Tube Surfing: 25 July 2008

By John Freeman on July 25, 2008

• Steve Winders has reviewed Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future Voyage to Venus Part 1 , Orion’s new audio version of the first half of Dan Dare’s first ever adventure from Eagle for Bear Alley, noting it sticks rigidly to Frank Hampson’s original script and this is a major strength of the production. “Hampson’s story is well paced and his witty script, with strong character interplay, transfers well to audio.”

• We’re sorry to report that Randy Pausch, inspirational author of The Last Lecture, died today, aged 47. We ran a news item on him and his famous lectureback in March – creators could do worse than view his talk. The Los Angeles Times (among many others) posted a tribute to him, noting his book, , has sold over two million copies and is being published in 29 languages. Memorial donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, www.pancan.org, or to Carnegie-Mellon’s Randy Pausch Memorial Fund, www.cmu.edu/giving/pausch.

• A quick reminder that this Saturday sees the Edinburgh Zine and Small Press Fair, which is due to take place from 12 noon to 5.00pm in the upstairs section of the Forest Cafe, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh. Malcy Duff’s new comic The 4th 4th Bridge should be on sale at the fair as well as from his Missing T win website.

• Over on the Birmingham Mail’s Speech Balloons, Paul Birch reports that on Sunday 27th July three young local comic creators will be featured on Carl Chinn’s BBC Radio WM show. Among other things, Matthew Craig, Donato Esposito and Jack Davies will be discussing their new webcomic Bostin Heroes.The Mail also has a feature on the comic here. To hear the Carl Chinn radio show featuring Bostin Heroes visit:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio#local

• Doctor Who had them back in the Tom Baker years. Now Judge Dredd has followed into the netherwear universe with the release of Judge Dredd underpants, avalable from August from Asda stores across the UK. A snip at £3 a pair. Will the lawman be investigating how Asda make them so cheaply? “Are these standard issue Justice Department knickers, I wonder?” ponders Joe Gordon over at Forbidden Planet International. “I’d have thought Dredd might need something with some padding around the back to make sitting on that bike all day more comfortable and prevent chafing.” Coming soon: Halo Jones thongs and Gronk nose pins. (Sorry, we made the last bit up, especially about the nose pins).

• More up the street of reader here is probably the Dredd vs Death statue from First4Figures, now available from http://www.2000ADshop.com. Based on an image by artist Greg Staples, the figurine features the future lawman locked in a deadly struggle with the alien superfiend – and all orders taken through the webshop will come with an exclusive print signed by the Staples droid, which isn’t available in any stores. A snip at £119.99 (Earth money). Recession? What recession? Your domicile demands it!

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.