Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 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 ›
Comic artist Charlie Adlard, whose credits include 2000AD and The Walking Dead, made his first public appearance as the UK’s Comics Laureate in Birmingham late last month. Two ‘Love Comics, Love Literacy’ events aimed to encourage both primary and secondary school teachers and… Read More ›
There are just a few more days to go to back the Kickstarter appeal for Paperbacks and Inkstains – The Collected Papercuts and Inkstains from Madius Comics, a 200 page-plus book of strips we’ve enthused about here on downthetubes –… Read More ›
Comic creator and Broken Frontier contributor Sean Azzopardi has just released 50, the follow up to Tracks, which was released in 2005. Sean, whose credits also include another autobiographical comic, Rain on Glass, is probably best known for his psychological horror work with… Read More ›
Panel Borders, the monthly show about comics and graphic novels is back this week, celebrating the output of three artists associated with the City of Brighton and Hove. Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelists Hannah Berry, Joe Decie (whose graphic novel,… Read More ›
Huge congratulations to longtime British comics creator Lew Stringer this morning, whose much-loved clumsy combat hero Combat Colin celebrates 30 years of publication. The first Combat Colin strip appeared in print in Marvel UK’s Action Force Issue 5, published on… Read More ›
Episode 74 of Jeremy Bement’s execellent Doctor Who: Panel to Panel podcast has just been posted.