Talk of banning smoking completely in West Lancashire council offices — no more fag breaks etc. — prompted memories of anti-smoking campaigns in 1960s comics, and the image here from TV21 #21 coincidentally arrived in my mailbox this morning. Of… Read More ›
downthetubes News
British comic and creator news, book news, media news. If it’s news, it’s here.
WebFind: Calvin and Hobbes spoof
The wonders of dabble and youtube turned up this segment from the US comedy show Robot Chicken. I love Calvin and Hobbes, but this is very funny… but wasn’t Calvin taller in the strip?
Cat Tracking into parallel dimensions
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 ›
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 ›