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 ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and 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 ›
Comics and Short Stories Digital Hub Tapas Launches Writer Appeal
Tapas, a publishing platform home to serialised, snackable stories for mobile audiences that includes the Tapastic comics hub which features the work of some 17,000 creators, is looking for amazing original stories. Tapas recently began to serialise the work of… Read More ›
Malta Comic Con 2016 December dates announced
As autumn begins to bite and scientists involved in analysing upper atmosphere activity start comparing its current status with last year’s and suggest we could be in for a grim and cold winter, what better time to have news of… Read More ›
Comics Crowdfunding Spotlight: Nottingham Comic Con Anthology: Forest Tales
Nottingham Comic Con has launched a modest Kickstarter to fund its first tie-in anthology – a collection of short stories from some of the best comic book creators in the British small press and leading professionals. The Nottingham Comic Con… Read More ›
Artist Dave Crane announces new Electricomic anthology project, appeals for strips
Comic artist and illustrator Dave Crane is one of the guests at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (14th – 16th), with an exhibition, a workshop for grown-ups and Family Zone activities. The official Electricomics team will be… Read More ›
The Beano launches major revamp, physical and digital, new TV show in the works?
DC Thomson has just launched its revamp of The Beano, across all aspects of the title including the comic – still sold in all good newsagents- and digital world. Here’s the details in full from Beano Studios… however, there’s no information… Read More ›
DC Thomson advertises “Heritage Brands” editor, could classic collections be in the works?
Dundee-based comics publisher, whose current titles include The Beano but has a massive comics archive encompassing boys and girls comics dating back to the 1920s, has re-advertised the role of a “Heritage Brands” editor, which includes editing Commando, a post has… Read More ›
Creating Comics: British web comic “The Putto” gets print publication – in Czech!
Given the unfortunate lack of outlets when it comes to original comics on the news stand here in the UK, it’s hardly surprising to hear that many comic creators are enjoying publishing success outside this country. Creators such as Pat… Read More ›
Craig Thompson, Bryan Talbot, Emma Vieceli and other top creators to draw OCD Action charity comic at Lakes Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced this year’s special 24 Hour Marathon Comic project as part of this year’s weekend-long event in October, featuring a stellar line up of talent that aims to raise awareness of the medical condition OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Written… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Behind the Scenes on “The Marionette Unit” with James Boyle, Azhur Saleem and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Recently released, The Marionette Unit is a stunning, creepy and thoroughly enjoyable new Victorian mystery story, a graphic novel created by filmmakers Azhur Saleem and James Boyle, and illustrated by ace comic artist Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Tank Girl, Gungle, Nelson, 24×7, Off-Life). We haven’t had opportunity… Read More ›
Creating The Chimeran: An exclusive look at a new comics project from Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz
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: 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 ›