No, it’s not a hoax, not an imaginary story — media giant the Walt Disney Company, no slouch itself in the comics publication department, shook US comics publishing to the core late last week with the news that it had… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Creating Comics: G.I. Handley – Rise of the Writer
Edinburgh-based writer Ferg Handley has written for a wide range of British comics since the mid-1990s covering subjects as diverse as football, war and superheroes. With the recent launch of the UK tie-in comic GI Joe, for which Ferg writes… Read More ›
Compal Launches Lot Search, Garth Art Up For Auction
The Autumn 2009 auction at British comics auction site Compalcomics, which has just announced an online search facility for all its past lots, closes soon. This catalogue’s star lot is The Beano Comic No 1 with original advertising flyer, an… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: EveryDay Praise, Muppets and Mirabilis
• Forbidden Planet International’s Richard Bruton has been heaping praise on the work of Manchester-based Adam Cadwell, whose EveryDay webcomic . “Cadwell’s work is much more slice of life, observational style than others,” says Richard. “This means that the majority… Read More ›
Angry Robot UK Launch in October
It’s a brand-fusion to reinvent science fiction in the UK, a union that may yet shake London to the core. Forbidden Planet London will be hosting the official UK Launch of Angry Robot Books on Saturday 10th October at the… Read More ›
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Blu-Ray, DVD Details
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is coming to DVD and three-disc Blu-ray on November 30 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment in the UK. From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen delivers non-stop action… Read More ›
Egmont’s Misty Comic Special Content Revealed
Egmont UK’s Comic Specials, which began with Roy of the Rovers earlier this year, continue next month with the release of its first collection dedicated to the popular 1970s girls horror comic, Misty. The official Misty web site, which publishes… Read More ›
Starkings, Salmon Unleash Cold Blooded War
IDW has just published standalone Doctor Who story, Cold Blooded War, written by former Doctor Who Magazine comic strip editor Richard Starkings and former Doctor Who Magazine editor Gary Russell. Drawn by Adrian Salmon, the story is set in the… Read More ›
Star Trek DVD Release Date Set
The new Star Trek film beams onto DVD and 3 Disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy on 16th November 2009 in the UK. This visually spectacular, blockbuster prequel from acclaimed director J.J Abrams (Lost, Mission: Impossible III) follows a young James… Read More ›
Paul Dini Signing in London Friday 28th August
Marking the highly anticipated release of Batman: Arkham Asylum in the UK, Emmy award-winning script writer Paul Dini will be signing copies of the game at Game 100 Oxford Street, London tomorrow (Friday 28th August) between 1 and 2.00pm. Paul,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: My Hero Director John Stroud
We’re very sorry to report that My Hero and producer and director John Stroud has died aged 54 of a brain tumour. John, who was also co-founder of Big Bear Films with Marcus Mortimer and is probably best known for… Read More ›
Dennis De-Menacing Denounced
(Updated 24/8/09): CCBC’s revamp of The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace, which launches next month on the TV channel, has been given the big thumbs down by his creator’s family. The Daily Telegraph reports that Rosemary Moffat and Alison Gardiner, the… Read More ›
Artist Spotlight: SciFi Heroes of the 1970s
What’s not to love about this labour of love by illustrator Dusty Abell we just found over on deviantart? We don’t think Dusty’s missed out many of TV’s 1970s heroes, including those from British series such as Space: 1999. “This… Read More ›
WexWorlds Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival Invades Wexford
Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer, Darren Shan (The Saga of Darren Shan) and Hugo Award-winning author Ian McDonald (Brasyl, Desolation Road) are among the many creators who will be attending the first WexWorlds Festival, in Wexford, Ireland from Friday 20th… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: Eternal Warrior, Enid Blyton and Kit Williams
• It’s about time we re-plugged the Eternal Warrior, Paul Grist’s pastiche on British comics hero Adam Eterno, who first appeared in Thunder back in the early 1970s. Over on the Bleeding Cool forum, some Americans have started screaming that… Read More ›
Garth in Colour for Spaceship Away: Exclusive Sneek Peek!
Spaceship Away, the British science fiction comic anthology publishing all-new adventures of the original Dan Dare, adds Daily Mirror action hero Garth to its line up next issue. First published in 1943, Garth’s time-travelling adventures lasted for over 50 years… Read More ›
CBBC Revamps Short Form Animation Portal
The award-winning British channel CBBC has reinforced its commitment to British animation, announcing its online portal Cartoon Works is expanding to become a new destination to premiere short-form content from the UK animation industry. CBBC has also commissioned brand new… Read More ›
In Review: Scarlattine Teatro’s Manolibera
Clare Walters, the original director of The Ballad of Halo Jones stage play, reviews Manolibera, a comics-inpsired show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe… Manolibera is a very charming and ingenious show. A technician is called in to operate a slideshow… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: Dave Gibbons, Digital Awards and Zombies!
downthetubes has been having some behind-the-scenes computer woes: we apologize for the lack of posts in recent days. We’re grateful to Jeremy Briggs for his review of Cinebooks’ Rameses’ Revenge. Digital Artist 2009 Masterclass #1 – Dave Gibbons from Intel… Read More ›
Panel Borders: Octopi, dogs and bears, oh my!
Originally broadcast on 13th August 2009 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM, Panel Borders continues its month devoted to childrens’ comics with an interview with artists Henri Goldsmann and Richy K. Chandler about their work. Henri is… Read More ›