downthetubes caught up with busy, enthusiastic experimental creator David Roberson of Fred Egg Comics just before Christmas to talk to him about his work…
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
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
Captain Pugwash creator John Ryan and John Michael Burns contributed to Ivory Castle Arrow
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 ›
In Praise of… comic artist and illustrator Jean-Claude Mézières
Award-winning French comics artist and illustrator Jean-Claude Mézières is the co-creator of Valérian and Laureline with Pierre Christin, the popular, long-running science fiction comics series published in English by Cinebook that has influenced many science fiction and fantasy films, including… Read More ›
Cooking Up a Storm – Comics-Inspired Recipes and Books
Comics that may make you hungry..l
DC Thomson’s Heritage Brands Editor Gordon Tait Talks Buckets, War and Reprints
As the new Heritage Brands Editor at DC Thomson, replacing Kirsten Murray who inaugurated the role, Gordon Tait brings a great depth of knowledge and experience to the position that includes editorship of 104 issues of Commando a year plus… Read More ›
Master in Comics: An Interview with Beano artist David Sutherland
Check out this fantastic interview with a BEANO legend
Striker comic battles for second round of crowdfunding
We’re almost at the end of the first 12 weekly Striker comics – and the team behind the project are back on Kickstarter to raise funds for issues 13 to 24. This time around, they’re chasing a target of £45,000… Read More ›
Unbound’s graphic novels Commissioning Editor Lizzie Kaye latest Festival Podcast guest
The latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast co-hosted by Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates features an exclusive interview with crowdfunding publisher Unbound‘s comics and graphic novels Commissioning Editor, Lizzie Kaye. Unbound launched one of their latest graphic novels, Reel Love by Owen Michael Johnson, at this… Read More ›
In Review: Dave – Death of the Cosmic Oddity
By Richard Pester Out: Now The Book: Everyone has a story to tell, this is the continuing story of ‘Dave’. Like all of us, he tries to make sense of his life, memories of a turbulent past bring both tragedy and… Read More ›
Rare Al Williamson interview resurfaces thanks to Classic UK Comic Zines archive site
An influential 1960s Irish fan publication offering a fascinating interview with artist Al Williamson has just been added to the brilliant Classic UK Comic Zines archive site run by David Hathaway-Price
Comic Book Masters: Cover Artist Giorgio De Gaspari
Italian artist Giorgio De Gaspari may be an artist unfamiliar to many downthetubes readers, but throughout the 1960s his cover art thrilled many a young comic reader of British digest titles such as Thriller Picture Library and War Picture Library…. Read More ›
Revealed – The Dan Dare Radio Luxembourg Comic Strips by Philip Harbottle
Regular readers of downthetubes will know we recently presented a rare “Lost Episode” from Radio Luxembourg‘s 1950s serial The Adventures of Dan Dare, with the permission of the Dan Dare Corporation. Its presentation, along with the previous discovery of other episodes, prompted… Read More ›
A True Inspiration: artist Lee Sullivan pays tribute to Mike Noble
Comic artist and illustrator Lee Sullivan, who worked with illustrator Mike Noble, who died last week but whose passing was announced yesterday, pays tribute to a legend…. Mike Noble was a supremely talented artist, and the most kind and gentlemanly fellow you… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Look-In and TV21 artist Mike Noble
We’re sorry to report the passing of veteran artist Mike Noble, perhaps best known for his work on the British weekly comics TV Century 21 – drawing strips such as “Fireball XL5“, “Captain Scarlet” and “Star Trek” and Look-In – working… Read More ›
Inksgiving – Tapas Comics annual campaign to support creators – returns tomorrow
Inksgiving, a 48-hour event dedicated to giving love and support to your favourite comic creators on the Tapas digital comics platform, will take place from tomorrow, Tuesday 20th November, 12.00am PST and end on Wednesday 21st November 21, 11.59pm PST…. Read More ›
In Memoriam: “Garth” Artist and editor John Allard
We’re sorry to report the passing of Garth artist and former Daily Mirror strip editor John Allard, an unsung hero in the character’s success, not just in Britain, but in terms of his popularity wherever his adventures were re-published across… Read More ›
Monty Nero and Martin Simmonds “Death Sentence” is back, and here’s what to expect!
Death Sentence Liberty #2 (and #1) is now live on Kickstarter until 13th December, written by Monty Nero (Titan, Marvel, Delcourt) with art by Martin Simmonds (Titan, Marvel, Black Crown, Vault Comics). It’s the third story in the series about an… Read More ›
More Lakes Festival creator interviews focus for new Podcast
The latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is again bursting with interviews from the annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Kendal held last month, conducted by co-hosts Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates. Episode 40 includes interviews with Canadian artist… Read More ›