British humour comics archivists George Shiers – creator of the sadly no longer maintained Wacky Comics blog – has just released a free non-profit guide to the short-lived 1980s humour comic Nipper, The title, whose characters included “Brad Break”,… Read More ›
British Comics – Books
Arena: The Crunch is NOW!
When I heard that Bear Alley Books had obtained a license to reprint a vintage DC Thomson adventure story, I was beside myself with excitement. When I found out that it was from The Crunch, my inner child… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2014: Comic Creator Hunt Emerson
In the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October), we’re aiming to run a number of interviews spotlighting at least a few of the huge number of guests and comic creators who will be at the… Read More ›
Sequart puts Star Trek comics under scrutiny in new book
The Sequart Organization has just announced the release of New Life and New Civilizations: Exploring Star Trek Comics, edited by Joseph F. Berenato, which includes coverage of the Star Trek comics originated in the UK. The creation of visionary futurist… Read More ›
Taschen’s mammoth “75 Years of Marvel” book by Roy Thomas on its way
Taschen, the well known “art book” publisher which has a slew of fantastic high quality titles to its name, recently announced the upcoming release of the 720-page 75 Years of Marvel: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen by Marvel writer… Read More ›
Amazon issues statement on eBook pricing
The online bookseller Amazon has issued the following statement about their aim to reduce eBook prices, and comment on their ongoing dispute with publisher Hatchette, who have resisted price drop requests from the multinational company . We’re running it… Read More ›
Creating Comics is No Disaster for Alex Potts
South London-based Avery Hill Publishing will be releasing A Quiet Disaster by Alex Potts later this month and we’re delighted to be able to publish this short interview with him on downthetubes. Alex Potts – Animation Showreel from Alex Potts… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: Comics Unmasked closing soon, How To Make Awesome Comics out this week
• Paul Gravett, co-curator of the Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK exhibition at The British Library reminds us that it closes on Tuesday 19th August. He’s giving two more Co-Curator’s Tours, free with your ticket but… Read More ›
Grant Morrison’s Batman stories under the microscope in new book
The Sequart Organization has announced the release of The Anatomy of Zur-en-Arrh: Understanding Grant Morrison’s Batman, by Cody Walker. Grant Morrison has made a career of redefining heroes, but his work with Batman has been the most comprehensive. From… Read More ›
Titan Books to release “The Art of Robert E. McGinnis” in October
Robert E. McGinnis is a celebrated artist and illustrator, best known for his book cover and movie poster work. He began his career illustrating covers for the likes of Donald Westlaker, going on to produce art for TIME and Good… Read More ›
Revolutionary War collection, reviving Marvel UK heroes, on sale today
The collected edition of Marvel Comics “Revolutionary War” limited series, is on sale this week (28th May), a story that revived many of the Marvel UK characters. The series was created by Andy Lanning and Alan Cowsill and features art… Read More ›
Sarah McIntyre announced as judge for Sainsbury’s first Children’s Book Awards
Sainsbury’s, Britain’s third largest supermarket and a major player in children’s book retailing, has announced details of the first “Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards” – and comic creator Sarah McIntyre is one of the judges. Sainsbury’s is inviting all their current… Read More ›
Meet Cruffin and Muffnut in a tale of unrequited love by Alex Hahn
Freelance illustrator and independent publisher Alex Hahn (who some of you may have met at Thought Bubble last year) recently launched The Cruffin and Muffnut, a story of unrequited love, a new book featuring Muffnut, a character who made made his tasty… Read More ›
Paul Magrs celebrates the Doctor Who annuals in all their, erm… glory?
Out in June in hardback from Obverse Books, with cover art and internal illustrations by Adam Bullock, and commentary on every single story from Paul Magrs, author of Doctor Who fiction for Big Finish, the BBC and AudioGo, The… Read More ›
Behind the Scenes: Creating Sally Heathcote: Suffragette
Out this week from publisher Jonathan Cape is is Sally Heathcote: Suffragette, marvellous historical graphic novel created by Mary and Bryan Talbot and Kate Charlesworth which I enthused about in our early review here. Sally Heathcote: Suffragette is a… Read More ›
Imagining Scotland, 2043… a comic vision unfolds in brave new project
The Edinburgh International Book Festival and Freight Books have announced the six teams of major names in European comics and graphic novels who have collaborated on a new graphic novel which will be launched in August 2014. As part… Read More ›
Massive Luther Arkwright tome, “Arkwright Integral” announced
Finally! At long last, a comics publisher – Dark Horse – has had the good sense to commission and publish a high quality ultimate A4 size hardback edition of the first flagship British graphic novel, Luther Arkwright by Eisner and Harvey Award-winner Bryan… Read More ›
Sally Heathcote “Director’s Commentary” reveals creators secrets about new graphic novel
(with thanks to Joe Gordon): Writer Mary Talbot and artist Kate Charlesworth have their guest Director’s Commentary on the making of their upcoming book Sally Heathcote – Suffragette on the Forbidden Planet International blog today. “For those not familiar with… Read More ›
Jon Lock’s AFTERLIFE INC. collection on course for crowd funding success?
Comics writer Jon Lock recently launched a Kickstarter campaign that looks to be on course to see the publication of a deluxe collection of his amazing AFTERLIFE INC., the tale of con-artist Jack Fortune, who, following his untimely demise, discovers an afterlife in… Read More ›
Heroes In The Night: Inside The Real Life Superhero Movement
The Watchman didn’t arrive in a Batmobile but drove a tan, four-door Pontiac. He was in costume, of course — a trench coat, motorcycle gloves, army boots, a domino mask, and a red hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with a W logo…. Read More ›