arkwright, which is published on the 14th July. Designed by Bryan, the A5 bookplate is limited to 200, each signed and numbered.
It is available to pre-order from Gosh!
Bryan will be signing in the store on Saturday 16th July 1-2pm.
Gosh! 1, Berwick Street, London W1F 0DR
Thursday 21 April 2022 update:
Original artwork prices announcement
As Bryan's original artwork prices in our online shop haven't risen for 10 years and given the fact that Bryan's pages are increasing rapidly in value, with some changing hands for up to £5000, we are raising the prices of all pieces in the shop by 20%. This will take effect at the end of May to give any of our regular followers who've been considering a page a chance to pick it up at the old price before the new ones kick in.
Wednesday 6 April 2022 update:
Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright: 50 years of a British comics legend
The Cartoon Museum are holding an exhibition in Summer 2022 to mark the release of Bryan’s third - and final - Luther Arkwright graphic novel: The Legend of Luther Arkwright.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 to Sunday, October 2, 2022
Working closely with creator Bryan Talbot, Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright: 50 years of a British comics legend celebrates both the release of The Legend of luther Arkwright alongside the history of the character and previous installments of the series. Immerse yourself in never-before-seen material, insights into Bryan’s process, different editions, models and ephemera, and original comic art from the series. We will also be holding fantastic events alongside the exhibition, as well as stocking the book a great range of merchandise in our shop.
Join us in June 2022 to discover the legend of Luther Arkwright for yourself.
All of the details of the exhibition are on the Cartoon Museum site.
Also see the full press release.
Wednesday 30 March 2022 update:
Le nouvel Arkwright est arrivé!
Bryan just received an advance copy of the Jonathan Cape edition of The Legend of Luther Arkwright, the first Arkwright story for over 20 years!
Due to be released on the 14th July, it will cost a measly £20 for this handsome 230+ page graphic novel designed, as you can see, to pair with last year's integral Grandville edition.
The publication will coincide with a four-month Arkwright retrospective exhibition in London, to be announced very soon. Watch this space!
Saturday 26 March 2022 update:
Napoli Comicon and Sicily 2022
Bryan and Mary will be guests of the Naples Comicon 23 April at the Mostra d'Oltremare to promote the Italian edition of Dotter of Her Father's Eyes published by Nicola Pesce Edizioni (NPE).
This will be followed by some talks and signings in Sicily, to be announced.
Thursday 10 March 2022 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright signing at Gosh! London
Bryan will be signing copies of the Legend of Luther Arkwright at Gosh! in London on Saturday 16 July 2022 1:00 - 2:00pm.
Gosh! are at 1 Berwick St, London W1F 0DR.
Monday 28 February 2022 update:
‘Life in Graphic Biography’ - Mary Talbot Inaugural Lecture
In 2012, Professor Mary Talbot was the first graphic novelist to win the Costa Biography Award – this was for Dotter of her Father’s Eyes (Jonathan Cape), part memoir, and part biography of Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce, and produced with her husband Bryan Talbot.
Professor Talbot is currently working, with Bryan, on a graphic novel about the Lancashire-born surrealist, Leonora Carrington.Professor Talbot was appointed to her Chair at Lancaster in October 2021, succeeding the French graphic novelist Benoit Peeters.
Lecture followed by drinks and canapes, and bookstall with signing: book tickets here.
Sunday 6 February 2022 update:
Update!
Bryan is currently drawing the next graphic novel written by Mary Talbot. It's a biography of a surrealist, to be published next year by Self-made Hero. He has already finished 35 pages (out of 135).
His next solo project will be a Grandville prequel set 23 years before the first Grandville book and is entitled The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor. The script is already written.
Friday 7 January 2022 update:
LICAF 2022 will be located in beautiful Bowness-on-Windermere
Applications for comic creators, publishers and others have opened for exhibitors to feature in their Lakeview Comics Marketplace at the 10th Lakes International Comic Art Festival, taking place for the first time in Bowness-on-Windermere (Friday 14 – Sunday 16 October 2022).
"We'll be re-inventing the marketplace in our tenth year," says Carole Tait, who has co-ordinated the Comic Clock Tower venue in past years, "and we hope you will feel enthused and inspired to join us."
"It will be a new kind of LICAF, maintaining the special qualities of our Festival but with some new ideas and adventures to keep everyone on their toes!"
Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Friday 17 December 2021 update:
Grandville L'Integrale is one of the Herald's best graphic novels of 2021
Teddy Jamieson puts Grandville L'Integrale as one of the best graphic novels of 2021.
"But after you’ve rushed through every story (because it’s impossible not to) you go back and realise just how much information and Easter eggs Talbot has embedded along the way. It’s a block of a book that will keep you busy well into the New Year if it turns up in your Christmas stocking."
Thursday 16 December 2021 update:
Mary Talbot is the new Visiting Professor of Graphic Writing at Lancaster University
Award-winning author Mary Talbot, a former Lancaster University student, patron and one of the founders of the popular Lakes International Comic Art Festival, has returned to Lancaster to take up a role focusing on the dynamics and benefits of comics storytelling.
Full details on theLakes International Comic Art Festival site.
Sunday 31 October 2021 update:
Killer Queen
Bryan has just completed a commission to design this illustrated logo for the Queen tribute band, Killer Queen.
Friday 8 October 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright is now complete!
After two years' solid work, Bryan has finally finished drawing the entirety of the first Luther Arkwright story for twenty years. At 234 black and white story pages, with an introduction by SF writer Adrian Tchaikovsky, it represents a different kind of adult adventure to the previous two Arkwright stories, while maintaining total continuity with the Arkwright mythos.
Set fifty years after Heart of Empire, The Legend of Luther Arkwright is another stand-alone story. Pursued across multiple historically divergent parallel worlds, both utopian and dystopian, and facing a far superior adversary, Arkwright battles to save humanity from mass destruction; his only edge is his experience and force of will.
Published in the UK by Jonathan Cape and Dark Horse Books in the USA, it is scheduled for publication in July 2022.
This is an exclusive first appearance of the cover, which has been designed to accompany the one for Grandville: L'Intégrale.
Kavus Torab introduces Bryan at the launch event for the Legend of Luther Arkwright
Friday 8 October 2021 update:
Interview with Bryan on Grandville
The Herald newspaper interviewed Bryan on Grandville - and many other things!
Friday 24 September 2021 update:
Lakes International Comic Art Festival confirms Exhibitions for October Festival
What a Fur Cup
The Political Cartoons and Comics of Martin Rowson
Cross Lanes Project, Cross Lane, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5LB
15th October – 5th November 2021
Here and Now– Contemporary Czech Comics
Brewery Art Centre – Foyer & Sugar Store Gallery
14th – 18th October 2021
10 Years to Save the World
Kendal: 11th – 25th October 2021, The Wildman Street Gallery, Kendal
Manchester: 1st – 12th November, SeeSaw, 86 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6NG | 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday – Friday
See more at the Lakes International Comics Festival exhibitions page
Wednesday 22 September 2021 update:
Signing in Sunderland
Bryan will be signing at Geek Retreat,2 John Street, Sunniside, Sunderland SR1 1DX on Saturday 25th September at 12pm, alongside illustrator David Dale.
Saturday 28 August 2021 update:
Tripwire reviews Bryan Talbot's Grandville: L'Intégralé
"Grandville is an admirable piece of work and reading all five tales together reinforces just what a unique figure Bryan Talbot is in our industry. Grandville: L’Integrale is a must-buy for fans of more cerebral but still entertaining comics.
It is certainly the canniest £40 you’ll spend all year."
Read the full review on the Tripwire site.
Monday 3 August 2021 update:
Review of Grandville: L'intégrale by John Freeman
John Freeman has just reviewed the book for his Down The Tubes website - and also recorded a video about it.
If you are still wondering whether to buy it or not - read this!
Monday 3 August 2021 update:
Comics Journal interview with Bryan
The Comics Journal has just posted a recent interview with Bryan by Tasha Lowe-Newsome.
Monday 2 August 2021 update:
Bryan Talbot hand lettering font
After receiving an enquiry about whether Bryan's font, used in all his graphic novels and comics for the last 15 years or more, is publicly available, we are happy to let you know that it definitely is - from Comicraft!
Sunday 1 August 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright progress report
Bryan has now inked 200 of the 230 pages of the story. Above is a sample panel. The book is due to be published next year.
Sunday 25 July 2021 update:
Grandville L'Intégral gets 100% recommendation from Bleeding Cool!
Monday 5 July 2021 update:
Tickets for this year's Lakes International Comic Art Festival, taking place 15th - 17th October are now on sale
Good news! Tickets for this year's Lakes International Comic Art Festival, taking place 15th - 17th October are now on sale, and the full programme of events has just been published, so please, do take a look!
As usual, our Festival features a great opening event - a fun-packed "Balloon Debate" involving creators in Kendal and New York, where you, the audience, decide which famous comic character survives impending disaster; and the weekend will again be busy with live draws, Comics Up Close, international comic collaborations, daft comic challenges, masterclasses, discussions, expert talks and, of course, the Comics Clock Tower is back!
Our guests this October include Charlie Adlard, Steven Appleby, Yomi Ayeni, Sayra Begum, Neill Cameron, Kate Charlesworth, Darryl Cunningham, Nicola Jennings, Olivier Kugler, Michael Lark, Jeff Lemire (making a virtual appearance due to COVID-shifted work schedules), Leomacs, Luke McGarry, Steve McGarry, Ziki Nelson, Wam Ning, Jacob Phillips, Sean Phillips, David A. Roach, Martin Rowson, Rachael Smith, Lucy Sullivan, Jack Teagle, Clarice Tudor, the VIZ team and Steve Yeowell.
We're really looking forward to welcoming you back to Kendal in October - we do hope you'll join us for a comics-packed weekend!
Buy Lakes International Comic Art Festival tickets here!
Wednesday 30 June 2021 update:
Exclusive! The Tale of One Bad Rat Film Rights Optioned
The rights to a film version of The Tale of One Bad Rat have been optioned by Grasp the Nettle Films, a company based in Devon and London. It is run by producer Rebecca Wolff and writer/director Dean Puckett. They are currently working on a slate of features including MAGPIE, a folk-horror backed by Bankside Films, and SEAGULL, which they are developing in collaboration with Early Day FIlms.
The multi-award winning The Tale of One Bad Rat, first published by Dark Horse Comics in 1994, has never been out of print and seen many different editions, including around 15 foreign reprints. The story follows a runaway teenager, Helen Potter, an abuse survivor and visionary who, in the company of her pet rat, follows in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter from London to the English Lake District, there to discover her inner strength.
Monday 24 May 2021 update:
Limited edition Grandville bookplate edition!
Bryan has signed and numbered just 100 of these fine bookplates to accompany Grandville L'Intégrale, only available from Gosh! or from their online shop.
"The acclaimed steampunk series from graphic-novel pioneer Bryan Talbot explores an alternate art-nouveau world populated by intelligent animals, a human underclass, and wondrous technology. Within this rich fantastical milieu, the relentless Detective-Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard pursues shadowy death squads, psychotic killers, dark political conspiracies, ruthless crime lords, and bloodthirsty cults through the streets of London and the center of the greatest empire on earth, the Belle Epoque Paris known as Grandville. Grandville L'Integrale collects all five Grandville novels in one deluxe hardcover volume accompanied by voluminous author notes never before in print."
Pre-order them now - only from Gosh!
Monday 24 May 2021 update:
Page 155 of the Legend of Luther Arkwright animation
As is now traditional, I have animated the transition from first pencil version to final inked version of a new panel from the Legend of Luther Arkwright to try and show the creative process Bryan goes through.
This is page 155, the most recently completed panel Bryan has shared.
Tuesday 18 May 2021 update:
Grandville: L'Intégrale!
The first advance copies have just arrived in the country. Over 600 pages long, this handsome volume collects all five Grandville stories, plus their covers and copious annotations.
Grandville: L'Intégrale can be pre-ordered from the Penguin site.
The Dark Horse American edition has a different cover, designed to match their Arkwright Integral hardback edition.
Tuesday 11 May 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright update
There are now 162 out of 230 pages of The Legend of Luther Arkwright inked!
Here's a panel of the inks for page 155, which we posted as pencils in March 2020, then numbered page 153. Since then, Bryan added an extra two pages in an earlier sequence, which he thought needed more space to give it greater significance.
Wednesday 28 April 2021 update:
The Adventures of Luther Arkwight and Heart of Empire are going to be a TV show!
Announced today: Three River Studios has optioned both the Adventures of Luther Arkwright and Heart of Empire!
The press release in full is [ available as a download](images/art/2021stuff/Press Release - The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Option - FINAL.pdf).
Saturday 24 April 2021 update:
Never Iron Anything podcast feature on Bryan and Grandville
The Never Iron Anything podcast features a discussion of Bryan and his work, focussing on Grandville, but also talking about Luther Arkwright.
Friday 16 April 2021 update:
Heart of Empire original comic art page 158 now for sale
Wednesday 24 March 2021 update:
Want to get a free signed and sketched copy of a forthcoming new Talbot graphic novel?
To any Bryan Talbot fans living in Cambridgeshire or Suffolk: Fancy doing some research for Bryan?
He's currently developing a story with a few scenes set there and needs some reference photos taking. Your reward would be a signed and sketched copy of the eventual book and a listing in the acknowledgements. If interested, email at info at bryan dash talbot dot com.
Saturday 13 March 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright page creation animation
In an update to the news (below) of a new inked page from the Legend of Luther Arkwright authorised for release - and the fact that there are now only 90 pages left to ink - I decided to revive an old tradition and animate the page creation process.
I love doing these: you can see how the page evolves from the first inks to the final page: it's like being in the studio as Bryan draws it!
Monday 8 March 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright inked page sample and progress update
Here's another sample of the inked pages. You may recognise it as being the same page that was posted on the 10th June last year in pencil form - which is shown below. We thought that you might be interested in comparing it with the finished form. You may have also noticed that the pages and panels that we have posted have been deliberately chosen so as not to give away any of the story!
Only 90 pages left to ink!
Monday 22 February 2021 update:
LICAF 2021 poster revealed
- designed by Dave McKean!
Dave McKean has designed this poster for the Lakes International Comics Festival 2021!
Festival Guests in 2021
Stay Tuned for our 2021 Guests! Festival Guests in 2020 included: Charlie Adlard, Steven Appleby, Yomi Ayeni, Sayra Begum, Hannah Berry, Jason Chatfield, Paul Cornell, Gemma Correll, Ben Cullis, Hugleikur Dagsson, Robert Deas, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Francis Desharnais, Elyon's, Claire Fauvel, Duncan Fegredo, Björk Matias Friis, Dave Gibbons, Paul Gravett, Peter Hansen, Stephen L. Holland, Marc Jackson, Jibé, Igort, Inko Ai Takita, Chie Kutsuwada, Bobby Joseph, Joe Kelly, Pavel Kořínek, Lucie Lomová, Pierre Lungheretti, Vojtěch Mašek, Luke McGarry, Joe McGarry, Steve McGarry, Sarah McIntyre, Dave McKean, John McShane, Metaphrog, Mark Millar, Junko Mizuno, Bill Morrison, Ken Niimura, Sean Phillips, Benoît Peeters, Eric Reynolds, Tom Richmond, Tanya Roberts, Julie Rocheleau, Zoom Rockman, Martin Rowson, Posy Simmonds, Glen Southern, Lucy Sullivan, Kev F. Sutherland, Bryan Talbot, Petteri Tikannen, Toy_Box, Emma Vieceli, VIZ, Tom Ward and Joe Wos
Sunday 14 February 2021 update:
Red Virgin virtual exhibition
Following the exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune at the Archives Départrmentales de la Dordogne in Périgord, Bryan's artwork from The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia (French title Louise Michel, La Vierge Rouge) that was on display is now in a virtual exhibition. the original art pages are shown alongside the lettered and computer manipulated final versions.
To start the exhibition, click "Ouvrir l'exposition".
Monday 8 February 2021 update:
Will Eisner week 2021
What is Will Eisner Week? I hear you ask. Well, Will Eisner Week runs from 1 – 7 March every year and is named for comics and graphic novel pioneer Will Eisner, one of the most innovative and revered figures in comics history. It is an annual series of events across the world, celebrating comics and sequential art, graphic novel literacy and free speech.
Bryan Talbot is a British comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire, the Grandville series of books and his time as an artist on series such as Nemesis the Warlock for 2000ad. His collaboration with his wife, Mary M. Talbot, to produce Dotter of Her Father's Eyes, won them both the 2012 Costa biography award.
The YouTube link for this event will be available below from 6pm on Saturday 6 March 2021.
The week also features events with Cam Kennedy, Metaphrog, Kev Sutherland and Gary Erskine
Monday 4 January 2021 update:
The Legend of Luther Arkwright update
The book is completely penciled and lettered and Bryan is now exactly half-way through the inks for the 320-page graphic novel. It will be published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Dark Horse Books in the USA later in the year. Here's a sample panel.
All of the older announcements of news and events have been moved to the old announcements page.