With the news that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the biggest film at the UK and Irish box office in 2017, Portsmouth’s newest Comic Con has announced that ILM London’s supervising art director Kevin Jenkins will be attending the… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Acclaimed Spainish comic artist Luis García Mozos retrospective exhibition announced
Spanish cartoonist, editor, illustrator and painter Luis García Mozos – perhaps best known in the UK for his work for Warren Publishing on titles like Creepy – has just confirmed the wonderful news that he is going to have a… Read More ›
Cosplay 101: The Basics of Cosplay by Holly Rose Swinyard
Wearing costumes for fun is far from new and costume parades were an integral part of early comic and other media conventions. But cosplay as a concept, in many ways a whole separate world to comic and other media fandom,… Read More ›
More early Marvel UK art goes under the hammer at Heritage Auctions, alongside iconic US Amazing Spider-Man cover
Following up on our report on how some art created for British comics helped Heritage Auctions profits soar in 2017, a number of early Marvel UK published pieces go under the hammer next month as part of their upcoming auction… Read More ›
Webfinds: The Forbidden Planet the Movie Facebook Group
There are some movies that stick in your head your whole life and for me (and George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry and so many, many more), one of them has to be Forbidden Planet. One of the most American SF movies… Read More ›
Call For Papers: Retro! Time, Memory, Nostalgia – The Ninth International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference
The organisers of Retro! Time, Memory, Nostalgia – The Ninth International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference taking place at Bournemouth University (Wednesday 27th – Friday 29th June 2018) have issued a Call for Papers. Here’s their appeal: Retro – a looking to the past –… Read More ›
Fumio Obata’s thought-provoking “On the Palm of Unknown” exhibition opens in Whitehaven
A ground-breaking exhibition of comic art by Fumio Obata, On the Palm of Unknown, has gone on display at the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria, running until 25th March 2018. Commissioned by Lakes International Comic Arts Festival, the art project makes surprising… Read More ›
In Review: 2000AD Prog 2064
The latest issue of 2000AD is on sale today in all good newsagents, comic shops and a variety of digital platforms. With Rufus Dayglo‘s “Bad Company” cover leaping from shelves in your face, how can you miss it? Inside, Tharg… Read More ›
Jim Baikie: An Appreciation by Alan Moore
Alan Moore pays tribute to comic creator Jim Baikie, who died in December… The first time I can across Jim Baikie’s art, without even knowing his name (a common condition with British comics of that period), would have been as… Read More ›
If a “The Avengers” TV Show Reboot is in the works, would a tie-in new comic be far behind?
Writer-directors Shane Black and writing partner Fred Dekker have scripted a TV pilot reboot for cult 1960s spy show The Avengers for Warner Bros. – but there’s no indication, as yet, if or when it might get optioned. Various web sites,… Read More ›
Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition continues at Sale’s Waterside arts venue until next month
Ian Cullen from the wonderful SciFiPulse.net has kindly given downthetubes permission to feature some of his photographs of the free Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition at Waterside, in Sale. Waterside is a thriving and vibrant arts venue in the heart of… Read More ›
British auction house Vectis teases massive Bronze Age comics sale, rare “The Investigator” toy car offered
Coming soon from British auction house Vectis is a massive sale of thousands of predominantly Bronze Age Marvel and DC comics. Bought from newsagents and stored away with the sole purpose of creating a collection, these comics are largely from… Read More ›
Dunfermline Comic Con back in March, some ticket proceeds will support “Books For Schools” charity
Dunfermline Comic Con is returning to Pittencrieff Park on Saturday 3rd March 2018 for another day of comic book fun, promoted with a gorgeous poster by SICBA award-winning creator Hari Conner. Comic book artists and writers from across the globe… Read More ›
Zoom Rockman announced as latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival patron
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced its latest patron is cartoonist Zoom Rockman, who sprang to comics fame at a young age with his work for the humour weekly, Beano. Zoom Rockman is a British artist/ satirist whose comic strip, Skanky Pigeon… Read More ›
It’s time for another Awesome Comics Podcast Catch-Up! Comichaus secrets revealed! Books to look out for in 2018! And more!
The Awesome Comics Podcast continues to broadcast some great stuff about British comics and more. Once again, I’ve been a bit neglectful in keeping you posted with its, well, awesome coverage of some terrific creators, including great interviews and entertaining… Read More ›
Transformers head to China, just as new prequel film teased
Hasbro has launched its Transformers Autobot Alliance interactive exhibition in China. The initiative, created in partnership with Cityneon Holdings Limited, a global innovator in exhibitions, finds Transformers at the centre of a walk-through attraction in Chong Qing’s Shin Kong Place. It features… Read More ›
Dog Friendly! Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast chats with the Gluepot Books team
The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is online now and leads with an interview with sisters Scarlett and Sophie Rickard who have created their own publishing company, Gluepot Books, publishers of the hugely enjoyable canine-inspired comic tale (no… Read More ›
The Really Heavy Greatcoat Review of the Year 2017
The Really Heavy Greatcoat by myself and Lancaster-based artist Nick Miller was published fairly regularly for about 20 years in alternative Lancaster print titles such as On The Beat and Off the Beat and online on virtual-lancaster.net. These days, Nick Still draws an annual celebratory Greatcoat at… Read More ›
Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct revived for new, official comic
Space Precinct: Reloaded, a colour prequel comic to Gerry Anderson‘s Space Precinct TV series is due from Anderson Entertainment next month. Announced back in October 2017 during the FAB Live event, Space Precinct: Reloaded, written by Chris Thompson and illustrated… Read More ›
Belfast’s “Laughter in the Dark – Illustrating the Troubles” exhibition includes free workshop by 2000AD artist PJ Holden
A free political cartoons exhibition “Laughter in the Dark – Illustrating the Troubles” is running in Belfast’s Linen Hall Library for the rest of the month. The exhibition which charts the birth and rise of the political cartoon and its… Read More ›