The winners of the inaugural Tripwire Awards were announced at the hugely-successful second Portsmouth Comic Con at the weekend, at a ceremony hosted by comics writer Jasper Bark.
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
In Praise of… Jim Steranko’s Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Like many people who grew up in the pre-digital era, for Alan Woollcombe childhood entertainment meant chocolates, bikes and comics, along with now extinct hobbies such as plane spotting, bird watching and stamp collecting. This is a story about a lifelong love affair of his. But it’s not for a person…
New Bad Vibes Monthly anthology launched
Free Comic Book Day is never just about free comics from major publishers these days, and 2019 was no exception as it included the release of a special “taster Issue” of a new independent anthology in the UK – Bad Vibes Monthly
Funny Pages Free Comic Book Day comic heads to eBay … for a tenner
Even before Free Comic Book Day 2019 is over, copies of Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comics free Funny Pages sampler of British humour comics is now being offered on eBay for a staggering £9.95
John McCrea solo exhibition opens later this month in Birmingham
Birmingham gallery Havill & Travis are hosting the first solo show by ace comics artist John McCrea, opening to the public on 21st May with a private viewing on Monday 20th May 2019. Work from throughout John’s long and illustrious… Read More ›
Alan Davis cover for Limited Edition Hero Initiative edition of Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
Hot on the heels of The Avengers: Endgame’s largest worldwide box office opening of all time, Uncanny X-Men, Avengers and Excalibur artist Alan Davis brings Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to the cover of this year’s Hero Initiative limited edition The Overstreet Comic… Read More ›
In Review: Doctor Who Appreciation Society – Capitol IV
John Freeman provided us with his insights into attending the Doctor Who Appreciation Society’s Capitol IV convention, as a guest, earlier in the week. I thought it would be a nice contrast to offer a few of my own observations,… Read More ›
Don’t Judge Me, Alan Henderson’s new Penned Guin collection, launches tonight
Don’t Judge Me!, the all new treasury edition from the award-winning webcomic The Penned Guin by Alan Henderson, gets its official launch at the Whitespace gallery in Edinburgh tonight (Friday 3rd May), with an exhibition of some of the original… Read More ›
FlashBat… Er, Flashback: The 1963 Batmobile!
Three years before the Batman arrived on US TV in 1966, DC Comics approved construction of a custom made Bat Car that toured America. Heritage Auctions sold it at auction back in 2014, opening bidding at $90,000. The first touring… Read More ›
Happy Free Comic Book Day 2019!
Free Comic Book Day is back this weekend, and across the UK many comic shops are again taking part, with free comics for customers on offer, including Funny Pages from 2000AD publisher Rebellion and Doctor Who and Robotech from… Read More ›
Taschen’s “Stan Lee Story” gets unlimited XXL release
First published as a signed Collector’s Edition costing £1750 a copy, that sold out within a week, Taschen’s Stan Lee Story is now available as an unlimited XXL edition, priced a tad more modestly. An unparalleled account of the life… Read More ›
Eastbourne’s Scorch Comics hosts Liam Sharp, Boo Cook and Chris Weston Signing this Bank Holiday Monday
Scorch Comics, an independent comic book store in Eastbourne is hosting two major events in-store this weekend, offering customers the chance to meet some great comic creators – Green Lantern and Wonder Woman artist Liam Sharp, and 2000AD artists Boo… Read More ›
2019 Beano and Dandy Summer Special Covers Revealed
DC Thomson Media have teased the covers for this year’s Beano Summer Activity Special and Dandy Summer Special – and you can pre-order both now. Both will be in the bookazines, the Beano special offering new material the Dandy publication… Read More ›
Exeter’s Bill Douglas Cinema Museum offers research stipends for comic archive and more
Some stipends have been made available for research at Exeter’s Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. They have several holdings of interest to comics scholars, including film tie-in comics dating back to 1910s, magic lantern slides, items relating to photographer Eadweard Muybridge…. Read More ›
Panel Borders: The Name’s Bond…
On this week’s Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to three members of the same family who are involved with making comics. Shelly and Philip Bond discuss respectively editing and drawing comics published by Vertigo and IDW, such as Black Crown… Read More ›
Comedian Harry Hill joins Beano to hunt for Britain’s funniest primary school class
Iconic British comedian and author Harry Hill has been announced as special guest judge in Beano’s nationwide search to find Britain’s Funniest Class. Teachers up and down the country have until 10th May 2019 to put forward their class’ very… Read More ›
Free Comic Book Day Awesome Comics Podcast #200 pop-up charity fundraiser is, well… Awesome!
The Awesome Comics Podcast #200 pop-up charity comic shop / raffle stash that’s being organised by downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf as part of the events surrounding the Podcast’s live London broadcast on Free Comics Day includes some amazing items of… Read More ›
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse storms UK’s home entertainment Official Film Chart
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse swings five places up to Number One on the Official Film Chart detailing top UK home entertainment sales across Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital Download, after a tight battle with Mary Poppins Returns. Following its release on… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Podcast probes the work of Harvey Kurtzman with artist Brad Brooks
Offering a slightly different episode, on Episode 51 0f the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast finds Pete Taylor chatting to freelance designer, comics creator and author Brad Brooks about EC and MAD creator Harvey Kurtzman, the comic making process,… Read More ›
Oxford Comics Network probes The Holocaust in comics, also announces Tom Gauld event
The Oxford Comics Network has announced a new series of events, starting on the 7th May with “Early Holocaust Narratives in Comics”. Philip Smith of the University of The Bahamas seeks to examine representations of the death camps, particularly in… Read More ›