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 ›
Features
In Memoriam: Sir Arthur C. Clarke
It seems to be a really bad few weeks for the science fiction and comics medium, with yet another reminder that my generation is in “mortality country” (as Alan Moore describes it). Today comes the news of the passing of… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Cover Artist Walt Howarth
Cartoonist Lew Stringer reports that Walt Howarth, the prolific artist of many British annual covers of the 1960s and 1970s has died, aged 80. This is Lancashire reports Walt, whose credits include work on Doctor Who, The Lone Ranger, Dempsey… Read More ›
Sean Azzopardi Interviewed
With the release of his new book, Twelve Hour Shift, Matthew Badham has just interviewed London-based cartoonist Sean Azzopardi and both have kindly given permission for us to republish the piece here. Sean Azzopardi is a self-published cartoonist living and… Read More ›
Paul Cornell Interviewed
British podcast producers Geek Syndicate have just released an epic 90 minute journey through time and space and into the mind of comics and TV writer Paul Cornell, whose credits include Doctor Who, Primeval, Wisdom, Robin Hood and a host… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Dave Stevens
Writer Mark Evanier has paid tribute to Rocketeer artist Dave Stevens, who died this week after a long battle with leukaemia. He was just 52. A tributes page has been added to the American artist’s official web site, and in… Read More ›
ROK Comics Creator Interviews Online
Several interviews with creators of UK-based comics to mobile service ROK Comics, have been posted on the downthetubes.net main site. The questions were compiled by David Hailwood. • Artist Josh AlvesJosh Alves is a Graphic Designer/Cartoonist/Stand-up Comedian residing in the… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Smoky Dawson
Over on Comics Down Under, Kevin Patrick recently paid tribute to Australian musician Smoky Dawson, who died last month but who was at one time famous enough to be the star of his own comic. “Even if you’re not a… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Gary Gygax
Mourning the death of a gaming legend
Artist Jon Haward Interviewed
The Classical Comics project to make literature contemporary and relevant through comics is ambitious, but has received high praise educators and actors, including Royal Shakespeare Company fellow and Star Trek icon Patrick Stewart.On the launch of the second Classical Comics… Read More ›
Steve Whitaker: Online Memorial Site Launched
A livejournal gommunity and a flickr group devoted to the late, already-much missed artist and colourist Steve Whitaker, who died last week (see related story), have now been launched. “If you were a pal or admirer of Steve and his… Read More ›
DFC – Ask The Editor
I’m interviewing the editor of new, originated, British comic DFC for downthetubes.net to tie in with the launch of the title, so if you have any questions you’d like to ask, fire them my way asap. Needless to say, this… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comic Artist and Colourist Steve Whitaker
British artist and colourist Steve Whitaker is, I am deeply sorry to report, no longer with us. Steve died on Thursday after becoming unwell on the way to his doctor’s. The loss has left family, friends and the comics fans… Read More ›
Steve Whitaker
I have just learnt that British artist and colourist Steve Whitaker is no longer with us. I don’t know many details except that he died on Thursday after becoming unwell, but at this point I just want to say how… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Steve Gerber
downtheubes is sorry to report the death of ground-breaking American comic writer Steve Gerber, whose unique vision often confounded the mainstream publishers he worked for. The creator and co-creator of several characters including Howard the Duck and Omega the Unknown… Read More ›
RIP: Barry Morse
Actor Barry Morse, best known for his role as Lt Philip Gerard in the classic drama The Fugitive but who also starred as knowledgeable Victor Bergman in the first season of Gerry Anderson’s live action series Space:1999, died earlier this… Read More ›
Nicky Saxx, possibly Europe’s Last Newspaper Adventure Strip, Cancelled
Nicky Saxx – possibly the only originated adventure strip still existing in a European newspaper – was cancelled earlier this month
Edinburgh Book Festival Comics Talk Now Online
(with thanks to Joe Gordon) Last August, the Edinburgh International Book Festival held its first ever events discussing graphic novels, with a major, hour-long discussion – entitled “Graphic Novels – Literature of Pulp Fiction” – held between three Scottish authors:… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Marion Van Der Voort
I’m sorry to have to pass on the sad news of the death of Marion Van Der Voort. Marion, with her husband Richard, ran the At The Sign Of The Dragon bookshop in London for many years and regularly took… Read More ›
Doonesburyland
On Thursday morning this week (10th Jan) Radio 4 (11:30am-noon) will be broadcasting Doonesburyland. Joe Queenan conducts a rare interview with Gary Trudeau, creator of the Doonesbury cartoon strip and in many ways the most high profile chronicler of the… Read More ›