There are many comic artists that I have still to identify whose work I’ve enjoyed down the years. Others that I have identified and see that others also share my enjoyment of their work. But there are many more who… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Sapphire & Steel Competition: Nigel “Spleenal” Auchterlounie joins the fun
Recent news of a possible return to our screens of the spooky Sapphire & Steel prompted various comic artists to pipe up that they’d love to draw a new comic based on the show, so we’re challenging our readers to do… Read More ›
Wart horror comic continues, last round of crowdfunding permitting…
Comic creators Chris Welsh and Ammar Al-Chalabi are closing fast on their modest Kickstarter to fund WART Book Three at the moment, so we thought we’d give him a deserved plug to hopefully help him gain full backing. In January, he successfully funded books One… Read More ›
In Review: London Film and Comic Con 2015
London Film and Comic Con took over the Olympia this year, spreading across four floors. Tickets for both Saturday and Sunday sold out well before the event, leading to some disappointed people who couldn’t get in – but they will know… Read More ›
In Review: Panel Borders: Crowd-Funded Comics
A train journey to the Lakes afforded me the chance to listen to this terrific episode of the Resonance FM ’Panel Borders‘ podcast about the positives and negatives of crowd funding your comic projects. This show concluded a month… Read More ›
Signing at Deadhead Comics
For those that shop for their comics in Edinburgh, you could do worse than pop along to the recently relocated Deadhead Comics at their new address of 30 West Nicolson Street Edinburgh EH8 9DD. On Saturday 25 July 2015 from 2:30pm… Read More ›
John Ridgway Interviewed for Doctor Who Panel to Panel Podcast
Veteran comic artist John Ridgway, still drawing issues of Commando but perhaps best known for his work on 2000AD, Doctor Who Magazine and DC Comics Hellblazer, is the guest on the latest Doctor Who: Panel to Panel podcast. A true Doctor Who comics legend,… Read More ›
Warren Ellis: “Read Comics. All comics. And then cut them open…”
Comic creator Warren Ellis – author of Trees, Injection, Ministry of Space and whose fanzines I bought back in the 1980s when we met at the Westminster Comic Mart days, publishes an entertaining weekly newsletter, Orbital Operations (subscribe here), covering all… Read More ›
Remembered Reading: Dr Mel Gibson’s new study of Girls Comics released
Remembered Reading, a reader’s history exploring the forgotten genre of British girls’ comics by Dr Mel Gibson, has just been published by Leuven Univeristy Press. Girls’ comics were a major genre from the 1950s onwards in Britain. The most popular titles sold between… Read More ›
Proposed New US Copyright Act threatens creator rights worldwide
(Updated 21st July, added comment by artist Tim Perkins): Proposed changes to US copyright law, effectively re-inventing the failed “Orphan Works” act put forward seven years ago, have come under attack from a huge number of artists and writers,… Read More ›
Peter Pan The Graphic Novel Events
Edinburgh publisher Birlinn books have just released Stephen White’s new graphic novel of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. This 96-page softcover book is based on Barrie’s original novel and play, adapted and illustrated by Stephen (also known as Stref) and coloured… Read More ›
The Awesome Comics Podcast – Episode 3 with Marc Laming
Flying into your eardrums this upcoming week it’s time for the third episode of The Awesome Comics Podcast. This Monday, joining Vince Hunt (The Red Mask From Mars), Dan Butcher (Vanguard Comic) and Tony Esmond (the grumpy one and contributor… Read More ›
New International Journal of Comic Art out now
The latest edition of the International Journal of Comic Art is out now, the premier academic journal devoted to all aspects of cartooning and comics. Edited by John Lent, the whopping 675 page tome features Visual Language: Neil Cohn… Read More ›
Lancaster Comics Day Returns in May 2016
The second Lancaster Comics Day, organised by The Friends of Lancaster Library, will take place on Sunday 8th May 2016. The first Lancaster Comics Day, organised by The Friends of Lancaster Library, took place last month and proved a tremendous success, raising £800 for the Library, which… Read More ›
British Comic Shop Releases (15th July 2015) – Damocles, Ring of Roses and Captain Britain, too
Here’s this week’s (belated) list of comics on sale now in comic shops across the UK. As usual, our list highlights the work of British creators and publishers. Three Cinebook titles hit comic shops this week, including the latest Lucky Luke… Read More ›
Last chance to vote in the David Gemmell Awards
Voting for the David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy closes tomorrow at midnight on Friday 17th July 2015. Now in their seventh year, the awards, open to readers’ votes, recognise and promote writers and artists in the fantasy field. The organisers… Read More ›
Breaking Surface: An Interview with Jay Gunn, creator of “Surface Tension”
“Surface Tension” is Jay Gunn’s first foray into the world of comics and we’re delighted he was up to talk to downthetubes about it
Mind Probes At The Ready! Presenters Revealed for Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The presenters selected to wield the mind probes at year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th October 2015) have been announced, and include some top names in the world of British comics journalism and academia, including… Read More ›
Greenwich “War Artists at Sea” exhibition includes work of Eagle’s “PC49” artist, John Worsley
Showcasing the very best of Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection of First and Second World War art, “War Artists at Sea” is a programme of displays in the Queen’s House includes visually arresting and moving portraits, battle scenes, and depictions of everyday life during conflict, which… Read More ›
BBC4 celebrates Pop Art in August
This August, BBC Four leads a week-long celebration of Pop Art, with programmes across BBC Four, Radio and Online – and award-winning London-based comics artist and illustrator John Riordan has provided the promotional comic strip to mark the event. John, who likes… Read More ›