There not one but two items of Lakes International Comic Art Festival news this morning, with the event opening applications for tables from comic creators for its 2020 Comics Clock Tower, and a new podcast to savour from the team… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
In Memoriam: “Doctor Who” and “Popeye” Comic Artist Bill Mevin
We’re sorry to report the death of comic artist Bill Mevin, who passed yesterday, aged 97. Perhaps best known for his work on TV Comic‘s “Doctor Who” strip and his work on later episodes of “The Perishers” with Maurice Dodd… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part Two
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between July and December 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. 2019 has been a difficult year for the family… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part One
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between January and June 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. There have also been major changes in the US… Read More ›
Remembering Ellie deVille, by Jenny Wackett
Editor Jenny Wackett pays tribute to comics letterer and friend Ellie deVille, who died on Christmas Eve. Our full tribute to Ellie is here I first met Ellie DeVille in the summer of 1996 when I was an Editor at… Read More ›
In Memoriam: 2000AD Comics Letterer Ellie deVille
We’re very sorry to report the death of prolific comics letterer Ellie deVille, best known for her work on many strips for 2000AD, but whose many credits included Judge Dredd Megazine, Sonic the Comic and more. Ellie, who was taken… Read More ›
A Christmas Comics Mystery – The Case of the Missing Garth Strip
A Garth strip has surfaced on eBay that has fans of of the Daily Mirror newspaper strip in a bit of a spin – because it suggests there may be missing, unpublished sequences from some stories out there, that were… Read More ›
“Worlds of Wallace Wood” exhibition announced for 2020 Angoulême Festival
The Angoulême Festival has announced “Worlds of Wallace Wood” – an exhibition celebrating the life and work of the influential American artist whose work included Daredevil, Dynamo, THUNDER Agents and more
Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast’s Review of 2019 – Favourite Comics Revealed
On the Christmas 2019 episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, co-hosts Ian Loxam and Nicole Bates catch up on their trawl through of a stack of comics, as well as giving their favourite comics of the year…. Read More ›
Big Issue North offers special “Kids Take Over” issue!
This week, Manchester-based Big Issue North – the magazine sold by street vendors in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber – have released a Kids Take Over Issue, with the help of children from Manchester’s Unity Primary School… Read More ›
V&A Dundee webcomics project launched
V&A Dundee is currently publishing a number of webcomics by a group of up and coming creators encompassing a range of genres
Visual Aids’ Open Call for Artists: Comics and HIV/AIDS
Visual AIDS – which utilises art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy – is inviting artists to submit proposals for new comics to be included in their Summer 2020 exhibition with proposals required… Read More ›
“The Life of Charlie ‘Chas’ Grigg” biography released in time for Christmas
Charlie “Chas” Grigg was a cartoonist who drew Desperate Dan, Korky the Cat and many other characters for the DC Thomson’s comics – Dandy, Beano, Topper and Judy, from the 1960s to 1980s. Now a new book about his life and work has just been published – and his family are dedicating half the proceeds The Alzheimer’s Society and Dudley-based dementia support group, Me, Myself & I.
His much-admired work will also be celebrated at a special event at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival next year.
Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast – Thoughts on Thought Bubble 2019
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, the Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates report back on their recent trek to Harrogate for this year’s Thought Bubble Festival, now in a new town
Finnish Institute seeks partners for 2020 Tom Of Finland exhibitions
2020 celebrates the 100th birthday of the graphic artist Touko Laaksonen, better known as Tom Of Finland, who had a great impact on popular culture, for instance fashion, photography and music. The Finnish Institute are now looking for artistic and… Read More ›
Comic Laureates, Three! In Conversation at the Cartoon Museum
London’s Cartoon Museum recently played host to a unique gathering of current Comics Laureate Hannah Berry and past holders Dave Gibbons and Charlie Adlard. All three were able to look back on how the post has evolved since it was… Read More ›
Snapshot in Time: Brian Woodford and The Launch of Boys’ World, Part Two
A Short Introduction: Before his unexpected passing in 2016, author Roger Perry – a longtime contributor to this site and veteran of the British comics industry – sent downthetubes a number of articles which we planned to run, working back… Read More ›
Snapshot in Time: Brian Woodford and The Launch of Boys’ World, Part One
A Short Introduction: Before his unexpected passing in 2016, author Roger Perry – a longtime contributor to this site and veteran of the British comics industry – sent downthetubes a number of articles which we planned to run, working back… Read More ›
Cartoon Museum hosts Comics Laureate Round Table this Wednesday
London’s Cartoon Museum hosts a Comics Laureate Round Table this Wednesday (13th November 2019), with Dave Gibbons, Charlie Adlard and Hannah Berry. This is a rare opportunity to see all three Comic Laureates on stage at the same time, including the… Read More ›
Will IPC’s John Sanders’ memoirs blow the lid on some British Comics secrets?
For British comic fans, the must-read memoir of 2020 is likely to be the fascinating inside story of one of British comics’ biggest movers and shakers – King’s Reach: John Sanders’ Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics. It certainly… Read More ›