Author Archives

• Cine Excess Gets Graphic in Brighton with Pat Mills, Jim McCarthy and Martin Barker

  By John Freeman on October 21, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  The ninth annual Cine Excess international Festival turns its focus on the world of graphic novels for the first time this year, with a special panel discussion on violence in comics featuring Professor Martin Barker, comic book writer and editor Pat… Read More ›

• Lancaster to host Out of This World Fiction Fest next month

  By John Freeman on October 21, 2015

  

  Lancaster’s Gregson Art and Community Centre is to be the venue for the Out of This World Fiction Fest – a free gathering of local authors and artists on Saturday 7th November, including comics writer Eddie Robson, comics artist Dan Charnley, SF author JS Collyer… Read More ›

• Will Overton’s ” Smart Bomb” Hits the Web, Print Edition in the Pipeline

  By John Freeman on October 21, 2015

  

  Smart Bomb!! is a new 48-page, all-ages colour comic masterminded by Will Overton, which fellow Tuber Tony Esmond had sight of in print form at last weekend’s Leamington Comic Con. Set in an alternative gamingverse, one where TV games you’ve never… Read More ›

• 2016 Lakes International Comic Art Festival Date Announced

  By John Freeman on October 21, 2015

  

  The dates for next year’s annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival have been announced after its 2015 event proved a massive success once again at the weekend, attracting both comic creators and fans from around the globe – and some 14,000 visitors…. Read More ›

• Transformers rivals Robo Machines comic art by Mario Capaldi on show

  By John Freeman on October 21, 2015

  

  Many years ago, while Group Editor at Marvel UK, I was nominally in charge of a project to clear the company’s Arundel House basement of old artwork, which Editorial Director Paul Neary wanted  cleaned out for his artists’ bullpen, where the… Read More ›

• Who Remembers ‘Chippy’ Stark and a Killer Shark? Commando Readers!

  By John Freeman on October 20, 2015

  

  Here’s the lowdown on this week’s Commando releases from DC Thomson (Issues 4855-4858), on sale from Thursday 22nd October in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms, all listed below. Commando No 4855 – Eagles Of Dunkirk Story: Ferg… Read More ›

• In Review: Leamington Comic Con 2015

  By John Freeman on October 20, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  Leamington Comic Convention on the 17th October was an absolute blast. Rumours were that there had been a massive amount of tickets sold and unlike rumours about my hair being made in China, these rumours turned out to be 100… Read More ›

• Redan extends “Bag-O-Fun” line with new BOj title

  By John Freeman on October 20, 2015

  

  Redan Publishing has announced it will release a BOj Bag-O-Fun story and activity magazine early next year, based on the hit pre-school TV show shown on CBeebies that launched last year. Redan already licences Boj for its hit multi-character titles Fun To Lean… Read More ›

• “Red Virgin” Announced as new Graphic Novel project by Mary and Bryan Talbot

  By John Freeman on October 20, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  One book that caught a lot of people’s attention over the Lakes International Comic Art Festival weekend was Bryan and Mary M. Talbot’s new project, due out next year: The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia. Festival goers got… Read More ›

• Malta Comic Con Announces More Guests, including Brits Boo Cook, Mike Krome and Tim Perkins

  By John Freeman on October 20, 2015

  

  As the excitement leading to the 7th edition of the Malta Comic Con continues to build, organisers Wicked Comics have announced internationally renowned creators Tim Perkins (Worlds End: The Riders on the Storm), Boo Cook (Elephantmen) and Mike Krome (Shahrazad) as well… Read More ›

• Happy Birthday, Judge Dredd Megazine – 25 Years Young This Week

  By John Freeman on October 19, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  2000AD’s sister comic, Judge Dredd Megazine, celebrates its 25th anniversary this Wednesday – with a special cover by artist Barry Kitson. The veteran artist on Judge Dredd, Anderson: Psi Division, Fantastic Four, and The Amazing Spider-Man has returned to the… Read More ›

• Awesome Comic Podcast Episode 16: Comics Artist Chris Imber Talks Small Press

  By John Freeman on October 19, 2015

  

  The boys at the Awesome Comics Podcast aim for sophisticated and polished interviewers  this week and end up crudely laughing at crossdressing cosplay. Once that childish gigglefest is done they sit down with the artist Chris Imber, who is currently killing it… Read More ›

• After A Splendid Lakes Festival, We’re Back In The Room!

  By John Freeman on October 19, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  The Lakes International Comic Art Festival​ proved a massive success once again this weekend, with a lot of happy memories of meeting so many talented energised comics creators – including some of the brilliant Phoenix comic crew at breakfast each morning at… Read More ›

• Lakes Festival kicks off with Steve Bell, Dave McKean

  By John Freeman on October 17, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  The 2015 Lakes International Comic Art Festival opened last night with a great talk from Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell, introduced by local MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron. Tim was demonstrably supportive of the Festival (he’s a long… Read More ›

• Something For The Weekend: US Comics On Sale 14th October 2015 – Assassin’s Creed Launches!

  By John Freeman on October 16, 2015

  

  Here’s this week’s run down of new comics on sale in comic shops across the UK, with the emphasis, as ever, on titles that are the work of British creators and published by British publishers. Along with another page-turning and… Read More ›

• Signature Publishing Launches New Transformers Title

  By John Freeman on October 15, 2015

  

  Signature Publishing – publishers of titles such as Milkshake! and Dinosaur Action – launch a new Transformers  title, Transformers: Robots In Disguise this week. Inspired by the animated series aimed at 4-8 year olds already attracting large audiences on Cartoon… Read More ›

• Jamie Smart illustrates Cereal Killer Cafe cookbook

  By John Freeman on October 15, 2015 • ( 2 )

  

  On sale soon is The Cereal Killer Café Cookbook written by the founders of the London-based Cereal Killer Cafe, by Gary Keery and Alan Keery, featuring art by Jamie Smart. The cafe – which has operations in Camden and Brick… Read More ›

• “Highgate Horror” story debuts in new Doctor Who Magazine, drawn by David Roach

  By John Freeman on October 15, 2015 • ( 1 )

  

  The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale from today in all good newsagents (Thursday 15th October, priced £4.99) and not only features articles on the latest episodes of the show but the first episode of a two-part… Read More ›

• Gale Force Nine, Battlefront and BBC to produce Doctor Who board game

  By John Freeman on October 15, 2015

  

  For over fifty years, the Doctor and his companions have taken viewers on a journey into the unknown in Doctor Who. Now, US company Gale Force Nine is partnering with BBC Worldwide North America to bring the Time Lord’s adventures… Read More ›

• Truugationary: The Wit and Wisdom of Truuglub Vanderpatz The Daunting

  By John Freeman on October 15, 2015

  

  Please note, these are the only the terms known to date employed by the Chk’Rath, Truug, who features prominently in Crucible.  It will, over time, expand. Bellingly: Ironically. With thundering yet much-avoided inevitability. Bathetically. Chk’Rath: Truug’s species (see Episode One) Frentling: Pantomiming… Read More ›