The Beat is a proud sponsor of Comix Experience’s Graphic Novel of the Month Clubs, which bring comics fans a curated mix of the best of new release graphic novels and conversations with the creators who make them. Each month, the staff of Comix Experience votes on three sets of upcoming books they are most excited about—one gets presented to adults, another to middle readers, and the third is a classic. Each club provides swag like original signed custom bookplates for adults or buttons and magnets for the kids (in this case, the former, to support the featured Comics Masterpiece book, Knights of the Dinner Table).
Most excitingly, the Graphic Novel Clubs bring in the creators of selected books to talk exclusively to GNC members in interviews conducted by Comix Experience owner Brian Hibbs, who brings 30 years of experience in comics to the table. These talks are livestreamed to members all over the country and are a fun and informative mix of conversation on craft and form, as well as on the business of making comics. The Graphic Novel Clubs make a point of being inclusive, inviting creators from a wide variety of age, race, sex, and cultural perspectives to speak to members.
Membership is what propels these conversations, so if you like what you see, please support these discussions of comics, and the creators who make them, by joining the club.
Today: Brian Hibbs talks to Jolly Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Barbara Blackburn, and David Kenzer about their long-running comic, Knights of the Dinner Table. At 280 issues, the humor/fantasy series debuted in 1990 and is still churning out some of Hibbs’ favorite work today. Knights of the Dinner Table follows a group of imaginative adventurers in their regular tabletop roleplaying game session, with stories usually inspired by the creators themselves, or letters from readers. In this clip, Jolly sheds some light on how it all started, and gives his own advice to fledgling comics creators.
