Breakthrough project co-ordinator Tim Pilcher talks about the people who helped him find his feet in the comics industry, and how that has led to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s innovative new project to develop new comics talent… As… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Lakes Festival’s Breakthrough project aims to find the future of comics
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has launched its ambitious Breakthrough project, which aims to give under-represented individuals a chance to express themselves through the medium of comics. Breakthrough is an 18-month mentoring initiative co-ordinated by writer, publisher and editor… Read More ›
British Comic Artist and Inker Cam Smith among this year’s Inkwell Award nominees
We’re delighted to report British comic book artist and inker Cam Smith – known for his work at Marvel UK, 2000AD and for US publishers – has been nominated for an Inkwell Award – and there are other British nominees, too. The… Read More ›
British Comic Sales Figures, Winners and Losers (July – December 2018): Beano continues to shine
The latest sales figures for some comics and children’s magazines available on the UK news stand for the second half of 2018 have been published by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) – and there’s good news in particular for the Beano… Read More ›
Charlie Adlard reflects on time as Comics Laureate in new Podcast
Walking Dead artist and UK Comics Laureate Charlie Adlard is back chatting with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast team this week. Charlie helped kick off the Podcast almost two years ago with his involvement in the very first… Read More ›
Kindness Works, a special Archie Comics project, re-visited
Happy Random Acts of Kindness Week! (11th – 17th February 2019), which builds to National Random Acts of Kindness Day on 17th February in the United States – but why not spread it globally? With that in mind, here’s some… Read More ›
IDW Publishing heads to Portsmouth to celebrate 20th Anniversary
2019 marks a milestone 20th anniversary for US publisher IDW Publishing, perhaps best known for its Transformers, Star Trek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles and, more recently, its creator-owned imprint Black Crown. Part of the company’s celebrations will be taking place at… Read More ›
Laydeez do Comics Prize for graphic novel work-in-progress announced
Laydeez do Comics has announced the longlist for the 2019 Award for a graphic novel in progress by a female identifying UK-based creator. Authors were invited to submit a 12 page extract from the opening of a longer graphic work… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast – Convention and Creating Comics Bonanza!
Just when you turned your back, the Awesome Comics Podcast team slam home two episodes in quick succession, opening with a terrific round up of interviews from the True Believers Comic Festival!
Avatar releases new edition of Alan Moore’s Writing for Comics
A new printing of Alan Moore’s Writing for Comics is released this week by Avatar Press. Older British comic fans may remember when Alan first shared his thoughts on how to deliver a top notch script. The main essay featured… Read More ›
Creating Comics: A Classic Interview with Jack Kirby and Carmine Infantino
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 ›
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 ›