It’s been a long time coming, but the Hammer Films official web site (www.hammerfilms.com) has just been updated to fully reflect its new productions, while still celebrating its groundbreaking history as Britain’s favourite horror film company. The site has had… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
BBC Seeks New Writers
The next generation of TV writers are being sought by the BBC for its Drama Writers Academy, a unique course that equips writers with the skills to work on BBC flagship continuing drama programmes. The Academy is the only course… Read More ›
Cartoonists invade Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury will be invaded by all manner of cartoonists this coming weekend (18th – 20th April), intent on enjoying themselves to the maximum at the Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival. Guests include Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell, Steve Bright, David Fletcher (creator… Read More ›
Exhibition Review: Make Mine Manga!
I approached the How Manga Took Over The World exhibition at Manchester’s Urbis museum, writes Matt Badham, with some trepidation. I’m not a massive manga and anime fan and certainly don’t know my shonen from my shojo. However, perhaps because… Read More ›
2D Returns to Derry
2D, The Northern Ireland Comics festival, will return this year and will take place from the 5th – 7th June in the Verbal Arts Centre and other locations here in Derry, Northern Ireland. The festival is organised by the Verbal… Read More ›
In Review: Local Heroes Exhibition
Don’t miss this impressive exhibition
Webby Awards Nomination for Ring Tales
The 12th Annual Webby Awards has nominated US company RingTales for the Best Animation Video of 2008, based on a selection of RingTales’ animated versions of the print cartoons from The New Yorker magazine. Winners will be announced on 6th… Read More ›
Torchwood Toys go Underground
BBC Worldwide has chosen Underground Toys as the North American and UK licensee for Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, with several product lines planned, including mugs, key chains, plastic replica items, laying cards and resin busts. Expect products to start shipping… Read More ›
More Moore
Ronald D. Moore, that is – not Alan. US broadcaster Fox has ordered a two-hour sci-fi pilot, Virtuality from Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica) and produced by Universal Media Studios. Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun along with Ronald and… Read More ›
Twilight Zone and Flyings Saucers come to Comics
The newly revamped icv2.com reports that UK publisher Walker Books is launching a series of eight graphic novels based on classic episodes of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. The first two volumes will be out in October, just one year… Read More ›
Expo Latest – Exclusives Promised
With now only four weeks to go until the UK’s biggest comics convention at Bristol’s British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall on 10th and 11th May 2008, it’s time to reveal some of the new books, offers and EXpo EXclusives… Read More ›
Yuri’s Night Celebrated in Style
Supporters of space exploration were busy celebrating this weekend, with annual Yuri’s Night events across the planet on Saturday, marking Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s first human space flight on 12th April 12th, 1961 and the first launch of the US… Read More ›
Podcasters Paraded!
Whether you’re looking for a place to discuss comics with like-minded individuals, or you’re after ideas for new titles, comics podcasting has the answers – and now, the makers of some of the UK’s finest shows are about to reveal… Read More ›
Art Attack!
May 1st-15th sees the return of Street Blitz to London – the interactive way to conduct guerrilla art. The idea is to use the whole city as an open gallery. Install your art, or creative urban landscape subversion, and then… Read More ›
Thunderbirds Specsavers Ad
(Updated 11 April): Now being screened in the UK is this fun Thunderbirds-inspired advertisement for Specsavers featuring an updated Virgil Tracy and The Hood in a mini adventure to promote their Specsavers Reaction lenses. The advertisement was shot using the… Read More ›
Friday Fun: Unsold SciFi Pilots
After getting a phone call from a TV producer this week seeking comics that could be adapted for TV – and suggesting a few British independents and UK publishers he should try — it seems it’s TV pilot pitching season… Read More ›
More Local Heroes Events In Edinburgh
The National Library of Scotland have released details of more free events to tie-in with their Local Heroes exhibition on the art of graphic novels. In addition to the events already mentioned here on downthetubes, two more talks plus two… Read More ›
Every Letter Printed Wins A T-Shirt!
…is how the editor of The Victor, James Halley, enticed his readers to write into the comic’s letters page, Tupper’s Talk-In. The Tough Of The Track was runner Alf Tupper who of course mixed competitive running with eating fish and… Read More ›
Leicester Has A Hero
The winner of the Hero for Leicester competition – part of the Blam! comics season organised by Leicester library earlier this year which included appearances by Bryan Talbot and others – was Fox Spirit by Giles Meakin. Eight entries were… Read More ›
Live Star Wars Art and Competition
It’s the biggest team-up in UK SF: Forbidden Planet and the Sci-Fi-London Film Festival are joining forces with the 501st UK Garrison to bring you live Star Wars Urban Art, from the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London between… Read More ›