Blank Slate Books

Blank Slate Books, commonly abbreviated as BSB, was a United Kingdom publishing company focused on comics and graphic novels outside the mainstream superhero and commercial-genre market. Founded in 2008 by Kenny Penman and James Hamilton, the company was conceived as a dedicated outlet for independent and alternative cartoonists, particularly emerging British artists whose work might otherwise remain within small-press or self-published circles. Its name was a wordplay on the act of drawing or writing on a blackboard, reflecting the publisher's connection to visual storytelling. Penman brought substantial knowledge of the comics business through his work as a co-director of Forbidden Planet International. He was also influenced by Fantagraphics Books in the United States, whose publishing model demonstrated that an independent house could build a substantial catalogue around distinctive creators, literary comics, and non-superhero work. Blank Slate Books adapted that ethos to the British market. Its stated emphasis was on supporting home-grown talent and creating a professional publishing route for creators who did not fit conventional commercial categories. The company's first publication was Oliver East's Trains Are... Mint in 2008. East's work helped establish the house's interest in personal, observational, and formally unconventional comics. Blank Slate subsequently published additional books by East, including Proper Go Well High, Berlin and That, and Swear Down. The list expanded to include autobiographical, humorous, literary, experimental, and socially observant graphic novels by creators such as Darryl Cunningham, Donya Todd, Nick Edwards, Jamie Smart, James Harvey, Ed Syder, Lizz Lunney, Dan Berry, Box Brown, and Nigel Auchterlounie. One of the publisher's best-known books was Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales, a graphic work that attracted attention beyond the comics press, including coverage on BBC Radio 4 and in newspapers. It was later republished in the United States. Another major achievement was Nelson, a collective graphic novel edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix. Built from contributions by numerous British cartoonists, the project became The Observer's Graphic Novel of the Month in November 2011, received The Times' Best Graphic Novel award for 2011, earned an Eisner Award nomination, and was later voted Book of the Year in the British Comic Awards in 2012. International publishing was the company's second major mission. Blank Slate sought to introduce British readers to European creators who were well known in their home countries but had limited visibility in the United Kingdom. Its catalogue included several German works by artists such as Mawil, Line Hoven, and Uli Oesterle, as well as translations from French and other European comics traditions. This programme included Mawil's Sparky O'Hare, Master Electrician, We Can Still Be Friends, The Band, and Home & Away; Hoven's Love Looks Away; Oesterle's Hector Umbra; Peggy Adam's Luchadoras; and Pierre Maurel's Departures. The company generally published approximately six to eight books per year. In 2012, creator Woodrow Phoenix became its art director, overseeing design and production while continuing his own work as a graphic novelist. The catalogue also included anthologies and collections such as The Accidental Salad, Hugo Tate, The Listening Agent, Alby Figgs, and two volumes of Uncle Bob Adventures, along with the craft-oriented Felt Mistress: Creature Couture. Blank Slate Books ceased publishing around 2016. It is therefore best understood as a defunct but influential British independent comics imprint whose catalogue connected emerging UK artists, alternative graphic storytelling, and translated European work.

Blank Slate Books emerged in 2008 during a period when British comics publishing had relatively few specialist houses devoted to original, creator-owned graphic novels outside mainstream genre publishing. It was founded by Kenny Penman and James Hamilton. Penman's experience as a co-director of Forbidden Planet International gave him a practical understanding of comics retail, creators, and readership. His principal inspiration was Fantagraphics Books of Seattle, which had demonstrated the viability of publishing alternative cartoonists and literary comics at scale. Blank Slate Books aimed to perform a similar function in Britain by giving professional visibility to artists whose work often began in small-press or self-published form. The publisher's first book was Oliver East's Trains Are... Mint. East became one of the early defining creators associated with the house, and Blank Slate later issued Proper Go Well High, Berlin and That, and Swear Down. The company's editorial identity favored work that was personal, observational, humorous, experimental, or socially engaged rather than tied to superheroes or established commercial franchises. This approach was visible in releases such as Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales, a work that reached audiences beyond specialist comics readership through radio and newspaper coverage and was subsequently republished in the United States. Blank Slate also used anthology and collaborative publishing to broaden the possibilities of the graphic-novel format. Nelson, edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix, assembled contributions from a large group of British cartoonists into a single collective narrative. The project became one of the publisher's most visible successes: it was named The Observer's Graphic Novel of the Month in November 2011, received The Times' Best Graphic Novel award for 2011, was nominated for an Eisner Award, and was later voted Book of the Year in the British Comic Awards in 2012. A second core element of the business was translation. Penman wanted British readers to encounter European comics that had strong reputations in their home markets but had not been widely available in the United Kingdom. Germany received particular attention, with books by Mawil, Line Hoven, and Uli Oesterle appearing alongside works translated from French and other European traditions. This programme gave the catalogue a broader cultural range and positioned Blank Slate as both a domestic talent incubator and an importer of distinctive international comics. The publishing schedule was modest, generally six to eight books annually, allowing the company to maintain a selective list. Its releases included graphic novels, comic-strip collections, anthologies, translated works, and occasional illustrated books. Notable titles included The Accidental Salad by Joe Decie, Hugo Tate by Nick Abadzis, The Listening Agent, Alby Figgs, two Uncle Bob Adventures collections, and Felt Mistress: Creature Couture by Woodrow Phoenix. In 2012 Phoenix became the company's art director. His appointment strengthened the connection between the publisher's creative programme and its visual presentation, with responsibility for design and production. Blank Slate continued publishing books by British and international creators for several more years, but ceased publishing around 2016. Although it no longer operates as an active publishing company, its catalogue represents an important chapter in modern British independent comics: it supported new local voices, provided a route from small press to book publication, and widened access to translated European graphic storytelling.

• 2016

  Publishing activity ends

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Blank Slate Books ceases publishing around this year.

• 2012

  Woodrow Phoenix becomes art director

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Phoenix assumes responsibility for the publisher's design and production work.

• 2012

  Nelson receives further award recognition

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Nelson is nominated for an Eisner Award and is voted Book of the Year in the British Comic Awards.

• 2011

  Nelson released

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The collaborative graphic novel edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix becomes a prominent title in the catalogue.

• 2011

  Nelson receives major recognition

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Nelson is selected as The Observer's Graphic Novel of the Month and receives The Times' Best Graphic Novel award for 2011.

• 2010

  Psychiatric Tales published

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales expands the publisher's public profile through coverage outside the comics press and later receives a US republication.

• 2008

  Blank Slate Books is founded

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Kenny Penman and James Hamilton establish the British independent comics publisher.

• 2008

  First publication

  [1]Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Oliver East's Trains Are... Mint becomes Blank Slate Books' first release and receives critical attention, including an Ignatz Award nomination.

An indie-friendly British comics publisher championing emerging and alternative creators, while bringing selected European graphic novels to UK readers.

• Original graphic novel · 2008

  Trains Are... Mint

  Oliver East's Trains Are... Mint was Blank Slate Books' first publication in 2008. Its critical reception and subsequent Ignatz Award nomination helped introduce the publisher's commitment to unconventional, creator-led British comics.

• Nonfiction graphic novel · 2010

  Psychiatric Tales

  Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales brought psychological and mental-health subject matter into an accessible graphic format. It attracted radio and newspaper attention beyond the comics sector and was later republished in the United States.

• Collective graphic novel · 2011

  Nelson

  Edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix, Nelson is a collaborative graphic novel constructed from contributions by numerous British cartoonists. Its critical and award recognition made it one of Blank Slate Books' most prominent publications.

• Translated graphic novels · 2008

  European translation programme

  Blank Slate Books published English-language editions of European comics, with particular attention to German creators such as Mawil, Line Hoven, and Uli Oesterle. The programme also included French and other European works, broadening the UK market's access to international alternative comics.

• Comic-strip collection · 2013

  Uncle Bob Adventures

  Darryl Cunningham's Uncle Bob Adventures appeared in two collected volumes, adding humorous and character-driven strip work to the publisher's list.

• Illustrated craft book · 2012

  Felt Mistress: Creature Couture

  Woodrow Phoenix's Felt Mistress: Creature Couture represented a related illustrated-book strand within the catalogue, extending beyond conventional graphic novels into handmade creature design and visual craft.

• 2012

  Strengthen design and production leadershipStrategy

  Background

  As the catalogue developed, the company sought stronger creative oversight of book design and production.

  Action taken

  Woodrow Phoenix became art director while remaining an established graphic-novel creator.

  Aftermath

  Phoenix's appointment reinforced the visual coherence of the publishing programme before the company eventually stopped publishing around 2016.

  Source

• 2008

  Adopt an independent, creator-focused publishing modelStrategy

  Background

  The founders identified a gap in the UK market for a specialist publisher serving alternative and non-mainstream British comics creators.

  Action taken

  Blank Slate Books established a selective list centered on original graphic novels, small-press artists, and work outside superhero and other mainstream commercial genres.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced a recognizable indie-oriented catalogue and helped several creators reach broader book and media audiences.

  Source

• 2008

  Develop a European translation programmeStrategy

  Background

  Many notable European creators had limited exposure among UK readers despite strong reputations in their home countries.

  Action taken

  The company acquired and published English-language editions of selected German, French, and other European graphic novels.

  Aftermath

  The translation list became a defining part of the publisher's identity and complemented its support for British creators.

  Source

1. 1Blank Slate Booksen.wikipedia.org