Changes are coming to Tripwire, the long running independent comics and other media magazine published by Joel Meadows.
The next print issue will be the last print magazine for the moment, the title, sadly, like many other publications, victim to changing times in terms of distribution and rising costs.
“When we brought it back when COVID turned the world upside down in 2020, we had no idea how long we were going to bring it back to print for,” Joel explains.
“The world did calm down and so, since then, we wil, have published eleven issues when the next one appears.
“But it has gotten harder to keep it going on a regular basis with the collapse of Diamond US, which lost us a decent chunk of orders and readers, and with comic publishers also badly hit by this too, things like advertising has gotten harder to get.
“It’s not a decision that we have taken lightly. But it is one that we feel we have had to take.”
The Tripwire website will continue as it has done before and the team will continue to publish books as that is an area that has continued to grow.
2027 is Tripwire’s 35th anniversary and plans are afoot to publish a book to celebrate this in some shape or form.
“We also have a number of projects like the current Sherlock Holmes calendar,” Joel notes, “and our first comic, in the shape of Paul Neal and Rob Moran’s Death Be Praised – and a few artist-focused books hopefully coming next year too.
“I am always reminded of the quote that the man with the hat says to Indiana Jones at the beginning of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade: ‘You lost today, kid, but that doesn’t mean you have to like it.’
“Tripwire will continue to exist as a website and as a publisher of top quality books but print periodicals are not in our immediate future after Issue 66 comes out later this year.
“Thanks to everyone who has ever supported Tripwire in any shape or form over the past 34 years.”
• Tripwire is online at tripwiremagazine.co.uk
Tripwire 66
Under a Frank Miller cover, Tripwire talks to the legendary creator about a life in comics in the year that he brings out his autobiography, Push The Wall, and also takes a look back at his seminal 1986 comic stories, Batman: Year One and Daredevil Born again, both with artist David Mazzucchelli and both celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Tripwire also raises a glass to the 40th anniversary of John Byrne’s seminal Superman comic, Man Of Steel, which also commemorates its 40th this year and on the film side, the magazine takes a look back at the 40th anniversary of James Cameron’s iconic action sci-fi Aliens, released back in 1986 too.
In the regular “10 Questions With”, the team turn the spotlight on Scottish indie creator Monty Nero and take a deep dive into Panick Entertainment’s second and third wave, chatting to company heads Kris Longo and Adam Schlagman as well as creators like David Dastmalchian and more.
Tripwire also celebrates Marvel’s 65th anniversary by compiling a guide to the 30 most important creators from the House Of Ideas and with another significant milestone
Plus, there’s a look back at the genesis and evolution of Michael Moorcock’s most well-known creation, The White Wolf himself, Elric in its 65th year.
Regulars like On The Shelf and Stripwire return, as does a dive into Tripwire’s huge archive. Out to buy from the end of September
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes News, Magazines, Other Worlds
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