(via Lew Stringer and Steve Bright): downthetubes is sorry to report the death of cartoonist Les Barton, the artist who originally drew DC Thomson’s Sparky comic’s brilliant I-Spy character. Les, who lived in Uxbridge, Middlesex, passed away in a nursing… Read More ›
British Comics
British comics-related news, interviews and features
Tube Surfing: 21 October 2008
• Titan is to release a collection of Jane strips from the Daily Mirror later this week and over on Bear Alley Steve Holland has cast his expert eye over the various stories which made up the strip’s run. The… Read More ›
New Eagle Times Available Now (Volume 21 Number Three)
The latest issue of Eagle Times, (Volume 21 Number Three), the quarterly journal dedicated to Britain’s national picture strip weekly Eagle, features 50+ A4 pages (of which 20 are in full colour) of all sorts of things to do with… Read More ›
Commando Webbing
A new interview with Commando and Dan Dare artist Keith Page has been posted on the official Commando website. In the interview Keith, who is currently working on his 144th Commando issue answers questions posed by Commando readers on his… Read More ›
Free Hunt Emerson Comic
Following up the recent downthetubes piece on Hunt Emerson and his work with Phil Stamp Covers, Emerson fans may like to check out the comic that he has produced for the BBC RaW adult literacy campaign. The 16 page full… Read More ›
The Art of War
On sale now in all good bookshops is the simply gorgeous The Art of War by David Roach, featuring almost 1000 fabulous full-colour artworks created for the covers of Fleetway/IPC’s classic War, Battle, Air Ace and War at Sea Picture… Read More ›
Emerson Stamps His Mark
Cartoonist Hunt Enerson has been busy updating hiw website, Largecow.com and has added somne some news about his band The Hound Dogs, and added a new Phil Stamp Gallery featuring his First Day Stamp Covers. “Phil Stamp Covers are colourful… Read More ›
Creating Tammy: A True Story
Many years ago, British newsagents were awash with all sorts of comics: boys’ adventure, children’s titles, educational comics and more. But while humour comics reigned supreme in Britain, and still do, girls comics regularly outsold most of the more famous… Read More ›
Giant-Size Band-Thing!
You know, now I’m even more annoyed that I missed out on the Birmingham International Comic Show last weekend (the result of circumstances beyond my control). If I’d been able to make it for the whole weekend and known they… Read More ›
Temple Digital Showcase launched
The first edition of British Amateur Press Association group The Temple’s digital showcase is now available online from their web site to download as a free PDF. The 36 page magazine contains contributions from 10 members, including the likes of… Read More ›
Spaceship Away On Sale Now
The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on sale now via the official web site, featuring no less than eleven strips – including part one Secrets of Ceres, an all-new adventure by downthetubes editor John… Read More ›
‘Comic Timing’ Exhibition Continues
Harrods “Comic Timing” Exhibition is continuing until 31st October 2008
The Return of Classics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated (originally Classic Comics) was an American comic book series which ran from 1941 to 1971 and featured comic strip adaptations of literary classics ranging from The Time Machine to Moby Dick and Romeo and Juliet to The Jungle… Read More ›
Come On Ye Reds!
After all the Roy Of The Rovers books due out from Titan in time for Christmas, Vision Sports Publishing of London have jumped on the bandwagon and released two football related graphic novels to compete with all those books on… Read More ›
The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown
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 ›
Markosias’s new Starship Troopers Title
AAM/Markosia, British publishers of the hit series Kong: King of Skull Island, Starship Troopers and the critically acclaimed The Boy Who Made Silence, have announced the release of a Starship Troopers one-shot this coming December, War Stories: Tasch, scripted by… Read More ›
Transformers Animated #1 Heads for Stores
On sale later this month is Transformers Animated #1 from Titan, the company’s new tie-in with the latest animated incarnation of the phenomonally successful robots-in-disguise toy franchise. The first issue, on sale from 23 October, includes ‘Sideswiped’, one of two… Read More ›
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 ›
Futurequake 11: On Sale Now
(via David Hailwood’s new blog): The latest issue of the twice Eagle Award nominated Futurequake will be available to buy at the Birmingham International Comic Show this weekend. Preview images can be viewed on the messageboard of the comic’s website… Read More ›
Small Press Week at FPI
Joe Grodon writes to tells us Richard Bruton, who write the Propaganda reviews for the Forbidden Planet International blog is posting a pile of themed reviews this week, all on British small press comics creators ahead of the Birmingham International… Read More ›