Off Life Issue Five hits the streets

By John Freeman on June 20, 2013

Issue Five of the UK's only street press comic, OFF LIFE, is out in print and online today. A free street press magazine, distributed in bars, galleries and universities across Bristol and London, it has gained it some 20,000 readers, thanks to a great content mix of fine comic art and canny marketing, bringing comics back to the public in a way perhaps, that only the last surviving newspaper strips do it – as free entertainment in a world where comic books have, for many, out-priced their popularity.

This fifth issue contains a candid interview with Love and Rockets creator and comics legend Gilbert Hernandez – in which he discusses his concerns about the industry – plus incredible short comics from around the globe with artists such as Ana Galvan, Joe List, Sam Alden and Salvatore Giommarresi.

OFF LIFE's creators make no secret of the fact that the aim of the free title – both in print and digitally at www.offlife.co.uk – is to try and snare unsuspecting readers in to our murky comics web.

“There's been a lot of s*** slung about comics recently,” says editor Daniel Humphry, “not least the veteran writer Joe Queenan dubbing them a 'plebian artform' in the Guardian, and as always we're hoping that OFF LIFE can help broaden peoples minds about the what comics can be.”

• Check out the new issue of OFF LIFE at www.offlife.co.uk

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.