Who is the most experienced Doctor Who comic strip artist alive today? Mike Collins, John Ridgway and John Ross are certainly contenders for the honour but in 1976 the answer was much more clear cut – it was TV Comic… Read More ›
Comic Artists
Words From Beyond: Old Interviews With Comics Creators
Interviews with comics creators are something that we have run here on downthetubes for many years and we are always thankful to the artists, writers, editors, and production team members for taking the time and effort to answer our questions…. Read More ›
Oh, Please, Please Let Shane Oakley draw Doomlord!
Many downthetubes readers will remember Doomlord, Servitor of Nox, who first appeared in a photo strip in the 1980s Eagle. But we’re betting you haven’t seen him recently, unless you lucky enough to pick up a copy of the recently-released… Read More ›
Birmingham Bound: An Interview with Comic Artist Staz Johnson
Staz Johnson began his career in comics drawing strips for Marvel UK and Fleetway before pencilling books like The Mighty Thor and The Avengers for Marvel in the US. A six issue run on Detective Comics lead to him becoming… Read More ›
Birmingham Bound: An Interview with Halo artist Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson has recently completed illustrating the science fiction comic book series Halo for Dark Horse, and took time out prior to taking part in events for this weekend’s Birmingham Comics Festival, to discuss his work at Image, Dark Horse,… Read More ›
Birmingham Bound: An Interview with Comic Artist Ian Kennedy
Artist Ian Kennedy’s sixty plus career encompasses some of the best loved characters and comics published in Great Britain. To this day, he remains the undisputed master of aviation depictions. From his pioneering days on Air Ace and Thriller Picture… Read More ›
Steve McGarry: From Hollyhedge Road to Hollywood
Last week, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival announced the terrific news that top British cartoonists Steve McGarry and his son, Luke, would be at their October weekend-long event, taking in part in a host of fun events for children… Read More ›
DC Launches New Talent Development Workshops for Aspiring Writers and Artists
In an effort to find new and aspiring comic book talent, US publisher DC Entertainment has launched Talent Development Workshops for both writers and artists, led by bestselling and acclaimed comic talent including Jim Lee, Geoff Johns, Scott Snyder, Klaus Janson… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 38: Jennie Gyllblad
Darn it! I’m late giving this week’s Awesome Comics Podcast a plug. This week, it’s the turn of super busy, super talented Swedish comic book artist and designer Jennie Gyllblad to take centre stage as guest – the mind behind… Read More ›
US “The Nib” project Returns, seeks new comics work
The Nib – a US comics web project edited by Matt Bors offering a mix of political cartoons, comics journalism, humour and non-fiction – is returning. It’s a project that already gained a huge 70,000 plus following utilising the Medium platform, a community… Read More ›
Cam Kennedy helps launch new comic course at University of Dundee
Legendary Judge Dredd and Star Wars artist Cam Kennedy will help launch a new postgraduate programme for aspiring comics artists, writers and scholars at the University of Dundee later today. The new MLitt/MDes Comics and Graphic Novels course will be… Read More ›
Artist Spotlight: ILN Cutaway Artist G H Davis
One of the most challenging subjects for any artist must be the cutaway. Combining artistry with technical accuracy is a challenge that few take up and yet, when they do, the results can be remarkable. There are two main types of… Read More ›
Eagle Daze: The Life and Times of Leonard James Matthews – Part Six
Leonard Matthews, General Managing Editor of Fleetway and the Eagle Group of Comics, was a “Creative Visionary”… but that, Roger Perry argues in his extensive biography of the man which continues here on downthetubes, is only due to him having utilised the ideas… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Drawing X-Men by David Yardin
Here’s a fun little find: a series of tutorial videos by artist David Yardin on “Creating a Comic Book Page”, detailing his work process in creating the artwork (layouts, pencils, and inks) for the “Colossus” story published in Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men… Read More ›
Rich Buckler backs Inkwell Awards inking advocacy
Legendary “Bronze-Age” comic artist Rich Buckler (Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Thor, creator of Deathlok, et al) has agreed to support the artform of inking by joining the ranks of professional ambassadors for the Inkwell Awards inking advocacy. In a statement,… Read More ›
Comic Creator Spotlight: The Art of Ron Smith, Part Three. The Hotspur Mark II 1970 to 1980
My first article regarding the work of Ron Smith acted as a introduction, to remind us how great this veteran artist, now retired, has been over the course of his career. The second article demonstrates how I am beginning to review Ron’s… 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 ›
Starblazer remembered by legendary comic artist Enrique “Quique” Alcatena
DC Thomson’s 1970’s Starblazer – “Science Fiction Adventure in Pictures” – is remembered by Enrique “Quique” Alcatena in a new Spanish-language documentary titled, simply, Alacatena, directed by Diego Arandojo. Enrique “Quique” Alcatena is regarded as one of Argentina’s most prestigious cartoonists who also drew several… Read More ›
Comic Creator Spotlight: The Art of Ron Smith, Part Two – The Hotspur Mark II 1959 to 1969
My first article regarding the work of Ron Smith acted as a introduction, to remind us how great this veteran artist, now retired, has been over the course of his career. This next pair of articles will focus on one aspect of Ron’s… Read More ›
Celebrating the Genius of Ken Reid at Christmas
Over on this always-entertaining blog about British comics, cartoonist Lew Stringer has posted a number of terrific Christmas strips drawn by the wonderful Ken Reid. You’ll have seen some of the pages before on Lew’s blog over the years but others… Read More ›