Lydia Wysocki over at Applied Comics Etc has dropped us a line appealing for comic creators to work on a great new project with a Civil Rights theme. “We’re making a comic to give children age 8-14 some context about… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Looking Back: Exploring The World of Tomorrow in DC Thomson’s “Big Five” boys comics
Notoriously secretive DC Thomson still publish Beano and Commando, but their past comics included The Dandy and weekly anthology titles aimed at boys such as Hotspur and Adventure. These specialised in sports, school and war stories, but also, occasionally, there… Read More ›
Work in Progress – London Comics Gathering This Saturday
This Saturday sees a day-long gathering of W.I.P. Comics (aka Work In Progress Comics) at London’s Royal Festival Hall, a gathering of comic creators that aims to offer collaborative feedback on each other’s work. Originally known as Graphic Novels and… Read More ›
ICE grips Brighton in June! (No, it’s not a weather report)
Some of the biggest stars from the world of comic art are coming to Brighton this June as part of ICE Brighton 2017 – an international celebration of the medium organised by Smallzone Events. As the summer sun beats down, a cool… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2017 Comics Clock Tower Line Up Revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the comic creators who will have a presence in their free-to-enter Comics Clock Tower venue in Kendal Town Hall in October. The creators were chosen after hundreds of applications were sifted through… Read More ›
In Review: Space Ace Volume Eight
Art and Stories by Ron Turner Colour by John Ridgway Published by John Lawrence The Book: 40-page anthology comprising four stories featuring “Space Ace” by Ron Turner, first published in The Book of Space Adventures in 1963, colourised and re-mastered… Read More ›
Bryan Talbot payes tribute to Leo Baxendale in final Grandville tale
Artist Bryan Talbot has sent us this panel from his final Grandville story – a homage to the late Leo Baxendale, scripted five years ago, penciled and inked about 15 months ago and coloured in January. “I’m going to dedicate the book to his… Read More ›
Leo Baxendale Remembered, by Beano artist Nigel Parkinson
The first name I recognised in comics was Leo Baxendale, who signed his name on the front cover of WHAM! In 1964. Until earlier this month, he was still my favourite living cartoonist. In the 1950s he gave us Little Plum,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Leo Baxendale
Just days after posting an “In Praise of… Leo Baxendale” feature, focusing on his later, creator-owned material, we’re sorry to report his passing. I know this is a loss is going to hit a lot of my friends hard, especially those who know… Read More ›
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Illustrator: Sarah McIntyre on How to Beat It
How on earth did I miss the news that illustrator and writer Sarah McIntyre is now Writer in Residence at BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity? My belated and heartiest congratulations on this new role, which she took up in February. Sarah now… Read More ›
Supergirl actress Chyler Leigh heads to Liverpool to support FAB 4000 comics project
Up, up and away! The most wonderful synchronicity is bringing Supergirl star Chyler Leigh to Liverpool next month. The visit is in support of THE FAB 4000, a brilliant new comics project developed by comics creator Tim Quinn, artist Jorge Pacheco… Read More ›
In Praise of… Leo Baxendale
Leo Baxendale is a British cartoonist who should need no introduction to downthetubes readers. Not only was the creator of the classic Beano strips “Little Plum”, “Minnie the Minx”, “The Bash Street Kids” and “The Three Bears”, but he was… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight – British Jack Kirby Documentary Project Launches
2017 marks the centennial of US comic book artist and writer Jack Kirby‘s birth – and British comics archivist Glenn Fleming has just launched a Kickstarter to back the release of a documentary about this key creator, based on interviews he… Read More ›
Creating Comics: The Comic Industry and the Downside of Working from the Belly of the Whale
Our thanks to comics writer, inker, letterer, editor and publisher Ian Sharman today for kindly giving us permission to post his thoughts on working in the comics industry, addressing why creators seem loathe to challenge some of its working practices… So, let’s… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with artist Michael Cho
I’m delighted to present our second “Kendal Calling” interview of 2017, this time with artist Michael Cho, in the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, highlighting the event’s many international and British guests. (Tickets are… Read More ›
ELCAF 2017 Programme Announced
London and New York-based publisher Nobrow has announced its plans for ELCAF 2017, the 6th East London Comics & Arts Festival, dedicated to showcasing the most exciting talent in comics, sequential art, illustration and storytelling. In June 2017, ELCAF is… Read More ›
Creating Comics: An Interview with Commando Editor Kirsten Murray
With war comic Commando recently passing its landmark 5000th issue and many changes behind the scenes in its editorial department, downthetubes caught up with the veteran title’s recently-installed editor, Kirsten Murray, just part of her role as DC Thomson’s Heritage… Read More ›
New graphic novel from Markosia, “Hunter, Hunted”, set to debut at Edinburgh Comic Con
On sale next week from Markosia is Hunter, Hunted by GM Jordan and Mick Trimble, and it’s already getting attention and praise in the run up to its launch at Edinburgh Comic Con this coming weekend. In this new graphic novel,… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Cartoon Cliches Exposed
Beano comic creator Nigel Auchterlounie has pointed me in the direction of an edition of New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff‘s “Cartoon Lounge” podcast entitled “Trop de Tropes“, webcast last year, in which he looks at the history of the… Read More ›
Bryan and Mary Talbot nominated for National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award
Bryan Talbot and Mary Talbot are among the 2016 NCS Divisional Award nominees for the 71st Annual US National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards. Bryan and Mary are nominated for their project The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia, alongside… Read More ›