Concluding a month of shows about ‘Masters of American Comics’, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of comics experts and historians about the 75th anniversary of Will Eisner’s seminal crime comic The Spirit. Will Eisner created the The Spirit in 1940. For twelve… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
In Memoriam: John Cooper
We’re sorry to report the passing of British comics artist John Cooper, who died after a short illness on Sunday 22nd February. His huge and influential list of credits include work for numerous titles, including TV Century 21,… Read More ›
Dark Detectives anthology features stories from Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker
Dark Detectives, a 480-page, stand-alone collection of 18 tales of supernatural detective fiction will be released by Titan Books next month (17th March 2015), featuring stories from Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Kim Newman, Brian Lumley and Manly Wade Wellman and more…. Read More ›
007 Magazine to publish On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 76-Page Limited Edition Special
George Lazenby’s sole outing as James Bond is to celebrated in a 76-Page 007 Magazine limited edition special. “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the sixth James Bond film in the enormously successful series produced by Albert R. Broccoli & Harry Saltzman, and… Read More ›
In Review: It’s Even Bigger on The Inside
by Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett Publisher: MIWK Publishing Out: 3rd March 2015 The Book: It’s Even Bigger on The Inside collects all the Doctor Who? Strips that ran regularly in Doctor Who Monthly and Doctor Who Magazine from Issue 64 until Issue 225, created by Tim Quinn and Dicky… Read More ›
#PicturesMeanBusiness: UK campaign to gain Illustrators credit for their work grows
A number of British artists are actively campaigning for better credit (and, by default, better financial reward) for their work as illustrators, including comic creator Sarah McIntyre and writer-illustrator James Mayhew. Recognition for illustrators is important on so many levels – not… Read More ›
What’s All the Fuss About… Doctor Who?
FBS Publishing have announced a new non-fiction book about Doctor Who which has been co- authored by occasional downthetubes contributor Ian Wheeler. Ian has teamed-up with Will Hadcroft to write What’s All the Fuss About…? An Introduction to Doctor Who:… Read More ›
Second Rare Star Wars Figures Auction Stirs Fan Excitement, first auction raised £40,000
Auction house Vectis have released details of the second auction of mint on card Star Wars figures, owned by the former Club Chairman of the UK Star Wars Fan Club, Craig Stevens, which takes place next week – and there has been a buzz of excitement among collectors since… Read More ›
Scott McCloud heads to the UK to promote “The Sculptor”
Scott McCloud, the award-winning author of Understanding Comics, will embark on a tour of UK in March to promote his latest graphic novel, The Sculptor, published here by SelfMadeHero which is getting well-deserved critical acclaim (some Guardian writers excluded). After an evening… Read More ›
Jim Alexander and Will Pickering – All Aboard for Aberdeen!
Top comics writer Jim Alexander and ace artist Will Pickering are attending a GoodCopBadCop/Wolf Country signing at Asylum, Aberdeen tomorrow, Saturday 21st February. Asylum details: 29 Adelphi, Aberdeen AB11 5BL. 01224 574637. info@asylum-booksandgames.com. Will and Jim should arrive at the shop no later… Read More ›
Lakes Festival announces new patrons, releases 2015 promotional poster
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced two new patrons – top French artist Boulet and Stephen L. Holland, co-creator, co-owner and co-manager of the award-winning independent comic shop Page 45, based in Nottingham. The duo further complement the Festival’s… Read More ›
Dan Dare art and memorabilia part of permanent new exhibit in Southport, Frank Hampson’s home town
A new museum in Southport features a permanent display of some Dan Dare art by his creator, Frank Hampson along with other Eagle memorabilia, helping to mark the comic’s 65th year since first publication. The Atkinson is Southport’s new home for music,… Read More ›
Alex Ross creates new limited edition “Yellow Submarine”-inspired Beatles prints
US print makers Dark Hall Mansion have just revealed their latest officially licensed Beatles limited edition release: “Yellow Submarine” by pre-eminent comic book artist, Alex Ross, which will go on sale Thursday 26th February 2015. 1960s music icons The Beatles have… Read More ›
Call For Papers for “The Future in Comics” conference at Stockholm University
The research group on comics at the English Department at Stockholm University has announced a Call For Papers on the topic “The Future in Comics“, to be presented at an academic conference in Stockholm in September – and the bleak world… Read More ›
BeyondTheStory commissioned to deliver Thunderbirds Are Go story app
ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Pukeko Pictures have teamed up with digital company BeyondTheStory to produce new digital content for an app designed to support the upcoming Thunderbirds Are Go TV series, which debuts in the UK in April…. Read More ›
Thunderbirds Are Go: Scott Tracy and Thunderbird One Revealed
The YouTube Thunderbirds Are Go channel has delivered the UK exclusive reveal of Thunderbird 1 and Scott Tracy, 24 hours before it’s aired on ITV and CITV. The Thunderbird One reveal was quickly followed by other clips of the… Read More ›
British Comic Shop Releases (18th February 2015) – Survival Geeks and Multiversity Mastermen!
Here’s this week’s list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops tomorrow, Wednesday 18th February 2015. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold below, or titles with… Read More ›
Dundee University asks “Comics, So What?” in March
On Saturday 7th March 2015 from 1pm onwards the University of Dundee is hosting an event celebrating comics and graphic novels entitled “Comics, So What?” It features workshops and talks by comics creators, and invites members of the public of all… Read More ›
Posy Simmonds “True Love” springs to SEQUENTIAL app
SEQUENTIAL, the iPad app for digital graphic novels, has announced a Valentine treat for everyone with the news that it is to release an exclusive enhanced edition of the first ever British graphic novel True Love by Posy Simmonds, the acclaimed author of Gemma… Read More ›
Part-work magazines, 1930s style, on Bear Alley
Anyone buying one or more of the current US superheroes, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars or Judge Dredd part works might be interested in taking a look at what part-work magazines were like some eighty years ago. Artist L… Read More ›