Creating Comics

Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more

Electricomics app launches for Apple devices, featuring strips by Ennis, Moore, Reppion, Hogan – and Moore

By John Freeman on September 3, 2015 • ( 1 )

Electricomics, the new digital comics reader app developed by a team including Alan Moore, has just been launched for iPad – with an Android version planned at a future date. Over two years in the making, the app gives you… Read More ›

Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Karrie Fransman, creator of “Death of the Artist”

By John Freeman on September 2, 2015

Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›

Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 9 - Rachael Smith

The Awesome Comics Pod – Rachael Smith and Kat Chapman

By Antony Esmond on August 31, 2015

Finally! The gentlemen of the Awesome Comics Podcast have had the restraining orders removed and welcome not one, but two female creators onto Episode 9 of their weekly small press comics podcast. This week Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and Tony Esmond… Read More ›

Comic Stars head for Birmingham for this year’s International Comics Expo

By John Freeman on August 31, 2015

Some of the biggest names from the world of comic book art and publishing will be descending onto the Studio Venue in Birmingham city centre this coming weekend for this year’s International Comics Expo. The International Comic Expo, or ICE as… Read More ›

Saltire Goes To (Scottish) Schools!

By John Freeman on August 28, 2015

Struggling to get children to pick up a book? Comic books and graphic novels might be the key to boosting literacy in youngsters, particularly boys, say researchers – and now Scotland’s newest superhero, Saltire, is joining efforts to encourage reading…. Read More ›

The opening page of a lost Grant Morrison and John M. Burns story, "Johnny O'Hara", intended for a fortnightly comic, Fantastic Adventure, that was dropped in favour of MASK by IPC/Fleetway.

Hibernia Comics uncovers “Lost Stories” for new Comic Archive

By John Freeman on August 28, 2015

Hibernia Comics, publishers of the terrific collections of classic British strips such as The House of Daemon and Doomlord have a new project in the works that has turned up some interesting “lost” gems from Britain’s rich comics history –… Read More ›

"Office boy" Graham Marsh became the public face of "Pete's Page", a weekly feature for Girl that was probably in reality written by Sally Brompton. "I took a load of pix of Graham prior to the series starting where he was sitting, sprawled, lying down, etc, etc, on a park bench in Lincoln Inn Fields," Roger Perry recalls. "There was a point where the Park Keeper was not pleased with our antics and told us to “bugger off”! Graham appeared weekly as "Pete" for at least a year – if not longer – prior to Girl being amalgamated with Princess.

“Eagle Daze” Part Three: WHAM!, the end of Girl, and Max Clifford’s World of Pop

By Roger Perry on August 27, 2015 • ( 9 )

We are pleased to publish Part Three of the memories of Roger Perry – memories of now more than half-a-century ago – of his days at Fleetway Publications working on Girl and Eagle… 1964 Aahhh yes, 1964… It was during… Read More ›

Cosplayers enjoying their day at DemonCon X. Photo: Tony Esmond

Demoncon X – A Comic Convention Review

By Antony Esmond on August 25, 2015

Demoncon X… no, no! It’s not a call back to all the video rentals we craved in the 1980s but actually a comic convention in Maidstone, Kent, now in its tenth incarnation. Run by the people from the Grinning Demon Comic Shop,… Read More ›

Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Canadian Comic Creator Seth

By John Freeman on August 25, 2015 • ( 2 )

Awesome Comics Podcast Number 8 - Shaun Dobie

Awesome Comics Podcast probes Shaun Dobes, offers Nottingham Comic Convention ticket competition

By John Freeman on August 24, 2015

Episode 8 of the Awesome Comics Podcast is ready to creep into your frontal lobe today. Hosted by Vince Hunt (Red Mask From Mars) , Dan Butcher (Vanguard) and Tony (the hairy and really annoying one) Esmond, this episode has as… Read More ›

As the day progressed, more creators joined the merry throng at the event. Photo: Tony Esmond

Safari Festival 2015 – An Old Bloke’s Review

By Antony Esmond on August 23, 2015 • ( 1 )

The Safari Festival 2015 was billed as “a celebration of the new wave of alternative and art comics from the UK and beyond…. and for attendees to experience the best of the UK comics’ avant-garde”. Run by the team behind… Read More ›

Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty Graphic Novel

Marvel Curiosities: Night Raven’s first major US appearance, alongside Nick Fury and Black Widow

By John Freeman on August 20, 2015 • ( 2 )

(With thanks to Tony Ingram): As folk know, we try to document Marvel UK curiosities and the graphic novel Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty, published by Marvel US in February 1995, certainly qualifies. Given the publication date, I did wonder if it was one… Read More ›

Comic Creator Spotlight: Big Punch Studios

By John Freeman on August 20, 2015 • ( 1 )

Independent publishers Big Punch Studios will be featuring on a number of panels at the upcoming Melksham Comic Con soon (Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st August). Big Punch Studios are Nich Angell, Lucy Brown, Jon Lock and Alice White: four friends with… Read More ›

10 Days to Mancster Con 2015, celebrating indie sequential art in the North West

By John Freeman on August 19, 2015

There are just ten days to go to MancsterCon 2015 on 29th August 2015, which will be held at the University of Salford Media City campus. Featured guests include Adam Cadwell, creator of Blood Blokes and Lydia Wysocki, creator of the Newcastle Science Comic, among others…. Read More ›

Hoshino Yukinobu (b. 1954), Rainman. Ink on paper, 2015. JTI Japanese Acquisition Fund, 2015,3024.1 © Hoshino Yukinobu.

British Museum to host Manga Now: Three Generations Exhibition

By John Freeman on August 17, 2015 • ( 1 )

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Asahi Shimbun sponsorship, the British Museum’s Asahi Shimbun Gallery is to host Manga Now: Three Generations from September, an exhibition featuring newly commissioned and recent works by a trio of celebrated Japanese manga artists: Chiba Tetsuya, Hoshino… Read More ›

Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 7 - Chris Lackey

Author Chris Lackey talks “Transreality” with the Awesome Comics Podcast crew

By John Freeman on August 17, 2015

Episode 7 of the Awesome Comics Podcast is sliding up your alley today. Hosted by Vince Hunt (Red Mask From Mars) Hunt, Dan Butcher (Vanguard) Butcher and Tony Esmond (the hairy and annoying one) this episode has as its guest… Read More ›

Spain’s FNAC-Salamandra International Graphic Novel Prize graphic novel competition open to all

By John Freeman on August 17, 2015

Recently launched is the latest competition for Spain’s FNAC-Salamandra International Graphic Novel Prize, which will go to an original, totally new and completely unpublished graphic novel – and the winner will net a cool €10,000 euros. The competition, which launched… Read More ›

Creating Comics: The Battle for the Backing of Online Readers

By John Freeman on August 10, 2015

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know I’ve been regularly plugging my SF comic project, Crucible (co-created with Smuzz, lettered by Jim Campbell), which runs on the web comics platform Tapastic and is embedded here on downthetubes as… Read More ›

Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 6 - Jon Lock

New Awesome Comics Podcast probes “Afterlife” creator and publisher Jon Lock