By Ellice Weaver Published by Avery Hill Out: Now The Book: Something City is an exploration of modern day living through representations of the lives of different groups of people in an imagined place. Segregated communities of young people, elders,… Read More ›
Features
“What if I’m not a comic?” – A Review of “The Human Beings” Issue One
By Stuart (SJ) McCune Published by Millicent Barnes Comics This is fully intended to be a non traditional review, since The Human Beings is a book that does not adhere to a world of cliche or even what goes on… Read More ›
In Review: The Dan Dare Audio Adventures – Reign of the Robots
Reign of the Robots by Simon Guerrier Directed by Andrew Sewell Part of Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures Volume Two Produced by B7 Media Distributed by Big Finish Featuring cover art by Brian Williamson The first story of the second… Read More ›
In Review: Space Ace Volume Eight
Art and Stories by Ron Turner Colour by John Ridgway Published by John Lawrence The Book: 40-page anthology comprising four stories featuring “Space Ace” by Ron Turner, first published in The Book of Space Adventures in 1963, colourised and re-mastered… Read More ›
Leo Baxendale Remembered, by Beano artist Nigel Parkinson
The first name I recognised in comics was Leo Baxendale, who signed his name on the front cover of WHAM! In 1964. Until earlier this month, he was still my favourite living cartoonist. In the 1950s he gave us Little Plum,… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Leo Baxendale
Just days after posting an “In Praise of… Leo Baxendale” feature, focusing on his later, creator-owned material, we’re sorry to report his passing. I know this is a loss is going to hit a lot of my friends hard, especially those who know… Read More ›
In Praise of… Leo Baxendale
Leo Baxendale is a British cartoonist who should need no introduction to downthetubes readers. Not only was the creator of the classic Beano strips “Little Plum”, “Minnie the Minx”, “The Bash Street Kids” and “The Three Bears”, but he was… Read More ›
In Review: Marvel’s new Nick Fury is a positive tonic
Writer: James Robinson Penciler: ACO Inker: Hugo Petrus Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg Letterer: Travis Lanham Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: 19th April 2017 The Book:The world is a dangerous place. And there’s danger in drawing attention to your plans. When S.H.I.E.L.D…. Read More ›
Sneak Preview: “Old Farts” by Sorina Vazelina
Written and Illustrated by Sorina Vazelina Full Colour – Published by Centrala Books Something is crawling in to my brain, something colourful and crazy. This is an anthology of work by Sorina Vazelina and published by Centrala books in the… Read More ›
Gareth Brookes brilliant “A Thousand Coloured Castles” gets Gosh launch on Thursday
Top British comics creator Gareth Brookes is hosting a launch party for his new graphic novel A Thousand Coloured Castles, published by Myriad Editions, at Gosh! Comics in London later this week – and everyone’s invited. This book is, simply, genius. Disturbing… Read More ›
Borderliners is a Real Treat for fans of The Prisoner and Phillip K. Dick
Manchester-based writer/artist Brian Gorman‘s second graphic novel, Borderliners: True Realities, was published by Invisible Six Ltd a few months ago. I’m ashamed to confess he handed me a copy last October, but it’s taken me this long to escape The… Read More ›
In Review: Colossie Issue One (Vault Comics)
Colossi Issue One Script by Ricardo Mo Art by Alberto Muriel Colours by Stelladia Letters by HdE Full Colour – Published by Vault Comics – $3.99 The Book: When Trans Atmos Shuttle 34 disappears into a wormhole, its pilot and… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with artist Michael Cho
I’m delighted to present our second “Kendal Calling” interview of 2017, this time with artist Michael Cho, in the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, highlighting the event’s many international and British guests. (Tickets are… Read More ›
Creating Comics: An Interview with Commando Editor Kirsten Murray
With war comic Commando recently passing its landmark 5000th issue and many changes behind the scenes in its editorial department, downthetubes caught up with the veteran title’s recently-installed editor, Kirsten Murray, just part of her role as DC Thomson’s Heritage… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Comics Archivist and Educator Nik Pollard
Artist Steve Marchant recalls the life and work of Nik Pollard, who along with others strove to give the comics form rightful study in the UK – and was a generous benefactor to London’s Cartoon Museum… Nik Pollard, lifelong comics… Read More ›
In Review: The Little Mermaid by Metaphrog
Metaphrog’s latest hardback adaptation of a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, The Little Mermaid, is now out from the US publisher Papercutz. Adapted by John Chalmers and illustrated by Sandra Marrs, the Franco-Scottish couple who make up the Metaphrog team, the… Read More ›
In Review: DC Universe Rebirth – Batwoman #1
Batwoman – The Many Arms of Death (Part 1) Story: Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV Art: Steve Epting Publisher: DC Comics Editor: Dave Welgosz & Chris Conroy Pages: 22 Colour Pages Price: $2.99 Release Date (Print & Digital): 15th… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Cartoon Cliches Exposed
Beano comic creator Nigel Auchterlounie has pointed me in the direction of an edition of New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff‘s “Cartoon Lounge” podcast entitled “Trop de Tropes“, webcast last year, in which he looks at the history of the… Read More ›
Tony Esmond’s Comic Shop Survival Guide – Part Four: How To Buy A Comic (It isn’t always that easy!) – The Actual Buying Bit
There isn’t a week that goes by that one of the downthetubes team reads a post or receives a news item about declining comic sales, some articles blaming comics piracy, others the cost of comics, the end of physical print…. Read More ›
Tony Esmond’s Comic Shop Survival Guide – Part Three: Choosing Your Comic
There isn’t a week that goes by that one of the downthetubes team reads a post or receives a news item about declining comic sales, some articles blaming comics piracy, others the cost of comics, the end of physical print…. Read More ›