Features

Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade #2 Cover SNIP

In Review: Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade #2

By John Freeman on August 25, 2019

Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade marks the return to print of the cult cartoon character who made her first appearance in much-loved, and missed, kids comic, Oink! back in 1987. Please, please, please – at least one of you reading this, for buy a copy of the latest issue and tell her where you heard about it! I’ve been getting strange bits of meat through the mail, ever since I got my review copy, and I’m pretty sure there are less door to door salesmen on the street than there were last week…

Lakes Festival Focus 2019: An Interview with Bryan and Mary Talbot

By John Freeman on August 23, 2019

Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with award-winning comic creators and Festival patrons Bryan… Read More ›

Lakes Festival Focus 2019: An Interview with Garth Ennis

By John Freeman on August 19, 2019 • ( 1 )

Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with Garth Ennis, perhaps best known for his… Read More ›

Lakes Festival Focus 2019: An Interview with Artist Lucy Sullivan

By John Freeman on August 16, 2019

Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with artist, author and animator Lucy Sullivan, whose… Read More ›

The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast: Simon Furman on The Vigilant

By John Freeman on August 14, 2019

There’s a great episode of the 2000 AD Thrill-Cast available to listen to now – a wide-ranging chat with writer Simon Furman, talking about his work on The Vigilant and reviving a terrific roster of classic British comic characters. Simon… Read More ›

In Review: The Vigilant – Legacy

By John Freeman on August 10, 2019

The Vigilant – Legacy Writer: Simon Furman Artists: Will Sliney (Opening Pages) and Simon Coleby Colour: Len O’Grady Lettering: Simon Bowland “Doctor Sin – Tribunal” Writer: Simon Furman Art: Jake Lynch Colour: john Charles Letters: Oz Includes character background features… Read More ›

Wally Wood's "22 Panels That Always Work", compiled by Larry Hama

Creating Comics: Wally Wood’s “Panels That Always Work”

By John Freeman on August 6, 2019 • ( 3 )

Tips from a master of the Ninth Art on how to make the VP best of comic storytelling

The first ever "Closer Than We Think!" by Arthur Radebaugh, published in January 1958

WebFind: Closer Than We Think – a tribute to the visionary artist Arthur Radebaugh

By John Freeman on August 5, 2019

Somehow, the amazing work of Arthur Radebaugh, the visionary artist behind the late 1950s and early 60s US newspaper feature “Closer Than We Think!“, surely deserving of collection, has completely passed me by until last week, when I not only… Read More ›

Spot the TARDIS: Police Boxes recreated in “Ghost Monuments” project

By John Freeman on August 5, 2019 • ( 2 )

Photographer and Doctor Who fan Paul Dykes has started a new photography project he’s calling “Ghost Monuments” – photo composites using a 3D model of a Gilbert MacKenzie Trench police box, rematerialising them in their former locations across London

Why Frank Bellamy was the perfect artist for “Thunderbirds” in TV21

By John Freeman on August 3, 2019

Fred McNamara argues Frank Bellamy’s depiction of “Thunderbirds” remains TV21’s most memorable strip, and with good reason

WebFind: Alice in Wonderland Playing Cards by Jesus Blasco

By John Freeman on August 1, 2019

British comic fans will be familiar with the name Jesus Blasco, an artist whose distinctive style thrilled many on strips such as “The Steel Claw” for Valiant and 2000AD’s “Bill Savage” – but he was a dab hand at lighter… Read More ›

TV Flashback: The White Horses, Tales from Europe and The Singing Ringing Tree

By John Freeman on July 31, 2019

A discussion about the haunting 1957 East German film The Singing Ringing Tree, first broadcast in the UK in the 1960s by the BBC in a serial format, led me back to the BBC’s Tales from Europe shows of the… Read More ›

In Review: Edge of Extinction #3

By John Freeman on July 30, 2019

Written by Baden James Mellonie Art and Letters by Paul Peart-Smith Covers by Stephen Sampson (also known as Steve Sampson), David Millgate, Ryan Brown and Huy Truong Published by Eighth Continent Publishing Note: Some strong language as zombies try to… Read More ›

In Review: Combat Colin No. 4 by Lew Stringer

By John Freeman on July 27, 2019

The Book: Reprinting the “Combat Colin” stories from The Transformers Nos. 257 to 283, Combat Colin No.4 brings you fast-paced comedy-action that takes place beneath the sea, on Mars, in the Prehistoric past and in Colin’s home town of Wallytown!… Read More ›

The IBM Selectric. State of the art typesetting in 1979...

WebFind: Cold Type: The Years of Paste-Up Graphics, and the short comics career of Derek Duff

By John Freeman on July 26, 2019 • ( 1 )

If you’re under a certain age, you’d be forgiven for failing to recognise these tools of the trade many veteran comic creators and comics editors used to create their work. Finding an online edition of the Cold Type: The Years… Read More ›

In Memoriam: Actor David Hedison

By John Freeman on July 24, 2019

I was very sorry to learn of the passing of David Hedison, the American actor probably best known to many for his roles in the James Bond franchise, but for me, as one of the stars of Irwin Allen’s hokey but fun SF adventure show, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

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