It’s time for an Awesome Comics Podcast catch Up! (Let’s hope the boys didn’t mean what they said about cattle prods and anchovies if I got behind again, eh?) Dan Butcher, Vince Hunt and Tony Esmond have been chatting with… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Saigon Stories and a Nazi called Groot? New Commandos on sale now!
On sale now are the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war stories comic Commando (Issues 5035 – 5038), available in all good newsagents and various digital platforms. In the latest issues, there’s fighting through the streets of Saigon, Middle Eastern… Read More ›
A Caravan of Comics heads to the Lakes Festival in October – from Australia!
Kendal’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced several Australian comic creators have joined this year’s line-up of both British and international guests for its weekend-long event, taking place 13th – 15th October 2017 – including 2000AD artist Mark Sexton. The Caravan of… Read More ›
Observer/ Cape/ Comica Graphic Short Story 2017 Competition Launches
Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Jonathan Cape Graphic Novels and Comica have again got together with the Observer newspaper to offer you the chance to see your work in print and win £1,000…. Read More ›
Coming Soon: Corbyn Comics! from SelfMadeHero
Yes, you read that headline right. Corbyn comics are needed from artists up and down the UK and beyond – and they’re needed fast – by 9th August 2017. No, not Kirby comics – Corbyn comics, as in Labour Party… Read More ›
Artist Spotlight: Peter Dobbin’s role in re-imagining the classic game, Cluedo, as a new critically-acclaimed mobile app
Last year, we reported on top British Concept Artist Peter Dobbin‘s stunning Mythical Monster Map – a nifty way to keep track of those things that might be lurking under your bed. Well, Peter’s currently working on another beautiful-looking project… Read More ›
Pat Mills’ 2000AD Memoir, “Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!” soon available in print
There’s great news for all fans of 2000AD creator Pat Mills and historians of British comics this week. His memoir of the origins of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic – Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! – currently available digitally, is to… Read More ›
Lost Visions: Frank Bellamy’s unfinished King Solomon’s Mines
Over on Comic Art Fans, there’s an opportunity to spend £5000 on a comic strip that was never published, drawn by “Dan Dare” and “Thunderbirds” artist Frank Bellamy. Commissioned by the original Eagle, “King Solomon’s Mines” was sadly abandoned in… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Beano Editor Harry Cramond, as remembered by artist Steve Bright
Writer and artist Steve Bright, co-creator of Bananaman, recently posted a touching memory of The Beano’s second editor Harry Cramond on social media. Steve worked for Harry on The Beano for some 18 months and came to know the idiosyncrasies of… Read More ›
A New Doctor for “Doctor Who” – and a New Doctor Who Magazine editor
Panini UK have just announced longtime Doctor Who Magazine, editor Tom Spilsbury is stepping down from the role – but a name familiar to the title’s thousands of readers worldwide is stepping into his place. Doctor Who Magazine, first published in… Read More ›
British Library launches new project to preserve British digital comics
The British Library have begun a new project focusing on digital comics publishing in the UK, and the challenges of preservation and access in the long term. Since April 2013, the British Library has been able to collect material published… Read More ›
Latest Spaceship Away Reveals A Long Forgotten Dan Dare Stage Play
It was long thought that the only time that Eagle’s Dan Dare officially trod the boards of a British theatre was in the 2003’s Dan Dare: The Musical at the Customs House in South Shields. However another, much earlier, play has recently… Read More ›
Frank Hampson’s “Modesty Blaise” art sample up For Sale for a cool $5000
In 1962, Beaverbrook Newspapers asked author Peter O’Donnell to suggest a new strip idea. He thought long and hard and came up with Modesty Blaise, an action adventure strip. Kennedy Aitken, who was Beaverbrook’s strip cartoons editor, suggested they should… Read More ›
Manchester’s National Football Museum to host comics talk with “Invincibles” author Michael Barrett
This Saturday, 15th July 2017, author Michael Barrett will be at the National Football Museum in Manchester, giving an illustrated talk about the story behind the graphic novel Preston North End – The Rise of the Invincibles. Michael, the writer and publisher… Read More ›
Titan’s new Dan Dare adventures from Peter Milligan and Alberto Foche debut in October
Titan Comics has announced new details for their upcoming four-issue mini-series, Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, written by Peter Milligan (Shade, X-Statix, Enigma) and top Spanish artist Alberto Foche. Britain’s greatest hero latest comics incarnation debuts in October 2017, featuring… Read More ›
Rebellion to publish Look-In’s “The Beatles Story” by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson
Rebellion Publishing, owners of 2000AD, are to publish a print edition of The Beatles Story, written by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which charts the rise of the Fab Four from their early days through to the band’s break-up. First… Read More ›
Comic Book Guys Shop Hosts Belfast’s First Small Press Day
Belfast sees its first Small Press Day on Saturday 8 July 2017 as part of the country-wide celebration of micro and self-publishers. Comic Book Guys will host sketches, signings and talks in their brand new shop at 130 Great Victoria… Read More ›
Marvel UK Mystery: An unpublished Motormouth story
Ace artist Jesús Redondo Romain recently posted some great looking pages of a Marvel UK-commissioned Motormouth story, guest starring Death’s Head II. The only problem – he couldn’t remember what the story was called, so we did a bit of digging… Read More ›
More Dredd for your cred: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection to continue
Rebellion have announced a further ten issues will be added to the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection partwork from 2000AD and Hachette Partworks. Already a hit with readers across the country, The Mega Collection has brought together some of the… Read More ›
Heath Robinson Museum Announces 2017 Design Competition
The new Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner Memorial Park, London is dedicated to the work of the famous illustrator W Heath Robinson. William Heath Robinson is an artist whose work, whether in his well known humorous drawings or his illustrations… Read More ›