Comics International publisher company dissolved

By John Freeman on May 21, 2010

Cosmic Publications, previously publishers of Comics International (and, for a while, Dangerous Ink magazine), has been dissolved.

News broke after fans of Comics International spotted the dissolution of the company on the Companies House web site spelling an end, perhaps, to any further speculation that the much-loved comics news magazine created by veteran editor and publisher Dez Skinn might one day return.

Cosmic Publications bought Comics International from Dez after interest from several other publishers. Edited by Mike Conroy, sadly, the takeover proved problematic almost immediately, with late running publication and internal issues affecting production, before the magazine finally disappeared.

Despite several request for updates, downthetubes and other comics media made no headway with publisher Peter Boyce, who last claimed the title was “not dead” last September.

“Comics International dead?” Peter Boyce, also owner of Movie New Media told us. “It’s news to me.”

His comments came despite the lack of any regular issues, with the last publications being two Comics International Specials last July.

If the dissolution of Cosmic Publications means Comics International has now gone for good, will anyone step up and take on the title?

downthetubes understands that several companies have considered a new British-based comics magazine – aside, of course, from the British comics-devoted Crikey! – but have been waiting patiently to see if and when CI might return.

• More comments on the apparent demise of Comics International on the downthetubes forum

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.