Nelson is undoubtedly the comics anthology of the year. 54 British creators telling one story of the life of Nel Baker. Each creator taking a single day in each year of her life. From her birth in 1968 to the present day, each creator takes the story so far and adds to it in their own way. It’s a unique idea dreamed up by editor Rob Davis and it’s sure to be one of the most talked about books of the year. I mean, just look at the talent involved:
Paul Grist, Rob Davis, Woodrow Phoenix, Ellen Lindner, Jamie Smart, Gary Northfield, Sarah McIntyre, Suzy Varty, Sean Longcroft, Warwick Johnson–Cadwell, Luke Pearson, Paul Harrison–Davies, Katie Green, Paul Peart–Smith, Glyn Dillon, I.N.J.Culbard, John Allison, Philip Bond, D’Israeli, Simone Lia, Darryl Cunningham, Jonathan Edwards, Ade Salmon, Kate Charlesworth, Warren Pleece, Kristyna Baczynski, Harvey James, Rian Hughes, Sean Phillips & Pete Doree, Kate Brown, Simon Gane, Jon McNaught, Adam Cadwell, Faz Choudhury, JAKe, Jeremy Day, Dan McDaid, Roger Langridge, Will Morris, Dave Shelton, Carol Swain, Hunt Emerson, Duncan Fegredo, Philippa Rice, Josceline Fenton, Garen Ewing, Tom Humberstone , Dan Berry, Alice Duke, Posy Simmonds, Laura Howell, Andi Watson, and Dave Taylor.
I am very happy and humbled to say I am one of the creators involved. I have a 5 page chapter in the middle of the book set in 1994 (right at the start of Britpop) when Nel is 26. That’s all I can say, anymore would spoil the whole story, so you’ll have to read the book to find out more.
The book is edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix and is being published by Blank Slate Books. All the profits go to the housing charity Shelter. I feel I have to mentioned the involvement of Kayla Marie Hillier who, when she worked for Blank Slate earlier this year, was responsible for the daunting and never-before-done task of co-ordinating 54 artists, all working for free with busy schedules, on one single narrative project. Hats off to Kayla!
Nelson is available to buy NOW from the Blank Slate website (recently redesigned by my good self). The book will be on sale at Thought Bubble on 19th-20th November in Leeds and there’s a bunch of signings and events happening in the week after that, summarised in the flyer below. My guess is that Nelson will be in most comic and book shops by late November, early December. Just in time for Christmas.
I’ll leave you with the first page of my chapter in the hopes it piques your interest. Enjoy.
Tags: Nelson
