We’re sorry to report the passing of Eisner Award-winning Scottish comic artist Jim Baikie, perhaps best known to many downthetubes readers as co-creator of 2000AD’s alien-on-the-run, Skizz. He enjoyed a career in comics that began with work for girls titles in the 1960s that would go on to encompass “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terrahawks” for Look-In, 2000AD and superhero work in the United States. He was also a much in demand artist beyond the comics medium
Features
In Review: Faceache – The Ken Reid Years Volume One – The First Hundred Scrunges
By Ken Reid (some pages by Barrie Appleby, uncredited) Introduced by Alan Moore and Antony J. Reid Out: Now Publisher: Rebellion (Treasury of British Comics) ISBN: 9781781086018 The Book: Hilarious face-changing adventures by one of the greats of British comics!… Read More ›
Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast Episode 18 – It’s The Etherington Brothers!
The latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast features a great interview with The Etherington Brothers, Robin and Lorenzo, who create some amazing children’s comics as well as bringing the creation process to life for children in their stage show… Read More ›
Rebellion “Charley’s War” Definitive Collection covers revealed, out next year
Here’s some details about three bumper collections of the critically acclaimed “Charley’s War” that are in the works for next year, to be published by rights holder Rebellion. The 20000AD publisher acquired ownership of Battle Picture Weekly, where “Charley’s War”… Read More ›
Memories of the 9th Malta Comic Convention – by comic artist by Phil Elliott
Malta Comic Con was back earlier this month, with a star-studded line-up of comic creators from across the globe in attendance, including Illegal Alien, Tupelo, Tales from Gimbley and Real Ghostbusters artist Phil Elliott – his first major appearance in… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Eagle artist Gerald Palmer
We’re sorry to belatedly report the passing of comic artist and illustrator Gerald Palmer, who passed away peacefully at his Jersey home on Wednesday, 16th August, 2017, aged 82. Born in 1935 in Jersey, Gerald was encouraged toward an artistic career… Read More ›
Rachael Smith’s “Wired Up Wrong” among Pipedream Comics nominations for Best Indie and Small Press Comic of 2017
I haven’t backed many Kickstarter projects this year although I have highlighted a fair few on downthetubes, but one I did was the Deluxe Edition of Wired Up Wrong by Rachael Smith – and now it’s deservedly been nominated as Best… Read More ›
Northern Ireland’s newsagents put some of England’s to shame when it comes to Comics Retailing
Back in 2015, Oink! Blog creator Phil Boyce wrote a post in the early days of December encouraging readers to go and explore the comics shelves of their local shops, whether they were newsagents, supermarkets, comic stores or local corner… Read More ›
WebFind: Various Artists – Comics about the Music that inspires us
I’ve just come across Various Artists, a great web site packed with music inspired comics, the brainchild of artist Tim Bird, whose books include Grey Area, Reads and the forthcoming The Great North Wood from Avery Hill Publishing. Rock & Pop started… Read More ›
In Review: The Comichaus App… “A Netflix for independent comics”
The App: Launched last month on both iOS and Android the Comichaus app which its publisher and distributor – who already offer market place for independent comics and graphic novels – describe as ‘Netflix for indie comics’. (Read our news story) The Review:… Read More ›
In Review: 2000AD Prog 2060
With a Slaine-inspired cover from Simon Davis, the latest 2000AD wraps up every story ahead of the awesome 2000AD Prog 2061 with its special Starlord story. There’s a sting in the tale of “Judge Dredd” this issue, which leads directly… Read More ›
Who remembers “Jet Jason” by Dave Gibbons? A look back at British Airways Fleetwings magazine
One of the things downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf likes collecting are comics and magazines that may have been rather forgotten about. A few months ago, he spotted a copy of Fleetwings on eBay, an unusual looking item that piqued his… Read More ›
Clockwork Watch project in the spotlight for latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
It’s time for another episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, and in this episode the team interview the guys behind the Clockwork Watch multimedia project, who are a regular part of the annual event (returning 12th – 14th… Read More ›
In Review: Dog Days by Anja Dahle Øverbye
Created by Anja Dahle Øverbye Published in the UK by Centrala Books (published in Norwegian by Jippi Forlag as “Hundedager”) 72 pages – Black and White interiors – £9.00 The Story: This book draws inspiration from North-Western Norway, where the creator… Read More ›
In Review: white NOIR #1 by Matt Garvey and Dizevez
Written by Matt Garvey Art by Dizevez Self Published. Full Colour. The Story: A man wakes up in a crashed car that has apparently veered off the highway and hit a stag. You can tell that it has hit this… Read More ›
Rare 1975 Frank Hampson interview for BBC Nationwide released
The BBC Archive has released a 1975 Nationwide feature and interview with Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson, recorded shortly after the artist and writer was voted Prestigioso Maestro at an international convention of strip cartoon and animated film artists held… Read More ›
Commando: The Best Issues of the 1960s?
Someone has been really nice to me and loaned me their copies of the short-lived fanzine Achtung! Commando, a title published nearly 20 years ago now, dedicated to DC Thomson’s long-running war comic, edited by comics artist and historian Peter Richardson,… Read More ›
In Praise of… Dan Dare and Trigan Empire Comic Artist and Illustrator Oliver Frey
A look back at the career of Oliver Frey, still busy today!
Creator Spotlight: Doctor Who watercolours by Simon Myers
Artist Simon Myers has some wonderful origianl watercolour portraits commissioned by Titan Comics (some used as covers, some not) up on his Ebay page. We thought we’d share some of them to give his work a plug. Perhaps best known… Read More ›
Former Tharg Steve MacManus probed in latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast!
There’s a slightly different episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast on offer this week as the team take an episode off. In place of their usual format, you get the opportunity to listen to a recording of… Read More ›