There’s a very good reason why this 1940s King Penguin book about the Bayeux Tapestry is in such a very worn state. It was probably one of my very first encounters with the graphic form, and I often read and… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Classic British Comic Covers: 2000AD Prog 62, featuring the comic’s first heroine
“Death Planet” was a short-lived series written by Alan Hebden with art by Lopez which began in 2000AD 62 and ran through to Prog 70, back in 1978. Commander Lorna Varn, the captain of a colony ship from Earth which… Read More ›
When Kennedy’s Collide: the Commando work of Cam and Ian Kennedy
When it comes to staying power, it is hard to come up with a better definition than comic artist Ian Kennedy’s career. Ably supported by his family, Ian has delighted generations of comic fans since he went freelance in the 1950s…. Read More ›
Essential British Comics Reference: Bear Alley Books’ “Ranger The National Boys’ Magazine”
Online discussion about where a piece of art by the talented British comic artist Ron Embleton (TV Century 21, Look and Learn, Ranger, World of Wonder) might have been published prompted Bear Alley Books publisher Steve Holland to remind me… Read More ›
Independent Comics Summit comes to Birmingham
Outside of bigger comic publishers such as Marvel and DC in the USor Titan and Rebellion in the UK, what are the realities of actually creating comics as an independent publisher? The question will be explored at ‘The Comics Summit‘,… Read More ›
Kate Evans, Frank Quitely, Bryan and Mary Talbot and more join 2018 Lakes International Comic Art Festival line up
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just announced more guests for its Festival weekend (12th – 14th October 2018) in Kendal, including Kate Evans and Frank Quitely. Now in its sixth year, the latest guests revealed are Hunt Emerson (Calculus Cat, Bloke’s… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Nine Rules for Amazing Dialogue by Monty Nero
Death Sentence and occasional X-men writer Monty Nero lays out nine foolproof ways to write wonderful dialogue. He offers these tips because of his incredibly giving nature and not because he wants you to check out his totally awesome kickstarter… Read More ›
A Chat with Cinebook – Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast probes European comics publisher
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, the team chat to Jerome Saincantin about his role as a translator for Cinebook. Cinebook, whose titles we’ve often featured on downthetubes, are publishers of best selling European books… Read More ›
So you’ve broken into the comics industry… What do You do Next?
Many people have broken into the comic industry after attending the Birmingham event Comics Uncovered, which returns to the city this July. But breaking in is just part of the journey to a successful career in comics. “What Happens Next”… Read More ›
Who’s Who in Rebellion’s “The Vigilant” classic comic character revival – and who created the characters
Rebellion Publishing, owners of 2000AD, announced an all-new 48-page special title The Vigilant earlier this week, the lead strip written by Simon Furman, with art by Simon Coleby coloured by Len O’Grady. Breathing new life into Fleetway characters acquired in… Read More ›
In Praise of… Comics Writer William (Willie) Patterson
Sydney Jordan is widely recognised as the creator of the critically-acclaimed “Jeff Hawke” newspaper strip first published in the Daily Express. However, it’s also generally felt that the strips written by William (Willie) Patterson through the 1960s – including those… Read More ›
In Praise of… Comic Artist Alfonso Font
If you caught yesterday’s news about the impending release of a collection of the 1970s strip “Black Max” as part of Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comics, the signature of the incredible artist Alfonso Font on the cover of the Collection just… Read More ›
Create the Break, a British professional development course for emerging comic artists, announced
Well, there’s no end of great comic-related news today. After months of planning behind the scenes, the launch of ‘Create the Break’ has been announced – a professional development course for emerging comic artists based in the West Midlands. Marvel… Read More ›
Words From Beyond: Lady Penelope Artist Frank Langford Part 2 – Andersonic Quotes
In the first part of this Words From Beyond feature on artist Frank Langford we reprinted a rare interview with him from Tardis fanzine dated February 1976. For this second part we begin with a selection of quotes from Andersonic fanzine dated… Read More ›
Writer James Peaty reveals more about “The Road to the Thirteenth Doctor” on latest Doctor Who: Panel to Panel
Episode 98 of Jeremy Bement‘s excellent podcast Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is live and is well worth a download for its interview with writer James Peaty, who was just announced as the writer of the three-issue series The Road… Read More ›
Words From Beyond: Lady Penelope Artist Frank Langford Part 1 – Tardis Interview
Frank Langford is a familiar name when it comes to comics having illustrated fan favourites like Thunderbirds’ Lady Penelope in the 1960s and BBC TV’s Doctor Who in the 1970s, yet when Gordon Blows interviewed him in the third issue… Read More ›
In My View: Why Comics Need Better Media Coverage
Comics publisher, artist and events organiser Shane Chebsey has launched a petition calling on the BBC to consider more regular coverage of comics as a medium. We think he has a point – the last major coverage (without 1960s Batman… Read More ›
If only comics publishers had the marketing budget of Avengers: Infinity War…
ComicBookMovie is reporting that the US marketing spend for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, on general release 26th April in the UK, is likely to be around $150 million, the spend boosted by licensed TV promotions from companies such as Coca-Cola,… Read More ›
How I Got Used to digital comics “Guided View” – and it’s all down to Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu!
I was away on a long course for a full week recently, so began reading quite a lot of comics digitally again. US publisher Marvel had a large and outrageously priced sale recently and I picked up loads of old… Read More ›
Etherington Brothers latest project is the most successful British comics crowdfunder, ever!
Lorenzo Etherington just dropped us a line at downthetubes this morning, to share the exciting news that his latest crowdfunder – the chance to grab a copy of their new book, How to Think When You Draw – has achieved the… Read More ›