Birmingham had barely caught its breath from all the excitement of the International Comic Expo (read our review here) the day before when more comic enthusiasts and professionals descended on The Studio venue for Comics Uncovered 2015. Jon Laight reports… The sister event… Read More ›
Features
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Simon Grennan, writer of Dispossession
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
Eagle Daze Part Four: Pop Stars, Knickers and a Dodgy Cup of Coffee
We are pleased to publish Part Four of the memories of Roger Perry – memories of now more than half-a-century ago – of his days at Fleetway Publications working on Girl, Eagle, WHAM! and other titles… Of Braces and Bin Fires… Read More ›
Cool as ICE! A Review of the International Comic Expo, Birmingham, 2015
England’s second city was the location for the latest and possibly the coolest comic convention on the circuit and Jon Laight was there for downthetubes… The International Comic Expo is held in the centre of Birmingham and organised by Shane Chebsey,… Read More ›
In Review: Thunderbirds – The Vault
By Marcus Hearn Designed by Mike Jones Published by Virgin Books Out: 10th September 2015 The Book: On 30th September 1965, International Rescue successfully completed their first assignment, and the Tracy brothers imprinted themselves on a generation of captivated children. Thirty-two… Read More ›
In Review: Octobriana – The Underground History
By John A. Short Publisher: Kult Creations Format: 120 pages long. A signed, numbered, limited edition of 300. Colour/Black & white Price: £9.99 UK The Book: This lavishly illustrated book features the full story behind cult, underground, communist superheroine – Octobriana…. Read More ›
Brought to Book: John A. Short talks about communist comic hero Octobriana
The more obscure the band in certain areas of music the cooler they are. The underground, crazy named and most importantly obscure horror movies are also considered cool. Right? So, a character called Octobriana that is out of copyright, and… Read More ›
Not Just for Girls: Five Shojo Manga picks and a Competition, too!
Shojo (sometimes spelt Shoujo or Shoujou) means girl in Japanese, but that doesn’t mean Shojo comics can be enjoyed only by girls. In Britain and, increasingly, Japan, shojo’s stories are enjoyed by men as well. Here are five shojo comics… Read More ›
In Review: Over the Line, an introduction to comics poetry
Sidekick Books has just published Over The Line, an introduction to comics poetry edited by poet and comics editor Chrissy Williams and comics artist Tom Humberstone, a project that has earned high praise from the likes of Alan Moore, who described the project… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Karrie Fransman, creator of “Death of the Artist”
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
“Eagle Daze” Part Three: WHAM!, the end of Girl, and Max Clifford’s World of Pop
We are pleased to publish Part Three of the memories of Roger Perry – memories of now more than half-a-century ago – of his days at Fleetway Publications working on Girl and Eagle… 1964 Aahhh yes, 1964… It was during… Read More ›
Demoncon X – A Comic Convention Review
Demoncon X… no, no! It’s not a call back to all the video rentals we craved in the 1980s but actually a comic convention in Maidstone, Kent, now in its tenth incarnation. Run by the people from the Grinning Demon Comic Shop,… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Canadian Comic Creator Seth
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
Safari Festival 2015 – An Old Bloke’s Review
The Safari Festival 2015 was billed as “a celebration of the new wave of alternative and art comics from the UK and beyond…. and for attendees to experience the best of the UK comics’ avant-garde”. Run by the team behind… Read More ›
In Review: JM Barrie’s Peter Pan adapted by Stref
JM Barrie’s Peter Pan is one of the best known and loved British children’s novels of the last century, so it comes as something of a surprise to discover that there has never been a graphic novel based directly on… Read More ›
In Review: Gabriel – The Devil is Everywhere
Written by Jim Alexander Art by David Hill Letters by Nate Pride Production by Jim Campbell Cover by David Hill Mature Content – from Planet Jimbot “A world where God and the Devil – angels and demons – are real…. Read More ›
Sneak Preview – Bertie Bear Issue 4
Words and Pictures by Andy W. Clift Letters by Jon Scrivens Script Editor – Rachel Barber Guest Cover Artist – Daniel John Sendall-King Published by Bounce Comics The Story: In the fourth installment of this series our hirsute rough and tumble… Read More ›
Cup of O – Small Press Reviews
Hello! Two of the three comics I’m reviewing this month are from last year’s Melksham Comic Con – the next of which is taking place in a fortnight. It’s a wonderfully passionate little convention and Geoffery Crescent and I will be there with The… Read More ›
In Review: OFF LIFE Issue 12
Issue 12 of OFF LIFE, the free print and digital comics anthology is out now, its hard-working team revitalised from running their Yellow “Comics For A Lost Generation” series – where 52 artists are illustrating 52 weeks of news, a project that will be released… Read More ›
In Review: Dump Issue 3
Writer: David Robertson Artist: David Robertson, Damon Herd, Donna Law, Neil Paterson, Ludi Price, Keara Stewart and Pam Wye Publisher: Fred Egg Comics Format: 80 pages, black and white Continuing in what seems like some mission to offer the most eclectic… Read More ›