Continuing his much appreciated digital archiving of British comics fandom, David Hathaway-Price has added Fantasy Advertiser #48 to his invaluable ClassicUKComicsZines site, which includes an interview with with legendary American artists Jack Kirby and Carmine Infantino. First published in 1965,… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Lakes Festival Podcast goes “Around the Block” with comic creator Nick Prolix!
Episode 45 of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast features a chat with comic creator Nick Prolix, creator of the brilliant independent comic Slang Pictorial. A writer, artist and cartoonist living in the Fens, Slang Pictorial – available to buy online here… Read More ›
Rebellion’s Keith Richardson talks “Treasury of British Comics” plans, return of “The Vigilant”
There are exciting times ahead for fans of classic British comics as 2000AD publisher Rebellion expands its “Treasury of British Comics” line in 2019, taking full advantage of the huge range of characters and comic titles it now owns, from… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast talks… Awesome Comics!
This week the Awesome Comics Podcast gang – Dan Butcher, Tony Esmond and Vince Hunt – are talking about the work and creation of their anthology series Awesome Comics as Issue Four launches this weekend – and to help them do it, they’re joined by Tom Stewart from the brilliant podcast That Comic Smell
Sounds Good! ComicScene UK magazine announces Podcast plans, Cam Kennedy interviewed
ComicScene UK – the new monthly magazine dedicated to comics and comic culture – is to launch a fortnightly podcast on Tuesday 5th February, presented by Phillip Vaughn and produced at the University of Dundee
Robot Archie’s Dutch Adventures as “Der Man van Staal”
Robot Archie – now owned by Rebellion – is an iconic character that must surely be in the running for collection next year, but did you know he was possibly as popular in Holland as he was here, and like… Read More ›
When “Trigan Empire” almost went Hollywood
Richard Fleischer, son of animator/producer Max Fleischer, was an American film director known for such films as The Narrow Margin (1952), Fantastic Voyage (1966), Soylent Green (1973) and The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire… Wait, what? I know… Read More ›
£1.3 million raised by UK comic creators through Kickstarter in 2018
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter PBC has announced that 2018 was a record-breaking year in its Comics category, with $16 million (over £12 million) pledged to projects from independent creators around the globe, including some great UK- based projects – and many artists of colour and LGBTQ creators who have traditionally been under represented in the industry.
Cardiff Comics Carnival launches in March
A new comic and zine fair, Cardiff Comics Carnival, will be taking place for the first time on Sunday 24th March 2019, a free, day-long celebration of small press comics, zines and illustrations, featuring some of the best talent from… Read More ›
Comics on a Mission: Atomeka’s Dave Elliott’s thought-provoking projects for Zuiker Press
Dave Elliott and Garry Leach, the boys from AtomekArt, have been pretty busy over the last couple of years, and at downthetubes we were delighted to hear about their new series of thought-provoking graphic novels for Zuiker Press, tackling bullying… Read More ›
Applied Comics hints at big plans for 2019
2018 was a busy year was a busy year for inventive Newcastle upon Tyne-based comics provocateurs Applied Comics Etc. – and its driving force, Lydia Wysocki, has been hinting of major things to come this year
Creator Spotlight: Peyo, Gifted Creator of The Smurfs
Pierre Culliford (known as Peyo) was born in Brussels in 1928. He was forced to work for a living from the age of 15, first as a projectionist in a cinema, followed by a stint in a cartoon studio. When the… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Awesome Comics Podcast interviews Alterna Comics founder Peter Simeti
This week the Awesome Comics Podcast team are joined by the founder and publisher of Alterna Comics, Peter Simeti, to talk about his journey in comics and what the publisher are trying to achieve in the modern publishing world. Founded… Read More ›
Second Illustrator’s Survey seeks to snapshot UK illustration industry
The second annual Illustrator’s Survey is live, backed this year by Hire an Illustrator. The survey is the brainchild of artist Ben O’Brien – and anyone who worked in commercial illustration in 2018 is being asked to please fill in the… Read More ›
Creating Comics: The Making of Commando Comic cover No. 5193 – ‘Cold Steel’
Graeme Neil Reid recently joined the star studded list of cover artists for DC Thomson’s anthology – a list that includes Ian Kennedy, Neil Roberts and many, many more. Here, he outlines how he created his most recent cover for… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 183 – Looking forward to the Year Ahead
It’s the first show of 2019, and the Awesome Comics Podcast team – Dan Butcher, Tony Esmond and Vince Hunt – talk about what they and the listeners are looking forward to in indie comics in the coming months. There… Read More ›
Comic Creator Q&A: Indie Publisher David Robertson
downthetubes caught up with busy, enthusiastic experimental creator David Roberson of Fred Egg Comics just before Christmas to talk to him about his work…
Lakes Festival Podcast Looks back on 2018
We may already be enjoying a big Happy New Year already resplendent with inexplicable outrage over new pastry-based products from Greggs, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time to look back at 2018, a great year in the world of… Read More ›
Clean Living! How Britain’s “Arrow” comic helped promote healthy teeth in the 1960s
I recently came across copies of a 1960s promotional comic, Gibbs Ivory Castle Arrow, which had a roster of creators that’s as impressive as regular comics of the period such as Eagle – including Captain Pugwash creator John Ryan and John… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Campaign promotion tips from “Killtopia” creator Dave Cook
Dave Cook – the writer of cyberpunk graphic novel Killtopia – recently offered some great creating comics tips on planning the promotion of your crowdfunding campaign on his Twitter, which he has kindly given us permission to repost on downthetubes…. Read More ›