downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf has written features on Eagle‘s Dan Dare excursions beyond the UK, which include appearances in an Australian version of Eagle, as “Daan Durf” in the Netherlands, an all-new take on the character in Spain, Diego Valor,… Read More ›
Richard Sheaf
Whacko!, The Comic That Never Was
I was saddened the other day to read of the death of British humour comics stalwart Terry Bave. As a lad, I read his work in my brother’s copy of Whizzer & Chips, but I probably became most interested in… Read More ›
In Pictures: The Frank Hampson – The Man Who Drew Dan Dare Exhibition
An exhibition of art by Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson at The Atkinson, in Southport, Lancashire – where both the character and Eagle comic were “born” in the 1950s – is on now until March, and it’s well worth a visit. The exhibition covers all aspects of… Read More ›
Uncovered: Kieron Gillen’s “Warhammer Monthly” Stories, his first pro work
Comics writer Kieron Gillen is at Gosh Comics in London later today (Saturday 20th October) to sign copies of the seventh collection of The Wicked + The Divine stories – but do you know his first professionally-published work was in Warhammer Monthly?… Read More ›
Collecting Comics: The Strange Case of the War Comic Cover “Twins”
Richard Sheaf and I recently investigated the way British war comics used to re-use cover art, and this article reveals how two British comic companies used the same art on different titles… For those of you familiar with my Nothing… Read More ›
Money Spinning: How many times can you re-publish a British war comic?
As comic fans, it’s often easy to forget that publishing them is very much a business as far as companies such as DC Thomson, Rebellion and Titan Comics are concerned, and syndicating or re-using comics published is a major part… Read More ›
In Pictures: Orbital Comics “Kirby Consciousness” Exhibition, Image Comics-inspired exhibition on now
For anyone who couldn’t get to the “Kirby Consciousness” exhibition at Orbital Comics in London, here are a few hurried snaps Richard Sheaf took the other evening, offering plenty of examples of Jack Kirby comics and artists taking their own spin on his work. In… Read More ›
British comic fanzines celebrated in style in FANSCENE – a new fanzine, of course!
I’m delighted to report the release of FANSCENE, a very special celebration of over fifty years of comics fandom in Ireland and the UK. It’s a privilege to have been asked to be part of this free mammoth publication put… Read More ›
Who remembers “Jet Jason” by Dave Gibbons? A look back at British Airways Fleetwings magazine
One of the things downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf likes collecting are comics and magazines that may have been rather forgotten about. A few months ago, he spotted a copy of Fleetwings on eBay, an unusual looking item that piqued his… Read More ›
In Pictures: Valerian creators Pierre Christin and Jean Claude Mezieres in London
Last month, Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières were in London, at the Institut Francais, for an event titled Valerian & Laureline Disclosed. Chaired by comics expert Paul Gravett, the Valerian creators were full of life and were happy to rib each other… Read More ›