One of the great things about moving downthetubes to a “Content Managed System” last year is that we have a much better idea of what posts are the most popular… not that it’s changed what we post on the site!… Read More ›
The Beano
Beano-branded guitars and Brewers Fayre “Menacing Meals” on their way
DC Thomson has announced to new Beano-related licensing deals in the past week, one for musical instruments and the other with restaurant chain Brewers Fayre, which will include the release of a limited edition Beano comic on Father’s Day. The… Read More ›
Fal River Festival offers free cartoon workshops with The Beano’s Nick Brennan
Budding comic artists and cartoonists are being offered a free opportunity to learn a few top tips and create your own comic book from Beano artist Nick Brennan at the end of this month, as part of a huge number of… Read More ›
Beano “Mail on Sunday” sampler nets 25% sales rise
There’s good news for The Beano this week, which has seen a sales uplift of around 25% after a free sampler was made available to The Mail on Sunday readers on 6th April 2014 and as a digital version to Mail… Read More ›
The Beano’s Gnasher has gone missing!
One of The Beano’s most popular and well-known characters, Gnasher, appears to have disappeared following the discovery that a rare dinosaur bone has gone missing from the National Museum of Scotland. The dinosaur thigh bone went missing from the Museum… Read More ›
Miracle Man spoofed in this week’s Beano
This week’s “Bananaman” story in The Beano is definitely one for the comics fans out there. “Miracle Banana” , written by Kev F. Sutherland and drawn by Wayne Thompson, is a lightly satirical strip in which Bananaman meets a character who… Read More ›
In Memoriam: Gordon Bell
We’re sorry to report the passing of another British comics great – comic artist Gordon Bell, whose work most recently appeared in DC Thomson’s Courier newspaper under the byline Fax, but who is fondly remembered by many for his work for… Read More ›
Compalcomics auction offers first edition Beano, Roy of the Rovers and Star Trek art
There’s a host of British comic goodies in the Spring 2014 auction at Compalcomics , which is now open, including an excellent copy of the first issue of The Beano, some great looking early issues of Mickey Mouse Weekly, art work… Read More ›
Losers and Winners: Latest British News Stand Comic Sales revealed
There’s a mixed bag of results for British comics publishers in terms of reported sales for June – December 2013, based on figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations earlier today. As we’ve previously noted, many adventure titles such as 2000AD and Commando –… Read More ›
Penguin releases its first Official Beano Sticker Book
Today sees The Beano: Official Sticker Book published by Penguin, with over 1,000 stickers and packed with puzzles and activities written by Cavan Scott. This first ever Beano Official Sticker Book is packed to the rafters with puzzles, activities, funnies and over… Read More ›
More Dennis the Menace merchandise in the works, and other Beano characters, too
In a wide ranging interview with Start Licensing’s Ian Downes, Licensing.Biz reveals that more Dennis the Menace merchandise is in the works from DC Thomson after a great year for the character – and that DC Thomson looks keen to… Read More ›
downthetubes in 2013: Crunching Numbers
Happy New Year to you all and the very best to creators popping by, as they start work on their many new projects for 2014. We’re already hearing about some great new titles and strips destined for publication by British… Read More ›
Looking back on 2013: A Good Year for British Comics?
Here at downthetubes.net we think it’s been a great year that’s included the 100th issue of The Phoenix and has been named one of the top comics of 2013 by TIME Magazine, and we’ve been able to enjoy a growing… Read More ›
New Dennis the Menace books and other Beano merchandise announced
DC Thomson is celebrating a busy year for The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace and Gnasher property as Penguin joins a raft of licensees with a planned range of children’s books and Golden Bear announces new toys. The new range of… Read More ›
Happy 60th Birthday, “Minnie the Minx”!
The Beano has dedicated its Christmas cover to the mischievous Minnie the Minx this week, to celebrate 60 years of the world’s wildest tom boy. Her solo appearance is a first in the comic’s history. The bumper Christmas issue goes… Read More ›
downthetubes Popular Posts – November 2013
Apart from landings on our home page, here’s a run down of the ten most popular posts on downthetubes over the past 30 days… • The Beano gets a Top Gear makeover thanks to guest editor Richard Hammond This has,… Read More ›
Dennis the Menace joins T-Shirt Booth “Digital Giving” project
Regular downthetubes readers will recall how we reported that Digital Giving, an organisation which develops engaging and innovative projects for the benefit of national and international causes, launched a unique way of raising funds through a free mobile and web… Read More ›
Daleks versus Dennis the Menace: Daleks triumphant
The Daleks proved the winners in the Professional Publisher Association‘s long-running Cover the the Century Poll (see news story), revealed at a Gala Dinner to mark its centenary at the Park Lane Hotel on 21st November, which was attended by… Read More ›
Comic artist Dudley D. Watkins honoured with plaque
A much admired comic artist for The Beano, The Dandy, and more, is honoured
Britain’s first science fiction weekly, Captain Scarlet art under the hammer
The Winter 2013 auction at Compalcomics is open, with 290 lots in the auction including 115 British comic-related items – among them, a further 64 issues of Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday from the 1890s and the complete 20 issue run… Read More ›