Look out for free Marvel Comics on the Underground… and elsewhere around the UK!

By John Freeman on October 12, 2019

Comic Books on the Underground. Image: AcademyPR

Marvel Comics has been a cultural phenomenon for 80 years. As part of their anniversary celebrations the US comic publisher have been working with the Books on the Underground initiative (temporarily renamed ‘Comic Books on the Underground‘ and part of the now global Books On The Move project) to give away copies of iconic and historically important Marvel comic books.

These free comics will appear on the Underground and public transport in London, Manchester, Brighton, Glasgow and Cardiff over the next couple of weeks – and the University of Dundee has been working with Marvel and produced a celebratory comic and poster to support the initiative, which will be launched next week.

Image: AcademyPR

Books On The Move is a global book sharing initiative which aims to get people reading on their daily commutes. Every day, hundreds of books are left on public transport in cities across the world to be picked up, read and then returned for others to enjoy. (Think of it as a mobile library).

Starting back in 2012, in London with Books on the Underground, Books on the Move now
have over 20 branches across 14 countries – a global community, all branches run independently.

Copies of the free comic will also mysteriously appear in public places in Dundee too, as the University of Dundee have been collaborating with Marvel Comics and theacademypr.com in response to this project.

“Comics students and staff at Dundee have nominated comics for consideration, and assisted with the creation of a short film about the project,” Professor Chris Murray, Chair of Comics Studies and Director of the Scottish Centre for Comics Studies and Dundee Comics Creative Space,” has announced.

“Thanks go to Holly Roberts, Rachel Davis, Megan Sinclair, Hailey Austin, Damon Herd, Golnar Nabizadeh, Steven Affleck, Maria Claudia Corrales Chumpitaz, Rebecca Smith, and all those in Dundee Comics Creative Space.

80 Years of Marvel Comics Poster by Garry Mac

“We have also been hard at work creating something very special!” he adds online. “First of all, comics creator and PhD student Garry Mac has created a fantastic poster to coincide with the launch of the project, and we are very pleased to announce that a comic has been produced by the Scottish Centre for Comics Studies following a collaboration with Marvel, to spread the word of the milestone 80th anniversary.”

The comic, which will be released next week, is published by the University imprint, UniVerse, and has been produced by graduates and artists based at the Ink Pot Studio. It features art by Anya Morozova, Ell Balson, Garry Mac (also the founder of GEE Comics), Rossi Gifford, and Rebecca Horner, and is written by Chris Murray and lettered and produced by Phillip Vaughan.

• Find out more about Books on the Move at www.booksonthemoveglobal.com | Instagram | Books on the Underground on Twitter @BooksUndergrnd

• The Scottish Centre for Comic Studies | Dundee Creative Space | UniVerse Publishing

John Freeman

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.