Helen McCarthy
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helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
Helen McCarthy
@helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
610 followers 140 following 910 posts
Writer, speaker, poet, scholar, loving creative life. A dozen books plus presentations/articles on anime, manga, cosplay, history, art, crafts. I've given talks across the UK, USA, Europe and Asia. You can contact me via my website helenmccarthy.net
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helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
The Kings College London Manga and Anime Society has a special event devoted to Manga Jiman on 27 Nov - non-members of the Society who want to find out more about Manga Jiman can check their Insta post to find out how to attend.
The KCL Anime and Manga Society Instagram post with details of their Manga Jiman evening on 27 November. Their flyer is reproduced alongside the text - a purple background with black and white text and six different manga-inspired images mainly drawn in red, black, white or greyscale, stacked so that the image is divided diagonally with mostly text in the upper left hand corner and mostly images in the lower left, crossing and merging in the middle. It gives a dynamic tension to the flyer.
November 16, 2025 at 11:25 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
It's Friday and I'm in the mood for a huge hit of nostalgia. Show me your favourite old anime fanzine covers. This is Steve Kyte's stunning art, design and lettering for the first ever #British #anime #fanzine, ROBOTECH UK, edited by the late Tony Luke, released 1986.
Black and white artwork for the cover of ROBOTECH UK fanzine from 1986 ©Steve Kyte. Zine © Tony Luke. The background is a starfield with the magazine logo and information in white lettering, with a white band at the bottom. A Valykrie robot dominates the image, diagonally across the starfield and breaking out into the white band. A half-length portrait of the character Dana Sterling, gun in hand, appears in the bottom right hand corner of the image across the white band with her head in the starfield. Ink on A4 paper (UK size.)
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
As Ouke no Monshou has 70 published volumes and counting, the usual manga-to-TV adaption problem - running out of story before the next volume appears - won't be a problem for quite some time. Read more about this and other manga in my next book #TheMangaBible out 5th March 2026. Pre-oder now!
At present there are 70 volumes of Chieko Hosokawa's Ouke no Monshou, the longest running shojo manga to date. Here's the whole stack of them. Volume 1 is turned face out to show the main character Carol on the cover, in her 20th-century incarnation, with images of Egyptian royalty that will be so significant in her future in the past. The other volumes are stacked in three tiers with the spines facing outwards.
November 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
#KodanshaStudios and #ChloeZhao should consider adapting Chieko Hosokawa's gorgeous epic Ouke no Monshou - Crest of the Royal Family - into a series for streaming. #Bridgerton meets #AncientEgypt and more: girl genius, hot princes, rivalry, passion, dark magic, blood. Been saying this for years.
Chieko Hosokawa's Ouke no Monshou - a love story that bridges the chasm between ancient and modern worlds. Image shows a beautiful young Pharaoh in Egyptian dress (cloak, jewellery, loincloth) with long black hair flowing over his shoulders, and a petite blonde beauty in a filmy linen gown with an elaborate collar and bracelets. Both wear the sacred cobra of Egypt on their foreheads. In the background the summit of a pyramid can be seen against a pale blue sky with white clouds. A protecting cobra forms the right hand border of the image and the Pharaoh's enamelled staff balances it on the right.
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham, of #Ghibliotheque fame, signing their new book The Animation Atlas at #PicturehouseCentral last night. Big thanks to publishers Welbeck for the launch party and to the authors for my signed copy of this fab book! Get yours now!

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham signing copies of their latest book The Animation Atlas at Picturehouse Central in London. They are seated at a table piled with copies of the book. BBEdit the table is a dark red wall with a blue-toned photo of a galaxy hung on it, and to the left is a banner with the cover of the new book below the headline ANIMATED CINEMA in black capital letters on a background of pale blue sky and clouds. To the right is a cabinet with an ornate statue on top, lit by a wall light.
October 30, 2025 at 10:12 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
At #MCMComicCon and met these three amazing #cosplayers on arrival. (Shared with permission.) Thomas - a true Superman - made both Supercostumes except for Supergirl's boots. The standard of #hallcostume here is amazing.
Supergirl, Lex Luther and Superman. Superman (Thomas) made both Supercostumes except for Supergirl's boots. She has sensitive feet so they were purchased from a brand she can wear without difficulty. Luthor, of course, scorns any apparel that isn't a high-end label, even if it is Kryptonian-tailored. The background is the rather barren warehouse space of the MCM VIP/industry entrance but they really light it up.
October 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
I love that Christine El Mahdy's book on Tutankhamen unravels the conventions of Amarna art by a close reading of the costume in surviving sculpture and painting. Great info for historic Egyptian #cosplay and a masterclass in using the behaviour of fabrics to interpret underlying forms.
The cover of Christine El Mahdy's book 'Tutankhamen: The Life and Death of a Boy King' shows a piece of art from his tomb, with two depictions of him - as a young man wearing the royal uraeus and in full Royal regalia including crown and the fake beard worn by Pharoahs on formal occasions.
October 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
I'm back in Norwich on 27 November, talking about #StudioGhibli for #SeedTalks at the gorgeous Maddermarket Theatre. So lucky to work in such beautiful spaces!

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-art-hi...
Interior and stage, Maddermarket Theatre. The Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich started life as an old chapel before becoming a theatre in the 1920s. It's set in a courtyard where the black-and-white timbered front blends beautifully with the old buildings around it.
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
I remember the dim and distant past when The Sun was a real campaigning newspaper - but it still has a way with a nudge, a wink and a killer headline.
October 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
This is going to be a terrific day of talks revelling in Gothic and horror literature. It's for everyone but the focus is on women in, and making, and impacted by those works.
Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-gothic...
Poster for The Gothic, Women and Horror Summit, online from Seed Talks. The background is pale cream, the company logo is centred at top, and the title of the summit centred below in bold black capitals over two lines. Below is a smaller lower-case boldd black subtitle describing the summit content and duration over two lines, the a graphic of a skull with a candle on top, resting on a pile of red, brown and green books set on a black circle, with decorative elements on the perimeter in greyscale - a spider web, leaves, roots and worms, and an old Victorian Gothic clapboard house with bats, bare branches and a ghostly figure. The date and time of the summit and the online location form a single line of bold black lowercase type centred at the bottom of the image.
October 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
The Manga Bible is part of Waterstones’ new UK promotion on selected 2026 titles. Pre-order selected books online at Waterstones between Tuesday 14 and Friday 17 October 2025, and quote code OCTOBER25 for 25% off RRP. More info: helenmccarthy.net/25-off-the-m... Please share!
Poster for the October 2025 Waterstones' UK promotion - 25% off for selected titles pre-ordered online at Waterstones between 14-17 October, including The Manga Bible. Image is on a pale gold background, with Waterstones' name in black type at top centre and "25% OFF RRP On Upcoming Books" in navy blue type centred below. An image of The Manga Bible's cover is below right and a maroon circle with the pre-order code to claim the offer in white is below left.
October 13, 2025 at 4:42 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
There's a sad and beautiful memorial in #NewportMinster, erected by Queen Victoria in honour of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Charles I, who died in Carisbrooke Castle aged just fourteen and is buried under the Minster chancel. So many children taken too soon, now as then.
The Victorian sculptor commissioned by his Queen to portray a teenage princess who died over 200 years before shows an idealised Victorian maiden in Stuart costume, not unlike the costume Victoria had worn to the grand Restoration fancy dress ball she and Albert gave at Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria's monument to Princess Elizabeth Stuart shows her as if she has simple fallen asleep - a romantic depiction of a tragic early death. It is not her tomb - she lies under the chancel of Newport Minster, which has been extensively rebuilt since her burial.
October 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
#Japanese #novelist Mizuki Tsujimura is in London, Sheffield and Cheltenham this weekend promoting her new novel 'Lost Souls Meet Under A Full Moon', translated by Yuki Tejima. More info and ticketing links: jpf.org.uk/whatson.php?...
Poster for Mizuki Tsujimura's book tour 9-12 October, with a portrait of the author and cover images of her three novels. The Japan Foundation London has booking information for these events on their website.
October 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
Absolutely fabulous lecture, 16 Oct, 6 pm BST: Prof. Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere on The Art of Manga, currently at the de Young Museum, San Francisco. Online, free, booking essential. I'm Ghibli-ing in Gillingham that night or I'd sign up for it! us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Eight manga panels showing character portraits from The Art of Manga exhibition, printed in tones morphing from orange-red on the left to purple on the right. In the middle of the image is a panel with Ryan and Japanese lettering reading 'Art of Manga' on a background that reverses the colour of the image, purple on the left shifting to red on the right.
October 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
the changing leaves
embroidering the season
on walls and fences

#haiku #poetry #autumn #leafcolour #changingseasons
A beautiful tapestry of autumnal leaves trailing over the fence around a school playground. The rich red, orange, bronze and green leaves contrast with the buff coloured brick at the base of the fence and the bright blue gatepost on the left. The school buildings are just visible at top left, with a scrap of lightly clouded blue sky.
October 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
that curve of rocks
holds the water still as an
unspoken question

#haiku #senryu #poetry #Zen
A natural curve of rocks above the waterline is enhanced by a man made concrete jetty, part of the defences left over from World War II when Belfast Lough was a potential Nazi target. The water is tranquil all the way to the farther shore, reflecting blue sky and white clouds in the upper third of the image. At the bottom, shoreline vegetation adds a touch of green, and thick shrubs out of shot cast a deep shadow, making the colours of rock, sand, water and sky even more intense. I'm pleased with this photo but it conveys only a fraction of the tranquillity of the moment.
October 1, 2025 at 7:14 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
We had a perfectly lovely time with OH's oldest friend Ron in Northern Ireland, walking for miles in glorious countryside every day and eating in great pubs and restaurants every night. But it's nice to be back in our own bed tonight. Sleep well, butterflies.
Seaside vegetation is plentiful, sculptural and glorious along the shores of Belfast Lough. Seven days in Northern Ireland, five with zero rain while we were out enjoying these gorgeous beaches, rocky outcrops and limpid blue waters. Pretty good for autumn IMO. The three of us being together again was the best thing. OH and Ron celebrate their 51st broversary this year; I've only known them 44 years
September 30, 2025 at 6:20 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
this golden sunset
like a postcard from summer
saying miss you all

#haiku #unku #dontmentiontheseason #poetry #autumnal
Sunset over Belfast Lough from the coast road just south of Jamaica Inn. The sun has almost completely vanished in a flood of golden light, and a pale orange glow lights up the distant coastline and reflects in the clear, almost still water.
September 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
by sun and sand and tide
is innocence renewed and
paradise regained

#haiku #poetry #incantation #renewal
The beautiful curve of this little bay between Cultra and Holywood on Belfast Lough is highlighted by the early afternoon sun. Blue sky and clouds reflect on the calm waters. The tide is coming in very quietly, as if it doesn't want to disturb anyone's post-lunch nap. The rocky coastline is heavily wooded, making these small bays and inlets invisible from the coastal road and the houses nestled in the woods.
September 28, 2025 at 7:44 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
this is where
the North Sea comes to
yawn and doze

#haiku #poetry #Crawfordburn #BelfastLough
The afternoon tide coming in on a quiet little beach between Seahills and Helen's Bay. Trees behind the camera cast long shadows over pale golden sand, and small waves ripple up Belfast Lough from the sea, carrying seaweed, shells and tumbled stones. The quiet movement of the waves, the cries of seabirds and the song of a nearby robin make the perfect soundtrack.
September 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
like water skippers
distant planes bugging the sky
ripples that vanish

#haiku #poetry #senseofwonder
A perfect blue sky with a blazing Sun centred over a floor of scattered cloud and a vast ocean beneath.
September 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
the curve of the bay
and a sunset like a kiss
welcoming me back

#haiku #poetry #sunset #seaside
A beautiful sunset over Bangor, soft grey clod and golden light reflected in still water.
September 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
tiny far below
miniature landscape of
my river childhood
that sunlit tinsel ribbon
tying up my universe

#tanka #poetry #Mersey #Wirral
The River Mersey and the Wirral peninsula from 38000 feet
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
My birthday rose is ending the season in grand style with a late flush of perfect blooms. Peace is lining up its own fabulous flourish of flowers for next weekend.
Opening and fading blooms on my pink birthday rose, and all glorious. The rose my siblings gave me a decade ago has been flowering it's silk stockings off since early June. It's glorious pink flowers fade to powder pink as they age. 'Peace' is showing over half a dozen fat buds. Inside are tightly furled yellow petals with reddish stripes that open yellow flushed with pink and fade to the gold of pale winter sunlight at dawn.
September 23, 2025 at 8:42 AM
helenmccarthy51.bsky.social
There's still time for writers new to television drama to apply for a TV screenwriting course that delivers. Only 12 places, and applications close next week, but you never know what you can do until you commit to it. Check it out at unsolicitedscripts.com/opportunities
The flier for the next 4Screenwriting course has the Channel 4 logo and course name at the top and text below giving information, the deadline and where to find more info. Black type/header on an orange background.
September 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM