It wasn’t the greatest Spider-Man costume Marvel UK had for promotional purposes, but by gum, the company made the most of it, even in encounters with pop royalty like Queen’s Brian May
Superhero Comics
Meet “Chuff” – and Ben Racey, British Rail superhero!
Regular readers of downthetubes will recall how earlier this year we reported on Britain’s National Railways’ foray into superheroes with safety-conscious Captain Caution, back in the 1980s – but he wasn’t their only costumed crusader!
To the Batcave, comic feature-writing chums! A Call for Contributions
David Hathaway-Price, publisher and editor of the not-for-profit FANSCENE, is gearing up to publish a Batman-focused issue of his terrific zine
Panini Comics “Mighty World of Marvel” breathes its last – for now
Panini Comics UK has just announced the closure if the latest incarnation of Mighty World of Marvel, on the same day its latest issue goes on sale. “Hi, Marvelites”, the company announced along with details of Issue 22 on its… Read More ›
Death’s Head Omnibus – Contents Confirmed, Yes?
Marvel’s January 2020 solicitations include the much-anticipated Death’s Head Omnibus TPB among them – a delightfully chunky, 416-page collection of (almost) all the early Death’s Head greatest ‘hits’, scheduled for release on 3rd March, which we trailed earlier this year.
Don’t miss out on Death’s Head in Marvel Comics #1001!
If you’re an original Death’s Head fans – and we know there are a lot of you out there! – then don’t miss out on Marvel Comics #1001, which hit stores today, Wednesday 2nd October – it features an all-new… Read More ›
A Nigerian Comics Mystery: Ron Smith’s “Sister Mercy” (and more)
Nigeria is currently enjoying a growing comics industry of its own, with numerous publishers creating both print and digital titles, such as Comic Republic, Vortex Comics and YouNeek Studios– and Lagos Comic Con, taking place this weekend, is proving increasingly… Read More ›
Marvel Museum signing announced at London Forbidden Planet Megastore
Author and editor Ned Hartley will be signing copies of the new Studio Press book Marvel Museum at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London on Wednesday 16th October 2019
Crowdfunding Spotlight: new Death Sentence Liberty Kickstarter launched
The fourth Death Sentence Liberty Kickstarter from Monty Nero and team is live, featuring a rare Ben Oliver cover, limited edition gold foil variants, and the ever-popular Story So Far (issues #1-4) for new readers. This is the latest issue… Read More ›
Fan Fiction Avengers UK Recap released ahead of new story
This Saturday, 31st August 2019, the not-for-profit Marvel UK and British media culture inspired Defenders UK project returns with Issue 4 of its latest series, available to read for free on Facebook, but first, why not catch up with the series mashing Marvel mayhem with Doctor Who, Tommy Cooper, and much more so far?
Meet Captain Britain, 2099!
Marvel’s Excalibur returns to comic shop shelves in October, and #2, on sale in November, and on offer will be a variant cover featuring a 2099 version of Captain Britain, part of a crossover event celebrating the “2099” Marvel Universe we first saw back in the 1990s
Judge Dredd features in latest Back Issue magazine, a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special
The latest edition of Back Issue magazine, available now, is a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special, leading with in-depth looks at Jim Starlin’s space-spanning Dreadstar and 2000AD’s dystopian lawman Judge Dredd.
The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast: Simon Furman on The Vigilant
There’s a great episode of the 2000 AD Thrill-Cast available to listen to now – a wide-ranging chat with writer Simon Furman, talking about his work on The Vigilant and reviving a terrific roster of classic British comic characters. Simon… Read More ›
A Comics Collection for the Nation: An Interview with Peter Hansen
downthetubes is delighted to present both a video and text interview with comics collector Peter Hansen, whose extraordinary archive of British comic art, comics and comics ephemera is an incredible “Aladdin’s Cave”
Early Death’s Head stories omnibus on its way in 2020!
With the new Death’s Head mini series by Tini Howard and Kei Zama launching later this month from Marvel in comic shops, it’s no surprise that a collection is also on its way, an “Omnibus” edition of Death’s Head adventures,… Read More ›
Marvel UK in Print: Captain Britain, Death’s Head, Doctor Who and more – A Quick Guide
Marvel UK fans often comment on the lack of Marvel UK’s “Genesis 1992” related collections, but as we have reported down the years, at least some Marvel stories created in the UK have been reprinted, by Marvel US and Panini…. Read More ›
Marvel UK Mysteries: Who Remembers “Blood-Cede” and “Graviton”?
Discussion of comics copyright and trademarks of classic British comics spurred by Rebellion’s established ownership of the TV21 brand led me to investigate which titles Marvel Comics registered in Britain. Or, largely, Marvel UK – who were keen to put their very firm property stamp on various projects down the decades. My investigations turned up some interesting “Might Have Been” titles from the 1990s.
Sassy Smart Women of Pre-Super Hero Comics in the Spotlight at San Diego Comic-Con
Before Batman and Superman were even a glimmer in Bill Finger and Jerry Siegel’s eyes, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson created National Allied Publications, which would then go on to become DC Comics; one of the largest comic publishers in the world. Last year, Hermes Press released DC Comics Before Superman: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s Pulp Comics, written by his grand-daughter, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson. Some of that history will be in the spotlight at a panel titled “Sassy Smart Women of Pre-Super Hero Comics”at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con…
Counting down to the new Death’s Head from Marvel!
The countdown has begun to an all-new Death’s Head mini series from Marvel, launching 31st July 2019 in all good comic shops! Starring Death’s Head, originally created by Simon Furman and Geoff Senior in the 1980s, the new series is… Read More ›
Swinging Sixties British superhero Johnny Future returns! Collection out next year
Never before reprinted in the UK, 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics publisher Rebellion will publish a complete collection of Johnny Future next year, a stunning superhero strip that appeared in 1960s comic Fantastic, featuring art by the late Luis Bermejo