Bear Alley Books, run by author Steve Holland, is bullishly battling back against the perils of the Coronavirus Pandemic with the release of a new guide to a short-lived 1950s weekly boys comic, Rocket, and new editions of two previous releases.
Steve Holland
Snapshots in (Comics) Time: A Bethnal Green Newsagent, 1951
This photo of “S Lavner“, newsagent and tobacconist, situated at 241 Bethnal Green Road, E2, was taken in Bethnal Green by seminal British post-war artist, photographer, collagist, printmaker and teacher Nigel Henderson – and offers a fascinating snapshot of London’s… Read More ›
Broadcaster Jonathan Ross joins campaign to preserve British Comics History and call for national Comics Museum
Comic artists, writers, editors, publishers, academics and broadcaster and comics collector Jonathan Ross gathered in person and by Skype at London’s Cartoon Museum this weekend (Saturday 2nd November 2019) to voice support for the preservation of British comics history, and… Read More ›
Essential British Comics Reference: Bear Alley Books’ “Ranger The National Boys’ Magazine”
Online discussion about where a piece of art by the talented British comic artist Ron Embleton (TV Century 21, Look and Learn, Ranger, World of Wonder) might have been published prompted Bear Alley Books publisher Steve Holland to remind me… Read More ›
Tube Surfing: Marvel UK Memories, Alan Moore, Gene Ha – and Captain Pugwash!
Here’s a quick round up of comics-related news items, recalling Marvel UK, Alan Moore‘s partnership with Gene Ha on Top 10, a look at some gorgeous Doctor Who art and more… • The brainchild of Melvyn Bragg, Opening Shot was… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Artist and Designer Roger Perry – A “Truculent Foot Soldier”
We’re very sorry to report the passing of artist, designer, photographer and downthetubes contributor Roger Perry, who died on Saturday 23rd July at his home in the Philippines – a day after celebrating his 78th birthday. His wife Rosa has… Read More ›
Eagle Daze: The Life and Times of Leonard James Matthews – Part Twelve
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… Read More ›
In Memoriam: IPC Managing Editor Gil Page
We’re sorry to report the passing of Gil Page, an editorial stalwart of Amalgamated Press, Fleetway, IPC and latterly Egmont, as that company’s Managing Editor. He passed away peacefully in his sleep earlier in the week, aged 79. “Gil was… Read More ›
Eagle Daze: The Life and Times of Leonard James Matthews – Part Seven
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 ›
Comic Creator Spotlight: The Art of Ron Smith, Part One
As a comic fan of long standing, one of my real pleasures is identifying and applauding some of the artists that I feel never got the appreciation that they so richly deserved. But I have found that even with the… Read More ›
Bear Alley Books “Complete Captain Future” out this week
One of the stars of the 1950s pirate era of comic publishing, Norman Light‘s Captain Future was the star of the comic Spaceman, which Light published in 1953-54. One of the most successful titles from the minor publishers of the… Read More ›
Bear Alley Books announces Bullet strip “Frontline UK” as next collection
Steve Holland at Bear Alley Books has announced that his next collection of classic comics is another DC Thomson-published story, “Frontline UK”, reprinting the complete series from Bullet where it appeared back in 1976. The original artist was Ian… Read More ›
Bear Alley Books announces reprint of DC Thomson’s “Arena” strip
Steve Holland at Bear Alley Books has just the next title from the independent publisher will be a reprint of the 1979 series “Arena”, published by DC Thomson. Originally serialised in The Crunch, created by Dave Taylor (not to be… Read More ›
In Review: Countdown to TV Action
by Steve Holland Publisher: Bear Alley Books Out: Now The Book: The latest comic index from Bear Alley Books covers the history and content of Countdown and TV Action, the Gerry Anderson-themed comic from Polystyle launched in the early 1970s…. Read More ›
Bear Alley Books “Countdown” book on sale next week
The latest comic index from Bear Alley Books, Countdown to TV Action, goes on sale from 4th July. The 200-plus page book, which features a a colour cover featuring the work of Gerry Haylock, John M. Burns and Gordon… Read More ›