Scouting through the large number of graphic novel publishers at the London Book Fair, I came across news of a graphic novel competition being run by Brighton-based publisher Myriad Editions, publishers of the brilliant Rumblestrip album by Woodrow Phoenix some… Read More ›
downthetubes Comics News
In Review: Hurricane and Champion: the Companion Papers to Valiant
The Book: Top British comics archivist Steve Holland has re-launched his Bear Alley Books imprint with Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant an all-new index to two classic British comics detailing the histories of both papers and reveals… Read More ›
Sneek Peek: New Dan Dare for Spaceship Away
We’re pleased to report that the next issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on course to go to press very soon, featuring its regular thrice-yearly mix of comic strip and features. Now edited by Des Shaw,… Read More ›
A Very British Appointment: Pat Mills becomes an honorary professor
The ‘Godfather of British Comics’ Pat Mills was presented an honorary professorship by Liverpool University this week for his contributions to popular culture and national literacy. The creator of 2000AD, Slaine, Marshal Law and hundreds of other characters will be… Read More ›
The Tartan Bucket Prize Competition
The Dundee Comics Day has been running since 2007 and in 2008 became part of the Dundee Literary Festival at Dundee University. The fifth comics day is due to be held in October and the University has announced that this… Read More ›
Phoenix: a new British comic rises from the ashes of The DFC
A new British comic is in the offing, edited by former The DFC editor Ben Sharpe. Contrary to earlier reports on Lew Stringer’s blog, bleedingcool.com and elsewhere, Ben says The Phoenix is not a revival of The DFC, although its… Read More ›
A Comic Convention Returns to Glasgow
It has been some 15 years since Glasgow hosted a comics convention with the last of the GlasCACs, the Glasgow Comic Art Conventions. Since then, Scotland has had two Oxfam Comics Days in Edinburgh, three Hi-Exs in Inverness, four Dundee Comics Days as… Read More ›
David Pugh’s Slaine, Dan Dare art (and more) on sale for charity
Check out some fantastic original comic art by David Pugh
View from the Trenches: the Cardiff Comic Expo
Time Bomb Comics publisher Steve Tanner kindly sent us a report on the Cardiff International Comic Expo, which included the launch of titles such as Stuart Tipples 10thology project and Barry Nugent’s Fallen Heroes… Fallen Heroes – one of several… Read More ›
Motton’s Memories: An Interview with one of Dan Dare’s early writers
Thanks to a chance discovery on the Internet, downthetubes is pleased to be able to present a rare interview with comics writer David Motton, whose career spanned three decades of British comics publishing, but is probably best known for his… Read More ›
Print Media to publish Dave Morris and Leo Hartas Mirabilis project
Print Media Productions has announced it will be publishing hardcover editions of Mirabilis: Year of Wonders — a huge graphic novel project by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas, also available on iPad and soon to debut on digital platforms Graphic.ly… Read More ›
Garth returns to the Mirror
(Updated, 23/2/11): National newspaper The Mirror has announced it will be reprinting some of the best of Garth stories featuring the time-travelling British hero who featured on its pages for over 50 years, and whose creators included Frank Bellamy and… Read More ›
Investigating the dark comedy of comics – a call for papers
A call has gone out for papers investigating the dark humour of comics, which will be presented at a one day event, the Bath Spa University Postgraduate Symposium in May at Corsham Court, Wiltshire, whose guests will include both academics… Read More ›
‘Next Blog’ brings news of John Watkiss latest work
This is one of those ‘lucky finds’ on the Web, courtesy of Blogger’s ‘Next Blog’ button. In the past, these often used to throw up random spam sites, but it seems Google has been cataloguing their blogs, so clicking ‘Next… Read More ›
SciFi Art Now Creator Interview: Graeme Neil Reid
About two years ago, Graeme Neil Reid went full time as an illustrator after having produced work part time and in conjunction with his job in the marketing and advertising industries for over 15 years. “These days I spend every… Read More ›
Johnny Red Flies again
Titan Books has released the first volume Johnny Red featuring art by Charley’s War co-creator Joe Colquhoun. Johnny Red is just the latest British comics collection from Titan Books, whose other reprints include Charley’s War of course, James Bond, Modesty… Read More ›
In Review: Tomorrow Revisited
Steve Winders reviews Alastair Crompton’s new book about Frank Hampson
In Review: It Was The War Of The Trenches by Jacques Tardi
Jacques Tardi’s graphic novel of the Great War, It Was The War Of The Trenches, is one of those books that is critically lauded appearing in ‘Best Of’ lists as well as reviews of the year and with its complete… Read More ›
Commando at 50: Second Shots
Here’s the latest Commandos to hit newsagents, courtesy of DC Thomson, as the countdown to the comic digest’s 50th anniversary begins in earnest… Commando 4359: Johnny The Jinx Story: Eric Hebden Inside Art: Alonso Cover Art: Lopez Espi Originally No… Read More ›
Bob Monkhouse: Beano Artist?
It’s been a matter of debate for British comics fans for many years, but DC Thomson staff think they may have confirmed the late, great comedian Bob Monkhouse wrote and drew for The Beano. It’s well known Monkhouse, who had… Read More ›