Here’s my pick of this week’s list of British creator and British publisher-skewed new comics, including new comics on sale in UK newsagents. This feature covers all titles released from Monday 4th April onwards with most new US comics released… Read More ›
Beano
65 Years Young! Dennis the Menace exhibition celebrates the eternal wild child
The nation’s favourite wildchild, Dennis the Menace, turns 65 this month and an exhibition of screenprints featuring him is being held to celebrate in London. The iconic character from The Beano comic created by David Law made his appearance… Read More ›
Wartime Beanos, rare Mickey Mouse art and more in latest Compalcomics auction
Rare wartime Beanos dominate many of the lots in the latest Compalcomics auction, which also includes lots of early TV Century 21s, art by Dudley Watkins, early Eagles and more, along with a healthy selection of US comics. The company’s successful team… Read More ›
British Comic Sales Figures: Winners and Losers (July – December 2015)
Updated 16th February to add comment from Generation Media The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) sales figures for titles registered with the organisation have just been published this week and while many comics or young children’s magazines have taken a hit for the reporting… Read More ›
Bananaman Musical Set to Slip onto Stage, Casting Call Reveals Show Clues
First, there was news of a movie starring a much-loved hapless superhero published in Nutty, The Dandy and The Beano. Now, for the first time ever, Bananaman will soon be live on stage. Created by Steve Bright and writer and editor Dave Donaldson (best… Read More ›
Panel Borders: Drawing The Beano
In Drawing The Beano, the latest Panel Borders podcast, Alex Fitch talks to writers / artists Laura Howell and Hunt Emerson who have contributed a number of strips to The Beano since 2002, including “Little Plum”, “Ratz”, “Minnie the Minx”… Read More ›
The British Comics Industry: Looking Back on 2015, Looking Forward to 2016
With the festive season upon us and 2015 racing to a close, over on Comic Book Resources, staff writer and comics retailer Brian Hibbs, in an article titled “Tilting at Windmills: Trouble on the Horizon?“notes we’re in an extremely odd… Read More ›
The British Comics Industry: Still Alive and Kicking, Despite Troll Claims to the Contrary
Phil Boyce runs the Oink! blog, dedicated to the original, cheeky, innovative comic that once featured the best of British talent, as well as extra posts on every aspect of the world’s greatest comic, creator info, behind-the-scenes shenanigans and more. He recently posted… Read More ›
Lew Stringer Begins Annual Countdown to Christmas Celebration With 2000AD and More
Over on his always brilliant Blimey! It’s Another Blog about Comics blog, focusing onBritish comics past and present, top cartoonist Lew Stringer is counting down to Christmas with a series of celebratory posts of past Christmas covers, including the first 2000AD… Read More ›
“Holly Wood” debuts in The Beano Today
Today sees the debut of an all-new character in The Beano – wannabe star Holly Wood, the creation of Tommy Donbavand, with art by Steve Beckett. Lancashire-based author and actor Tommy Donbavand is the man who wrote popular 13-book Scream Street series… Read More ›
Official Billy Whizz Screenprint Released
Top screen printer John Patrick Reynolds has just released his latest official Beano screenprint. Billy Whizz, Starts Today. The image is taken from Issue 1139 of The Beano, Billy’s first appearance in May 1964. “I love it,” enthuses John…. Read More ›
Early Beanos Galore, Fireball XL5 Rarities and More Offered in Latest ComPal Auction
If you’re a fan of The Beano or The Dandy, then the latest Compalcomics – now live – is definitely up your street, with a large number of early issues on offer, along with an assortment of comics art that… Read More ›
Beano Seeking Digital Content Creators for “Top Secret” Project
The Beano, Britain’s weekly humour comic published by DC Thomson, is on a recruitment drive for new staff for what looks like being a hugely ambitious new digital push for the title. Announcing the recruitment drive on their official web site… Read More ›
Mags In Bags: comic creator Alexander Matthews call for “VAT on Tat”
Following up on John Freeman’s post expressing joy at seeing a child ignore all the “mag in a bag” comic/ young persons magazines in favour of the cheaper, non-bagged Beano, comic creator Alexander Matthews very kindly gave us permission to re-post… Read More ›
Despite the Odds, Child buys Beano in Supermarket Shock; the perils and pitfalls of UK news stand distribution
Here’s a couple of snapshots of a typical British supermarket display of teen and young children’s magazines taken yesterday, which I occasionally post for discussion and dissection on my Facebook Comic Con page as we ponder the state of our native… Read More ›
DC Thomson recovers Beano web domain from “internet squatter”
DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano, have taken control of the thebeano.co.uk domain name from a Norfolk businessman. The Dundee-based company, which has been publishing The Beano for decades, took action against Stephen Fisher from Ellingham, who had registered the domain name. Internet… Read More ›
First issue of The Beano sells for £17,300 in latest Compalcomics auction
A rare copy of the first issue of The Beano, published in 1938, has sold for a whopping £17,300 in the latest Compalcomics auction – and other issues of the weekly humour comic also sold at good prices. “Bought for… Read More ›
In My View: Why The British Comics Industry is Far From Dead
It’s hard to credit but, strangely, there are some out there who claim the British comics industry is dead, ignoring the huge number of successful independent comics out there and a still-thriving news stand. Now, before anyone comments, I know… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Beano artist Zoom Rockman
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
Beano celebrates record-breaking run as a weekly comic, and Toytopia aims for another!
‘ Thanks to Guinness World Records, this week’s Beano (Issue 3800), on sale now in all good newsagents and sporting a new logo, confirms the comic’s status as the longest-running comic published weekly. The Beano is officially a record breaker! We’re the longest-running… Read More ›