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Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suzanne.black@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Thursday 5
Glasgow
FRI! Crime Fiction Reading Group Waterstone's. I53 ~ I 57 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. 6.30pm. The group will be performing a post- mortem on Karen Campbell‘s 'I'lrc 'Iii‘ilr'glrl 'Iimc. (‘ontact Iiwan at the store for more information.
FRI! Rodge Glass Waterstone‘s. I53—I57 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. 6.30pm. The author of No I-‘r‘rcii-orks launches his new novel. Hope/or Nr'tt'bm‘ns‘.
Edinburgh
FRI! The Bridge Readings:
Janet Paisley National Library of' Scotland. (ieorge IV Bridge. 623 4675. 7pm. Insights into the lite. mind and work ot‘ the “line Rns‘r‘ Rebel author. FRI! The Leith Festival Storytelling Club ('arricr's Quarters. 42 Bernard Street. 555 4I04. l'ntil Sat 7 Jun. 7.30~-‘).30pm. Leith-centric tales with a revolving roster of storytellers. Trainspotting Tour l’on ()‘Leith. 58 (‘onstitution Street. 555 4104. l'ntil Sat 7 Jun. 7.30 9.30pm. £5 (£4). Tim Bell leads a tour of' Irvine Welsh's seminal novel. VoxBox The Meadows Bar. 42 44 Buccleuch Street. 667 6907. 7.30pm. £3. Spoken word and music night. dreamed up by performance poets Anita (iovatt and Kevin (‘adwallender
Edinburgh
Luath Poets Live! The Raj Restaurant (l‘pstairs). 87 91;) Henderson Street. 225 4326. 7 -9pm. £4 (£3). ('ontemjmrary Scots poets Alistair Findlay. Kokumo Rocks. Ken (‘ockburn. I)ilys Rose. Brian Whittingham and Bashabi Fraser appear.
Glasgow Christopher Brookmyre Waterstone's. I53- I57 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. 6.30 8pm. £3. Scotland‘s second most prolilic crime writer talks about his het'tily titled book. Attack oft/re Unsinkuhlc Rubber Ducks.
Edinburgh
Reading Group: New Books Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton’s (lose. (‘anongate. 557 2876. 6308er. £5 (£3). This month's book is 7i]! by Jean Sprackland. For more details please phone or email reception (0‘sp|.org.uk.
Wednesday 1 1
Edinburgh
Cherie Blair Royal ('oIIege of'
Physicians. 9 Queen Street. 7»-8pm. £5. She of' the ex-PM hubbie talks about her autobiography. Speaking jor Myself. Tickets from Waterstone's West Iind. 0131 226 2666. Storytelling Cate: Royal Mile Scottish Storytelling (‘entre. 43 45 Iliin Street. 556 957‘). 7pm. £3. John Fee hosts the evening. where you can contribute or sit back and just enjoy the tales.
Edinburgh
FRI! Jeff Randall Waterstone’s. I28 Princes Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Ticketed. Iidinburgh author Randall reads from his soul-baring memoir. lel't’ Hurts.
Saturday 14
Glasgow
FRI! Andrew Murray Scott Borders Books. 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. Noon. Murray Scott talks about his work and signs copies of his latest novel. The Big J. which concerns a bunch of' teenagers in the fictional l'ormer fishing town of Dotmby.
Whisky Kitchen Borders Books. 98 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. Noon. £tbc. Sheila .\Ic(‘onachie and (iraham Ilarvey present a book of recipes they have perfected at their restaurant. that combine the subtle flavours of' whiskics with cooking.
FRI! The Poetry Cafe ()utsidc Brel. 3‘) 43 Ashton Lane. 586 4958. 1 4pm. ()pen your Poetry Menu and choose which ever verse sounds the most appetising.
Edinburgh
Embracing the Ephemeral Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton's (‘lose. (‘anongate. 557 2876. 10am lpm. £15 (£10). A practical workshop led by Julie Johnstone that examines the physical contest attached to a poem by its printing and binding. Please bring along several short test pieces. Booking essential.
Monday 1 6 "
Edinburgh
FRI! Reading Group: Round Table Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton‘s ('lose. ('anongate. 557 2876. 6 8pm. ’l‘icketed. An informal poetry reading group that encourages lively debate and otters members the chance to choose the poems. For details. please phone or email receptionm spl.org.uk. Old Town Festival Scottish Storytelling (‘entre. 43 45 High Street. 556 957‘). I'ntil Sun 2‘) Jun. Times and prices vary. A celebration of Iidinburgh’s ()Id Town with theatre. storytelling events and visual art. See www.scottishstorytel|ingcentrc.co.uk for more info.
Tuesday 1 7
Glasgow
Nemesis: Ride of Death (iilmttt'ellill (i l 2. 9 l'niversity Avenue. 330 5522. 10.30am. £4. Iiagerly awaited linal book in the Nemesis series by ('atherinc MacPhaiI. Ages P7 Sl/2.
FRI! Groovy Tuesday Come-All- Ye The Hidden Lane (‘alc Theatre. I I03 Arger Street. 564 I353. 7.30pm. Poetry and music from Aidan .‘ylceoin and Jim Ferguson. with a sinister prerequisite to 'accept the truth. the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.
Wednesday 18
Edinburgh FRI! Poems Aloud: Edinburgh Scottish Poetry Library. 5 (‘richton's (‘Iose. (‘anongate. 557 2876. I 2pm. An Old Town Festival special with locally- ins tired poetry. Please book in advance. F‘ Saadi Yousef National Library of Scotland. (ieorge IV Bridge. 623 4675. 7pm. A unique opportunity to hear this exiled influential poet. human rights campaigner and tree thinker.
Glasgow
FRI! Words off the Page Ilillhcad Library. 348 Byres Road. 276 l6l7. lpm & 3.30pm. ()pen spoken word session hosted by the Federation of \Vt‘itet's (Scotland). To participate contact Marc at marcsherland(a yahim.co.uk.
Edinburgh
FR Burmese Voices: Our Lives . . . National Library of Scotland. (ieorge IV Bridge. 623 4675. 7 8.30pm. Readings by Burmese writers and Scottish schimlchildren mark the 63rd birthday of imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Comics
SUPERHERO BRUCEJONES giycnniiruannrnn
The Incredible Hulk: Return of the Monster (Marvel) see
This year's blockbuster roster is jam packed with comic adaptations. and Marvels second big hitter of the year. The Incredible Hulk (after the conSiderable success of lron Man) smashes it's way onto the big screen this month.
The Hulk is one of the most intriguing concepts in comics. After being exposed to Gamma radiation Bruce Banner turns into the monstrous Hulk when provoked. You don't have to dig much deeper to see the depth in the idea as the id is released and hurrianity gives way to pure animal rage.
No wonder celebrated director Ang Lee was so interested — it's just a shame he fumbled the ball With his 2003 adaptation. However it was the classic Bill Bixby Lou Ferrigno TV series which introduced many of us to the temperamental green behemoth. a pretty solid interpretation of the iconic character as created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
’ I
There have been some classic runs on the series over the years: Peter David. Stan Lee. John Byrne and Bill Mantlo have all had a crack at the big green fella. but in recent years it was Bruce Jones who launched his critically acclaimed take on the emerald titan. Return of the Monster.
It's a subtle interpretation of such a huge figure in comics (both literally and figuratively). Jones cuts the action as the Hulk explodes into a rage of fury. foCLissing on the events that trigger the
transformation and the aftermath of the destruction. While it's an innovative take on the jade giant. you can't help but crave some hardcore ‘Hulk smash' action. (Henry Northmore)
SUPERHERO JEPH LOEB & TIM SALE Hulk: Gray (Marvel) oooo
He's probably as famous for his tough green hide as his anger- management problems but the Hulk has spent several years as a grey goliath (in fact he was grey in his first ever appearance in 1962). Some creative teams work brilliantly together (think De Niro and Scorsese). Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale are one such team. Each of their collaborative proiects is awaited with baited breath (Batman: The Long Halloween and aredevll Yellow are partiCuIarly fine examples of their oeuvre) and this lovnigly retro story fills in some important gaps in Hulk's origin. Knowingly old-fashioned but with a truly modern perspective and a devastating kick to Banner's already traumatised psyche. Artist Sale's Hulk is a wonderful monolithic monster. Theirs is a near perfect symbiotic partnership of writer and artist. (Henry Northmore)
SUPERHERO GREG PAK,
CARLO PAGULAYAN & AARON LOPRESTI
Planet Hulk (Marvel) see.
We reviewed World War Hulk in issue 599
(0.. l but let's go back to the story that launched Hulk on his revenge fuelled tirade against planet earth. The Illuminati (a secretive cabal of superheroes that includes Iron Man,
Mr Fantastic. Dr Strange and Black Bolt) have come to the conclusion that there is no real solution to 'the Hulk problem“ so blast him into space.
Hulk crash lands on the planet of Sakaar, a brutal world ruled via gladiatorial combat by the ruthless Red King. It's a grand sci-fi yarn of warring alien races and slave rebellions. not your usual Hulk tale but a Star Wars—esque space epic. (Henry Northmore)
SUPERHERO
DAN SLOTT & JUAN BOBILLO She-Hulk: Single Green Female
(Marvel) coo
Finally how could we ignore She-Hulk? After receiving an irradiated blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner. Jennifer Walters inherited some of his powers and strength. However. she's in control of her emotions and isn't prone to angry bouts of property damage. She's even a successful lawyer and this collection covers her move to a new firm specialising in ‘Superhuman law‘.
Dan Slott's take is frivo|0us irreverent and fun. Portraying She-Hulk as a Superpowered party animal in search of a place to belong. While in general this is an action-comedy it packs in some great characterisation, much like a high-quality sitcom.
(Henry NOrthmore)
f>~10 Jun 2008 THE LIST 41