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 ›
British Comics – Current British Publishers
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 ›
Happy Birthday, Oor Wullie!
He is Scotland’s most famous son, a dungaree-wearing, spiky-haired scamp who has sown mischief in Auchenshuggle for 70 years — and first appeared in the Sunday Post on 8th March 1936. Oor Wullie, who celebrates being “nine years auld” today… Read More ›
Commando – Wall Of Death
The Commando website is continuing their on-line adaptation of Commando issue 221 Wall of Death. This was first published on 26 July 1966 and was then priced at one shilling. The electronic version is free and is currently up to… Read More ›
Norbert le Mouton
(via Blimey! It’s Another Blog About Comics): Gary Northfield’s popular Beano (and first creator owned) strip Derek the Sheep has been collected into a 64-page softback book for the French market. Published by Actes-Sud-l’An 2, the full colour Norbert le… Read More ›
Commando Creators credited at last
As expected, DC Thomson’s Commando range now feature credits for their creators, part of a sweeping range of ongoing changes to the books which continue to sell well in UK newsagents and via subscription. DC Thomson long held back from… Read More ›
Patrick Stewart Supports Classical Comics’ Macbeth
Acclaimed Shakespeare actor and Star Trek star Patrick Stewart has applauded Classical Comics’ pioneering work
Dandy Celebrations begin
Britain’s The Independent newspaper features a five page tribute to The Dandy on its 70th anniversary today (info via Lew Stringer, cheers!).
Happy 70th Birthday, Dandy!
Over on Lew Stringer’s always wonderful Blimey! It’s Another Blog About Comics, he notes that the world’s longest running comic The Dandy is 70 years old any day now. Issue Number 1 was cover dated 4th December 1937, which means… Read More ›
One Dandy Of An Accident
Not your typical comics related news story but on Wednesday morning the flat bed trailer of an articulated lorry carrying steel beams crashed through the wall of D C Thomson’s Guthrie Street printing plant in Dundee used for printing annuals… Read More ›
New Dennis the Menace animation in the works
Beano character Dennis the Menace is being updated in a new animated version for CBBC. Trade magazine Broadcast and other sources report DC Thomson is working with animation company Red Kite to deliver the 52 x 12-minute Dennis & Gnasher… Read More ›
Celebrity Chef
First we had Fanny Craddock, next Delia Smith, then Nigella Lawson, and now we have Maw Broon! Courtesy of those nice people at Waverley Books, Maw Broon’s Cookbook is due to be released on an unsuspecting world in October, just… Read More ›
It’s Just Not The Same As When I Were A Lad…
So the new look Dandy Xtreme is in the shops and from the outside it now looks rather like all the rest of those biweekly comic magazines aimed at kids in mid to late primary school. As much as we… Read More ›
Graphic Novels by Any Other Name?
Jeremy Briggs has kindly provided downthetubes with a smashing feature and checklist for DC Thomson’s Red Dagger title, a 64 page compilation title little known among comics fans which featured strips from Hornet, Hotspur, Warlord and others with many issues… Read More ›
For Action And Adventure
Those who still labour until the mistaken belief that Commando only covers the Second World War could do worse than checking one of the latest issues. Commando 4015 : Wolves At War concludes the “Log Of The Lairds” sequence of… Read More ›
I’m a Marvel, I’m a DC: After Hours with Superheroes
Very funny. Reminds me of those brilliant Toyfare magazine strips — do they still do those?
Happy Birthday, 2000AD!
Matthew Badham and David Baillie went to the 2000AD 30 year birthday bash last month. They’re just beginning to remember what the hell happened… Dave Baillie: Almost two weeks have passed since 2000AD’s 30th birthday bash in London. Firstly we’d… Read More ›