SEQUENTIAL, the free digital graphic novel storefront app for the iPad created by Panel Nine, is launching next Wednesday in the UK, bringing you loads of great titles from the likes of Hunt Emerson, Gilbert Shelton, Alan Moore, Krent Able… Read More ›
Comics
Comics News, features and more
Digital Dandy Issue 8 Now Available
Kat and the crew from Retro-Active face an explosive end to a rooftop rescue, Bananaman has a face-off with the ultra-naughty League of Super Villains, there’s some (nearly) bare-faced cheek as Desperate Dan tries to take a bath in private,… Read More ›
Commando Editor Talks At Chalke Valley History Festival
Commando Editor Calum Laird is scheduled to give a talk at the Chalke Valley History Festival at Ebbesbourne Wake near Salisbury in Wiltshire. The talk entitled “Achtung! Commando Comics” will take place at 1130 on Saturday 29 June 2013. Calum… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Copyright Matters
Some suggestions and advice on copyright. However, if you are seeking proper, professional copyright or trademark advice, hire a lawyer!
Creating Web Comics: Some Useful Books
If you’re thinking about creating your own web comic, I’ve found these three books useful reading. How to Make Web Comics by Scott Kurtz and Peter Straub For years young, creative men and women have dreamed about making a living… Read More ›
Andrew Skilleter’s Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet artwork in the spotlight
Illustrator and comic artist Andrew Skilleter has just launched an extensive new Facebook page based around the original art he created for the 1990s Gerry Anderson comics. Best known for his professional Doctor Who art, Andrew contributed many covers and… Read More ›
In Review: Antares – Episode 3
Brazilian artist and writer Leo (Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira) continues his Worlds of Aldebaran saga with Antares Episode 3, the (presumably) middle part of the third series of his incredibly alien tales of 22nd century interplanetary settlers and the beasts… Read More ›
Jonathan Cape, Observer and Comica Comics Competition launches
Publishers Jonathan Cape and the London-based comic event Comica have got together with The Observer newspaper to offer you the chance to see your work in print and win £1,000. Take this opportunity to get your work read by industry… Read More ›
Mad May for Wallace and Gromit
VisitEngland, the UK’s national tourist board has recruited Wallace & Gromit as ‘Tourism Trailblazers’ to inspire Britons to take a holiday at home this year. (It’s a busy time for the duo – earlier this month, they notched up the… Read More ›
Who Wants to be a Comics Letterer?
Richard Starkings, who persuaded Marvel UK to hire me in the first place way back when, offers some useful advice about breaking into comics in this interview, Like a Chained Elephant, plus comments on the advent of Computer Lettering and… Read More ›
Quote Me: To Write is to Take Chances, says J. Michael Straczynski
“To write is to take chances. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t, because the measure of success is in the eyes of the reader. And a subjective opinion is always right for that reader, always true for that person.”J. Michael… Read More ›
Never Stop Writing
Jeph Loeb was interviewd by the supermanhomepage in 2004, and offered this advice to writers when asked if he had any advice for breaking into the comic business, or into writing in general? ” Keep writing,” he advises. “Every day…. Read More ›
Quote Me: Word Counts in Comics by Alan Moore
One thing that was drummed into my head (by more than one writer or editor) is that when you’re writing comics, let the pictures tell the story. You should never overwrite and be ruthless about dialogue — cut it, cut… Read More ›
How to Get into Comics by Gerry Alanguilan
Philippines artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan has a useful guide on getting into comics today on his web site: alanguilan.com/sanpablo/2006/01/how-to-get-into-comics-today.html Known elsewhere as Doroteo Gerardo N. Alanguilan Jr., Gerry is a Filipino comic book writer, artist and publisher. He’s an… Read More ›
Quote Me: On Going Freelance by Luc Belanger
“The first couple of years you don’t make enough to pay the bills. The next couple of years you barely make enough to cover the bills. And then a couple of years after that you make enough to pay the… Read More ›
British Comic Sales Figures Creating Comics articles moved
(LINKS UPDATED since first posting): As regular readers know the main downthetubes web site is currently down due to excessive data charges. I’m in the process of securing a new ISP and we’ve had a very kind offer from a… Read More ›
Be Pure, Be Vigilant… Be the first to get some great signed Nemesis prints from 2000AD
2000AD has announced that copies of the special ‘Termight’ edition of the forthcoming colour Nemesis the Warlock book will include two exclusive art prints signed by creators Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill. The hardback, with its two editions, is the… Read More ›
Creating Comics – Pitching at Conventions
What is the best way to pitch scripts at conventions? This short guide is based on discussions on the Comics 2000 Yahoo group. Special thanks to those who threw in ideas for this and gave permission for their comments to… Read More ›
Portfolio Advice: A View from the Editor’s Chair for Comics Artists
Here’s my guide on what a comics editor might like to see in your comic portfolio when you present it at a convention. You might also like to take a look at this guidance on what you should – and shouldn’t – include in… Read More ›
Quote Me: Portfolio Advice from Pete Ashton – Don’t be Nervous
“One thing I’ve noticed over the last couple of years is that the creators doing portfolio reviews at the 2000AD table [at the Bristol Comics festival] at least are very encouraging to new people probably because a lot of them… Read More ›