Author Archives
Antony Esmond is a comic reviewer and writer - his hips don't lie.
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Avery Hill Publishing – A Great Year
Remember those days of the small press scene when you would turn up at Bristol and it would be the same small press and indie comics for sale year in and out? Well, “No more!” shout the mighty… Read More ›
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Cogs & Claws: An Interview with Creator and Artist Brian ‘Clank’ Bennett
We at downthetubes were lucky enough to be sent a preview copy of the excellent Cogs & Claws published by Markosia, an anthropomorphic space saga of astounding attention to detail and design from Brian ‘Clank’ Bennett and Jimmy Pearson. It’s… Read More ›
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In Review: Blind Detective Blake – Oeuvre
Blind Detective Blake 1: ‘Oeuvre’ Written and Drawn by Michael Lomon The story – An enfant terrible of the London arts scene is murdered and mounted as her own piece in an exhibition at The Victoria and Albert Museum. As the… Read More ›
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In Review: The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel – Volume 4
The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel – Volume 4 Edited by Owen Watts and Geoffrey Crescent Cover Art by Alex Ronald Released at the Melksham Comics Festiaval earlier this year the latest The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel is an… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview – Propeller Issue 1
Propeller – Issue One Written by Ricardo Mo Art by Alberto Muriel Lettered by HdE Logo and Cover Variant by Rodolfo Reyes Published by Instant Astronaut Publishing Available from Wednesday 26th November 2014 from Comixology The Story: Let’s be fair… Read More ›
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Photo Report: Thought Bubble 2014
Thought Bubble 2014, which took place in Leeds this weekend, was the biggest incarnation of this annual Festival so far. It had a few added twists to its layout and style, with the TB Teepee the biggest addition and occupied… Read More ›
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Manly Boys and Comely Girls: British Annuals of Yesteryear Parodied
Avery Hill Publishing have announced the publication of Manly Boys and Comely Girls, two delightful ‘zines from Gareth Brookes and Steve Tillotson, just in time for Thought Bubble. Manly Boys was first released by the creators back in 2009 as… Read More ›
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In Review: Goddamn This War! – Tardi with Pat Mills
Goddamn this war!: Tardi with Pat Mills Monday 10th November 2014 7.00pm – Foyles Bookshop My anticipation of the meeting of minds between Pat Mills and Jacques Tardi is so combustible that they should really advertise this… Read More ›
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In Review: Crouch End Comic Art Festival 2014
Convention Season really is underway in the UK. It only seems like yesterday I was in Comics Village at MCM London and next weekend is the massive Thought Bubble Comics Festival up in Leeds. Nicely crammed between these two events… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Bertie Bear Issue 3
Words and Pictures by Andy W. Clift Lettered by Jon Scrivens Cover layout by Katy Morrison Script Edited by Rachel Barber Published by Bounce Comics With the Thought Bubble Comics Festival in Leeds just around the corner there has been… Read More ›
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EdieOp’s “Maleficium” launches next week from Avery Hill
Avery Hill Publishing out of mighty South London are turning into one of the most interesting voices in British comics. It seems that everything they put out is intelligent, beautiful and of the moment. Speaking to those clever people at… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Bone China from Improper Books
Written by Benjamin Read Art by Chris Wildgoose Colour by Andre May Letters by Jim Campbell Published by Improper Books Bone China – out next year – is a book that I have personally been looking forward to since I heard… Read More ›
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In Review: Dark Matter
Published by Red Shift Press Out: At Thought Bubble 2014 This is what Red Shift Press had to say about their horror anthology. Dark Matter is an anthology of nine short stories of differing genres, written by Chris Sides and each… Read More ›
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In Review: Random Trials – Issue 2
Written, drawn and lettered by Dean Beattie Warning: Adult Language in both comic and review You know that friend or work colleague? The one who finds out you read comics and it’s such an alien concept to him… Read More ›
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In Review: Halloween – A Horror Anthology
Just in the nick of time for this Halloween weekend, this anthology fell into my inbox. It is absolutely packed full of talent and shows off a pile of UK-based small press creators with great effect. It’s 62 pages… Read More ›
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In Review – Last Days of Nobodies: Wheatfields After the Rain
Written and Drawn by Mike Medaglia Published by Avery Hill Publishing The Book: A comic about the last days of Vincent Van Gogh – the first of a series of three books looking at artists who have died in obscurity. The… Read More ›
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Convention Report – MCM London Comic Con October 2014
Ah. MCM Expos. What a pickle. We hardcore comics fans feel bad in our gut if we don’t support the industry but come over all They Live with shades on at the actual reality of the event. This year… Read More ›
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In Review – Stalkerville
Written and drawn by Vincent Hunt Warning: This review is not for the sqeamish or under 18s! You Have Been Warned You know when you come back from holiday and you are back at work for that first day?… Read More ›
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In Review – GoodCopBad Cop – Casebook 2
To Be Published by Rough Cut Comics (on sale at ThoughtBubble 2014) Edited by Ed Murphy Cover by Joel Carpenter The Book: This 68-page book published by Rough Cut Comics continues on from the award-winning Casebook Issue One –… Read More ›
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In Review – Meanwhile Issue One
Published by Soaring Penguin Press This anthology series has made a return. It’s had a little bit of a rebranding and the first issue offers us some impressive creators and strips. Overall, this first issue offers a mixed bag of stories but with… Read More ›