I never felt the need to watch a film that told me Han Solo’s back story because the character was such a cliché that I felt that I already knew it. For me, Star Wars didn’t exactly have depth. As an… Read More ›
Other Worlds
Non Comics items – TV, Film, Books, and other things that internet wandering alerted us to
Games Workshop moves into children’s fiction with “Warhammer Adventure” novels
Games Workshop has announced a new Warhammer book series, giving its stories of planet-wide chemical weapon strikes and demonic possession a re-working for a new line of children’s fiction. Published by Black Library – Games Workshop’s own publishing house – the… Read More ›
Royal Academy of Art Stamps revealed
A new series of 65p and £1.55 stamps commissioned to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy. Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme has commemorated anniversaries and celebrated events relevant to UK heritage and life for more than 50 years…. Read More ›
1938 – When “The Lone Ranger” first rode onto movie screens…
Printed in 1938, the same year Republic Pictures released their popular Lone Ranger serial based on the radio programme of the same name, these beautifully detailed and colorful premium cards were prizes at Gum Inc. Depicted are a range of… Read More ›
Cosplay 101: Conventions and Cosplay Etiquette by Holly Rose Swinyard (Part Two)
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 ›
Vworp Con – a new independent Doctor Who event – heads to Manchester
There’s a new dawn ahead for Doctor Who events in the UK as Manchester based ‘Vworp’ launches their first event with a bang at The Printworks on 9th September 2018 – an independent event offering an impressive looking line up… Read More ›
Original Tintin art by Hergé may sell for over £500,000 in Heritage’s First European Comic Art Auction
An extraordinary, 12-panel page of original Tintin art by Belgian cartoonist Hergé may sell for as much as $720,000 (over £533,400) in Heritage Auctions’ first European Comic Art Auction next month. The sale offers nearly 300 lots, including vintage artworks by… Read More ›
Oldham Sounds from the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast!
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast took a trip out to Oldham Comic Con 2018 last weekend and landed plenty of conversations with some terrific comic creators. “We had a great time and it really was a well ran… Read More ›
Markosia gets set to launch “The Cosplay Journal”
We’re delighted to report the imminent launch of The Cosplay Journal,from independent publisher Markoisa – a great looking guide to the hobby, edited by Holly Rose Swinyard, who has written some great articles for us here at downthetubes. Launching next… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: new Thunderbirds are Go toy line in the works, Joy of the Rovers and Deadpool (2)!
A quick snapshot of some comics-related news from across the web… • ITV launched season three of Thunderbirds Are Go on CITV and ITV earlier this year, and the launch weekend saw really strong ratings. Steve Green, EVP Kids Content… Read More ›
Titan Books new Marvel fiction line launched with Dan Abnett-penned Avengers tale
Titan Books recently launched its new publishing programme in collaboration with Marvel of original fiction books. Titan Comics, a sister imprint of Titan Entertainment Group, has had a long, proud history of producing magazine products to support some of Marvel’s… Read More ›
Frank Frazetta painting sale for $1.79 million sets all-time auction record for any piece of comic art
Run by Heritage Auctions, Chicago’s largest public auction dedicated to vintage comic books and original comic art fetched $12,201,974 – setting the world record for the most valuable sale of its kind. The top lot claimed its own record when… Read More ›
Not a Number, a Patrick McGoohan retrospective, on next month
For any of you interested in the cult tv series The Prisoner or enjoying Titan Comics new series, there’s a Patrick McGoohan retrospective even taking place at Elstree next month. Organised by The Unmutual, a The Prisoner fan web site,… Read More ›
First issues of Batman and Commando on offer in latest Compal auction
There’s a treasure trove of comics and comic art on offer in the latest ComPal auction, including a coverless Batman #1, a first issue of DC Thomson’s long-running Commando comic, “Charley’s War” art by Joe Colquhoun and Dan Dare art… Read More ›
Call for Papers: Graphic Brighton 2018, mashing music with comics!
Music and comics have had a connection right from the start, with the title of the seminal newspaper strip Hogan’s Alley taken from a popular song by Edward Harrigan. As the 20th Century progressed, these two media flirted with each… Read More ›
Early Inspirations: The Bayeux Tapestry
There’s a very good reason why this 1940s King Penguin book about the Bayeux Tapestry is in such a very worn state. It was probably one of my very first encounters with the graphic form, and I often read and… Read More ›
Classic British Comic Covers: 2000AD Prog 62, featuring the comic’s first heroine
“Death Planet” was a short-lived series written by Alan Hebden with art by Lopez which began in 2000AD 62 and ran through to Prog 70, back in 1978. Commander Lorna Varn, the captain of a colony ship from Earth which… Read More ›
“One Man Bond: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes” – First Tour Dates announced
One Man Bond: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes chronicles over half a century of the most successful movie franchise in history and is on tour this year, with stops at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and the Lakes International Comic… Read More ›
Coming Soon: Avengers: Infinity War – The Official Movie Special
Following up on our review of the film, don’t miss out on Titan Publishing’s Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Official Collector’s Edition on soon now in UK newsagents – celebrating the making of Avengers: Infinity War. From amazing cast interviews to… Read More ›
In Review: Avengers – Infinity War (12A)
Warning: this review contains mild threat of spoilers and fantasy fisticuffs The Avengers: Infinity War is rated 12A in the UK which is entirely reasonable because it contains everything that a twelve year old could want from a movie: goofy… Read More ›