London’s Lever Gallery – a commercial art gallery devoted to post-war lifestyle illustration – is to showcase a selection of rare, original cover Pulp Art illustrations from the 1960s and early 70s next month. Artists selected for Uncovered: Illustrating the… Read More ›
Other Worlds
Non Comics items – TV, Film, Books, and other things that internet wandering alerted us to
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Art Director Kevin Jenkins joins Portsmouth Comic Con line-up
With the news that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the biggest film at the UK and Irish box office in 2017, Portsmouth’s newest Comic Con has announced that ILM London’s supervising art director Kevin Jenkins will be attending the… Read More ›
Cosplay 101: The Basics of Cosplay by Holly Rose Swinyard
Wearing costumes for fun is far from new and costume parades were an integral part of early comic and other media conventions. But cosplay as a concept, in many ways a whole separate world to comic and other media fandom,… Read More ›
More early Marvel UK art goes under the hammer at Heritage Auctions, alongside iconic US Amazing Spider-Man cover
Following up on our report on how some art created for British comics helped Heritage Auctions profits soar in 2017, a number of early Marvel UK published pieces go under the hammer next month as part of their upcoming auction… Read More ›
Webfinds: The Forbidden Planet the Movie Facebook Group
There are some movies that stick in your head your whole life and for me (and George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry and so many, many more), one of them has to be Forbidden Planet. One of the most American SF movies… Read More ›
If a “The Avengers” TV Show Reboot is in the works, would a tie-in new comic be far behind?
Writer-directors Shane Black and writing partner Fred Dekker have scripted a TV pilot reboot for cult 1960s spy show The Avengers for Warner Bros. – but there’s no indication, as yet, if or when it might get optioned. Various web sites,… Read More ›
Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition continues at Sale’s Waterside arts venue until next month
Ian Cullen from the wonderful SciFiPulse.net has kindly given downthetubes permission to feature some of his photographs of the free Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition at Waterside, in Sale. Waterside is a thriving and vibrant arts venue in the heart of… Read More ›
British auction house Vectis teases massive Bronze Age comics sale, rare “The Investigator” toy car offered
Coming soon from British auction house Vectis is a massive sale of thousands of predominantly Bronze Age Marvel and DC comics. Bought from newsagents and stored away with the sole purpose of creating a collection, these comics are largely from… Read More ›
It’s time for another Awesome Comics Podcast Catch-Up! Comichaus secrets revealed! Books to look out for in 2018! And more!
The Awesome Comics Podcast continues to broadcast some great stuff about British comics and more. Once again, I’ve been a bit neglectful in keeping you posted with its, well, awesome coverage of some terrific creators, including great interviews and entertaining… Read More ›
Transformers head to China, just as new prequel film teased
Hasbro has launched its Transformers Autobot Alliance interactive exhibition in China. The initiative, created in partnership with Cityneon Holdings Limited, a global innovator in exhibitions, finds Transformers at the centre of a walk-through attraction in Chong Qing’s Shin Kong Place. It features… Read More ›
Dog Friendly! Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast chats with the Gluepot Books team
The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is online now and leads with an interview with sisters Scarlett and Sophie Rickard who have created their own publishing company, Gluepot Books, publishers of the hugely enjoyable canine-inspired comic tale (no… Read More ›
British comics art helps boost Heritage Auction sales record, first European auction date revealed
Numerous records set by Heritage Auctions‘ Comics & Comic Art category in 2017 include total sales of $44.3 million (almost £32 million) – the highest ever in the 16-year history of the category and a new standard for the second… Read More ›
New Andersonic zine delves into 1990s Captain Scarlet comics and more
Issue 23 of the fab Andersonic zine is now available via the title’s website (and eBay for a short period in the Collectibles > SF > Thunderbirds section). There’s a great mix of articles in the ‘zine, including a look… Read More ›
“Do, Think, Share” – the free 64 Million Artists campaign seeking to support creators in all walks of life
Libraries across the UK are taking part in 64 Million Artists, a national campaign and inviting everyone to get involved, be creative and have fun. Now in its fourth year, the initiative aims to support visitors to libraries to feel… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Festival Podcast chats with Tillie Walden
Cartoonist and illustrator Tillie Walden is the latest guest of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, a comics creator with a track record of producing some amazing books, including The End of Summer, released in 2015 by Avery Hill Publishing and… Read More ›
Inspiring Art: Ernest Chiriacka
Ernest Chiriacka (1913-2010) is internationally known as an impressionistic painter of dramatic Western moods and the American landscape. He is one of few fine artists that successfully made the leap from illustration, leaving behind a large commercial legacy including pulp… Read More ›
Jim Baikie: A Stripography (and some Musical Notes)
Here’s a guide to comics artist Jim Baikie’s comics career, including his lesser known British girls’ comic work, revealing his huge contribution to many titles. Jim died in December 2017; you can read our obituary here and an Appreciation by Alan Moore… Read More ›
Panel Borders: Music and Comics
In a pair of interviews recorded in front of a live audience, Panel Borders investigates the work of a trio of creators who have an interest in combining music and comic book art. At Thought Bubble Festival, Alex Fitch talks… Read More ›
In Review – Read Em and Weep Book Two – Goodnight, John-Boy
Written by Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill Available through Amazon on Kindle and Paperback See also: Read Em and Weep Book One – Serial Killer The Story: The Geek Detective is back! Now comic book editor and armchair serial killer,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comic Artist Jim Baikie
We’re sorry to report the passing of Eisner Award-winning Scottish comic artist Jim Baikie, perhaps best known to many downthetubes readers as co-creator of 2000AD’s alien-on-the-run, Skizz. He enjoyed a career in comics that began with work for girls titles in the 1960s that would go on to encompass “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terrahawks” for Look-In, 2000AD and superhero work in the United States. He was also a much in demand artist beyond the comics medium