Wales-based independent publisher of science fiction, horror and fantasy Deadstar Publishing celebrates its tenth anniversary today, Tuesday June 9th 2020.
Despite a difficult economic situation, Deadstar has continued to find support among fans of independent comics.
Deadstar Publishing was founded with the intention of showcasing up and coming indie talent and was the starting point for several successful creators such as Kevin Enhart, who recently concluded a run on Games Workshop‘s Dawn of War comics series, and David Owain Hughes whose horror fiction has been featured alongside Stephen King.
Currently, its flagship titles are 7 Shades – a supernatural western written by Eagle Award-nominated Peter Rogers and illustrated by David Clifford; the Stan Lee True Believers Award-nominated Dexter’s Half Dozen – a World War Two occult horror title for mature readers; and superhero parody title Dolphin Squad: Heroes of the Sea written and illustrated by Danny J. Weston.
Deadstar are a staple on the British convention circuit and have exhibited at over 150 events since 2010. In 2019, they attended events as far west as Swansea, as far south as Portsmouth, as far east as Eastbourne and as far north as Harrogate – in effect covering around one third of the UK.
Sadly, the Coronavirus Pandemic has impacted the business by limiting access to its audience at in-person events and has thus delayed its release schedule. But undaunted, later this year Deadstar has plans to release new issues of Dexter’s Half Dozen, 7 Shades, a follow up to its successful 2018 barbarian fantasy anthology Age of Savagery, as well as several horror and fantasy novels.
Kevin Davies, the editor-in-chief at Deadstar Publishing is also acting as a consulting editor for new Welsh periodical Gwyllion, a magazine that aims to highlight genre writing about Wales, or by Welsh creators.
Congratulations to the team on this landmark anniversary and for their work, some previously highlighted on downthetubes – and we’ll happily do again.
• Deadstar Publishing are online at www.deadstarpublishing.co.uk | You can keep up to date with our news, opportunities and releases by subscribing to their newsletter.
Check out the Deadstar store to see the full range of works they have published, as well as merchandise like t-shirts, mugs and posters based on their characters.
The team update their store and news page quite regularly so keep checking the blog for updates, and they have a Facebook page, too.
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Creator Spotlight, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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