After the gloomy news British comics fans had this weekend, I’m more than delighted to be given permission to post this fun “Inktober” art by Milton Keynes-based tattoo artist Brad Tuttle, featuring two classic robots from British comics gone by to cheer… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
2000AD to pay tribute to Steve Dillon
Honouring one of their finest talents, Steve Dillon, who died at the weekend, 2000AD has announced the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic will pay tribute to the artist in a future issue. “Over the last two days it has been great to… Read More ›
Finnish cartoonists visit the UK to talk about their Freedom of Information comic
Think Freedom of Information is a bit of a dry topic? Not when you mix it with some exuberant inky comic art, it’s not! Two Finnish cartoonists, Siiri Viljakka and Lauri Tuomi-Nikula, are visiting the UK to speak about their… Read More ›
To The Death: Simon Furman And Geoff Senior talk world building and roads not taken on Death’s Head
This week sees the full launch of British comic creators Simon Furman and Geoff Senior’s creator owned story To The Death as a full digital package of 18 weekly web episodes, so how could we not catch up with them both… Read More ›
Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard appointed UK’s new Comics Laureate
Charlie Adlard, best known as the comic artist behind The Walking Dead series, has been appointed as the UK’s Comics Laureate. The Comics Laureate is an ambassadorial and educational role for the comic genre and aims to raise awareness of… Read More ›
Sergio Aragonés fronts new International Cartooning Award
The US-based National Cartoonists Society, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the creation of The NCS Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art. This honour, named for the famed MAD Magazine cartoonist, will be given annually to an… Read More ›
Manga Jiman 2016 Competition Closes Soon, “Sights of Japan” theme
Rats. Apologies to our regular readers, but I’ve totally missed mentioning this year’s Manga Jiman competition – the Embassy of Japan‘s quest to find the best creators of comic short-stories, celebrating its tenth year. The competition, which unfortunately closes on 24th October… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival – Frequently Asked Questions and Top Tips
One of this weekend’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival‘s most dedicated team members, Sharon Tait, has been answering questions about the weekend-long on their Facebook page, with a mix of useful information and some very funny answers. They’re so good – and… Read More ›
Benoit Peeters: How comic books help us to relive our childhood
Benoit Peeters, Professor of Graphic Fiction and Comic Art at Lancaster University, who will be one of those championing Tintin in the “Asterix vs Tintin” debate tomorrow at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, discusses how comic books help us… Read More ›
The Comics Laureate Dave Gibbons and Oxford University Press create a new way to introduce children to classic stories and poetry
Current Comics Laureate Dave Gibbons has teamed up with comprehension expert, Lindsay Pickton, and global education publisher, Oxford University Press, to create 28 brand new Graphic Texts, now available, as part of their wider Project X reading and writing programme. Authors… Read More ›
In Review: Dan Dare The 2000AD Years Volume Two
Publisher: RebellionIntroduced by Garth EnnisCreators: Gerry Finley-Day, Dave Gibbons, Trevor Goring, Nick Landau, Garry Leach, Brian Lewis, Chris Lowder, Roy Preston, Tom TullyIncludes feature by David McDonald on Dan Dare post 2000AD Out: 3rd November 2016 The Book: Veteran British Space Pilot, Dan… Read More ›
Sneak Peek: Madius Comics shakes up the latest Papercuts & Inkstains (#6)
There’s something strange, in your neighbourhood, who’s to blame? Probably the smashing independent comics publisher Madius Comics, who are back with another spine-busting, game-changing, fist-pumping mega issue of Papercuts & Inkstains, wrapped in cover by Angela Sprecher, who has conjured up a… Read More ›
Our Man In New York: New York Comic Con Day Three by Tony Esmond
Saturday is the big day for conventions. I’m sitting here writing at New York Comic Con in one of the rare seated areas, just bracing myself for the impact of the crowds. Crushed beyond belief, it can sometimes take you… Read More ›
Cor! By Gum! It’s a Comiket loads of comic creators – in Woking… Tomorrow!
Not only is the Cor! By Gum! Zarjaz! exhibition at The Lightbox in Woking (reviewed here) going great guns, but tomorrow (Saturday 8th October) sees the venue hosting a sparkling Comica Comiket – followed, as we reported earlier in the week,… Read More ›
Titan Comics Takes Manhattan!
This New York Comic-Con (6th – 9th October), Britain’s Titan Comics is bringing its largest-ever offering of thrilling debuts, NYCC variants and special appearances from a host of creators including Hard Case Crime founder Charles Ardai, novelist and Peepland writer Christa Faust, and comic writers Paul Cornell (The Third Doctor), Si Spurrier (The Eleventh… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Mirabilis – Year of Wonders by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas
Many downthetubes readers will recall Mirabilis: Year of Wonders – a wonderful, beautifully written and realised graphic novel project by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas, which first debuted in The DFC and which Print Media Productions planned to publish as a series graphic albums. Sadly,… Read More ›
By Gum! It’s Dan Dare (and Flamer Spry) at Woking’s Lightbox
As part of The Story of British Comics So Far exhibition at The Lightbox in Woking, Surrey, Peter Hampson, son of Dan Dare co-creator Frank Hampson, will be talking with Paul Gravett on Saturday 8th October 2016, straight after a day-long “Comiket” event produced in… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Steve Gregson and Matthew Simmons Go Galaxia!
Lancaster-based Steve Gregson and Matthew Simmons are two 1980s kids who grew older, but didn’t grow up. With a shared love of cartoons, comics and action figures the two decided to put their heads together to write a story about… Read More ›
Guest Post: Five things I don’t wanna see in your indie superhero comic
Dan Butcher is the creator, artist and writer of the acclaimed British independent comic Vanguard, which can be read for free at VanguardComic.com. He’s also one of the hosts on the Awesome Comics Podcast. Here, he offers some thoughts on independent superhero… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 65: Ryan K Lindsay (Deer Editor, Negative Space)
This week Ryan K Lindsay (Deer Editor, Negative Space) joins the Awesome Pod crew to talk about all things comics, from his working processes on his past books, the price of digital books, Michael Bay films and the importance of… Read More ›