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 ›
Other Worlds
Non Comics items – TV, Film, Books, and other things that internet wandering alerted us to
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
“Lost” Doctor Who strip materialises
This Doctor Who story was victim to the cancellation of Doctor Who Adventures
McClane or Cross? Win a festive painting in Graeme Neil Reid’s December Art Raffle!
Doctor Who artist Graeme Neil Reid is in the festive spirit this month and has a little bit of festive movie magic for his art raffle this month. He’s offering art inspired by two films from 1988 that have become… Read More ›
Rare Dan Dare concept art unearthed from classic story “Reign of the Robots”
Eagle co-creator Frank Hampson’s son Peter Hampson recently dropped us a line to tell us about some recently-discovered Dan Dare concept sketches, now online on the artist’s official web site. The art, designs for the story “Reign of the Robots”, was… Read More ›
Airfix artist Roy Cross “Swift” covers on eBay
Four lovely covers for Swift, the younger readers stablemate to Eagle, are currently on offer on eBay (at eye-watering prices). Published in 1962, they’re all by artist Roy Cross who’s perhaps best known for his work illustrating Airfix Model box… Read More ›
First Awesome Comics Podcast anthology in the works, to launch at True Believers in February
The Awesome Comics Anthology – the work of the team who bring you the Awesome Comics Podcast dedicated to British independent comics – is making its debut at True Believers Comic Festival on Saturday February 3rd 2018 and the book is… Read More ›
Tissues may be required: Cats Protection animation “Kozal’s Christmas” pulls at the heart strings
“Kozal’s Christmas” is a smashing little animation in aid of Cats Protection with art by Rus Hudda, telling the true life story of Kozal, a 16-year-old ginger cat, who arrived at Cats Protection’s National Cat Adoption Centre in Sussex and… Read More ›