Russell Willis produced and published a number on important underground cartoon magazines in the 1980s. He moved to Tokyo in the early 1990’s where he now runs a web based publishing company in Tokyo. UK underground cartoonist, Simon Mackie, who… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
British Comic Heroes: The Return of Garth
In August 2008, after a long gestation period, adventure hero Garth returned to British newspaper The Mirror – albeit, for now, only on the publication’s web site. Here, artist Huw-J talks to John Freeman about the new strip and his… Read More ›
War of Words: An interview with Calum Laird
In December 2007 I was fortunate enough to interview Calum Laird, who edits DC Thomson’s Commando. The interview was conducted as research for an article about writing and Calum was very generous with his time. I felt it seemed a shame to waste… Read More ›
Ron Smith in Book and Magazine Collector
The long running series of articles on Great British Comics Artists by David Ashford and Norman Wright in Book and Magazine Collector has reached part 28. This time the subject is Ron Smith and it is the first time that… Read More ›
Creating WebComics: A Brief Guide
In 2007, I was part of a panel at the Birmingham International Comic Show and there was plenty of advice offered on web comics creation, and I figured it was high time I shared some of it on downthetubes. Many… Read More ›
Turn Your School Magazine into a Comic Book
Former Marvel Comics UK editor Tim Quinn will be holding storytelling and comic book creation sessions at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax on Saturday 5 July 2008 from 9.00 am through the day, as part of the line-up for the Calderdale… Read 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 ›
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 ›