Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with Robert Deas is a British comic artist and… Read More ›
The Phoenix
Replacing Eagle: The Comics That Didn’t Make It – Part 4 Another Eureka
This series of articles by Jeremy Briggs covers the dummy comics that were created through the years as potential ‘modern’ versions of the original Eagle comic from the 1950s and 1960s, none of which ever made it to newsagents’ shelves…. Read More ›
Phoenix artist Zak Simmonds part of Story Museum’s “Easter Story Makers” Line-Up
While builders are busy on-site transforming Oxford’s The Story Museum into an even more inspiring and surprising place, events continue – and this April, their Easter Story Makers sessions offer the opportunity to enjoy a day of building stories with… Read More ›
Phoenix Colossal Comics Collection launched
The Phoenix Colossal Comics Collection Volume 1 is now available with Volume 2 sheduled for 28th August and Volume 3 for 26th December. A raucous collection of thrilling, exciting and hilarious comics from The Phoenix, this bumper collection – priced… Read More ›
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: It’s the Etherington Brothers! (Well, one of ’em!)
This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival starts today, and we’re delighted to bring you one final interview with two of the guests from across the globe – with Robin Etherington, representing the amazing Etherington Brothers! You won’t find a… Read More ›
The British Comics Industry – Still in Decline or On the Up?
The state of British comics – and exactly what people mean by the “British comics industry” came into focus in a couple of threads on social media over the weekend, with many older comic fans noting with dismay the dominance… Read More ›
New comic art exhibition in Newcastle is an absolute delight for British comics fans
Regular downthetubes readers will recall our previous coverage of Comics: Explore and Create Comic Art at Seven Stories, the new exhibition at Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle – but now it’s opened, we can reveal… Read More ›
Newcastle upon Tyne’s Seven Stories announces new British comic art exhibiton
Love The Beano? Can’t get enough of superheroes? Read The Phoenix? Always wanted to have a go at making your own comic? You must visit the brand new Comics: Explore and Create Comic Art exhibition at Seven Stories in Newcastle… Read More ›
Scurry Up! It’s time for a massive Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up!
Yes, it’s time for another of those “Oh my God, we should have done this instead of editing some comics” catch ups on the British comics and independent comic creator-oriented Awesome Comics Podcast, brought to you by Dan Butcher, Vince… Read More ›
Philip Pullman’s The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship collection docks in June
Philip Pullman‘s The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship offers high-octane action and a deep twisting mystery combine in a visual feast of a time-travel tale of adventure on the high seas, due for release in June… Read More ›
The Phoenix launches “Star in a Comic” competition for kids
Do you know an awesome kid who has what it takes to create the star of a new comic story? Perhaps it could even be them? If so, then you should let them know Britain’s The Phoenix comic is running a new… Read More ›
The Independent celebrates modern British comics, offers Phoenix subscriber deal, UK news stand distribution costs revealed
British newspaper The Indpendent has published an upbeat article on modern British comics such as The Phoenix, which includes comments from Lew Stringer, Jamie Smart and Phoenix editor Tom Fickling. Written by David Barnett, the article (“How classic comics gave way to garish… Read More ›
Happy Fifth Birthday to The Phoenix comic!
Rising from the ashes of sad demise of The DFC, there were some that doubted the weekly The Phoenix comic would endure any longer than its predecessor – but the naysayers have been proven wrong and this week the title… Read More ›
The Phoenix Comic celebrates Christmas 2016
Christmas came early for subscribers to the weekly The Phoenix comic, with a smashing issue wrapped in a cover by top artist Jamie Smart, who says he was “very honoured” to do this special issue. Also now available from select… Read More ›
Creating Comics: Are There Better Ways to Reach Your Readers Than Through WHSmith?
I’m throwing this out there for discussion, because my article suggesting a Buster comic revival has stirred up some interesting comment yesterday. A lot of people, for example, suggested “Summer Specials” as an alternative to a new regular comic. The… Read More ›
Comics @ Edinburgh International Book Festival 2016
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world’s largest literary festival which runs from 13 to 29 August 2016 in the Scottish capital’s Charlotte Square Gardens, opens doors one week from today. While the impressive Stripped ‘festival-within-a-festival’ that was held in… Read More ›
National Trust Announces First Ever Children’s Book Festival
The National Trust has announced its first-ever Children’s Book Festival Weekend will take place in March at Wray Castle in the Lake District, part of the organisation’s celebrations for author Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday. Taking place 4-6th March 2016, the event offers an impressive… Read More ›
Landmark British Comics: Looking Back on TV21 Issue 200
Yesterday’s news that The Phoenix had reached its 200th issue has certainly gone down well among British comic fans, but the publisher’s carefully worded claim that it was the first “independently-published weekly” comic to reach that landmark since 1969 has… Read More ›
Phoenix Comic Reaches Issue 200, Heads For WH Smiths This Week
Weekly British children’s comic The Phoenix is celebrating its 200th issue this week by becoming the first independent weekly comic in the UK to reach this milestone since 1969 – and will now be on sale in selected WH Smiths stores across… Read More ›
Despite the Odds, Child buys Beano in Supermarket Shock; the perils and pitfalls of UK news stand distribution
Here’s a couple of snapshots of a typical British supermarket display of teen and young children’s magazines taken yesterday, which I occasionally post for discussion and dissection on my Facebook Comic Con page as we ponder the state of our native… Read More ›