American cartoonist Murat Bernard “Chic” Young, the creator of the comic strip Blondie was born today, 9th January 1901. Other strips by Chic include his first regular work, the short-lived The Affairs of Jane in the 1920s, about a struggling film actress who… Read More ›
downthetubes Comics News
Netflix trails Locke & Key, show debuts next month
Netflix have released a trailer for their upcoming series Locke & Key, based on the critically acclaimed comic from US publisher IDW Publishing, created by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez
In Review: War Cars
What’s that? You don’t remember “War Cars”, the toy sensation of the early 1980s, which Mallet Comics licensed for a short lived return to the publishing world? Written by “Ian Furman” and drawn by “Carlo Ferringo”, the good news is that a digital collection of this fast-paced action SF title is now available, painstakingly restored from the original comics by Bryan Coyle…
Top-selling thriller writer James Swallow pens new Commando comic, out this week
Japanese soldiers versus crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island? Foreign Legion duels to the death? Terror on an isolated sea fort, and a coward in the cockpit? It’s all happening in the latest issues of DC Thomson Media’s… Read More ›
Snapshots in Time: British comics editors on a night out in the 1950s
Dan Dare writer and author David Motton has unearthed a wonderful snapshot from his early days while working on British comics that he has kindly shared with downthetubes. “Very recently, my son Gregory (vide ‘Dan Dare All Treens Must Die’,… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival launches GoFundMe appeal to expand youth-focussed comics programming
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, the only festival of its kind in the UK, is a not for profit arts festival, aiming to raise awareness of the transformational power of comics – and has just launched a GoFundMe specifically… Read More ›
First Look at Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Once & Future #6 From BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Once & Future #6, the latest issue in the critically acclaimed series from New York Times bestselling writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars), Russ Manning Award-winning artist Dan… Read More ›
Scottish Police release CCTV of missing comic creator Gordon McLean
Police officers in Greenock, Scotland, have released CCTV footage of comic creator Gordon McLean, who was reported missing on Thursday 26th December, 2019. As we previously reported, Gordon was seen at around 8.30am on Wednesday, 18th December, in Prospecthill Street,… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2020 opens Comics Clock Tower applications
There not one but two items of Lakes International Comic Art Festival news this morning, with the event opening applications for tables from comic creators for its 2020 Comics Clock Tower, and a new podcast to savour from the team… Read More ›
Doom Patrol TV series hits Starzplay streaming service in the UK
One of our most popular stories earlier last year on downthetubes centred on the hope that NetflixUK would follow up screening Titans with a screening of Doom Patrol. The service never responded to queries about it, but almost one year later the show focusing on DC Comics oddest superteam has arrived in the UK, through subscription service Starzplay, via Amazon’s Prime Video platform and Virgin TV.
Marvel UK Flashback: When Spider-Man met Queen’s Brian May
It wasn’t the greatest Spider-Man costume Marvel UK had for promotional purposes, but by gum, the company made the most of it, even in encounters with pop royalty like Queen’s Brian May
In Review: Third World War Book One
Luke Williams takes a look at the soon-to-be released “Third World War” collection, the strip created by Pat Mills and Carlos Ezquerra for the 1980s Fleetway adult comic, Crisis…
In Memoriam: “Doctor Who” and “Popeye” Comic Artist Bill Mevin
We’re sorry to report the death of comic artist Bill Mevin, who passed yesterday, aged 97. Perhaps best known for his work on TV Comic‘s “Doctor Who” strip and his work on later episodes of “The Perishers” with Maurice Dodd… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part Two
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between July and December 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. 2019 has been a difficult year for the family… Read More ›
Comic Artist Spotlight: Bruno Oliveira
I came across this eye-catching study of DC Comics character Shazam by Bruno Oliveira quite by chance – tracking down the Brazilian artist’s original post here back in 2012 on DeviantArt – and thought I’d quickly spotlight it and his work.
Do you remember Lion’s “Danger Man” comic strip?
Back in the 1960s, the success of James Bond in print and on the big screen spawned or inspired many similar heroes – and heroines – on TV and comics. One of them was the hugely-popular British series Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan, who would go on to star in the cult show The Prisoner. One of the show’s comic spin-offs is less well known than others…
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part One
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between January and June 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. There have also been major changes in the US… Read More ›
Recommended Web Viewing: The Brian Bolland Appreciation Society
If you’re a fan of artist Brian Bolland and you’re on Facebook, then one group you might want to consider joining is The Brian Bolland Appreciation Society. Not only will you find discussion of Brian’s work; Brian himself also posts… Read More ›
Doctor Who: Panel to Panel Podcast is tinsel tinged!
Episode #116 of Jeremy Bement’s Doctor Who comics-focused podcast Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is live, and has a linger to h of the Christmas spirit about it, past and present
Updated: Search continues for missing Scottish comic creator Gordon McLean
Scottish Police are appealing for help to find missing award-winning comic, TV, radio and film writer Gordon McLean, who has been missing for over a week, after going to a party