The Eagle Flies Again. 34 years ago this month, classic British adventure comic the Eagle was relaunched under the stewardship of Barrie Tomlinson and David Hunt. It featured an enviable lineup of characters and creators and ran for nearly 12 years,… Read More ›
Issue 38 – Spring 2016 Edited by Des Shaw Writers: Charles Chilton, Tim Booth, Ron Turner Artists: Tim Booth, Ron Turner, Martin Baines, Graham Bleathman, Terence Patrick Photo Visuals: Martin Bower Feature Writers: Andrew Darlington, Philip Harbottle, Sean Wallace, Alan Vince… Read More ›
The Second Annual Lancaster Comics Day was a lavish and star studded event (smiley face). Full of eager comics buyers, readers, sellers, creators and cake, lots of cake (thanks, Katie White). Whilst not exactly a red carpet event, it evoked comics… Read More ›
FBS Publishing have announced a new non-fiction book about Doctor Who which has been co- authored by occasional downthetubes contributor Ian Wheeler. Ian has teamed-up with Will Hadcroft to write What’s All the Fuss About…? An Introduction to Doctor Who:… Read More ›
by Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett Publisher: MIWK Publishing Out: 3rd March 2015 The Book: It’s Even Bigger on The Inside collects all the Doctor Who? Strips that ran regularly in Doctor Who Monthly and Doctor Who Magazine from Issue 64 until Issue 225, created by Tim Quinn and Dicky… Read More ›
A guide to Dan Dare – his comic appearances, the collections, audio and TV spin-offs and related merchandise. Last updated 12th February 2020
(Updated with photos: 21 Oct 2014) I didn’t manage to get to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival when it started up last year so it was on my ‘to do’ list for this year. I was born in Cumbria and… Read More ›
David McDonald from Hibernia Comics has Informed us that one time IPC Group Editor, Barrie Tomlinson has had a few health scares in the past few weeks. Barrie’s name will be very familiar to some but to others it maybe… Read More ›
A new museum in Southport features a permanent display of some Dan Dare art by his creator, Frank Hampson along with other Eagle memorabilia, helping to mark the comic’s 65th year since first publication. The Atkinson is Southport’s new home for music,… Read More ›
First Published 12th July 2014 With Transformers: Age of Extinction on sale from Titan Comics in UK newsagents, Ian Wheeler pays tribute to one of the most successful UK comics of the 1980s – Marvel UK’s Transformers… Whatever else you can… Read More ›
‘Welcoming’ is a good description of the second Lakes International Comic Art Festival held over the weekend of 17-19 October 2014 in Kendal in the Lake District. After the inaugural festival last year had proven popular, this year everything seemed… Read More ›
Here’s a page offering links to our main reference pages. This doesn’t include links to our many creator interviews, most posted as news items. Facts and Figures • British Comics Q&A I get a lot of questions from students in… Read More ›
A guide to the unrealised ATV Dan Dare project – a TV series that included Brett Ewins and Brian Bolland among its contributors
As we await the announcement of the new Doctor Who with great anticipation, a quick heads-up for a couple of currently available Who publications with downthetubes connections. Volumes 1 and 2 of You and Who: Contact Has Been Made edited… Read More ›
Commando, Battle, Marvel and Jinty artist artist Phil Gascoine died after a short illness in August 2007, prompting many tributes in response to an online appeal… For those of who knew him, the news comes as a terrible shock. He was once… Read More ›
downthetubes archive news first published in October 2004
An interview with comic artist John Ridgway, first published in Eagle Flies Again in August 2003. This updated downthetubes version was first published on 8th March 2007. Interview by Ian Wheeler
The publishers of British comics magazine Crikey! have reluctantly decided to close the magazine. “We tried until the last minute to keep going,” editor Tony Ingram told downthetubes, “but unfortunately a couple of guys who seemed serious about buying into… Read More ›
Classics Illustrated (originally Classic Comics) was an American comic book series which ran from 1941 to 1971 and featured comic strip adaptations of literary classics ranging from The Time Machine to Moby Dick and Romeo and Juliet to The Jungle… Read More ›
Following the death of British comics artist Mike Western, reported earlier this week, we’ve published two new features on the main downthetubes site to celebrate his life and work. In Mike Western Remembered, Ian Wheeler pays tribute to the late,… Read More ›
