London Free Press

Along with the likes of Jeff Lemire (Essex County) and Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), Diana Tamblyn is one of the reasons Southwestern Ontario, and London specifically, has become known as a thriving hotbed of comic creators.

Londoners may know Tamblyn as the graphic novelist behind Duty Must Be Done, the comic that tells the story of Frederick Banting — not just the historic discovery of insulin, but his entire adventure-filled life.

They can meet her in person on the weekend of April 15-17, when she opens her basement studio to the public as part of the London Artists’ Studio Tour, which allows culture lovers to see local artists at work in their natural habitats.

“It’s supposed to be friendlier and less intimidating than a museum environment,” Tamblyn explains.

This is the second time she has participated in the annual event; in 2009, more than 500 people tromped through her house in Old North over the course of the weekend.

What she learned two years ago is that drawing comics is not everyone’s idea of “art.”

“Some people will walk back out right away,” she laughs.

When I stopped by her place a couple weeks back, Tamblyn was gearing up for the crowds of visitors she expects. She was mentally moving furniture as we spoke. Stacks of frames were already parked against the wall, ready to be hung.

“Diana is an award-winning cartoonist and fine artist who has exhibited her work in both Canada and the U.S. She will be showing recent landscape work (mainly in pencil and ink and oil pastels), new work of iconic London landmarks and original artwork from her comic books,” the tour’s official brochure trumpets.

The tour is arranged so there’s a cluster of four studios — out of a total of 23 stops on the tour — located within walking distance of one another in Old North.

Based on her experience in 2009, Tamblyn expects to see scores of children come through her door.

She told me kids are fascinated when they see her bent over her drawing table, in the corner of the carpeted basement, and realize the comic books they enjoy spring from this type of setting; it’s a revelation because they “get” for the first time how comics are made.

As her website indicates, she plans to give away free comics. She will have original artwork for sale, as well as T-shirts.

For hardcore graphic-novel fans like yours truly, the best part will be getting a glimpse at her current project, From Earth to Babylon: The Story of Gerald Bull and the Supergun.

Like the Banting comic, it’s a look at a Canadian historical figure. Tamblyn specializes in picking personalities who are well-known for one thing, then showing all the other interesting details about them.

You might remember Bull as the artillery prodigy who was later assassinated in Brussells, probably by Israeli secret agents. “And we think Canadian history is boring. Let me tell you, this story is not boring,” she enthuses.

Tamblyn chose to tell Bull’s story because of a family connection: Her great-aunt was the rocket scientist’s personal secretary; the stories she heard of him from her aunt don’t square with the historical record, hence the weighty graphic novel — for which she received a Canada Council grant.

She’s on page 43 of a projected 120-page account, although she has been thinking lately of publishing it in two parts.

So watch out, Chester Brown: There’s another Canadian graphic-novel creator looking to corner the market on historical comics!

If you go

What: London Artists’ Studio Tour

When: April 15 (7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

April 16 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

April 17 (noon to 5 p.m.)

Where: Various locations around London, including Diana Tamblyn’s home in Old North at 405 Victoria St.

How much: Free to the public

For more information about Diana Tamblyn, visit her website at www.dianatamblyn.com.

For more information on the tour, including a map of participating studios, visit the official website at www.londonstudiotour.com.

E-mail dan.brown@sunmedia.ca, read Dan's blog or follow Danatlfpress on Twitter.