Award-winning artist and author to give lecture

Internationally renowned graphic artist and author Bryan Talbot, who won a Costa Book Award last week, will deliver a public lecture at Northumbria University later this month.

Bryan’s lecture, Grandville and the anthropomorphic tradition, forms part of the University’s 20th anniversary public lecture series and will see him discussing the graphic novels series of steampunk detective thrillers.

He will explore the established tradition of attributing animals with human characteristics and chart their history in comics and book illustration.

Regarded as a pioneer in graphic novels, Bryan has written and illustrated many books including the award-winning The Tale of One Bad Rat, which deals with the after-effects of child sexual abuse and won a host of awards including the Eisner – the Oscar of the comic industry.

One of his most famous works, Alice in Sunderland, explores the links between Lewis Carroll and Sunderland. It was nominated for a host of awards and the printing of the fifth edition will soon be underway.

Bryan has created a variety of comic strips for publications as diverse as The Radio Times, Wired and Imagine. His most recent work, Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes, is a graphic memoir written collaboratively with his wife, Mary, which won the best biography at the Costa Book Awards last week.

Bryan’s work also includes comics such as 2000AD, Judge Dredd, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight as well as Hellblazer and Sandman, part of the renowned Vertigo titles produced by DC Comics.

His work is published and exhibited around the globe and he has taught courses on comics in many countries including the US and Australia.

Bryan’s lecture will be held on Monday, 21 January 2013 in lecture theatre 001, Business and Law building, City Campus East at 6.30pm. It will be followed by a drinks reception.

Anyone wanting to attend should book a place by emailing nu.events@northumbria.ac.uk or contact Dawn McLean on 0191 227 4480.