The Embassy of Japan continues its search to find the best comic short stories in the UK with the launch of its annual Manga Jiman Competition. This year’s competition, now in its twelfth year, again has two categories; Yonkoma Manga,… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
WebFind: DC Thomson Comics Gift Cards
Here’s a nifty idea for a birthday or Christmas stocking filler for a comics fan – comics gift cards, on offer from the DC Thomson web shop for all their titles, including Beano and Commando. (I came across these after… Read More ›
Cartoon Cats and Gormenghast too – British Library Comics and Art Events for autumn 2018
The list of talks at the British Library this autumn has been released and there are some great events for comics and fantasy novel fans, featuring some terrific creators from both the UK and Europe. First up is “European Graphic… Read More ›
Commando comics go behind enemy lines in latest adventures!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5155-5158) are on sale now from DC Thomson in all good UK newsagents and via various digital platforms. Feel the heat of a Type 100 flamethrower in the Burmese jungle, dodge deadly foes in the English… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics Artist and Writer Frank Quitely
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
Comic creators Laura Locker and Julia Scheele delve into American Politics in new book
Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Queer: A Graphic History, comics artist Julia Scheele has teamed up with Dr Laura Locker for American Politics: A Graphic History – a comic-book introduction to the political history of the Land of Opportunity…. Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2018: “Miki’s Mini Comics” artist Mikiko
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
Manga in the spotlight at Cheltenham Literature Festival
Chie Kutsuwada, Fumo Obata and Paul Gravett head up “The Manga Phenomenon” at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival on Friday 5th October 2018. as regular downthetubes readers know, Manga is big business in Japan. Comics make up nearly 40% of… Read More ›
In Preview: “Amnesia Agents” by Jason Cobley and James Gray
Written by Jason Cobley Art and Lettering by James Gray Black and White interiors – 52 pages – £6.99 The Story: Amnesia Agents are tasked with tracking down missing memories and forgotten people. The barrier between Earth and Echo has… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics artist and writer Monty Nero
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
Dan Dare Audio Adventures producer B7 Media announces Dilation, a new SF thriller
UK independent producer and publisher B7 Media, the team behind the award-winning Dan Dare Audio Adventures, has announced Dilation, a new audio drama co-production with Par-sec Productions. Dilation revolves around a gifted scientist Amanda Higgs (voiced by Sioned Jones). Missing… Read More ›
Sneak Peek: 2000AD Prog 2097 – and some hints of new thrills in Prog 2100!
As the countdown continues toward 2000AD Prog 2100, here’s a quick look at the next issue of Britain’s only SF weekly comic, on sale on Wednesday in all good newsagents, UK comic shops and via various digital platforms. This issue… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons
Seeking crowdfunding on Unbound, Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons is a new book by Julie Warren, aiming to tell the remarkable story of Larry Stephens, a World War Two commando who transformed British comedy. British popular culture would probably be… Read More ›
Titan Comics announces new Minions comic, launches in November
Titan Comics has announced that Illumination’s Minions – the breakout mascots of Universal and Illumination’s global phenomenon Despicable Me animated film series – are set to return to comics this November in an all-new series, Minions: Viva Le Boss. Spinning… Read More ›
Money Spinning: How many times can you re-publish a British war comic?
As comic fans, it’s often easy to forget that publishing them is very much a business as far as companies such as DC Thomson, Rebellion and Titan Comics are concerned, and syndicating or re-using comics published is a major part… Read More ›
Crowdfunding Spotlight: Kia Wordsmith from Accent UK
I recently got chatting to Ian Ashcroft and he and I are are venturing on a short story for an upcoming anthology. He asked to show me some art from his current project, entitled Kia Wordsmith. I immediately insisted that… Read More ›
Lakes Festval Focus: Comics Artist and Illustrator Emmi Nieminen
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
DC Universe SVOD platform plans revealed, new “Titans” series announced
Details around a new Subscription Video on Demand platform dedicated to the DC Universe are starting to emerge, with Titans, a 12-week episodic series announced as the first scripted original show for the $7.99 a month service for the United States…. Read More ›
In His Own Words: The Comics Career of Misty and Tammy artist John Armstrong
Comics artist John Armstrong died this week, He’s best known for his work on the girls comics titles Bunty, Misty and Tammy, and for co-creating the long-running “Bella at the Bar” strip for the latter – but made very few… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Misty and Tammy artist John Armstrong
We’re sorry to announce the passing of British girls comics artist John Armstrong, co-creator of “Bella at the Bar” for Tammy and “Moonchild” for Misty, who died peacefully yesterday. He was 94. As John himself related back in 2003, although… Read More ›