More than 30 collectors made a play for Dave Gibbons Watchmen #1 original cover art at the weekend’s Heritage Auctions’ Comics & Comic Art auction in Dallas – before it finally sold for $228,000 (£171,383) – but it was not… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Dan Dare and Frank Hampson Centenary Exhibitions Closing Soon
Two Frank Hampson Centenary exhibitions, one at The Atkinson in Southport, the other at Bourne Hall in Ewell, are both coming to an end in March. Time’s running out if you haven’t seen them yet. And while we’re talking about… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Venus Rises, a hard SF adventure comic
Jason G. Birdsall, the creator/writer of Venus Rises, an indie sci-fi comic book series, recently launched a crowdfunder for the second issue on Indiegogo – and the project, with art by James Newell, looks pretty amazing. In the near future,… Read More ›
2000AD’s “Lost” Dan Dare Finale by Gavin Aslett Revisited – in colour!
Back in 2014, after Rebellion, the publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine first announced collections of the “Dan Dare” stories published in early editions of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, we featured an item on artist and photographer Gavin Aslett‘s continuation of the story –… Read More ›
BBC Four’s “Comics Britannia” re-visited
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 US comics Festival, announces full guest line-up
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 ›
Supermarionation (and more) celebrated with shows old and new by Century 21 Films
A draughty warehouse on the Slough Trading Estate in the 1960s: what could possibly be so special about such a place? One word: Supermarionation… the term most associated with Gerry Anderson’s many TV shows, and the inspiration for Moon Rangers,… Read More ›
Are you ready for “The Spine Chillers”? (I doubt it…)
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 ›
Max Allan Collins & Terry Beatty’s “Ms. Tree” gets new collection
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 ›
Sneak Peek: Essential Guide to Captain Marvel from Panini UK
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 ›
Gosh! Comics and Broken Frontier Drink and Draw back for February Fun!
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 ›
ComicScene’s first monthly issue on sale now, Sainsbury’s take copies too
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.
Who was Ian Kennedy’s Space Captain Dave Garratt?
(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 ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight and Sneak Peek: Cthulhu Kids #2
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.
Build Your Own Saturn V!
Prepare for the launch of your very own Apollo 11, months before the anniversary launch and moon landing date! Designed and made in Denmark, Plus-Plus is a building brick toy that lets you create 3D masterpieces, models can be as… Read More ›
Justice League Dark artist Andres Guinaldo confirmed for Titan Comics “Blade Runner 2019” title
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 ›
Game of Thrones artist joins Portsmouth Comic Con line-up
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 ›
Beano heads to Comics Salopia in June
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 ›
Tea-Time Rendezvous: Thought Bubble moves from Leeds to Harrogate for 2019
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 ›
Paying it Forward: The Road to the Breakthrough Project by Tim Pilcher
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 ›