It’s a well known fact that many SF and comics writers own cats. Don’t ask me why, it’s just one of those weird rules of the universe. Of course many freelancers work from home, but even they must sometimes wonder… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
Lancaster Comics Festival – Thanks
I’d just like to thank all the small press creators — Redeye, Omnivistascope, Futurequake, the Comic Creators Guild, Soaring Penguin and many others — and professional comics creators – including Bryan Talbot, John Ridgway (pictured), Leah Moore, John Reppion, Adrian… Read More ›
All set for the festival…
Lancaster’s Ashton Memorial will be filled with comics fans tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to the event. Local artist Ant Mercer has done a top job of PRing the thing, so I hope all his hard work pays off in… Read More ›
Pingu for Number One!
While I was working at Marvel UK, Paul Neary once foolishly confessed admiration for the animation Pingu. Once the laughter had died away he made me watch the show with a view to a potential pitch for a comic and… Read More ›
Adam Phillips “Bitey Castle” is truly stunning
I’ve just been sent this link to some truly stunning Flash animation, created by former Disney animator Adam Phillips: www.biteycastle.com (obviously, you need Flash to view) There’s some scary stuff here — part of a wider project this Australian creator… Read More ›
Delano’s Outlaw Nation collected
Releases do Neorama reports that Jamie Delano‘s complete Outlaw Nation, which the British author describes as “my shot at a big, sprawling ‘American Adventure Story’”, first published by Vertigo in 2001 and 2002, will be published in November, in a… Read More ›
News read by Monkeys!
The mobile “Monkey News” product I’ve been working on (although not as much as the rest of the team) — the news read by monkeys — has finally been launched. Designed for mobile phones, the service features animated news readers,… Read More ›
Fab Holiday
Just back from a terrific holiday in Turkey. Yalikavak, on the Bodrum penninsula is very pleasant, quietish resort: we have been twice and rarely re-visit resorts but our first experience of the place two years ago was marred by a… Read More ›
Battles in Time gets national launch
Battles in Time, the Doctor Who part work combining articles, a Customisable Card Game and comic strip by a variety of creators including artists John Ross and Lee Sullivan, is now on sale. The game doesn’t look too bad but… Read More ›
Breaking into comics – 2000AD’s David Bishop speaks
Former 2000AD editor David Bishop recently posted a revealing interview outlining how he broke into comics and thoughts on how to get work in the industry on his Vicious Imagery blog. As usual, he’s very candid about his work, which… Read More ›
Austen Baker Strikes Back
Oh dear, I seem to have upset Mr Austen Baker after I reported on his letter to Private Eye bemoaning public transport and bus lanes (he gets a right pasting in the current edition from other readers, so it would… Read More ›
Freak Brothers pilot online
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers pilot is online at last: this is being made in Bristol by Celluloid Dreams. if you’re not familiar with the Furry Freak Brothers this is probably meaningless to you, but it’s quite fun regardless! 2021… Read More ›
ComicPal Auction features Beano rarity
The Autumn 2006 auction at Compalcomics (www.compalcomics.com) closes soon. One of four auctions held annually, this one features 273 lots in their Autumn catalogue including what the company describes as two particularly “exceptional” items; a Beano Comic No 1 and a… Read More ›
Look and Learn web site due to launch soon
Over on Bear Alley, comics expert Steve Holland reports that the Look and Learn web site, with which he is heavily involved, officially launches in a matter of days. This is run by a company which now owns the publishing… Read More ›
Lancaster Comics Festival plugged
Three cheers for local journalist James Griffiths, who got in touch with me via virtual-lancaster, another site I work on that has nothing to do with comics, asking about upcoming events in the Lancaster area. Thanks to him the Lancaster… Read More ›
Rich People must come first on transport says lecturer
This got right up my nose this week: a Lancaster University lecturer has declared rich people should come first on matters of transport. Law lecturer Richard Austen-Baker, who works at Lancaster University’s law school, took magazine Private Eye to task… Read More ›
WebFinds: Walls and Bridges
Walls and Bridges is freelance writer Joel Meadows‘ new blog — he’s previously edited a comics magazine, Tripwire, and writes features on comics for a variety of publications, most recently The Times and The Observer. I’ve known Joel for many… Read More ›
ParcelWorst (or ParcelFarce)
I’ve just sent an e-letter to Parcelforce regarding their appalling service in delivering a parcel to my work address. The parcel’s finally arrived, three days late, banged about and only now reached me because the driver “found it in the… Read More ›
US Newspaper polls readers on cartoon choice
Can’t see the the UK Guardian ever doing this: or getting as much feedback — some 5000 readers replied – on a newspaper’s plans to alter its comic strip section. www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/comics/15254126.htm Strips to vote on here: www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/comics/15244087.htm
Inspirational Star Trek posters
Some don’t work, but when they do, they really do. Plenty more of these unofficial images at: echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/star_trek_insp.html