Forbidden Planet announces Free Comic Book Day plans

Want to discover comics and need a place to start? Then visit any branch of Forbidden Planet on 5th May - Free Comic Book Day.

Free Comic Book Day is perfect for fans and newcomers alike – if you love the idea of comics, these are titles to give you a great taste of what’s waiting for you. You can join the comics revolution – discover comics for the first time or return to the fold to see what you’ve been missing.

Forbidden Planet - the comics chain that has stores in London, Bristol and elsewhere - have bags of comics to give away that will provide you with a perfect jumping-in point, and they will be giving away loads of fantastic and cool titles to give away throughout the day.

They've got goody bags for kids and for grown-ups; characters ranging from The Avengers to 2000AD, from DC’s The New 52 and Star Wars to Mouse Guard and Transformers, from Buffy to Donald Duck - but get there early, as stocks are limited.

Please note that only comics marked as Free Comic Book Day titles are free of charge.

• To find your local Forbidden Planet, click here: http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/2012/05/05/discover-comics-free-comic-book-day/?affid=downthetubesfp

Forbidden Planet lines up comic signings for October

Paul Cornell is part of a triple
signing at FP Bristol
on Friday 21st October

Forbidden Planet London has lined up a month of great signings for October that includes a number of comic creators. Here's the gen. All the events below are at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR unless stated otherwise.

Peter F Hamilton signing Manhattan in Reverse

Peter F Hamilton, master of space opera and top-ten bestselling author will be signing his short story collection Manhattan in Reverse on Thursday 6th October 6 – 7pm.

American McGee signing The Art of Alice: Madness Returns
Legendary games designer American McGee will be signing The Art of Alice: Madness Returnson Saturday 8th October 1 – 2pm.

John Landis signing: Monsters in the Movies

Top director John Landis will be signing Monsters in the Movies on Tuesday 11th October 6 – 7pm.

Warwick Davis signing Size Matters Not

Actor Warwick Davis will be signing his fantastic biography Size Matters Not on Wednesday 21st April 6 – 7pm.

Triple Signing with Paul Cornell, Gareth L Powell and Justina Robson

A triple signing with Paul Cornell, Gareth L Powell and Justina Robson on Friday 21st October at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Clifton Heights, Triangle West, Bristol BS8 1EJ.

Richard Morgan signing The Cold Commands in Bristol and in London

Richard Morgan, the King of noir SF will be signing The Cold Commands, the follow-up to the sensational The Steel Remains at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, Clifton Heights, Triangle West, Bristol, on Friday 21st October from 2:30 - 3:30pm and at at the Forbidden Planet Megastore London on Saturday 22nd October 1 – 2pm.

• For more information visit: www.forbiddenplanet.com/events

Simon Spurrier uncoils at Forbidden Planet London

Forbidden Planet has announced a signing by Simon Spurrier for his novel A Serpent Uncoiled at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, London in August.

Dan Sharper’s sins are a sickness. Sharper is a former underworld enforcer who now scrapes a living as a private detective, So far, so conventional. He needs to straighten up and rebuild his life, however an emotional breakdown has left him with a tenuous grip on reality and his life is about to get a whole lot stranger…

He’s tasked to prevent the murder of George Glass, an eccentric old man who knows he’s going to be killed but can’t remember why. Normally Sharper would recoil from Glass’s senile brand of New Age salvation, but the case is as tantalizing as it is lucrative. Adrift amidst liars and thugs, Sharper must push his capsizing mind beyond its limits: stalked not only by a unique and terrifying murderer, but by the ghosts of his own brutal past.

Simon Spurrer is a graduate from S.I.A.D’s Film and Television degree course; he’s received screenwriting bursaries at both the National Academy of Writing and the Met Film School, and has worked for the BBC as an art director. He’s since become an award-winning novelist – writing for Marvel, DC and 2000AD.

• Simon Spurrier is at Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR on Wednesday 3rd August 6 – 7pm.


• Order A Serpent Uncoiled from Forbidden Planet
• For more news about FP's signings visit: http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/?affid=downthetubesfp

Forbidden Planet announces Doctor Who Fun Days and competition

Forbidden Planet has announced a series of Doctor Who Fun Days in the run up to the return of Doctor Who to BBC1 - and a competition to win tie-in merchandise.

There will be an in-store competiton to win a range of Doctor Who prizes - including the chance to be the first in the UK to get your hands on both the 11th Doctor and Amy Pond mini busts from Titan Merchandise (which will go on sale soon at just under £50 each).

There's also a Goody Bag for anyone who comes to the store in Doctor Who costume (while stocks last) and special one-day-only bargain prices of selected Doctor Who lines.

The Fun Days will take place on Saturday 9th April at the Birmingham (which will also have free face painting for children), Bristol (where a Dalek will patrol the aisles), Cambridge, Coventry  and Liverpool (see a life size TARDIS and visiting villains, including a Scarecrow and a Pig Guard - check instore for times), with a Doctor Who signing by authors James Goss and Una McCormack at Forbidden Planet London as part of their Fun Day on 16th April. (For full details and times of all events, check out the Forbidden Planet events page).

• Can't make it on the day? Then enter their competition to win a Doctor Who prizes. Full details here.

• Full details of the Fun Days and James Goss and Una McCormack signing on the Forbidden Planet Events & Signing Page

New Flash Gordon Collection

(Updated 1 April 2010): downthetubes has a bias towards comics of British origin but one American character of great interest to many British sci-fi/comic fans, Flash Gordon, is appearing in a new archival collection from Dark Horse, to be published in August.

The book will reprint seven complete comics originally published between 1947 and 1953 and is likely to appeal to fans of Dan Dare, Rick Random and those who like their sci-fi heroes retro.

While Dark Horse haven't specified the source, Flash Gordon fans online suggest the 312-page collection comprises comics originally published by Dell between 1947-49, drawn by Paul Norris in Four-Color #173, 190, 204 and 247; and from 1952-53:, three more from Four Color #424, #512 and Flash Gordon #2, featuring art by Jack Lehti and Frank Thorne.

Ardden Entertainment, a company with British connections, has the license to produce new range of Flash Gordon comics, and SciFiPulse.net reports the range has gone very well for them.

Another highly recommended Flash Gordon collection - Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic was published last year, reprinting his Gold Key and Marvel Flash Gordon work.


• Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 1 is available to pre-order from Forbidden Planet and other onlibne stores.

• Flash Gordon Story Index

Troops to get a boost from King Kong and Friends

This month Britain's Comic Book Alliance will be joining with the 'Support Our Soldiers' charity to send thousands of comic books and graphic novels to troops stationed around the world and many miles from home.

The CBA spoke to troops before Christmas and were told that one of the biggest problems facing service personnel was boredom when they are not deployed in the field. Comic books have always been a favourite with the troops because they are light, entertaining; easy to carry, share and read.

Passing on that information on to its members, the CBA were instantly inundated with offers from publishers and retailers wishing to help. "There were so many offers that it was impossible to arrange for shipments before Christmas," says CBA spokesperson and co-founder GM Jordan. "Plus, the CBA simply did not have the expertise to send out the parcels themselves.

"Thankfully the problem was solved when Support Our Soldiers, who have been sending goodwill parcels to members of the armed forces since 2003, agreed to take the donations to ensure they reached the people who needed them the most.'

With the S.O.S partnership in place there was a further complication: the donors were spread out across the UK. The comics needed to be collected and then delivered to a central point for distribution and with time running out; it looked like they were in danger of failing to meet their March deadline.

Luckily the Post Office was at hand and, thanks to their logistical skills, they were able to collect all the donations into a central depot in the South East before shipping them north to be delivered to S.O.S.

"We owe a great deal of thanks to the Post Office, when we explained the difficulties facing us the managers and staff understood the difficulties involved and found the right solution to help us. Without the Post Office we would have been in serious trouble," GM Jordan explained.

The CBA is especially grateful to help from independent comics publisher Markosia Enterprises and comics retail chain Forbidden Planet, who were amongst the first to pledge their support and been a great supporters of the CBA.

Titles distributed to the troops include Markosia's King Kong of Skull Island, Starship Troopers, Harker and the critically acclaimed Hope Falls by Tony Lee.

“Thank you for doing a great job on our behalf and we wish you well” said Harry Markos, head of Markosia, before adding, "If our small token goes any way towards cheering up the troops then we are all very happy."

The CBA was founded in 2009 to represent the comic book industry in the UK, working with retailers, publishers, creators, educators and fans to ensure a bright future for the industry.

Web Links

• Comic Book Alliance: www.comicbookalliance.org.uk
• Support Our Soldiers: www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk
• Markosia Enterprises: www.markosia.com
• Forbidden Planet: www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk

Angry Robot UK Launch in October

It’s a brand-fusion to reinvent science fiction in the UK, a union that may yet shake London to the core. Forbidden Planet London will be hosting the official UK Launch of Angry Robot Books on Saturday 10th October at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JR, with 2000AD, Marvel and DC Comics writer Dan Abnett, Andy Remic and Colin Harvey on hand to sign for their many fans.

Angry Robot is a new imprint from HarperCollins which started back in June, offering a wickedly fresh take on the SF, F and WTF industry. Publishing the best in dark and edgy fiction from renowned authors and the hottest in up-and-coming new talent, the Robot is set to bring you teenage serial killers, zombie detectives, howling axes, sex-crazed vampires, murderous gods and steampunk swordfights. And that’s for starters.

Featured guests Dan Abnett (Triumff), Andy Remic (Kell’s Legend) and Colin Harvey (Winter Song) will be on hand to allay (or possibly enhance) fears, chat to fans, answer questions and sign copies of their Angry Robot titles. There will be free prints available of the Larry Rostant cover of Triumff as well as a chance to see the Kell’s Legend promotional video... up close and personal.

There will also be a wide range of Angry Robot’s other titles available.

• Angry Robot Books: http://angryrobotbooks.com

• The following film was written, directed, and stars our Andy Remic, and gives a good taste of the flavour of his book Kell’s Legend, which is launched in the UK and Australia next week. Music by th3 m1ss1ng.

Pat Mills Signing Announced

Top British comic writer Pat Mills will be signing copies of the English language release of the first volume of his Requiem Chevalier Vampire series at Forbidden Planet London next month.

One of the founding fathers of 2000AD and a legendary name in British comics, Pat Mills has created some of the best-known and longest running characters for the magazine, including Slaìne, ABC Warriors and Nemesis The Warlock. His other work also includes writing and developing Judge Dredd and writing the classic World War One war comic strip, Charley’s War, for Battle.

Created to break into the French comics market, Requiem Chevalier Vampire, which is being published by Panini in the UK, collecting material first published in English in Heavy Metal magazine, is characterised by extreme violence and by each issue being more daring and darker than the one before. Several scenes of violent sex fuse with wonderfully dark humour and cynicism; it’s a story of hell and resurrection that contains no concept of justice. Inspired by Mills’ own fascination with reincarnation, Requiem Vampire Knight is a violent, fantastic tale of drugs and reversed reality – and of a search for a lost love.

• Pat will be signing at Forbidden Planet's London Megaztore (179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London) on Saturday 19 September between 13:00 - 14:00 GMT. More info on the Forbidden Planet web site

'Nana Rocket launched by Forbidden Planet!

This is just a bit of Friday fun! In 1988, Forbidden Planet commissioned the young Rian Hughes to create the world famous rocket logo and typeface still used today.

Now you can own a piece of history with this vinyl replica, brought to 3D life by Matt ‘Lunartik’ Jones based on the acclaimed artist, designer and typographer Rian Hughes original logo design. This variant version comes complete with Lunartik Banana design!

• More pics and info here on the FP web site

Tube Surfing: 17 February 2009

• Veteran 2000AD artist Cliff Robinson just posted this specatcular Judge Death illustration on his blog...

• Talking of 2000AD, on Saturday 21st March between 1 and 2.30pm, the Forbidden Planet Mega Store in London is having its 30th Anniversary Signing. Artists and writers lined up include Dan Abnett, David Bishop, Simon Davis, Rufus Dayglo, Al Ewing, Brett Ewins, Henry Flint, Robbie Morrison, Tony Lee, Matt Smith and Simon Spurrier. "It'll be a cracker!" says Rufus. Indeed - and you should be able to pick up the paperback edition of David Bishop's Thrill-Powered Overload, too. Click here for the latest info from the Forbidden Planet web site

• Had enough of the Watchmen movie yet? No? Well, you'll be pleased to hear (via Geek Syndicate) that the World Premiere date has been set and it will be in London's Leicester Square on 26th February. No info as yet as to who’s going to be attending in terms of cast and crew but if a very large man sporting a very large beard with firey eyes turns up, we advise anyone in the crowd to run away very quickly...

• We haven't mentioned Steve Holland's brilliant Bear Alley blog in a while, so with a Gerry Anderson feature proving one of the highlights of the latest Comics International, it's somewhat fortuitous that he's come across a behind the scenes article from 1965 reporting from the set of early Supermarionation series, Stingray.

• Another British comics archivist has been quiet, too, Lew Stringer pretty busy with all sorts of projects. But he's sprung back with a terrific post profiling the early career of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen artist "With the publication of the next League volume, Century:1910 due in a few months, I thought it might be appropriate to take a rare glimpse into the early days of this extraordinary artist," says Lew.

• (via Forbidden Planet International): And finally, Paul Gravett has posted up his choice of ten (living) British comics creators who have been most innovative and influential in the comics medium both here and worldwide. "Not an easy job given how many British writers and artists have achieved a great international reputation," notes FPI's Joe Gordon. "I’m sure some some will wonder why their favoured creators aren’t in the list, but as with any such shortlist it’s open to debate and these are Paul’s personal choices, I’m quite sure he’d be more than happy to hear other names suggested... but the problem is its hard to think who from Paul’s list I would cut to make room for some I was considering... I’m sure it will get some debate - what do you think?"

Tube Surfing: 9 November 2008

• Forbidden Planet International has posted up a new competition to win one of five copies of the new Vertigo Encyclopedia. "It's pretty good," feels FPI's Joe Gordon, "obviously no in depth on each series, but it’s a good a-z reference guide and the usual Dorling Kindersley style with lots of illustrations.The competition runs until Sunday 16th November. More details, link and potted review on the blog now: http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog.

• Comics artist Jon Haward, currently busy adapting Shakesepare's The Tempest into a graphic novel for Classical Comics, tells us their Macbeth original text graphic novel is getting a second printing. "This is great news," Jon told downthetubes. "I'm very pleased it seems to be a commercial as well as critical success." American versions of the Plain and Quick Text editions of Macbeth are now also available.

• (via Doctor Who fan site Kasteroberous): The Mail on Sunday has run a feature on classic Doctor Who toys, ranging back to the Dalek explosion of the 1960s, and covering props and costumes. East Ham's The Who Shop takes centre stage in the feature, with co-owner (and Who convention regular) Alexandra Looseley-Saul revealing that Doctor Who merchandise isn't affected by market forces in troubled times. "The economy is suffering and markets are falling, but Time Lord values still grow. Though Doctor Who is the driving force of the show, it is the Daleks that excite most interest."

• Talking of Doctor Who, Grant Morrison has been talking to MTV about his work on the comic strip for Doctor Who Magazine (just reprinted in the US by IDW) and says he'd love to write more Who, but probably for TV if given chance -- although he's yet to be approached. “I love the character,” Morrison he said. “Jon Pertwee [the Third Doctor], was my favourite, I was really fond of Colin Baker [Sixth Doctor], he was a great actor, a great Doctor, but he had a terrible storyline, which kind of killed that one. I like Christopher Eccleston [Ninth Doctor] as well. He didn’t get enough of a shot at it. But I’ve kinda grown fond of David Tennant [Tenth Doctor] now."

• London's Orbital Comics at 148 Charing Cross Road have been in touch to say that Daredevil artist Alex Maleev will be signing copies of the various trades and comics on Tuesday November 18th between 5pm and 7.00pm. Maleev will also be making an appearance at this year's Comica Festival running from 14th - 26th of November, which starts with an all day symposium at the V&A and continues for the next 12 days at the ICA.

• Maleev will also be at the upcoming Thought Bubble Sequential Art Festival in Leeds, which takes place from 13th - 16th November and includes a one day comic convention on Saturday 15th November. Other guests include Mark Millar, Mike Carey, Cy Dethan, Nigel Dobbyn, Paul Gravett, Staz Johnson, Leah Moore and John Reppion, Declan Shalvey and many more.

• Bryan Talbot will be taking part in the Hertfordshire Library Graphic Novel Festival, appearing in the Cheshunt Library on Monday 10th November at 8pm. He'll also be at the Infinity & Beyond comic shop in Shrewsbury on 29 November from 1.30 to 5.00pm, signing many of his books old and new, with special prices available on titles like Naked Artist.

• (via Matthew Badham): Comics writer Dan Abnett has just been interviewed (in English) at the SubRosa Polish Warhammer fansite and talks about his influences and what he does when not wrting comics and novels (which he appears to do some 26 hours a day judging by his impressive and dedicated output...). The questions are worth the entry price alone.

• Bugpowder has just published an interview with comics creator Marc Ellerby, who mostly produces auto-bio, slice of life comics, but is also working on a fantasy series. He tells Bugpowder about balancing paid and unpaid art gigs, making his own mini comics and why the worst thing that can possibly happen to a monster hunter is that she misses the bus!

• In a list of a "Dozen Comics I'm Reading On-Line", Comic Reporter's Tom Spurgeon cites Super-Sam and John Of The Night by Darryl Cunningham at Number 6, which "runs on the Forbidden Planet International blog, but I also catch up with it at times on Cunningham's own journal. I like looking at it, and I also like that I have no idea how Cunningham is going to end it." Other web comic recomendations include mysery comic Sin Titulo by Cameron Stewart and Cul De Sac by Richard Thompson.

• The Independent's Ian Birrell has interviewed Jamie Hewlett, the artist who went from Gorillaz to Monkey. As the hit Chinese opera opens in London, Hewlett reveals unpublished images from his work – and discusses the many faces of his anti-hero.

• (via Bad Librarianship): Comics artist Kev O'Neill is the focus of two video interviews on the GOSH! Comics' blog. Part one is titled The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen; part two, Nemesis The Warlock. Check out the League one for some preview art from Volume 3: Century. And there's another two of these to come, too.

Compiled with thanks to Matthew Badham.

Win Forbidden Planet T-Shirts!

On Saturday and Sunday 6-7 September 2008 Forbidden Planet (London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Croydon, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southampton) celebrates its 30 years of 'Geek Chic' with parties, including giveaways.

The fun starts at opening time and the first 30 people through the doors each day get a fantastic goodie bag and throughout the weekend the stores will be giving away goodie bags in the stores every hour.

Thanks to FP's brilliant sponsors, including Eaglemoss, Character Options, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Universal Pictures and more, the store is able to offer a huge range of tasty goodies including treats from Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, and DC.

WIN FORBIDDEN PLANET GOODIES!

downthetubes is delighted to wish Forbidden Planet a very Happy 30th Birthday and to celebrate -- especially, perhaps,for those of you who won't be able to get to one of the stores – we have FIVE Special Edition Forbidden t-shirts to give away , courtesy of FP.

All you have to do is answer the question below, by e-mail by 12 noon GMT on Friday 12 September.

The first Forbidden Planet store was in Denmark Street, London, but by what name is Denmark Street also known to many musicians and others since the early 19th Century?

There is no need to include your address in the entry at this stage but you must include your name and tell us, in no more than 30 words, what makes Forbidden Planet special for you? Was it the first comics store you shopped in? Did you find romance in the aisles? Or that one last missing issue from a much-sought after series? Whatever it is, let us know! (Responses may be used in a future downthetubes article, permission will be sought before names are included).

Good Luck!

• Please Note: The celebrations do not include Forbidden Planet International (Scotland, Ireland, other English towns) which dates itself from the Edinburgh SF BookShop in 1975 and is a totally separate company.

Tube Surfing: 19 July 2008

Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter interviews British comic creator Daniel Merlin Goodbrey here. 'What little I know about the writer and cartoonist Daniel Merlin Goodbrey intrigues in a way that it's surprising I didn't interview him a long time ago,' confesses Spurgeon, in his introduction to the interview. 'He's a considerable presence within webcomics and is a generally prolific cartoonist in that realm, perhaps best known in the on-line world for developing the Tarquin Engine. Goodbrey's a "new media lecturer" -- which sounds fantastic -- and done a number of works in hypercomics, yet he's also written an old-school, print-bound Avengers short story, and has just completed another such assignment for Marvel.' (Above right: a page from Necessary Monsters by Goodbrey and Sean Azzopardi)

Richard Bruton has written 100 comic reviews for the Forbidden Planet International Blog. To celebrate this feat, he's created an index of his reviews, which you can find here.

And congrats to British cartoonist Jim Medway. He's a dad! Down the Tubes wishes Jim and his family all the best. Jim Medway self-publishes via his own Paw Quality Comics and is a regular contributor to children's comic The DFC.

Cartoonist Oliver East has posted the cover to his second book, Proper Go Well High, over at his blog. Proper Go Well High will be released by new British independent comics publisher Blank Slate Books, the company that released East's first collection, Trains are Mint, reviewed here by Down the Tubes.

Forbidden Planet Polls its Punters

In 1978, Forbidden Planet opened its first store in London’s Denmark Street (better known to some as "Tin Pan Alley") and has been at the forefront of all things science fiction, Fantasy, Cult TV and Film, including books, comics, DVDs and toys ever since. The chain's London Megastore is the biggest shop of its kind in the world and now has eight other stores around the country run by the London-based Titan Entertainment Group*.

To mark this auspicious occasion, FP has decided to find out what have been the most outstanding moments in Sci/Fi, fantasy and cult entertainment over the last 30 years.

All people have to do is enter their suggestion in each category in their online poll. They'll then tot up the results and come up with the definitive lists by the people who know best!

The outstanding moment can only be something that has been released from 1978 onwards, which means you can't cite the intial release of Star Wars way back in 1977 but anything goes from pretty much then on - be it your favourite book, film or TV show.

Who in the Sci-Fi world has made you hot under the collar? And what's been the least scary monster ever?

It's easy to take part and they could be in with a chance of wining £300 worth of Forbidden Planet vouchers. All you have to do is go to www.forbiddenplanet.com and vote,

The poll closes on Friday 15th August 2008 and The Top Ten in each category will be announced shortly afterwards.

* "Eight shops?" someon sqauwked from the back... "there's more than that!" For those of you wondering, there are two Forbidden Planet chains, the result of all sorts of company changes and splits over the years. One is based in Scotland and known as Forbidden Planet International and the other is run by Titan, who also run Titan Books, Titan Magazines and the Forbidden Planet web site etc. There. that was simple to understand really, wasn't it? (There's more on this on Wikipedia or read an interview with the London FP's owners Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung)