Recently in the spotlight at the ICE convention in Birmingham was a new project involving some stellar talent, The Chimeran – a creative team that includes Ben Oliver and Simon Furman, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back producer Gary Kurtz, Richard Bazley and Paul Goodenough. Hot on the heels of that, we caught up… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Creating Comics: Titan and Forbidden Planet’s Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung talk to ICV2
Comics site ICV2 has just published a two-part interview with Titan Entertainment Group Managing Director Nick Landau and Executive Director Vivian Cheung, the duo behind UK-based Titan Entertainment, which has a long history and broad business portfolio that’s invisible to many people… Read More ›
A Broons Birthday Bash, Ian Kennedy Art Masterclasses and more at Dundee Literary Festival
Although the Dundee Comics Day has been completely subsumed into the Dundee Literary Festival, there’s still a number of events of plenty of interest to comics fans this year when the event returns in October. The highlight for many will be not one… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival Exhibitions include Kendal floods tribute, Fringe events revealed
With just four weeks to go to the event, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has revealed its full Exhibitions plans around this year’s three day-long weekend (14th – 16th October) in Kendal, alongside its ever-popular Fringe events, which include Guardian political cartoonist… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 63: Fraser Campbell
Fraser Campbell, the writer of Sleeping Dogs and Alex Automatic, joins the Awesome Pod crew to talk about the new 1970s tv inspired book, his work process, influences and more. Alex Automatic – currently the focus of Fraser’s latest crowdfunding… Read More ›
In Pictures: “The Mighty One”, former 2000AD editor Steve MacManus and friends at Orbital Comics
Just before the official release of The Mighty One: My Life Inside the Nerve Centre, former 2000AD editor Steve MacManus attended a launch event for this fascinating insight into the early days of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic at London’s award-winning… Read More ›
Creating Comics: An Interview with Russell Mark Olson, creator of “Gateway City”
As regular downthetubes readers know, we’ve given a couple of mentions to the digital comics platform Tapastic here, highlighting some of the great strips featured. One of these is the intriguing Gateway City, a crime noir/ SF mash up by… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Declan Shalvey reveals Moon Knight creation secrets
Over on YouTube, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is the man behind Strip Panel Naked, a great series of “How To” videos analysing and breaking down comics art in detail, which includes items featuring Mike Mignola and Jordie Bellaire. His latest is the… Read More ›
Break into ICE this weekend in Birmingham!
ICE – the International Comic Expo – returns to Birmingham for its third year this weekend (10th -11th September 2016). We’ve already mentioned a couple of the exclusive comic launches at this great event, and once again the UK’s Second… Read More ›
New Comics Launch at ICE, including “To The Death”, “The Chimeran” from Simon Furman, Geoff Senior – and Gary Kurtz!
The brilliant ICE (the International Expo Convention) takes place in Birmingham this weekend (10th – 11th September), at “The Studio” on Canon Street, and there are a number of new comic launches taking place at the event. These include Simon Furman and Geoff… Read More ›
Asterix and Tintin head for a clash of the Toon Titans at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, in partnership with Lancaster University, has announced further details of this year’s Festival Weekend Opening Night event on Friday 14th October – “Clash of the Toon Titans“, a battle between comic superstars Asterix and Tintin… Read More ›
“Black Room” writer Chris Lynch takes #ironwriter challenge for a Very Good Cause
Comic creator Chris Lynch (author of the acclaimed The Black Room, showing on Amazon Prime now) will be undertaking an #ironwriter challenge at Comic Con Cymru. Visitors to the Comic Con in Cardiff will be able to choose a Person,… Read More ›
Al Ewing talks about “Everything” (and Minecraft) for new Decompressed podcast with Kieron Gillen
After a long absence – and host and comic creator Kieron Gillen says we’re not to call it a comeback – his Decompressed podcast has an interview with 2000AD and Marvel writer Al Ewing, who talks about, well, everything, we’re told – but… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 62: Writer Kevin Gunstone
The Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 62 with Kevin Gunstone, the writer behind Future Primitive and the brilliant new series from Amigo Comics, Planet of Daemons is available to listen to, for free, now. Kevin joins the team to talk about how… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Are There Better Ways to Reach Your Readers Than Through WHSmith?
I’m throwing this out there for discussion, because my article suggesting a Buster comic revival has stirred up some interesting comment yesterday. A lot of people, for example, suggested “Summer Specials” as an alternative to a new regular comic. The… Read More ›
Creating Comics Guest Post: Is the Shine Coming Off Diamond?
Comics creator and publisher Brett Uren argues for the need for alternative distribution methods for independent comics into comic shops, outside of US market leader Diamond Distributors – and how, with some caveats, Kickstarter is proving a game changer… Talk to… Read More ›
November ’16 deadline for the Creators for Creators grant offering $30K in funding
The deadline for applying for a grant to the Creators for Creators organisation is fast approaching – a project whose backers include Britain’s Charlie Adlard and Kieron Gillen aiming to offer $30,000 in support to a single cartoonist or writer/artist duo in order to… Read More ›
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Pitch at OFF LIFE!
Comics season is upon us. Every weekend for the next couple months it seems there’s a festival, exhibition, small press day or major releases to occupy your eyeballs. So, what better time time for OFF LIFE, the UK’s only street press… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up: Creating Comics with Stuart John McCune and Sara Dunkerton
Two Awesome Comic Podcasts in one post? This can only mean I’m risking presenter and fellow DTT contributor Tony Esmond coming round with his electro-bat… Here’s the skinny on tow great chats about creating comics, with S.J. McCune, creator of… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Comic Artist Amrit Birdi talks Username: Evie – And Beyond
Last year, Hodder & Stoughton acquired the rights to a graphic novel from Joe Sugg, best known for his channel ‘ThatcherJoe‘ on YouTube. The first Username: Evie tale – featuring art by the hugely-talented Amrit Birdi, coloured by Joaquin Pereyra and lettered by Mindy Lopkin – was… Read More ›