Comics News, features and more
Back in 2007, the BBC broadcast Comics Britannia, a three-part documentary series devoted to history of British comics – a welcome and major retrospective of our medium (if a tad simplistic for some commentators tastes), that prompted a lot of creators to suggest the Corporation should do more to cover it
NCSFest, a major new comics happening in the United States this May has announced its full incredible line-up of world-renowned creators who will be heading to take over Huntington Beach, California. From the world of comic strips come the creators… Read More ›
Renegade Arts Entertainment has released a collection of Ben Clark‘s utterly bonkers – and wonderfully funny – The Spine Chillers later this month, a series inspired by the company’s audio books line. The collection features guest strips from William Simpson,… Read More ›
Titan Comics‘ Hard Case Crime imprint continues to release sharp, stylish crime thrillers, and 2019 is no exception. The legendary detective Ms Tree – created by Mystery Writers of America 2017 Grand Master ‘Edgar’ winner Max Allan Collins, and inker… Read More ›
Panini Comics UK releases a smashing Essential Guide to Captain Marvel bookazine next week, just ahead of the Marvel movie release on Friday 8th March – although some downthetubes readers have already bought copies. From ace pilot to one of… Read More ›
The second Gosh! Comics and Broken Frontier Drink and Draw of 2019 takes place this Wednesday (27th February), offering a cracking line-up of small press artists at this latest regular monthly meet-up, sponsored by Cass Art. Co-hosts for the night are Broken Frontier‘s… Read More ›
The first monthly issue of ComicScene Magazine, featuring a classic Roy of the Rovers cover, is on sale now. The title is available from comic shops, all good newsagents by order, WHSmith, McColls and Easons (in Ireland) and 400 selected Sainsbury’s supermarkets – and I’m honoured to be part of it.
(Originally posted 29 March 2016 – updated 24 February 2019) There is a little known science fiction comics character called Dave Garratt who appeared in at least three of the Collins Boys’ Annuals published by William Collins Sons And Co… Read More ›
Imagine what a school for the offspring of the creatures of the Cthulhu Mythos would be like… well, actually, you dont have to, because that’s exactly what small-press comic creators Peter Duncan and Andrew Pawley have done. Their wonderful Cthulhu Kids comic is the result, and a second Issue is in the pipeline, crowdfunding permitting.
Titan Comics and Alcon Media Group have announced that the year’s most hotly-awaited comic series will be officially titled Blade Runner 2019. Launching this summer, Titan Comics’ new series will be set during the exact timeframe of the original Blade… Read More ›
William ‘Will’ Simpson, the lead storyboard artist behind the TV adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy epic, Game of Thrones, is the latest guest to be announced in a stellar line up for this year’s Portsmouth Comic Con –… Read More ›
Dundee-based comics publisher DC Thomson and Beano Studios are adept at promoting Beano in the national media, the result a steady growth in sale over the past few years. They’ve run some high profile promotional events too, at the… Read More ›
Thought Bubble has announced major changes for its Festival later this year, moving the event from Leeds to Harrogate – a Yorkshire spa town famous for Betty’s Tea Rooms, RHS Harlow Carr Gardens and renovated Royal Baths development – and announcing… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani Jérôme Tubiana and Alexandre Franc SelfMadeHero Life in the insanely oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia may be great, if you are rich and male and Saudi. If you are a teenage Muslim… Read More ›
Comic creator Kieran Squires gave downthetubes a heads up on his new project, The Hammer – an action-packed slams fantasy tale, reinventing Norse mythology with a savagely British sense of adventure and humour. The modest Kickstarter has just gone live and… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
Book Palace Books are working in partnership with Rebellion to publish a number of limited edition “Fleetway Picture Library Classics” comic collections, bringing strips such as “Jet Ace Logan” back into the limelight.
These collections are in addition to their ongoing Illustrators magazine, which will highlight work of artists such as 2000AD’s John Michael Burns and others.