I am becoming increasingly concerned by the rising number of independent publishers professing to support our comic industry, on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, whose worthy ambition to promote comics is being marred by an apparent blind spot when it comes the reompense of creators.
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
#Inktober is Coming!
#Inktober, the annual month long art challenge created by artist Jake Parker is on its way – and the environment themed “Prompt List” has been revealed.
Here’s how anyone – no matter their skill level – can take part…
Celebrating Scatterbrook: “Scatterbrook Days”, a Moving Tribute to “Worzel Gummidge”
2019 marks the 40th Anniversary of the TV series Worzel Gummidge starring Jon Pertwee as the scarecrow scallywag, and the centenary of the much-loved Jon Pertwee himself. To celebrate, Ten Acre Films took a trip to the countryside with some… Read More ›
Rob Davis chats eagerly awaited “Book of Forks” with Lakes Festival Podcast
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast team chat to comic creator Rob Davis in their latest episode, creator of the abstract adventure trilogy that began with the British Comic-Award-winning The Motherless Oven, continued with The Can Opener’s Daughter and… Read More ›
Young artist helps to raise funds to save the Amazon rainforest
Young artist Matylda-Mai McCormack Sharp has joined many creators worldwide, putting her talents to inspiring use, in an effort to aid efforts to protect the rainforests and wildlife endangered by the fires currently raging in the Amazon
Major Mœbius exhibition heads to Germany’s Max Ernst Museum Brühl
Germany’s LVR Max Ernst Museum Brühl is hosting a major retrospective celebrating the visionary visual worlds of French comic creator Jean Giraud (1938-2012), known worldwide as “Mœbius”, from 15th September until February 2020
Thunder Road Touring Theatre’s “The Body Snatcher” opens in October
Harrogate-based Thunder Road Touring Theatre‘s new touring co-production The Body Snatcher opens on the 23rd October – and they have a fantastic poster to promote their UK tour, created by Loose Nut Studio. The Body Snatcher is the company’s most… Read More ›
downthetubes “Create a Troll” Art Competition
downthetubes Art Competition: Win a copy of Spike Greenwood’s “The Oxford Trollomicus”
Ian Kennedy’s “Great War Dundee” cover revealed
Ian Kennedy’s cover art for the upcoming free Great War Dundee Comic has been unveiled, featuring “Ragtime Soldier”, a character created by Pat Mills, with art by Gary Welsh and Phillip Vaughan
Transmission Vamp! FANSCENE Issue 3 e-zine celebrates Vampirella, and much more
FANSCENE Issue 3, the latest Issue of the zine edited by artist David Hathaway-Price dedicated to all things comic zine, is available now, as a free PDF format fanzine
In Memoriam: 2000AD and Sonic the Comic Artist Nigel Dobbyn
I’m very saddened to report the sudden passing of 2000AD and Sonic the Comic artist Nigel Dobbyn, a comic creator whose work I very much admired. He was just 56. Via fellow artist Nigel Kitching, Nigel’s wife, Sue, tells us… Read More ›
WebFind: Charming Mini Wall Art from StickersfromLola
These wonderful wall stickers by StickersfromLola are genius – hand-painted in the Cotswolds – mini murals that could be a wonderful storytelling aid, helping stir creative young minds and infuse a little magic into your house! Many designs come in… Read More ›
Marvel’s Thor spotted alongside fracking protestors in Lancashire!
Residents of Blackpool have been joking about Thor causing the tremors felt in the area – so Madame Tussauds Blackpool decided to take him out to the fracking front line to see what all the fuss was about. Thor’s wax… Read More ›
Fan Fiction Avengers UK Recap released ahead of new story
This Saturday, 31st August 2019, the not-for-profit Marvel UK and British media culture inspired Defenders UK project returns with Issue 4 of its latest series, available to read for free on Facebook, but first, why not catch up with the series mashing Marvel mayhem with Doctor Who, Tommy Cooper, and much more so far?
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Be Ready for the Etherington Brothers next Kickstarter!
If you’re an aspiring artist, comic artist or cartoonist, then you probably already have Lorenzo Etherington’s hugely popular, utterly brilliant How To Think When You Draw Books… and if you haven’t got them, there’s good news! There will be another chance to get your hands on copies, as part of a new crowdfunding campaign for Lorenzo’s equally talented brother Robin Etherington’s How to Write book, launching in October!
London’s House of Illustration seeks Illustrator in Residence for 2020
London’s House of Illustration is seeking applications for its sixth Illustrator in Residence, so if you’re a designer or illustrator up for the challenge of creating an ambitious body of work that challenges perceptions of what illustration can be, apply… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2019: An Interview with Rob Williams
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with writer Rob Williams, whose works include “Judge… Read More ›
Commando Comics to mark 80th anniversary of World War Two with Invasion: Poland
Commando Comics has announced Issue 5261 Invasion: Poland, a special one-off story focussing on Poland’s defence against the German invasion to commemorate 80 years since the beginning of World War Two
Meet Captain Britain, 2099!
Marvel’s Excalibur returns to comic shop shelves in October, and #2, on sale in November, and on offer will be a variant cover featuring a 2099 version of Captain Britain, part of a crossover event celebrating the “2099” Marvel Universe we first saw back in the 1990s
Judge Dredd features in latest Back Issue magazine, a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special
The latest edition of Back Issue magazine, available now, is a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special, leading with in-depth looks at Jim Starlin’s space-spanning Dreadstar and 2000AD’s dystopian lawman Judge Dredd.