downthetubes.net news blog

Hulk versus Death's Head!

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Apart from a cameo confrontation between Death's Head II and the Incredible Hulk in Marvel UK's Shadow Riders #1 (a little in joke on the part of myself and co-writer Brian Williamson, at the expense of the often maddening demands of editor in chief Paul Neary to have as many Death's Head II appearance in MUK early 1990s books as possible), it's amazing the two characters have apparently never met in the 'real' Marvel Universe.

While it's incredibly unlikely such an encounter ever will happen (which we all here at downthetubes think is a downright shame), comics artist Simon Williams has at least stepped up to the plate and is delivering an unofficial encounter between the original Death's Head and the green-skinned behemoth over on his deviantart pages.

"I thought some of you older Marvel UK fans may get a kick out of this," he told Marvel UK fans on the make Mine Marvel UK Facebook group. "It's a comic strip that just started out for fun... but has since taken on a life of it's own!

"It features a battle between two of my all-time favourite characters: Death's Head and the Incredible Hulk... a fight I've always wanted to see done in comics, but the likelihood of it happening seemed like zilch. So I thought, well.. since I've drawn both characters professionally, why don't I do it?

"It started of as just a couple of pages that I'd posted up on my Deviant Art page, but has since then became pretty popular... with people often emailing me asking when I'd be doing more! Seeing as it's set in the Hulk's past, I decided to draw it in a style much like the old Marvel UK comics from the 1970's... hence the grey-toning."

The art is a wondrful tribute to the Hulk strips republished by Marevl UK bac in the 1970s and 1980s and well worth checking out. Plus, it's Death's Head -- what's stopping any MUK fan from checking that out?

• Check out the ongoing battle at: soulmaninc.deviantart.com/gallery/#The-Incredible-Hulk-vs-Death-s-Head
• Simon Williams Deviant Art Web Site

Giant-Size Band-Thing!

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:30:00 +0000

You know, now I'm even more annoyed that I missed out on the Birmingham International Comic Show last weekend (the result of circumstances beyond my control). If I'd been able to make it for the whole weekend and known they were on, I'd really have liked to have seen comics artist Liam Sharp and co, aka the Giant-Size Band-Thing strutting their stuff at the Launch Party, but twas no to be.

So instead, those of us who missed Liam, Phil Winslade, Charlie Adlard and Paul Birch perform as an all-comic-pro band to help kick the con off, we'll just have to settle for the entire set on YouTube (playlist ink below), the gig the result after a mere five rehearsals!

"Who knows," says Liam. "the Giant-Size Band-Thing may keep on rolling..."

In terms of the day job, Liam's new book, Gears of War #1 is out now in the US, and his novel, God Killers, is out now too. More information at: www.mamtor.com

Temple Digital Showcase launched

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:29:00 +0000

The first edition of British Amateur Press Association group The Temple's digital showcase is now available online from their web site to download as a free PDF.

The 36 page magazine contains contributions from 10 members, including the likes of Paul Harrison-Davies, Simon Mackie, Malcolm Kirk and more.

Inside you'll find cartoons, full strips, previews of soon to be released small press comics, work in progress, and a behind the scenes look at making a webcomic.

If you're a comic artist/writer who's interested in joining the Temple APA, then more details are available on the site (it's as simple as clicking 'join'). Although this is the first digital issue (apart from Issue 0, which is also available on the site), the Temple's been running for more than ten years now and seen a wealth of talent come and go. Everyone's welcome, from the rawest amateur to the most seasoned pro.

It's a good place to learn from each other and hone your skills, or simply draw more attention to upcoming projects.

Web Link: www.templeapa.ning.com

Win Copies of Gothic

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Creators Leah Moore and John Reppion have dropped us a line to say that one of the highlights of the Birmingham International Comics Show this past weekend (see their report) was getting their hands on copies of David Hitchcock's new newspaper format anthology Gothic (see earlier news story).

Leah and John have three copies of Gothic to give away, all of which have been signed by them and Mr. Hitchcock.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning them is to answer the following question, as highlighted here on their official site:

To date, Leah and John have collaborated with Dave on three stories for Accent UK's yearly anthologies. Two of the stories are contained in Gothic and one is set to be published in 2009. What are the full titles of those three stories?

Email your answers to moore_reppionATbtinternet.com and the lucky winners will be announced here on the Reppion and Moore web site on Hallowe'en.

• Visit the Leah Moore and John Reppion web site
• Find out more about Gothic on Dave Hitchcock's blog or via this earlier downthetubetubes story

The Sun's Thunderbirds Spoof

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:07:00 +0000

We admit it. Some of us at downthetubes - well, aside from flicking through the paper in the local takeaway to read Striker! - are not regular Sun readers, but full marks to the editorial team for this gem of a cover this morning... Read the full story, describing British chancellor Alistair Darling as a "Thunderbirds lookalike" on The Sun's web site.

Spaceship Away On Sale Now

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:52:00 +0000

The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on sale now via the official web site, featuring no less than eleven strips - including part one Secrets of Ceres, an all-new adventure by downthetubes editor John Freeman and artist Mike Nicoll.

The issue also features a Dan Dare 'prequel' strip, Rocket Pilot, written and drawn by top Commando artist Keith Page; the first episode of a beautifully coloured version of Nick Hazard, Intersteallar Agent, drawn by Ron Turner (colouring supplied by John Ridgway); and two more continuing original Dan Dare strips, Green Nemesis and The Gates of Eden.

Editor Rod Barzilay sees the issue as a 'jumping on point' for new readers, with Ian McLumpha's Space Girls and Eric Chilton's Journey into Space (drawn by Tacconi) just two more strips in the jam-packed line up, complemented by a range of features on the making of the original Dan Dare stories.

Published three times a year,this full colour, glossy magazine started out as a way to get a newly created 1950’s ‘old Eagle’ style Dan Dare strip story (Drawn by Keith Watson and Don Harley) in print, along with how it was done.

The magazine has grown from 24 to 48 pages a time, and is now moving sideways into other science fiction.

"Spaceship Away is evolving all the time," says dedicated editor Rod Barzilay, "and there are more new things already in the pipeline."

• To get the magazine delivered to your door, go straight to Spaceship Away Order Page
• More about Ex Astris at www.exastris.co.uk

'Comic Timing' Exhibition Continues

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:55:00 +0000

The Harrods "Comic Timing" Exhibition, previously featured on these pages, is continuing until 31 October.

Rich Johnston has been in touch to let us know that "after a couple of false starts (signage and some frames were delayed a week), the exhibition in a small especially darkened corner of Harrods has been drawing people from across the globe and coverage from Popbitch to The Sunday Post.

"When I was a kid I could pretend I could tell my parents I was reading, even though I was just reading a comic," says writer-comedian Richard Herring of the exhibition. "Now I can say I am going to an art gallery, even though I am just going to look at some comics. Thanks, comics!"

• "Comic Timing" is located in the Lower Ground Floor of Harrods and is directly down the stairs from Door Five, by the Knightsbridge Tube exit.
• View a "Virtual Version" of the Exhbition on Flickr

EXHIBITION INCLUDES PAGES FROM:

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Gentleman Jim by Raymond Briggs
Judge Dredd by Peter Harris/Pat Mills and Mike McMahon
Judge Dredd by John Wagner and Jock
The Bash Street Kids by Kev F Sutherland
Dennis The Menace by David Law
Korky The Kat by James Crighton
Oor Wullie by Dudley T Watkins
Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmonds
Petra Etcetera by Adrian Kermode and Terry Wiley
Commando by Alan Hemus and Dennis McLoughlin
Finbarr Saunders And His Double Entendres by Simon Thorp
Tank Girl by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett
Tale Of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot
Mauretania by Chris Reynolds
Captain Britain by Alan Moore and Alan Davis
Phonogram 2 by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
Breakfast After Noon by Andi Watson
Slaine by Pat Mills and Glenn Fabry
Robusters by Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill
Summer Of Love by Peter Milligan and Brendon McCarthy
Four Feet From A Rat by Mother and Liam Sharp
Rhapsody Of Love by Jeremy Dennis
All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
The Filth by Grant Morrison and Chris Weston
Hellblazer by Eddie Campbell and Sean Phillips
Nellyphant by Leo Baxendale
Face Ache by Ken Reid
Jackie, The 8:17 by Unknown Artist
Robin Hood by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson
Cherubs by Bryan Talbot and Mark Stafford
Judge Death by John Wagner and Frazer Irving
Jack Staff by Paul Grist
Books Of Magic by Neil Gaiman and Paul Johnson
Goddess by Garth Ennis and Phil Winslade
Wired World by Philip Bond
Charley's War by Pat Mills and Joe Colquhon

The Return of Classics Illustrated

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Classics Illustrated (originally Classic Comics) was an American comic book series which ran from 1941 to 1971 and featured comic strip adaptations of literary classics ranging from The Time Machine to Moby Dick and Romeo and Juliet to The Jungle Book. Each issue featured stunning artwork and benefited from superb scripting.

169 issues were published in all, along with a Classics Illustrated Junior title featuring fairy tales such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for younger readers.

There have been various reprint versions of Classics Illustrated and the original British version ran for 162 issues and included 13 stories which had not formed part of the original American run.

Now, Classics Illustrated and Classic Illustrated Junior are back on the shelves of British booksellers and newsagents. Jeff Brooks, a collector and dealer of vintage CI issues, has re-launched the two titles through his company Classic Comic Store Ltd.

The books are licensed from Jack Lake Productions Inc of Canada (JLPI) who hold the copyright on behalf of First Classics Inc. and Jeff is able to release his magazines in the UK, South Africa, Australia, Ireland and beyond.

We are delighted that Jeff has agreed to share his thoughts on his new venture with downthetubes' Ian Wheeler.

• Read the interview on the main downthetubes web site
• Comment on the interview in the downthetubes forum (membership required, free)

Come On Ye Reds!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Briggs) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:14:00 +0000

After all the Roy Of The Rovers books due out from Titan in time for Christmas, Vision Sports Publishing of London have jumped on the bandwagon and released two football related graphic novels to compete with all those books on Melchester Rovers.

Liverpool! and United! cover the history of the two big English football clubs in comic strip format, written and illustrated by former Roy Of The Rovers artist Bob Bond. The hardback books cover the period from the formation of the clubs through to the end of the 2007/2008 season in 56 pages of colour artwork and are priced at £9.99 each.

Based on Amazon UK's current sales ranks Liverpool are well in the lead with Liverpool! at number 83,030 and United! at number 324,037.

Can Manchester pull back those Christmas sales before the full time whistle blows?

• Buy Liverpool! The Comic Strip History of Liverpool FC from amazon.co.uk
• Buy United! The Comic Strip History of Manchester United from amazon.co.uk

The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Briggs) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:23:00 +0000

Not much warning but if anyone is within travelling distance of Dundee on Wednesday 8 October then Dr Chris Murray will be giving a talk to the Abertay Historical Society on The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown.

Dr Murray was the organiser of the Dundee Literary Festival Comics Day in June and talked at the Happy Birthday Beano event in July. This time his subject will be the often overlooked and short lived superheroes created for the DC Thomson comics and story papers in the 1930s and 1940s and the role that those titles played in the war effort.

The talk will take place at 6:30pm in Discovery Point on the Dundee waterfront on Wednesday 8 October 2008. Entrance is free and membership of the Abertay Historical Society is not required. Refreshments will be available from 6:00pm.

Markosias's new Starship Troopers Title

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:34:00 +0000

AAM/Markosia, British publishers of the hit series Kong: King of Skull Island, Starship Troopers and the critically acclaimed The Boy Who Made Silence, have announced the release of a Starship Troopers one-shot this coming December, War Stories: Tasch, scripted by the talented Cy Dethan with art from newcomers Neil van Antwerpen and Peter-David Douglas.

"War Stories: Tasch is essentially an "origin" piece," explains Cy Dethan. "Before signing up for Pathfinder training, Private Naomi Tasch was a specialised sniper, working alongside a Mk-II combat Neodog. Neodogs are genetically and cybernetically altered animals with enhanced intelligence and physical attributes, linked to their handlers through a complex set of implants.

"During a full-scale planetary evacuation, Tasch's Neodog partner goes missing and she puts her career and life on the line to find him. In doing so, she demonstrates the loyalty, single-mindedness and raw brilliance that will one day make a Pathfinder out of her."

War Stories: Tasch is van Antwerpen and Douglas's first published work. "We've shared a common passion of creating comics for as long as we can remember," said artist van Antwerpen, "After years of honing our skills on personal projects and small press books the break finally came when publisher Harry Markos offered us a one-shot Starship Troopers issue written by Cy. Needless to say we took it!"

"We'd both read Cy's Bad Blood story arc which was drawn by Paul Green and thought it was incredible," said inker Peter-David Douglas, "so it's thrilling for us to be involved in a project like this. We hope that it will be a springboard to regular work in the industry, something we've worked very hard towards."

Launched in 2005 AAM/Markosia has been a leader in the independent publishing field. 2008 marked their most ambitious campaign to date as the company debuted a range of new titles, with many more to follow in 2009.

Doctor Who Stand-Up Returns to Lancaster

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:32:00 +0000

Top comedian and actor Toby Hadoke returns to the Dukes, Lancaster this month with his hilarious hit show, Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf.

This razor sharp comic odyssey, at The Dukes on Saturday 18 October (and will also be performed at other venues in places such as Belfast and Keswick, see below), charts the rise, fall and rise again of the TV legend. A must for anyone who has ever had a passion for anything, this critically acclaimed show has delighted even those who've never seen Doctor Who.

Eagle eyed audiences may remember Toby from his performance at The Dukes in The Talented Mr Ripley four years ago.

"Last time I came to The Dukes I died on stage," Toby recalls. "I hope not to repeat that experience!

"To be fair though, I was supposed to, stabbed to death by an extremely talented Mr Ripley: as fat Freddie Miles, I had to wear significant amounts of padding, to bulk out my girth. Time has not been particularly kind though, and nowadays such padding would be unnecessary.

"I loved being in Lancaster and thoroughly enjoyed my stint at The Dukes, so I look forward to getting the audience aboard my time machine of mirth."

Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf was a complete sell out at Edinburgh festivals in 2006 and 2007 gaining five star reviews from all press, leading to a recent acclaimed West End run.

Toby is an actor, writer and stand-up comedian. As a stand-up, he has been resident compere of the multi award winning XS Malarkey Comedy Club in Manchester for over a decade. His television acting credits include The Forsythe Saga and Phoenix Nights and he also has made many appearances on stage around the country.

• The complete list of tour dates is below

ComICA 2008 Line-Up Unveiled

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:57:00 +0000

(with thanks to Paul Gravett): London's International Comics Festival returns to the ICA and other venues, including an exhibition in the ICA Concourse Gallery, between 13 and 26th November 2008.

There's plenty to appeal to downthetubes readers, but of special interest will be the Comiket of creators co-organised by London Underground Comics, Steve Holland's talk on classic British comics, and appearances by Alan Moore and Pat Mills -- that said, the whole line up is a terrific mix of many comics genres that will have wide apeal, so book your tickets early!

The Festival programme is detailed below. For more details and tickets visit ica.org.uk.

Friday, 14 November: One Day Symposium: Archetypes v Stereotypes - Post-War Comics & Graphic Novels
10am to 5.30pm Lecture Theatre, V&A Museum, South Kensington, London. Tickets: £40, concessions available. Book online or email bookings.office@vam.ac.uk
Examining the formation and function of archetypes and stereotypes - racial, sexual, social and political - in British and American comics and graphic novels of the post-war period. The day explores the extent to which the images and text associated with this genre can be progressive or reactionary; do they subvert dominant stereotypes or endorse them?

10.00 Coffee & Registration

10.30 Welcome & Introduction:
With John Meriton, Ian Rakoff and Paul Gravett.

10.40 Ian Rakoff - Art of the Century:
Comparing and contrasting the movies and the comics.

11.35 Charles Dierick, Director of the Hergé Museum:
Tintin in the Congo and Racial Stereotypes in Comics.

12.20 Dougie Braithwaite & Richard Reynolds:
Dougie Braithwaite, artist on Justice, interviewed by Richard Reynolds, author of Superheroes: A Modern Mythology, about changing attitudes and representations from Superman to Watchmen and beyond.

12.50 Discussion

13.00 Lunch

14.00 Eric Fernie, Courtauld Institute:
Women's Roles in Post-War Comics from Jane to Dylan Dog.

14.45 Pat Mills, UK/US comics writer, & Derek Liverpool, researcher:
Black, female and other minority characters in modern British and American comics. Chaired by Paul Gravett.

15.30 Coffee break

15.50 From Hippies To Yuppies:
Posy Simmonds on writing and drawing the British classes.

16.35 Women Creators & Characters Today:
Lise Myhre, strip cartoonist of Goth-girl Nemi in Metro, and Asia Alfasi, Muslim autobiographical graphic novelist, interviewed by Corinne Pearlman.

17.15 Plenary Discussion

Friday, 14 November: Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie: Lost Girls
7pm to 8pm Lecture Theatre, V&A Museum, South Kensington, London
Tickets: £8, concessions available, adults only Book online or call +44 (0)20 7942 2211
Legendary anarchist, occultist and comics writer Alan Moore is famous for his subversion of the classic American comic book genre and for groundbreaking works such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell. A celebrated recent work is Lost Girls, three volumes portraying the adult erotic lives of storybook characters Alice, Wendy and Dorothy who meet in a pre-World War One Austrian hotel created with the artist Melinda Gebbie. Moore and Gebbie talk about their collaboration with the writer Kevin Jackson.

Sunday, 16 November: Conversations - Dave McKean’s Imaginings
2pm to 3.30pm, Brandon Room, ICA. Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members)
An indefatigable innovator, this year Dave McKean has conjured up The Graveyard Book with Neil Gaiman, The Savage with David Almond, drawing books Squink and Postcard from Paris, and Heston Blumenthal’s huge autobio-cookbook. Take a tour of his newest imaginings and his next solo comics.
Supported by Bloomsbury & Walker Books

Sunday, 16 November: Conversations - Between The Panels 3
4pm to 5.30pm Nash Room, ICA. Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members)
How do you make a graphic short story, and develop it into a graphic novel? Hannah Berry, Paul Duffield, Oliver East and Marcia Williams share their secrets and Rachel Cooke, Dan Franklin and other judges of The Observer/Cape/Comica competition present this year’s winners.
Supported by The Observer, Jonathan Cape, Blank Slate Books and Walker Books

Sunday, 16 November: Conversations - Turning Classics Into Comics
4pm to 5.30pm, Nash & Brandon Rooms, ICA. Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members
Shakespeare, Brontë, Wilde and Dickens are getting visual makeovers as comics. How does prose transfer to panels? What is lost, and found, in translation? Richard Appignanesi and Ian Edgington talk with their visualisers Mustashrik, Chie Kutsuwada and Ian Culbard, and John M Burns and Mike Collins discuss their versions of Jane Eyre and A Christmas Carol. Plus signings.
Supported by Classical Comics, SelfMadeHero & Letraset

Monday, 17 November: Ian Rankin - Crime & Comics
7pm to 8.30pm Theatre, ICA. Tickets: £10, £9 concs, £8 members

The great crime writer’s debut graphic novel, a John Constantine Hellblazer original called Dark Entries, is due next year. Tonight he shares his passion for comics and talks about their role in improving youth literacy.

Tuesday, 18 November: Alex Maleev: Master of Mood
7.15pm to 8.30pm, Nash Room, ICA Tickets: £10, £9 concs, £8 members
Maleev has injected atmosphere and realism into Daredevil, cult computer game Halo and an online serial of Stephen King’s N. Tonight he talks to David Hine about his work. Followed by signings alongside French guests Ted Benoit and Emmanuel Guibert.
Supported by Thought Bubble Festival & Orbital Comics

Wednesday, 19 November: Ted Benoit & Emmanuel Guibert: The Best of Bande Dessinée
7.30 to 9pm The French Institute Library, 17 Queensbury Place, London. Tickets: £3, £2 concs. Available from 020 7073 1350
A rare opportunity to encounter two of France's leading contemporary graphic novelists, now being translated into English. Ted Benoit is one of the greatest exemplars of the "Ligne Claire" and illustrates new tales of Blake and Mortimer, Edgar P. Jacobs' thoroughly British detectives, written by Jean Van Hamme. Emmanuel Guibert collaborates with Joann Sfar on space pirate Sardine in Space and mummified romantic comedy The Professor's Daughter and specialises in deeply touching memoirs such as Alan's War, recounting an American soldier's life, and The Photographer, about Didier Lefèvre's reportage on the Afghanistan war. The artists will be interviewed by Ann Miller, author of Reading Bande Dessinée, and Paul Gravett, director of the Comica festival, and will sign their books afterwards.
In association with Cinebook and First Second Books

Saturday, 22 November: Comica Comiket
1.00pm to 7.00pm Nash & Brandon Rooms, ICA. A free event with London Underground Comics.
Meet and buy from self-publishing creators of comics and manga, in print, online and for mobiles. Watch them work and join in on workshops. Plus graphic novel signings.

Sunday, 23 November: Conversations: Great British Comics: Past, Present & Future
2.00pm to 3.30pm Nash & Brandon Rooms, ICA. Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members)
Boyfriend, Battle, Rick Random, Roy of the Rovers! Steve Holland, David Leach and David Roach re-live childhood favourites with surprise guests, while John and Patricia Aggs, Gary Northfield and Sarah McIntyre look at The DFC, Derek the Sheep and the new worlds of kids' comics.
Supported by Bloomsbury, Carlton, DFC and Titan

Sunday, 23 November: Conversations: Stripping Off - Erotic Comics
4.00pm to 5.00pm Nash & Brandon Rooms, ICA
Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members)
A romp through modern X-rated comics with Erich von Gotha, Lynn Paul Meadows, Garry Leach and Wicked Wanda writer Frederic Mullaly. Hosted by Tim Pilcher, author of Erotic Comics: A Graphic History.
With The Erotic Review & Ilex Press

Sunday, 23 November: Conversations: Live From Kirby Plaza
5.30pm to 7pm Nash & Brandon Rooms, ICA. Tickets: Each talk - £6, £5 concs, £4 members (All three of today's talks - £15, £12 concs, £9 members)
Jack Kirby co-created much of the Marvel universe, including Captain America and the X-Men, as well as creating the epic Fourth World series for DC. His work is reappraised by Paul Gambaccini, Mike Lake and Chrissie Harper. Hosted by Paul Gravett, with live transatlantic links to biographer Greg Theakston, artist James Romberger and Kirby Museum archivist Rand Hoppe.
Supported by Jack Kirby Quarterly & Quality Communications

Monday, 24 November: Sunday, 23 November: Art Spiegelman: Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist As A Young %@*!
7.30 to 9pm Theatre, ICA Tickets: £10, £9 concs, £8 members.
The Pulitzer-winning creator of Maus returns to autobiography in his latest work, combining reflections on how comics have warped his life with a reprint of Breakdowns, his rare collection of strips from the 1970s.
Supported by Penguin Books

Monday, 24 November: Shelton, Spain & Spiegelman: Up From The Underground
6.45pm to 8.15pm Cinema 1, ICA Tickets: £10, £9 concs, £8 members
Three of the greatest members of the US underground comix movement recall the heady daze of their 1960s debuts, their cartooning careers and their latest releases: Not Quite Dead by Gilbert Shelton, creator of the Freak Brothers; a strip biography of Che Guevara by Spain, inventor of Trashman; and Breakdowns by Art Spiegelman.
Supported by Knockabout Comics, Verso & Penguin

FILMS

Naruto - Ninja Clash In The Land Of The Snow/ Naruto 2 - Legend Of The Stone Of Gelel
Screenings: 23 November (double bill), 29, 30 November, Cinema 1 & 2, ICA
Tickets: Each film - tbc Double bill - £12, £11 concs, £10 members
A special anime double-bill with the first two features adapted from author Masashi Kishimoto’s manga series.

Film: Twentieth Century Boys
Screening: Wednesday, 26 November, 8.30pm Cinema 1, ICA
Tickets: tbc
A first look at the live-action version of Naoki Urasawa’s manga series, set to be the first in an epic fantasy trilogy.

EXHIBITIONS

From Friday, 14 November: Exhibition: PoCom 2 - Potential Comics Continued ICA concourse & bar
Daniel Merlin Goodbrey and Le Gun’s Neal Fox, Bill Bragg, Emma Rendel and more fill our long wall with a graphic story mind-map.

Exhibition: Incredibly Strange Comics From Friday, 14 November, ICA concourse & bar
Reel at the world's most outrageous, weirdest comics: Amputee Love! The Girl Who Loved The Swastika! Trucker Fags in Denial! Supported by Aurum Press

For more details and tickets visit ica.org.uk.

Transformers Animated #1 Heads for Stores

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:33:00 +0000

On sale later this month is Transformers Animated #1 from Titan, the company's new tie-in with the latest animated incarnation of the phenomonally successful robots-in-disguise toy franchise.

The first issue, on sale from 23 October, includes ‘Sideswiped’, one of two new comic strip adventures, in which New Detroit is at risk from a villain who has the Autobots quaking in their boots – literally! Luckily, there’s a new bot on the block to help out.

The issue comes with some cool Optimus Prime pull-out posters and a free wrist blaster, joining Titan's Transformer Comic on the stands of all good newsaganets. Issue 17 of Transformers Comic is a giant-size issue on sale this week (9th October), and comes with free a free Roto Blaze Launcher.

• More info on Transformers Animated on the Titan web site

Doctor Who has Come To Bed Eyes!

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:27:00 +0000

Doctor Who star David Tennant and The X Factor judge Cheryl Cole have been judged to have the best 'come to bed eyes' among UK celebrities, according to a survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Tennant beat out charmers Dermot O'Leary and Simon Cowell(!), while Cole was ahead of former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper and Kelly Brook.

The survey aims to promote Eye Health Week, which runs until 12 October. This year the College of Optometrists and the Royal National Institute of Blind People are calling on the general public to keep their eyes happy and healthy by getting regular eye tests and making lifestyle choices that will safeguard their sight.

• In 2006, the second season Doctor Who DVD box-sets pioneered new audio navigation technology to help blind or partially sighted people navigate around the disc menus without needing to see the screen. See news story on the BBC's Doctor Who web site

Tube Surfing: DC Thomson Style

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Briggs) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Ian Kennedy may be the pre-eminent Commando cover artist over the course of the title's long history but it had been running for nine years by the time he did his first cover. Before that Ken Barr was the standout cover artist before he moved to America. There he continued to create comic covers including covers for the American format Dan Dare reprint comic Dare The Impossible. His last new cover for Commando was for Evil Ace issue 3047 in 1997, but he has now re-enlisted with Britain's last war comic and has produced the cover for issue 4138, Blood Red Battle, written by Alan Hebden with internal art by Olivera. More details of Ken Barr's work can be found at his website.

Sticking with Commando, editor Calum Laird and Gordon Tait from DC Thomson's syndication (i.e. merchandising) department discuss the choices they made to select the twelve illustrations for the 2009 Art Of Commando calendar at the Commando website. There is also a tease at the end of the piece suggesting that something Warlord related may be in the works from Unique Comic Collectables who published the calendar. In the run up to Christmas could it have anything to do with a certain Royal Marine in a Santa outfit?

On a much less war-like and rather more feminine note, after our mention of Beano products from Boots it looks like DCT's syndication department having been talking to Marks and Spencer as well. M&S have a 1000 piece jigsaw featuring a selection of covers of DC Thomson girls annuals such as Jackie, Bunty, Judy and Mandy available for Christmas. Anyone hoping for a similar one featuring Warlord, Hotspur and Victor will be disappointed as the closest male alternative is a jigsaw of The Dangerous Book For Boys.

Perhaps the M&S Christmas TV advert will have Twiggy, Myleene and the girls doing the jigsaw by a roaring fire...

Futurequake 11: On Sale Now

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:42:00 +0000

(via David Hailwood's new blog): The latest issue of the twice Eagle Award nominated Futurequake will be available to buy at the Birmingham International Comic Show this weekend. Preview images can be viewed on the messageboard of the comic's website at www.futurequake.co.uk and comics can also be purchased online.

Included in the issue is Spare Parts by Dave and the ever fabulous Tony Suleri, a tale about a scavenger who gets a little more than he bargained for when he ventures into the sewers).

The complete line up is as follows:

Cover Art : Neil Pettitt

Collectors Piece (writer) Dan Hill, (art) Tim Twelves, (letters) Bolt-01
Dulce Et Decorum Est (writer) Paul Glasswell, (art) Neil Roberts, (letters) Bolt-01
Field Trip (writer) Dan Hill, (art) Chris Fenoglio, (letters) Bolt-01
Imaginary Friends (writer) Dan the Emperor, (art) Neil Pettitt, (letters) Bolt-01
Infinity Battle (writer) Chris Stiefvater Thomas, (art) Panos Kamaoulakos, (letters) Bolt-01
Last Squad (writer) Rob Spalding, (art) Brett Buckle, (letters) Bolt-01
Lazarus Falls (writer) Kevin McHugh, (art & letters) Caroline Parkinson
Rank and File (writer) Mike Moreci, (art & letters) Keith Burns
Spare Parts (writer) Dave Hailwood , (art) Tony Suleri (letters) Dave Hailwood
Superhero Shorts- The Audition (writer) Mark Smith, (art) Owen Watts, (letters) Bolt-01
Waste of Time (writer & letters) Dave Hailwood, (art) Tony Suleri

Small Press Week at FPI

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:28:00 +0000

Joe Grodon writes to tells us Richard Bruton, who write the Propaganda reviews for the Forbidden Planet International blog is posting a pile of themed reviews this week, all on British small press comics creators ahead of the Birmingham International Comic Show. You can view them at: http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?cat=19.

ROK's Hard Place Competition Winners

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:12:00 +0000

Hot on the heels of announcing David Fletcher as the winner of it 2008 Humour Competition (see story), British web and mobile comics publisher ROK Comics has revealed that the winner of its ROK and A Hard Place Comics Competition, run in association with the Birmingham International Comic Show, is British comics artist Ian Stacey.

Ian’s entry, titled “Noah and A Hard Place” was a stand out winner for the BICS team and wins him a Nokia 95 mobile worth almost £500.

The BICS judges also spoke highly of John Maybury’s “SpaceBabe” entry and Ian’s other shortlisted entry, “Crossroads and A Hard Place”.

You can view all the winners at here on www.rokcomics.com.

Working in partnership with BICS (www.thecomicsshow.co.uk), ROK Comics threw down the challenge to creators to create a comic revealing a life changing moment.

“The Noah strips works on every level,” felt James Broxton, who judged the winners from a high quality shortlist along with indie comics distributor Shane Chebsey, owner of Smallzone Comics, and also a BICS organiser. “It’s a nice job, and Ian is a deserved winner.”

“It’s fantastic news,” said Ian on learning of his win, “Thank you very much and thanks also for finding my work a new home.”

Freelance cartoonist and illustrator Ian Stacey had already won high acclaim for his ongoing strip Wet Paint before taking the plunge and bringing it to ROK Comics for web and mobile distribution. “There’s some very funny material that made me laugh out loud,” says Monty Python team member Terry Jones, while top comic creator Alan Grant has described Ian as “an exceptionally funny cartoonist.

“He aims at just about every target under the sun, from genetic modification to Batman, and hits the mark in every case.”

Ian recently began offering a collection of many of his Wet Paint cartoons for sale via his web site (www.ianstacey.net), with all proceeds going to the Big Issue Foundation.

“When we first discussed the idea of a competition to tie in with BICS we were determined to stretch comic creators from the get go,” says ROK Comics Managing Editor John Freeman. “The cartoonists rose to the challenge, with some great entries.”

“We wanted comics with someone telling the story of a difficult choice they've had to make in their life,” said Shane. “It certainly made a change from superheroes.”

"We at BICS love the way that ROK Comics is so accessible to both creators and readers,” Shane adds, “and feel that working together we can help to bring the wonderful medium of comics to a wider readership. Mobile phones are now the most widely used method of communication in the world, so it seems the perfect way to present new comics to more people than ever before".

ROK Comics delivers the means for both comic publishers and creators to reach a worldwide audience by delivering comics to mobile phones, either by WAP subscription of Pay Per Download via Multi Media Messaging (MMS).

Creators publishing professionally via ROK Comics will receive up to 50% of the available revenue on every sale, with full access to sales statistics, viewings and more.

• The Birmingham International Comic Show takes place this coming weekend, Saturday – Sunday 4 -5 October 2008 at the ThinkTank, Birmingham.

In Review: Robots

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:02:00 +0000

Review by David Hailwood

If you haven’t already picked up a copy of British independent publisher Accent Press’s 2008 anthology Robots, then you’ll get another chance this weekend at the Birmingham International Comic Show.

A 200 page beast of a collection, with over 50 creators from around the UK, the anthology clearly highlights Dave West and Colin Mathieson’s continued dedication to showcasing the work of both professional creators and new talent.

Although many of the strips revolve around common themes, such as slavery, eternal life, matters of the soul and the nature of existence, each story is handled in a vastly different manner. Some, like Daniel Merlin Goodbrey’s Robot Heart (about a man with a heart that can transform into a robot jetfighter, with unforeseen side effects), play it strictly for laughs, whereas others like Paul Harrison-Davies' MY Robot (also viewable as a ROK Comic) take a more emotional route.

Benjamin Dickson looks to philosophy for inspiration, and presents an interesting dilemma when a man is confronted over breakfast by a talking toaster that believes itself to be God.

What is Life? by Kieren Brown and Kevin Mullins tells a well written and beautifully illustrated story about a society of robots attempting to decide whether a five year old human poses too big a threat to their society to be allowed to live.

Regular contributors Leah Moore and John Reppion stick to familiar Hammer Horror territory with The Cabinet of Doctor Diablo, a well crafted tale about an 18th century automaton master criminal.

Dave West proves he’s as talented a cartoonist as he is an editor with a number of amusing offerings (my favourite being Over Engineered – a one pager about a scientist who creates an intricate robot so he can use it to microwave his dinner).

There are, of course, many more gems to be found inside the issue - far too many to list here (but we have in our trail for the book earlier this year). Fortunately there are very few duds; perhaps two or three strips that could have done with a little more clarity in the story telling. With 40 strips on offer inside, that’s not a bad average.

One section of the comic that could quite easily be overlooked is the gallery at the back, containing a vast range of robotic characters that ooze personality and beg to have stories written about them. Particular highlights are Mo Ali’s grizzly hanging robo-corpse, Andy Bloor’s highly amusing Metal Detectives, and James Gray’s Crash Test Dummy revolt.

Accent UK’s Westerns anthology is nearing completion, and you’d be well advised to look out for that one next year. In the meantime, why not give Robots a try? The variety of strips means there’s pretty much something inside for everyone (unless you’re Robophobic, in which case this probably isn’t the one for you).

• Robots is available for £8.50, and can be ordered from the Accent website at www.accentukcomics.com

ROK Comics Humour Competition Winners Revealed

johnfreeman6-blogger@yahoo.co.uk (John Freeman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:58:00 +0000

ROK Comics has announced that the overall winner of its 2008 Humour Comic Competition is David Fletcher, for his strip featuring Crumb, his crazy, ever-hungry blackbird character.

David’s entry, titled “Pitter Patter” was a stand out winner for the editorial team at top Egmont comic TOXIC, who were the external judges for the competition which ran through August this year on the ROK Comics web site, and wins him a Nokia 95 mobile worth almost £500.

TOXIC editor Matt Yeo describes the strip, which stars Crumb and his rat friend as “A punchy quick-fire gag, with simple yet effective illustrations!”

Runners up were ClownoSaurus by Peter Coupe (“The ancient tale of a bizarre clown-based dinosaur. What’s not to like?!” says Matt) and Meteoro by Puerto Rican comics creator Vicente Aviles (“Classic euro-art, backed with madcap energy!”) starring El Profe.

Vicente, who has been publishing strips to ROK Comics since it started last year, originally published the strip in English, but has recently added Spanish versions at the suggestion of the ROK Comics team, and this entry qualified for consideration for the competition.

Responding to Matt’s comments, Vicente says “I'd say that I always liked the European comics style, and is the style which I've always trying to emulate, so... I have accomplished it! I wish someday I have the opportunity to publish a comic book.” (you can read more El Profe for free at www.rokcomics.com/elprofe.php)

Crumb is just one of top New Zealand-based cartoonist David Fletcher many cartoon creations. David’s cartoons are published in over 30 newspapers worldwide including New Zealand’s top-selling TV Guide (which has some 800,000 readers a week), the New Zealand Herald and the Australian Daily. The strip is now available in Chinese and through the whole ROK Comics mobile and online distribution network.

“It's great to have all the long hours slaving over a graphics tablet recognised by someone of Matt Yeo's standing,” says David. “My fourteen year old son's eyes lit up at the thought of getting his hands on the Nokia. No chance! Crumb's become very much part of my life and I'm still hoping one day he'll be able to support me into my old age.”