A quick snapshot of some comics-related news from across the web…
• ITV launched season three of Thunderbirds Are Go on CITV and ITV earlier this year, and the launch weekend saw really strong ratings. Steve Green, EVP Kids Content and Distribution at ITV Studios Global Entertainment has revealed there is a new toy line in development for the property, and the company is looking ahead to an exciting relaunch.
“We have been seeing growth recently in the Experiential licensing category,” he told LicensingBiz, “with deals announced for Thunderbirds Are Go rides and themed attractions.”
• Avengers: Infinity War may be dominating the charts at the worldwide box office right now but next up is Deadpool 2. The first instalment vastly exceeded expectations, but what’s the sequel like? ComicBookMovie reports the first reviews are mostly positive.
Detail from The Three Musketeers – art by Arturo Del Castillo
• My copy of The Three Musketeers: The Complete Adventures from Book Palace Books has just arrived and it’s terrific – and includes a smashing introduction from Bear Alley Books Steve Holland to artist Arturo Del Castillo. The reproduction on the strip, first published
in Film Fun and Lion (full story here), is top notch throughout and the art simply gorgeous. You can now get hold of a copy either directly from Book Palace or via Amazon. Recommended!
• Smash Pages reports that, coming out of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Koyama Press has announced seven new projects that will see publication this autumn. The line-up includes graphic novels from Michael DeForge, Keiler Roberts, Mickey Zacchilli, Patrick Kyle and Nathan Gelgud, as well as two all-ages titles by Britt Wilson and John Martz.
Comic Hero(ines): Joy of the Rovers by Steve McGarry
• A quick reminder that the Comic Hero(ines) exhibition is now open in Carlislem, at the Vallum Gallery at the University of Cumbria campus until 21st May 2018. It will also be on as part of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Kendal, Cumbria from 12th – 14th October 2018. The exhibition features more than twenty original artworks where comic artists have been challenged to reinvent their chosen male superhero in female form and contribute a narrative to explain their choice of heroine and their perceptions of how women are represented in the comic genre.
Artists include Virginie Austin, Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Steven Appleby, Swiss artist Hélène Becquelin, French artist Emy, Argentinian-born artist Florence Dupré-Latour, Finnish artist Kaisa Leka, French artist Catel (Cathy Muller), Steve McGarry and Belgian comic artist Brecht Vandenbroucke. There’s more about the exhibition here on downthetubes
• Here’s latest cover release for Johnny Red artist Keith Burns‘ ongoing series of World War Two Ladybird Expert Books with the distinctive nose of a P-40.
The fourth book in the series, The Desert War is an provides an introduction to the standoff between the Axis and Allies in the harsh deserts of North Africa.
Historian, author and broadcaster James Holland draws on the latest research and interviews with participants to bring colour, detail and a fresh perspective to the story of how the British blunted Mussolini’s ambitions in Africa, making Italy a liability rather than an asset to Germany. More information here direct from Ladybird
• It’s twenty years since the Demon Headmaster last scared pupils on screen but Simply Media have resurrected him for this box set of DVDs featuring his mad schemes. Sci-Fi Bulletin has three sets to give away.
• Lew Stringer’s Combat Colin originally appeared as a back-up strip in Marvel UK’s Transformers comics of the 1980s. It’s just been announced that Lew will be one of the guests at TF Nation, a Transformers convention, that takes place over the weekend of 17th – 19th August at the Hilton Metropole hotel, Birmingham.
You can find out more details, buy tickets, and see who the other guests are, at the wonderfully slick TFNation website: tfnation.com/2018
• The Edinburgh International Book Festival released its Schools Programme recently, which is always a bit of a tease about who might be in the public festival (which will be announced 7th June).
Remembering of course that these events are Schools Only – The Phoenix’s Laura Ellen Anderson is there Monday 20th August and Frank Quitely is there Wednesday 22nd August. More information here
With thanks to Jeremy Briggs
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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.
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