The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with METAPHROG, Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers, whose incredible work straddles children’s and adults’ comics with a… Read More ›
Creating Comics
Articles on creating comics, how tos, reference information and more
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with comic creator Marc Jackson
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We’re delighted to continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with top indie comic artist Marc Jackson, whose new book, Here comes Cat Stevens! was commissioned… Read More ›
The British Comics Industry – Still in Decline or On the Up?
The state of British comics – and exactly what people mean by the “British comics industry” came into focus in a couple of threads on social media over the weekend, with many older comic fans noting with dismay the dominance… Read More ›
Etherington Brothers get set to storm Oxford’s Story Museum
The hugely-talented Etherington Brothers will be presenting their Lost and Found Comic-Making Show at Oxford’s Story Museum on Saturday 12th August. Robin and Lorenzo, whose credits include Star Wars and The Phoenix comic – will take you on a humorous,… Read More ›
Plan Hatched to celebrate 50 years of British Comic Zines – with an all-new fanzine, of course!
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Phil Clarke and Steve Moore‘s KA-POW #1 – the first British comic fanzine (Although in Ireland Tony Roche got there first of course, with his Merry Marvel Fanzine). Now, a… Read More ›
That Was the Comics Week That Was: Avengers, Thor, a splash of 2000AD artistry and girls comics, too!
It’s been a busy week! Here are some items you may have missed on our site and beyond. Have a great weekend! • Marvel Entertainment debuted a lot of concept art and new posters for upcoming movies over the weekend at San… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with top Finnish comics artist Petteri Tikkanen, aka Black Peider
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We’re delighted to continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with the amazing Finnish comic artist Petteri Tikkanen, who blew Festival guests away with his… Read More ›
Sneak Beak: The Featherhood by Paul Goodenough and Fabio Guimarães
There will be lots to see and do in the Comic Zone at the London Film and Comic Con this coming weekend, but be sure to check out the free preview of The Featherhood, a new project from award-winning writer… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with comic artist Oliver East
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We’re delighted to continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with comic artist Oliver East, who has previously been involved in numerous Festival-related projects. Oliver… Read More ›
DC Thomson puts out call for Commando writers
Alongside publishing its submission guidelines for both writers and artists, the team at DC Thomson’s Commando have put out a time sensitive, specific call for specific pitches from authors. Here’s the appeal in full… Calling all Writers! We’re currently looking… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with 2000AD Comics Artist Mark Sexton
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We’re delighted to continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with 2000AD comic artist Mark Sexton, who’s coming to the event all the way from Australia… Read More ›
New Eagle Times spotlights Dan Dare’s “Lion” days
The new Eagle Times – Summer 2017 issue (Volume 30, Part Two) – is out now. Features include “Life After Eagle“, about Dan Dare‘s brief run in Lion, the second part of downthetubes contributor Steve Winders article about Frank Bellamy’s “The… Read More ›
Broken Frontier announce the publication of the 2017 Broken Frontier Small Press Yearbook
Comics culture site Broken Frontier has announced the publication of their 2017 Small Press Yearbook, an anthology celebration of the work of BF’s ‘Six Small Press Creators to Watch’ of 2016 – Rebecca Bagley, Kim Clements, Brigid Deacon, Emily… Read More ›
In Review: The Leopard from Lime Street – Book One
Written by Tom Tully Art by Mike Western, Eric Bradbury Publisher: Rebellion Graphic Novels (British Treasury of Comics) Out: Now The Book: Billy Farmer lives with his Aunt Joan and Uncle Charlie in the sleepy town of Selbridge. Visiting the… Read More ›
Sneak Peek: Artist Rian Hughes’ I Am a Number
When everyone has a number, everyone knows their place. Lower numbers are better, higher numbers are less important, and that’s just the way it is. But what if that number could change? You might try to buck the system and… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comic Artist and Writer Sam Glanzman
The team here at downthetubes were very sad to learn of the passing of the influential comics American comic creator Sam Glanzman, whose work we have highlighted on several occasions. Here, his son Thom Glanzman pays tribute to his father…… Read More ›
The Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up: Creating Comics with Al Ewing, Jon Lock, Sarah Millman and more
It’s time for an Awesome Comics Podcast catch Up! (Let’s hope the boys didn’t mean what they said about cattle prods and anchovies if I got behind again, eh?) Dan Butcher, Vince Hunt and Tony Esmond have been chatting with… Read More ›
A Caravan of Comics heads to the Lakes Festival in October – from Australia!
Kendal’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced several Australian comic creators have joined this year’s line-up of both British and international guests for its weekend-long event, taking place 13th – 15th October 2017 – including 2000AD artist Mark Sexton. The Caravan of… Read More ›
Observer/ Cape/ Comica Graphic Short Story 2017 Competition Launches
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Jonathan Cape Graphic Novels and Comica have again got together with the Observer newspaper to offer you the chance to see your work in print and win £1,000…. Read More ›
Coming Soon: Corbyn Comics! from SelfMadeHero
Yes, you read that headline right. Corbyn comics are needed from artists up and down the UK and beyond – and they’re needed fast – by 9th August 2017. No, not Kirby comics – Corbyn comics, as in Labour Party… Read More ›