Not much warning but if anyone is within travelling distance of Dundee on Wednesday 8 October then Dr Chris Murray will be giving a talk to the Abertay Historical Society on The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown. Dr Murray was the… Read More ›
British Comics – Current British Publishers
Tube Surfing: DC Thomson Style
Ian Kennedy may be the pre-eminent Commando cover artist over the course of the title’s long history but it had been running for nine years by the time he did his first cover. Before that Ken Barr was the standout… Read More ›
In Review: Commando and Starblazer Calendars 2009
Two years ago I began the review of the last Art of Commando calendar with “You wait years for a Commando calendar to come along, and then two arrive at once!” After nothing last year save for the usual Beano… Read More ›
In Review: Classics From The Comics 149
It has been out for a while but it is still worth giving the latest issue DC Thomson’s monthly reprint magazine Classics From The Comics a hearty pat on the back. Issue 149 includes two sections that are new to… Read More ›
War of Words: Comic Writing Tips
In December 2007 Matt Badham was fortunate enough to interview DC Thomson editor Calum Laird, currently editing Commando, as research for an article about writing. The interview includes tips on pitching to various DC Thomson titles such as The Dandy,… Read More ›
Happy 70th Birthday, Beano!
As Britain’s top weekly humour comic The Beano celebrates its 70th birthday, downthetubes asked comic creators to offer their birthday wishes, and the first received have now been published in a special tribute section on the main downthetubes site, including… Read More ›
Les Starblazeurs
It has been eleven months since both downthetubes and Bear Alley mentioned the Starblazer Adventures role-playing game due out from Cubicle Seven. The Starblazer Adventures core rulebook is now scheduled to be in games stores in “Autumn/Winter 2008” according to… Read More ›
Beano Mischief on Radio 4!
Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park and Beano editor Alan Digby were interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, part of the ongoing celebrations for the weekly comic as it fast approaches its 70th birthday. Park, who is… Read More ›
Crikey’s DC Thomson Special
The next issue of British comics history magazine Crikey! (Number 6) on sale soon, with the editors promising that the “Summer Special” (remember those?) is a DC Thomson focused issue, apt given the upcoming 70th birthday celebrations for that company’s… Read More ›
Happy Birthday Beano Event
As previously mentioned here, Happy Birthday Beano, the official 70th anniversary exhibition will be running in the Tower Building of the University of Dundee from from 18th July to 20th September 2008. The display will include original artwork from the… Read More ›
Commando Shop – Summer Offer
DC Thomson’s official Commando shop is currently offering free postage on all its orders. The Commando Gear shop offers T-shirts and mugs in a variety of different colours and designs with the Commando logo and the familiar F-S fighting knife… Read More ›
Beano Birthday Publicity Ramps Up
DC Thomson is pulling no punches when it comes to promoting the Beano‘s upcoming 70th issue, running a two page feature in this week’s Sunday Post to promote Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park’s upcoming guest editorship of the birthday… Read More ›
Commando Webbing
DC Thomson’s official Commando website have just completed their first web version of a Commando comic. Wall of Death was originally published in July 1966 in Commando issue 221, written by Redbridge and illustrated by Cortez. The website has formatted… Read More ›
Remembering Heroes
There was a time not that long ago when British boy’s comics celebrated the heroism of British and Commonwealth servicemen. As London celebrates the current British forces with the City Salute, Jeremy Briggs takes a look back at how British… Read More ›
BBC’s Comedy Map Of Britain – Dundee
The BBC2 programme The Comedy Map Of Britain turned its attention to Scotland for the second programme of the second series. As well as taking Johnny Vegas back to the ruins of the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh and Doon Mackichan… Read More ›
Beano Reunion on Radio 4
Comics guru Paul Gravett is just one of many creators involved in a special comics-focused The Reunion show on BBC Radio 4 this coming Sunday (Sunday 20th April, 11.15 to 12 noon). “The Reunion is a fascinating series bringing people… Read More ›
By Sea, By Land, By Air: An Interview with Calum Laird
This interview was first published on 9th April 2008 on downthetubes and was merged with this blog in 2013. First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with,… Read More ›
By Sea, By Land, By Air
First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with, only the ubiquitous Dandy and Beano are older – however, since there are eight Commandos a month, its… Read More ›
Every Letter Printed Wins A T-Shirt!
…is how the editor of The Victor, James Halley, enticed his readers to write into the comic’s letters page, Tupper’s Talk-In. The Tough Of The Track was runner Alf Tupper who of course mixed competitive running with eating fish and… Read More ›
Calling Fireball Agents!
FIREBALL FOR HIRE Mysteries solved – problems licked – lost things found – crooks straightened out – anytime – any place BUT… ONLY TOUGH JOBS ACCEPTED. Do you recognise this man? As the agent/adventurer from D C Thomson’s mid-1970s Bullet… Read More ›