When we recently reported on a plan to bring some of artist Ken Reid’s humour comics back into print with a crowdfunding appeal – “Frankie Stein” and the “The Nervs” to name but two – British comic fans greeted the… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Creating Comics: Atomeka publisher Dave Elliott’s plan to save the US comics industry
Over the last few years, Atomeka Press publisher Dave Elliott has stood by and frustratingly watched as the US comic book industry continues to devour itself like the mythical Ouroboros, the snake that ate its own tail. Last week, he… Read More ›
In Review: Bloke’s Progress by Kevin Jackson and Hunt Emerson
By Kevin Jackson (writer) and Hunt Emerson (Artist) Published by Knockabout Comics ISBN 9780861662715 £12.99 Published May 24th 2018 The Book: Darren Bloke is an ordinary, hard-working stiff until a lottery win changes – and ruins – his life. He… Read More ›
Blitzkrieging Panzers! New Commando comics on sale on Thursday!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5127 – 5130) are on sale in all good newsagents from DC Thomson across the UK on Thursday. Evade Blitzkrieging Panzers in Belgium, lead a squad of Polish criminals straight against bloodthirsty Gestapo soldiers, dodge desert… Read More ›
George R R Martin’s “The Ice Dragon” set to become animated feature
Warner Bros is developing George R R Martin’s fantasy novel, The Ice Dragon into an animated film, with the Game of Thrones creator on board as producer. First published in 1979 in Orson Scott Card’s short story collection entitled “Dragons… Read More ›
Oo-de-lally! What a set of Disney inspired goodies up for grabs in Graeme Neil Reid’s May Art Raffle
Not only will one person walk away with an original landscape scene based on a classic Disney animated film but a second winner will receive a watercolour original of that wicked evil fairy Maleficent in artist Graeme Neil Reid’s monthly raffle…. Read More ›
Coverless Batman #1 sells for £8200 in UK comic auction
A coverless copy of Batman #1, estimated to sell for between £2000 – 2,500 (somewhat less than its US valuation) has just sold for an astonishing £8,200 in an online auction yesterday. Comic Book Auctions offered the rarity along with… Read More ›
Comics Uncovered postponed, merged with ICE Birmingham in September
The comic creator-focused event Comics Uncovered, announced in February, will now be part of the ICE Birmingham line up in September and will not take place in July as previously announced. “Due to circumstances beyond my control I have had… Read More ›
How so many British Adventure Comics became just one – Eagle – in the 1990s
Over on his brilliant Rusty Staples site, 2000AD writer Michael Carroll has begun a series of articles tracing the history of British comics, creating a series of “family trees” showing various mergers and more down the years. It’s something Alan… Read More ›
Lawgiver 2018! What a Day!
I’ve always been a 2000AD fan but never quite got into the message board scene that they have of recent become known for. It’s an ace comic and full of some of the best and most imaginative comics you’ll see… Read More ›
South London Comic and Zine Fair returns!
South London Comic and Zine Fair returns to Stanley Halls for a second year in July. The event, taking place Saturday 14th July 2018, will once again host a cornucopia of London’s most talented zine and alternative comic creators and throw a spotlight the capital’s most… Read More ›
In Preview – “SUTRA: Songs from the World of Om” by Andy Barron
Created by Andy Barron The Story: The creatures of the World of Om return and navigate the landscape that in many ways mirrors our own. This is a world of beauty and savagery. It reveals much about these characters and… Read More ›
A Class Act: Martin Rowson’s graphic take on The Communist Manifesto
SelfMadeHero recently marked the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth with a graphic novel adaptation of The Communist Manifesto, created by Guardian cartoonist Martin Rowson – and the book has gone down a storm. Published in 1848, at a time… Read More ›
Marvel UK Comics That Never Were: Rourke versus Wolverine, versus… Monark Starstalker?
Here’s an item from my archives that should interest some Marvel UK fans – Liam Sharp’s fax of our creator-owned heroine, Rourke, created for STRIP, alongside Marvel US heroes Monark Starstalker and Wolverine. I’ve written about this a little before,… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Why British publishers attempts to launch a graphic novels line keep failing, and how to do it better
Eisner Award-nominated editor, writer and publishing consultant Tim Pilcher ponders the problems getting a successful graphic comics line off the ground for British publishers… Lately I’ve been musing on why it is that traditional British book publishers have never really… Read More ›
Doctor Who Panel to Panel Podcast reaches 100th episode
Episode 100 of Doctor Who: Panel to Panel, the podcast produced by Jeremy Bement about Doctor Who comics, is live, and I’m honoured to have been asked to take part in this landmark episode. Jeremy has racked up an impressive… Read More ›
In Praise of… Comic Artist Harry Bishop, creator of “Gun Law” and more
I recently did some brief research on the work of British newspaper strip artist Harry Bishop, perhaps best known for drawing Gun Law, based on the TV series Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Matt Dillon, for the Daily Express. While… Read More ›
In Review: Solo – A Star Wars Story
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 ›
Van Helsing’s Terror Tales rises from the grave
Available now direct from its original editor is a smashing collection of “Van Helsing’s Terror Tales“, strips first published in House of Hammer back in the 1970s. Unashamedly capitalising on the huge interest in the horror genre of the time, not only… Read More ›
Back of the net! All-new Roy of the Rovers heads to Match of the Day Magazine
BBC Match of the Day magazine is to publish all-new Roy of the Rovers adventures, ahead of the release of Rebellion’s new graphic novels later this year. The much-loved character is being relaunched as a “swashbuckling 16-year-old” prodigy who is hoping… Read More ›