First published in October 2017 on the inexplicably and ruthlessly pruned Forbidden Planet International blog, an act of cultural barbarism about which Forbidden Planet (Scotland) Ltd has yet to reverse, we are delighted to republish, as first published and with… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Filling in the Gaps: who remembers the 1960s custom comic, “Signal”?
Regular readers will recall our coverage for a custom comic Ivory Castle Arrow, published in the early 1960s featuring art by Don Harley and John Michael Burns as part of promotions for The Signal Club, a product of Unilever‘s marketing… Read More ›
Comics Inspiration: How Celebrities have inspired the look of some Comic Characters Part 2
Colin Noble explores how Celebrities have inspired the look of some Comic Characters
Unearthed: An unexpected Doctor Who comics crossover with Lost in Space!
The cover of the 1969 Doctor Who annual was Walt Howarth’s last Doctor Who-related work for publisher World Distributors for some time, and its similarity to the cover of a 1967 Gold Key Swiss Family Robinson Comic was highlighted recently on social media.
Comics Inspiration: How Celebrities have inspired the look of some Comic Characters
Colin Noble explores how Celebrities have inspired the look of some Comic Characters
Breaking the Mould: How the GetMyComics team are shaking up comics distribution in the UK
Independent comic creators can come up with the best stories in the world, but if they can’t get their finished publication – created through crowdfunding, self financed or published by an independent – in front of potential customers, then they’re… Read More ›
We Read Comics Podcast discusses Archer Coe
The fourth episode of the We Read Comics podcast was recorded this week and is now live on the Radio Summerhall website. As we mentioned in a previous post, this new podcast is a monthly series, roughly following a book… Read More ›
Pat Mills and Oliviér Ledroit’s “Requiem Vampire Knight” tops sales charts in France
Requiem: Resurrection by Pat Mills and Oliviér Ledroit is sitting in the Number One sales spot in the fantasy graphic novel chart on Amazon France – an amazing accomplishment, considering it was re-published over three years ago, and it’s apparently… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight: BUN&TEA, edited by Claire Napier
Having been a critic of all-format, all-source comics since 2012 or so – most notably as Editor in Chief at Women Write About Comics between 2017 and 2018, and long before that, a keen reader of British weekly serial comics,… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival Breakthrough new creators project gets underway
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has held the first workshops for its ambitious Breakthrough project, which aims to give under-represented individuals a chance to express themselves through the medium of comics. Five aspiring comic creators – Abbigayle Bircham, Danny Christie, Halima… Read More ›
What has the EU Ever Done for Us? “Europe+” Comic Challenge goes on tour
The shortlisted entries of this year’s Animate Europe comics competition, challenging creators with to come up with a comic addressing the value of the European Union, are now on tour around the continent. With Britain’s involvement in the EU drawing to… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comic Artist Jordi Longarón, co-creator of “Friday Foster”
Jordi Longarón was co-creator of the ground-breaking newspaper strip, “Friday Foster”
In Memoriam: Comic writer, author, playwright Tommy Donbavand, creator of “Scream Street”, is gone
We’re very sorry to report that Tommy Donbavand, comic strip writer and award-winning author of the Scream Street series, Fangs Vampire Spy, Doctor Who: Shroud of Sorrow, Home and My Teacher Ate My Brain, has lost his long battle with cancer…. Read More ›
Lakes Festival Podcast legs it to Oldham! (Oldham Comic Con 3, that is)
Most of the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast focuses on the team’s recent trip to Oldham Comic Con 3, held on Saturday 11th May. Nikki Bates tabled on the day, while Ian went off interviewing… Read More ›
October release for MediEvil game remake, tie-in comic revealed
Tying in with the release of Sony Playstation’s upcoming remake of MediEvil, comic artist and writer Jay Gunn has officially revealed that he’s been secretly working on a MediEvil comic. Jay should need no introduction to longtime downthetubes readers as… Read More ›
Flashback: The Dawn of Marvel UK’s “Genesis 1992” Project with Liam Sharp, Bryan Hitch and more
Before Marvel UK’s “Genesis 1992” characters first spread their wings in their first US format books and weekly British comic Overkill, Editorial Director Paul Neary and I put together a promotional booklet promoting the characters, printed on the office photocopiers,… Read More ›
Full Lakes International Comic Art Festival Comics Clock Tower line-up revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2019 has announced a whole host of comic creators, publishers and more are lined up to take over the Comics Clock Tower at this year’s Festival in October. Among the Comics Clock Tower creator… Read More ›
Pat Mills issues statement on 2000AD-related royalties
2000AD creator Pat Mills official blog, part of Millsverse, might be an acquired taste for some with its mix of marketing and memoir, but I really do enjoy the industry details. (I think “The Sparky People” strip in my childhood… Read More ›
In Praise of… Comic Writer Robert Kanigher
Today marks the anniversary of the death of American comics writer Robert Kanigher, one of the most prolific comic book writers of the last century, who died in 2002. A US Army veteran, Robert “Bob” Kanigher was involved with the… Read More ›
Taschen’s “Stan Lee Story” gets unlimited XXL release
First published as a signed Collector’s Edition costing £1750 a copy, that sold out within a week, Taschen’s Stan Lee Story is now available as an unlimited XXL edition, priced a tad more modestly. An unparalleled account of the life… Read More ›