The latest issue of SHIFT features some grand new stories. Biased advance trailer ahead!
Crucible
SHIFT Issue Three heads to the stands, Dan McDaid’s “DEGA” and “Crucible” to join strip line-up later this year
Slightly delayed by the pesky pandemic lockdown, SHIFT is back in newsagents soon!
Coronavirus Pandemic – Creator Resources and Free Comics!
Last Updated 7th April 2020: A list of resources for creators, comic buyers and fun for kids and parents affected by the CoronaVirus Pandemic Lockdown in the UK – and hopefully beyond
“Martian” author Andy Weir short stories published exclusively on the books and comics app, Tapas
Before Andy Weir’s brilliant SF novel The Martian became a bestseller and a box-office hit, it was posted in short, free instalments to his website. His approach mirrors the serialised stories of 19th century periodicals, which popularized authors like Charles Dickens and… Read More ›
Alliigator Descartes latest Crucible Comic 3D Model Revealed
Here’s the latest Crucible comic-inspired 3D model, based on the comic characters co-created by myself and Smuzz and designed by Smuzz, who many downthetubes readers will know as SMS, one of the artists who drew “ABC Warriors” for 2000AD. Crucible started out in… Read More ›
Crucible Character Models On Display at Glasgow’s Satellite 5 SF Convention
Top designer Alligator Descartes, who has created some amazing Crucible figures based on designs by Smuzz for the eponymous comic story which you can read on Tapastic, will be giving a talk at Satellite 5, a Glasgow SF convention, this weekend,… Read More ›
Crucible: The Walking-Notes of Truuug Vanderplatz ‘The Daunting’
Here’s another “Crucible” extra from co-creator Smuzz, focusing on our resident medical expert, Truug Vanderplatz, set before the first adventure. There’s more about Crucible here, and you can read the strip on Tapastic (publisher interest welcome). Truug’s notes are presented… Read More ›
Truugationary: The Wit and Wisdom of Truuglub Vanderpatz The Daunting
Please note, these are the only the terms known to date employed by the Chk’Rath, Truug, who features prominently in Crucible. It will, over time, expand. Bellingly: Ironically. With thundering yet much-avoided inevitability. Bathetically. Chk’Rath: Truug’s species (see Episode One) Frentling: Pantomiming… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Comics Editor and Writer John Freeman
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event. We’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their eagerly anticipated 2015… Read More ›
Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 15: Comics Editor and Writer John Freeman
It’s a real history lesson this week as John Freeman of downthetubes, Crucible, ROK Comics and many more joins Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and Tony Esmond to talk about all things comics. There’s talk about the latest webcomic site Tapastic… Read More ›
Crucible Episode 40: Strike Back!
The Chrell strikes back… Crucible is an ongoing creator-owned strip which started in STRIP: The Adventures Comics Magazine, created by myself and 2000AD artist Smuzz (perhaps best known for his work on ABC Warriors) and lettered by Jim Campbell. We’re hoping we can attract a print publisher…. Read More ›
Crucible Episode 39: Chrell Attack!
With Beloc’s help, the battle against the Chrell seems to have taken a turn in the party’s favour… or has it? Crucible is an ongoing creator-owned strip which started in STRIP: The Adventures Comics Magazine, created by myself and 2000AD artist Smuzz (perhaps best known for… Read More ›
Exploring Tapastic: The Weird and the Fantastic
As regular readers of downthetubes know, we regularly post new episodes of our SF adventure strip, Crucible, to the web comics platform Tapastic. The series, written by me, drawn by Smuzz and lettered by Jim Campbell (and which has had an… Read More ›
Crucible: The Quest Episode 37 – Battling the Chrell
Our adventurers take on a god… but will is Beloc too terrified to help, or is he still too angry at Ardahl for the way he treated him? Crucible is an ongoing creator-owned strip which started in STRIP: The Adventures Comics Magazine,… Read More ›
Crucible: The Quest Episode 35
For those who came in late (new readers start here!): deep below the surface of Shaarn, our adventurers confront a terror of legend that has already killed… and threatens to do so again in its own quest! Crucible is an ongoing… Read More ›