downthetubes has been having some behind-the-scenes computer woes: we apologize for the lack of posts in recent days. We’re grateful to Jeremy Briggs for his review of Cinebooks’ Rameses’ Revenge. Digital Artist 2009 Masterclass #1 – Dave Gibbons from Intel… Read More ›
Beano
Moon Landing: T Minus 5 Days – Predicting The Date
40 years ago today, the three astronauts making up the crew of Apollo 11 were preparing for launch…
DC Thomson Bids Farewell to former Beano Editor
Comics artist Lew Stringer picks up on news that broke over at web site Comics UK that Euan Kerr, DC Thomson’s Deputy Manager of Children’s Publishing and former long-standing editor of The Beano and other titles, is to retire. Dismissing… Read More ›
Comics Events At the Edinburgh Book Festival
It is almost that time of the year again when the chaos of Festival hits Edinburgh. International, Film, Fringe, Television and the Tattoo as well as many other smaller festivals invade the city, but the one of most interest to… Read More ›
Tim Quinn on Tour
Comics writer Tim Quinn is back on the cartoon workshop and lecture circuit, appearing at The Brindley in Runcorn tonight and elsewhere in the UK (see current dates below). Tim, whose credits include The Beano, Doctor Who Magazine and The… Read More ›
Dandy Issue 1, Amazing Fantasy #15 Up For Sale
There’s still time to bid on items – including a rare copy of the first ever Dandy – from British online auction site Comic Book Auction’s Summer Catalogue. Included in the British section of the catalogue is an extremely rare… Read More ›
Is The Dandy the World’s Oldest Comic?
Mooching through some piles of old comics over the weekend, one of our readers noticed a 2007 issue of The Dandy (Issue 3007) proudly proclaimed the title was now a “record breaking longest running comic ever!” Thanks to The Dandy‘s… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: 4 May 2009
• Over on Comic Book Resources, Brian Cronin has just completed a month of posting reviews of a different self-published comic book each day. Check out the archive of reviews here • Meanwhile, Matthew Badham has perhaps taken a leaf… Read More ›
Bellamy, Noble Art Up for Auction
Rare wartime Beanos and The Dandys and artwork by Frank Bellamy, Don Harley, Ken Reid, Mike Noble and Dudley Watkins form just part of the British section of the latest auction from London-based Comic Book Auctions. While best known for… Read More ›
In Review: Derek the Sheep
We mentioned Gary Northfield‘s popular Beano (and first creator owned) strip Derek the Sheep earlier today with good reason. The first collection of the strip, published back in September by Bloomsbury but which just arrived here at downthetubes (thanks, Gary!),… Read More ›
British Comics on the Rise?
Regular readers of downthetubes already know the British comics industry is far from dead, but now that gut feeling is backed by new figures which reveal sales are booming, up more than 70 per cent in the past five years…. Read More ›
Tube Surfing: 24 November 2008
• Kieron Gillen talks about writing the new Warhammer Crown of Destruction comic series from Boom Studios over on comiccon.com, the series inspired by on Nottingham-based Games Workshop’s hugely popular gaming system and figures. “It’s a world that lives on… Read More ›
Grab yourselves some The Beano and The Dandy collectables
If you’re looking for something a little bit special for the British comic fan in your life this Christmas, how about one of these limited edition The Beano and The Dandy figurines from Robert Harrop Designs?
The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown
Not much warning but if anyone is within travelling distance of Dundee on Wednesday 8 October then Dr Chris Murray will be giving a talk to the Abertay Historical Society on The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown. Dr Murray was the… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: Beano Merchandising
The range of Beano merchandising in this its 70th year continues to expand. While many of the items are aimed at the younger fans there are things of interest for the more mature readers of the title. Fine and Dandy… Read More ›
Beano, Dandy Too PC?
Euan Kerr, former editor of The Beano, has hit out at the current content of the comic and the Dandy arguing they have become too politically correct. In an article in the Telegraph, picking up on a report in Scotland… Read More ›
Derek the Sheep Unleashed!
Gary Northfield’s popular Beano (and first creator owned) strip Derek the Sheep is out this week as a fab 64-page hardback from publishers Bloomsbury. A day in the life of Derek the Sheep is no forage in the field. Oh… Read More ›
Photo Review: Edinburgh BookFest
by Jeremy Briggs The tent village of the Edinburgh International Book Festival springs up in the private Charlotte Square Gardens in the city centre each August. Over half a dozen theatre tents, a box office, two bookshops, a café and… Read More ›
War of Words: An interview with Calum Laird
In December 2007 I was fortunate enough to interview Calum Laird, who edits DC Thomson’s Commando. The interview was conducted as research for an article about writing and Calum was very generous with his time. I felt it seemed a shame to waste… Read More ›
Exhibition celebrates the life of Beano cartoonist, Robert T Nixon
The life of cartoonist Robert T Nixon has been celebrated this summer