Sad news via Steve Holland’s Bear Alley: one of the giants of British comics, Mike Western, has laid down his pen for the last time. Mike, who suffered a heart attack in 2007 and was laid low by it for… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
By Sea, By Land, By Air: An Interview with Calum Laird
This interview was first published on 9th April 2008 on downthetubes and was merged with this blog in 2013. First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comic Artist and Colourist Steve Whitaker
British artist and colourist Steve Whitaker is, I am deeply sorry to report, no longer with us. Steve died on Thursday after becoming unwell on the way to his doctor’s. The loss has left family, friends and the comics fans… Read More ›
Paul Cornell in the Writer’s Room
Doctor Who (and now Primeval) writer Paul Cornell – who among other things is pitching a new series to the networks accoridng to his blog – has just been interviewed for the BBC Writer’s Room site and by Forbidden Planet… Read More ›
Hanging around as The Doctor!
That time Sylvester McCoy probably broke several Health and Safety rules…
Hi-Ex 2008: High Excitement In The Snow
The Inverness comic convention Hi-Ex really couldn’t have chosen a worse weekend weather-wise with heavy snow, high winds and sub-zero wind chill in the days leading up to it but, despite loosing some guests and dealers to the weather, it… Read More ›
Comic artist Bill Mevin Interviewed on “The Time Meddler” DVD
“The Perishers” and TV Comic “Doctor Who” artist Bill Mevin is one of several comics creators interviewed on a special release of the Doctor Who story The Time Meddler, released 4th February 2008 in the UK. This is the first… Read More ›
Patrick Stewart Supports Classical Comics’ Macbeth
Acclaimed Shakespeare actor and Star Trek star Patrick Stewart has applauded Classical Comics’ pioneering work
Dan Dare, Yesterday’s Hero, Returns!
Yesterday’s hero is back. Everyone’s favourite space adventurer, Dan Dare, returns this month in a new action-packed series from Virgin Comics and top creative team Garth Ennis and Gary Erskine. Matthew Badham caught up with the Ennis and Erskine to… Read More ›
Ian Gibson Column: Mobile Phones and Dan Dare
Ian Gibson goes mobile. Comics, that is…
Sean Blair reveals Commando secrets
Commando Picture Library writer Sean Blair has just provided downthetubes with a terrific piece on his experiences writing Commando. Special thanks to Sean for taking time out to write the piece, which includes some useful tips on writing Commando. Also… Read More ›
Albion Artist Shane Oakley Interviewed
In the third of three exclusive features marking the recent release of Titan and Wildstorm’s Albion collection — interviews with writers Leah Moore and John Reppion, and IPC’s Andrew Sumner were published earlier this month — artist Shane Oakley offers… Read More ›
Titan Magazines Seeks New Talent
Titan Magazines, UK-based publisher of the originated Wallace & Gromit Comic and such best-selling licences as The Simpsons, Futurama, SpongeBob SquarePants and Star Wars, will be expanding its range of originated comics based on high-profile TV and movie properties in 2007. The company is now seeking versatile… Read More ›
Breaking into comics – 2000AD’s David Bishop speaks
Former 2000AD editor David Bishop recently posted a revealing interview outlining how he broke into comics and thoughts on how to get work in the industry on his Vicious Imagery blog. As usual, he’s very candid about his work, which… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Eagle comic editor Derek Lord
Former comics editor Derek Lord died at 10.10am on Thursday 23rd September 2004, having been rushed into hospital for an emergency operation for a perforated bowel. He was 77 years old. I’d known Derek for about five years – from… Read More ›
Shooting themselves in the foot
A warning to all freelance writers out there planning a trip to the US — get a visa! And you might want to think about praying, too, as it’s no guarantee of entry. I had a call from BlackRat yesterday… Read More ›
Marvel UK Memories
In and out from writing Beyblade and Dick Turtle for ToonTastic and editing RAF Magazine for Titan Magazines, I’ve been spending some time thinking about one past job as editor at Marvel UK (aka Marvel Comics UK) back in the 1990s. This… Read More ›
A Busy Week: Dick Turtle, RAF Magazine and More
It’s a weird life. This week has been a mix of hassling freelancers for copy and me being hassled for copy — one of those deadline crunch weeks. Beyblade Comic was Monday, Dick Turtle for Lucky Bag Comic was Wednesday,… Read More ›
Not Just A Bunch of Pretty Faces!
Comicraft founders Richard Starkings and John ‘JG’ Roshell have announced the forthcoming publication of a full colour, 64-page book which provides an insight into the processes and inspirations behind the curtain of the award winning studio. If you’re not… Read More ›
Pantheon Books to publish “Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross”
Pantheon Books, a division of the Knopf Publishing group, is proud to announce plans to publish a coffee table book showcasing Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Justice League, and other DC Comics icons as envisioned by Alex Ross, who at… Read More ›