Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to jules.graham@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham.
Glasgow
Ronnie Scott: Death by Design Borders Books. 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 6.30pm. l‘ree. Discoy er the true story behind the famous (ilasgow Necropolis.
Edinburgh
Leith Literature Live!: Scottish Poetry Queen ('harlotte Rooms. 56a Queen ('harlotte Street. 555 6660.
7.30 ‘).30pm. £2 i£| ). A night of readings and talks with Angus (‘alder. Anita (ioy'an. Rodney Relax and other local poets. To book call 555 4l0-l or etnail ticketsta‘leitht'estiyal.eom.
Big Word Performance Poetry The Tron. ‘) Hunter Square. High Street. 226 ()‘)3 I. ‘)pm. £3 (£2). l‘onnightly dose ot lyrical may hem.
Edinburgh
Lisa Dierbeck Borders Books. l‘nit 26. Fort Kinnaird Retail Park. 657 40“. 3.30pm. l)ierbeck’s proyocatiye debut noy‘el ()m' [’17] .lIa/u's loa Smaller. set in psychedelic 70s New York. is Lolita t'rom Lolita's pcrspectiye.
Leith Literature Live!: New Scottish Writing Queen ('harlotte Rooms. 56a Queen (‘harlotte Street. 0845 458 ‘)70‘). 7.30- ‘).30pm. £2 (£1).A night (it reading and talks with Scottish writers Louise Welsh. Zoe Strachan. Laura Marne} and Rodge (ilass. To book call 555 4 Ill-l or email tickets(a‘leitht'estiyalcom.
Ash Dickinson & Hazel Morrison (‘arriers Quarter. 42 Bernard Street. 8.30pm. £5. Music and comedy from the iny'entiye poet and heayenly folk singer.
Glasgow
Julia Donaldson: The Gruftalo Song and Other Songs (iilmorehill(il2. ‘) l'niyersity .»\\enue. 77.3 2‘)l0. l lam. £3.50. Julia reads from her latest (init't'alo epic. plus a selection of other songs and stories.
As Sure as the Clyde Flows (iilniorehill(il2. ‘) l'niyersity Ayenue. 3305522. 2.30pm. £3. A group of writers from Multistory attempt to confront poyeny and the (i8 Summit through poetry. sketches and a wee bit ol music.
Edinburgh
Trainspotting Tour l.eith Market. l2a l)ock l’lace. 08-45 458 ‘)70‘).
3.30 5.30pm. Tim Bell leads an on- location reading of 'I'rai'nx/maing and Porno. Not exactly suitable for children. Leith Literature Livel: Keep the Faith - The Yellow Cafe The Lighthouse. 32 3-1 The Shore. l.eith. 08-15 458 ‘)70‘). 8pm. £5 (£4). The top performance poetry night returns to the l.eith liestiyal tor the third consecutiye year.
Wednesday 15
Glasgow
* Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Billingham Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. (ipm. Free. The top modern crime liction authors w ill be sharing centre stage. reading from their latest novels and slapping each other on the back. With kniyes'.’
Speakeasy Speakeasy (‘at'e/Bar. (ilasgoys l.esbian. (iay. Bisexual and Transpeople (‘entre. l l l)i.\on Street. St linoch. 7.3‘lpm. A celebration ot‘ the spoken word and music in all their
glorious lt)l‘llls. ('all Sttt on (ll-ll 42‘) 4672 to book your slot.
Edinburgh
John Aberdein Riddles (‘oun. 322 Lawnmarket. 7pm. Join in the celebrations as the author launches his new time] Amanda is [in].
Vanessa Collingridge Borders Books. linit 26. Fort Kinnaird Retail Park. 657 40—“. 7pm. Free. Broadcaster and geographer (‘ollingridge reyeals the truth behind the legend of warrior queen Built/It'd.
Glasgow
* Jung Chang Waterstone's. I53 I57 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. (i.3()pm. £3. The author appears in-store with husband. John llalliday to discuss their international bestseller ll'i/t/ Swans. Battle of the Books llillhead Library. Byres Road. 33‘) 7223. 7.30pm. Free. Join West lind book groups as they champion and vote for their favourite book.
Edinburgh
Janey Godley ()tlakat"s. 57 (ieorge Street. 225 4495. 7pm. U. The author and comedian reads from Ham/stands in I/lt’ Dar/t. her frank new book documenting a tough old lite.
Glasgow
Janey Godley Borders Books. ‘)8 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. (i.30pm. Free. See Thu lfi.
Tuesday 21
Glasgow
The Great Bird Books Mitchell Library. 20l North Street. 287 2‘)‘)‘). (rpm. A chance to see the Mitchell's great bird Collections up close. Booking essential.
Edinburgh
Andrew Philip and Helena Nelson Scottish Poetry library. 5 ('richton’s (‘lose. ('anongate. 557 2876. b.30pm. l-‘ree. Toast the launch of llappenStance Press and hear poets Philip and Nelson read from their new collections.
>l¢ Fascist Disneyland: Letters from Burma ('ausewayside Building: National Library of Scotland. 33 Salisbury Place. 622 4807. 7pm. Free. l.i/ l.ochead. lain Banks and Sarah Boyack MSP read from the letter of imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on the occasion other being giyen the freedom of the (‘ity of lidinburgh.
Wednesday 22
Glasgow
Homegrown Borders Books. 98 Buchanan Street. 333 1770. 7pm. Free. A text. poetry. music and spoken word event. showcasing the unique multi-ethnic VOICL‘S ot’ the city and exploring themes of displacement and exclusion.
Edinburgh
Tim Collins ()ttakar's. 57 (ieorge Street. 225 4-195. 7pm. £1. The colonel talks about his controversial life in the army.
Glasgow
Alan Spence llillhead Library. Byres Road. 33‘) 7223. 7.30 ‘).30pm. Free. The respected author reads from (Year Light. a mixture of' poetry and prose including works in progress.
Edinburgh
Mark Stuart Scottish Parliament Building. llolyt'ootl Road. (3.30pm. l-‘rce. ticketed. Join this biographer and a host ot distinguished gtiest speakers for the launch of .lulnt Smil/t.‘ .vl li/i'.
Comics
CLASSIC SUPERHEHO BOB KANE AND OTHERS
Batman Chronicles (DC/Titan) coo
This first volume in DC Comics' reprinting of the Batman stories in their entire. chronological running order begins with the debut of its most popular character in the May 1939 Detective Comics No 27, runs through to issue 38 and concludes with the spring 1940 first edition of Batman's own title.
It's an enormous undertaking — the 3000- plus stories printed over the last 65 years will comprise an estimated 270 volumes to reach the present day — but in a world over-saturated with Batman comics and graphic novels it presents a good opportunity to go back and look at the roots of the character. And the reprint run is nicely timed to coincide with Batman Begins. the blockbuster inspired by Frank Miller's own retelling of the Caped Crusaders origins in Batman: Year One.
What these original strips lack in SOphistication they make up for in archival value. See here the introduction of the Joker. Robin and the Cat (a forerunner to Catwoman). (Miles Fielder)
HANDBOOK VARIOUS
The Rough Guide to Superheroes (Rough Guides) 0
Burdened with an intrusive. grating editorial voice that's never able to resist what prove to be completely resistible 'Jokes'. struggling through this guide is akin to
Books
flagellating oneself with VHS c0pies of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace in an orgy of masochism. But less rewarding.
Sections include a short history of the medium. a look at influential creators and profiles of heroes and villains. While there is some interesting trivia to be found here. it's hardly enough to make ploughing through this thoroughly unpleasant little tome worthwhile. (Dave Martin)
COMEDY THRILLER JASO
Why Are You Doing This?
(Fantagraphics) coco
DOING THIS?
3 O >- kl E .. H < >- I :3 3
Norwegian cartoonist Jason's latest graphic novelette is another deadpan comedy thriller. though while his last. You Can't Get There From Here. was inspired by mad scientist monster movies. this. his sixth. takes its cue from Alfred Hitchcock‘s patented ‘wrong man' mysteries.
Framed for a murder he didn't commit and on the run from the real killer as well as the police. the dog-faced protagonist has to get over a recent and still painful split with a girlfriend in order to solve the crime. In doing so. the unlucky pup-Cum-existential hero learns a few things about life.
The clear-line artwork is beautifully rendered. and here for the first time in colour. The storytelling is pleasingly
economical and underscored by a little pathos and a winning line in offbeat humour. (Miles Fielder)
SUPERHERO IDAdRVVYII COOKE
The New Frontier (DC/Titan) me
This two-volume collection of Darwyn Cooke's terrific reimagining of the stOry of DC Comics' greatest heroes very skillfully weaves Silver Age comic book history with that of post-war America.
Opening his extended narrative at the end of WWII. Cooke takes us thr0ugh the disbanding of the Golden Age Justice Society of America. into the Cold War and the arrival of non-superhero groups such as the Challengers of the Unknown. and on to the Space Age and the establishment of the legendary Justice League of America.
Cooke's great achievement is to engage the well-defined mythology of this partiCuIar era in the DC universe with the tumultuous events — the birth of civil liberties. the Korean War — unfolding during the same period in the parallel. real world. And in a masterstroke. Cooke employs a striking visual style inspired by 1950s poster and cartoon an.
(Miles Fielder)
e MLMWE; it‘r
0—23 .Jun 3001"» THE LIST 35