Facebook is its own microcosm of the web, and if you choose to have access, there are many groups and Pages – two different types of presentation on the social media platform – dedicated to classic British comics, publishers and a wide range of creators.
Here’s a growing list, assembled with the help of the downthetubes team. Additional information welcome!
This page was last updated on Wednesday 16th September 2020, adding the dedicated DC Thomson & John Leng Annuals Page – and a number of comic and artist groups set up by the unstoppable Peter Gray
Do note that groups have different settings, some public, some private, with different acceptance policies for new members.
If you’re thinking of setting up your own group dedicated to your favourite comic or creator, I’d strongly suggest taking advantage of Facebook suggestions to deter spammers, such as asking key questions and informing would be members of basic rules on being polite and never unkind.
GENERAL GROUPS
Ace for British indie comics, a spin-off from the highly regarded Podcast
Run by downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf, a spin-off of his excellent Boys Adventure Comics Blog
• British Original Comic Art Collectors
• The Cartoon Museum – Facebook Page
The Facebook presence for the magazine
A relatively new group as of August 2020
• DC Thomson & John Leng Annuals Page
Created by Adam Teitge, dedicated to documenting DC Thomson and John Leng annuals printed between 1921 and 1965
Of course we have a Page, too! But for comics discussion, head to the Facebook Comic Con – John Freeman Group
• Dust Jacket Detectives – Page
A group for collectors of old books forever in search of missing dust jackets, set up as a research page for mostly early children’s books and annuals. From reading collectors books, few if any contain pictures or even references to dust jackets
A fantastic group of researchers, fans and creators
The publisher of many great British comic-related titles – so plenty of posts and discussion about British comics
• Mighty World of British Comics
One of the larger groups dedicated to British comics old and new on Facebook
Most discussion here is about British humour comics
• Peter Gray’s Delightful Vintage Art
• Peter Gray’s Illustrated Magazine Covers and Posters
• Peter Gray’s Junior UK Comic Fan Site
We think Peter has at least three clones!
Set up for independent creators and publishers to promote their work
Also discusses US comics
Also US discussion
CLASSIC AND ONGOING BRITISH COMIC GROUPS AND PAGES
2000AD
• 2000AD Original Comic Artwork
• 2000AD – The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic
Action
Battle
Run by Paul Trimble
Beano
• Beano Annual Collectors Group
Bunty
Cheeky
• Peter Gray’s The Cheeky/ Krazy comic fansite
Commando
• Commando and British Weekly Comics – Collectors, Buy, Sell and Swaps Page
• Commando Comics For Sale Or Swap…
Dandy
Doctor Who Comics
• Doctor Who Comics and Art – A Voyage
EAGLE
• Dan Dare
• Dan Dare Audio Adventures – Page
1980s Eagle-oriented
Gerry Anderson
• Gerry Anderson Books and Comics
Hotspur
• The Hotspur Comic – Swap, Sell and collectors site
Krazy
• Peter Gray’s The Cheeky/ Krazy comic fansite
Look-In
• The Look-In Magazine Appreciation Group
Marvel UK
An exuberant mash up of Marvel UK continuity and UK SF TV in comic form!
Misty
Not Official
Rover
• The Rover Comic – Swap, Sell, and Collectors site
A group devoted to a member of DC Thomson’s “Big 5” story papers
Skipper
• The Skipper Comic – Buy and Sell Group
Sparky
• Peter Gray’s Sparky comic fansite
The77
Victor
• The Victor Book for Boys – Comics,Annuals and Summer Specials by DC Thomson
Warlord
• Warlord
Run by downthetubes contributor Colin Noble
BRITISH NEWSPAPER STRIPS
• London Evening Standard: Modesty Blaise
BRITISH COMIC CREATORS/ CREATORS ON BRITISH COMICS
These are groups or Pages dedicated to creators, not their personal pages
ARTISTS
This group includes many examples of both his comics work for titles such as Misty and Tammy, alongside his illustration work. Run by John Freeman
Frank Bellamy
• The Frank Bellamy Blog Facebook Page
Alfred Bestall
• Rupert Bear – The Art of Alfred Bestall
Jeff Bevan
Brian Bolland
• The Brian Bolland Appreciation Society
Brian himself contributes to this group
Paddy Brennan
• Peter Gray’s Paddy Brennan Fan Site
John Michael Burns
John answers questions about his art and work on occasion via moderators of this group run by Colin Brown
Mike Dorey
Phil Elliott
Australian artist Peter Foster, known for his work in the UK on Commando and “Billy the Cat” for Buddy, contributes to this group
Ian Gibson
• The Imagination of Ian Gibson
Ian, whose credits include 2000AD’s “The Ballad of Halo Jones”, contributes to this group
Carl Giles
• Peter Gray’s Carl Giles cartoonist fansite
Creator of the world-famous Giles cartoons for the Daily and Sunday Express
Charles Griggs
• Peter Gray’s Charles Griggs Fan Site
Join fans of The Dandy’s “Korky the Cat”!
Roger Hargreaves
• Peter Gray’s Mr Men info – Roger Hargreaves fan site
Creator of the Mr Men and more
Ken Hunter
• Peter Gray’s Ken Hunter comic fansite
Ian Kennedy
Commando cover artist, “Dan Dare” strip artist and much, much more
Tom Kerr
A very new group as of August 2020 dedicated to the artist possibly best known for his work on strips such as “The Monkees” for Lady Penelope or “Adam Eterno” and “Billy’s Boot”, but who many fans will recognise as the artist who encouraged them to pester Mum for “Clark’s Commandos” shoes – and, hopefully, never take up smoking! (Norman Boyd has one of the few online biographies of the artist here)
Davey Law
Brian Lewis
Kevin O’Neill
• The Art of Kevin O’Neill – Page
Keith Page
• Charlotte Corday by Keith Page
Read the latest Charlotte Corday adventures for free from this Dan Dare and Thunderbirds artist
Reg Parlett
• Peter Gray’s Reg Parlett Comic Art Fan Site
Graeme Neil Reid
• The Art of Graeme Neil Reid – Page
Ken Reid
• Peter Gray’s Ken Reid fansite
Artist, creator, whose credits include Frankie Stein, Faceache and more
Jesus Redondo Roman
• The Art of Jesus Redondo Roman – Page
Ron Smith
Bryan Talbot
An adjunct of the official a Bryan Talbot web site
Dudley D. Watkins
• Peter Gray’s Dudley D. Watkins Fan Site
Jim Watson
WRITERS
Steve MacManus
Further entries welcome! Comment below
With thanks to all those who set up the groups and pages above, and Matt Cole and Colin Noble for additional information
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Links
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