As regular readers of downthetubes know, we regularly post new episodes of our SF adventure strip, Crucible, to the web comics platform Tapastic. The series, written by me, drawn by Smuzz and lettered by Jim Campbell (and which has had an absurdly long gestation period) started out as a creator-owned strip in STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine, but when that title went on indefinite hiatus, we decided to keep it going and try and build our own audience.
There are a huge number of comics on Tapastic, which also offers a number of premium, paid for series – but if you’re a fan of US, European or British-style drawn strips over manga, which seems to get more of an airing, and promotion, on the platform, then they might be hard to find.
Here are some gems I’ve discovered since using the service which I think downthetubes readers might enjoy. All the strips mentioned here are free to read, but creators need to achieve 500 subscribers before they can start to reach out to their audience and offer Patreon-style goodies in return for financial backing.
Some episodes of the strips below do have some NSFW content, but this is clearly indicated by the creator if that’s the case.
Gaston by Moreth
Gaston by Moreth is set on a train. Mix together an arrogant woman, a talkative and boring man, exasperating robots and a mysterious animal. Gently stir then Bring to a boil. It’s a terrific-looking manga-inspired strip that’s only just started, well worth subscribing to see where it leads, I think.
Grayscale by Keon Tan
Grayscale by Keon Tan has mystery and heavy supernatural elements, awesome style and interesting settings. It centres on Thomas Gray, an occult detective who has an obsession that only mystery and danger can fulfil.
Heroes for Ghosts by Michael Hayden
Heroes for Ghosts is a sci-fi adventure by Michael Hayden, and his art is simply extraordinary. In a war for mankind’s survival, the most powerful special forces crew in human history just went rogue. The story’s only just begun, but I think he’s a creator who I think is definitely one to watch for the future.
Hominids by Jordan Kotzebue
Hominids by Jordan Kotzebue was one of my first finds on Tapastic. It’s complete to read now – a prehistoric action-adventure comic where Neanderthals are at the top of the food chain and humans are struggling to survive. The story follows a small pack of hunter/gatherer Neanderthals who stumble upon a sick human in their territory. They take him in, not knowing he’ll change their lives forever… This deserves to be collected and out in print.
Secretman by Stone & Bone
If you’ve ever read Watchmen – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons heady, paranoid, deconstruction of the superhero genre, well, be warned, Secretman by Stone & Bone is the total opposite of that. It’s beautifully drawn and very entertaining (not that Watchmen isn’t but in a different way!)
Sgt. Steel – Allied Avenger
British creators Mike Garley (script), Andy W. Clift art) and Mike Stock (letters) are having tremendous fun with Sgt. Steel – Allied Avenger. With tongue firmly in cheek, the British hero Steel must lead his men against a dastardly Nazi onslaught if there is to be any chance at all for old Blighty!
Small Prey by Byron Jackson and Jim Rodgers
Small Prey by Byron Jackson and Jim Rodgers is a crime story with a hgorror- edged. Black and white, that choice is perfect for the unsettling tale which opens with an awful crime in a suburban house… but what really happened before the police showed up?
Sunward: Bad Influence
Sunward: Bad Influence is set on Helian, a brave new world where everything is possible. A group of young misfits try to find their place in this land torn apart by a vicious struggle between the ghosts of its past and an ever-waning future. This strip simply oozes style and is well worth a look.
Starve The Beast, by Danny Homan and Sergio Vicencio
Danny Homan’s Starve The Beast, drawn by Sergio Vicencio, is about a dictator who unleashes a genetically-engineered plague and Kasmer Strout, his right hand man – and the only one who might be the only one able to put the country back together again.
The Worry Man by Nick Miller
On the humour front, there’s plenty to choose from, too. Nick Miller and Antonella Caputo are creating Skid Avenue, a new take on The Really Heavy Greatcoat characters we first devised way back in 1987. Nick also draw the daft Worry Man (above), a one panel gag strip, published daily.
Romantical Tales
Finally, Romantical Tales is a satirical look at old romance comics from the 1940s and 50s seen with young eyes. Each chapter is a new story, with out of copyright strips gently savaged by two anonymous readers. It’s formatted for mobile reading, like a lot of Tapastic strips, and is a lot of fun.
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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.
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