Crazy comic-related Christmas presents: the Spider-Man Guitar

You know Christmas is on the way when we start getting PR for perhaps the stranger kinds of comics tie-in merchandise at downthetubes.

Case in point? New guitars from Nevada Music featuring favourite Marvel Super Heroes including Wolverine, X-Men, Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Incredible Hulk.

The guitars come with colourful Marvel super hero graphics and detailed artwork that adorn each guitar, strap and pick, set against a black background.

Acoustic Guitars come in half sizes suitable for younger players whilst the electric versions are available in ¾ and full size guitars.

Nevada are proud of their product and tell us both music and Comic fans will find a lot of fun and inspiration in these new instruments from Peavey featuring their favourite Marvel  Heroes. Acoustics are priced from £49.99 and Electric Guitars from £99.

• For more info visit: www.nevadamusic.co.uk or telephone 023 92 205100

Tube Surfing: Dr Strange and Spider Man, zines in Birmingham , a misunderstood shark and more CLiNT reviews

Right, what's out there today:

There's an excellent interview with artist Brendan McCarthy over at Mark Kardwell's Bad Librarianship blog. In it, Brendan gives us the inside track on various projects past and present, as well as discussing his new trade collection, Fever (starring Doctor Strange and Spider Man):

"Marvel got a fun and unusual comic and I was able to get the Ditko/Dr. Strange thing out of my system. The Fever trade collection also reprints the 1960's Spider Man Annual by Lee and Ditko that inspired my story. I wish they could have scanned it directly off the old printed pages to get the period feel. Still, artistically it's Ditko at his peak. His genius is there to be enjoyed. Sadly, I am not worthy to sharpen his pencil!'

• Leonie O'Moore has posted a short (and funny) online comic about Jaws at her blog. Have a read!

• Comics collective We Are Words + Pictures (WAWP) will be attending the Birmingham Zine Festival this weekend and running a Drop-in + Draw session there too. What's a Drop-in + Draw, you say? Over to the peeps at WAWP:

'We’re also running a Drop In + Draw in the nearby Island Bar between 5 and 6.30pm, a chance for creators and the public to unwind with pencil and paper. We’ll have material to help you get started, and a few people on hand to guide you and answer your questions, all for free.'

• Speaking of the Birmingham Zine Festival, their site has lots of cool interviews that are worth checking out, such as this one with James Nash.

• Oh, and a whole bunch of people are reviewing Titan Publishing's new anthology, CLiNT: we already mentioned some, but check out further reviews at Comic Book Resources (via), Paul Gravett (scroll down for this one), Bleeding Cool and Comic Vine...

Oh, and we reviewed it too awhile ago...

Anyway, that's all for now, folks. See you at my next Tube Surf!

Spider-Man Total Mayhem game for iPhone out next week in UK

Gameloft's Spider-Man: Total Mayhem game for iPhone and iPod touch will be available in the UK on the 1st September 2010.
Sure to be promoted in Panini's superhero comics, the new title offers ultra dynamic gameplay with more than 20 fighting combos, challenging players to master the mayhem by using Spidey's agility to master tricky platforming and quick time events. (Use your Spider-Sense to avoid danger and get in the best position to counter-attack!)

The games storyline inspired by the Ultimate Spider-Man comics as Spidey faces off against six of his toughest enemies gathered in one game for unprecedented mayhem.

In addition to the game, you can even capture your greatest combat moves with a Photography mini-game and search for collectibles to unlock.
• For full details about the game visit Gameloft's official website: www.SpiderManTotalMayhem.com

Draw the World Together Art Auction Begins Tonight

Spider-Man by Mike Collins

Today sees the start of the first of three Draw the World Together auctions, organised by comic creators using comics to raise money for charity.

The auction on eBay features sketches provided by some of DWTs favourite artists and the list will go live at 11pm GMT on the group's eBay page. These sketches were mostly done at the recent Bristol Comic Expo and there are some real gems in there that you won't want to miss, including this Spider-Man by Doctor Who artist Mike Collins.

Draw the World Together hope to make this their biggest online DtWT fundraiser to date, so spread the word.

The auction runs for 10 days. Overlapping with that will be the second auction, which starts on 2nd September. More news on that one soon...

• Draw the World Together eBay page

• Draw the World Together Official web site

• Draw the World Together on Facebook

• Draw the World Together on DeviantART 

• Draw the World Together on Twitter

New UK Spider-Man Comic?

Is Panini about to launch a new Spider-Man comic? As every self-respecting comics fan knows, the company currently publishes several comics for the UK market based on the US Marvel titles, including the hugely successful The Astonishing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man and Spider-Man and Friends. However, the company's letter-headed paper, sent out to new subscribers, currently features the logos of all the current Classic Edition titles including Fantastic Four Adventures, Essential X-Men... and Marvel Adventures Spider-Man. Which is of course the title of one of the American Spider-Man comics. Watch this space I guess!

Dandy Issue 1, Amazing Fantasy #15 Up For Sale

There's still time to bid on items - including a rare copy of the first ever Dandy - from British online auction site Comic Book Auction's Summer Catalogue.

Included in the British section of the catalogue is an extremely rare first issue of DC Thomson's humour title, Dandy. Published in 1937, this first edition introduced Korky the Cat, Desperate Dan, Keyhole Kate and their chums and is described as "a well worn copy with 3 inch spine tear and multiple edge tears although only minor loss." Only 20 copies of this first issue are known to exist, so expect some high bids, well above the £500-£600 reserve.

Also included this time are some also rare wartime Beanos, all with bright fresh covers and white/off white pages. Since a lot of paper was recycled for the war effort, copies of these issues are probably even rarer than some of the pre-war titles such as Champion, Butterfly, Hotspur and Schoolgirls' Own, which are also being offered.

Original Desperate Dan art by Dudley Watkins - a staple of most these regular auctions - is also offered, including work published in a 1942 issue of the Dandy. (Artist Dan paints the town with bristles from his beard. The pictures are so realistic the mayor gets Dan to camouflage all the tanks and planes for battle!).

Of interest to many downthetubes readers though will be a page of Ron Embleton art featuring Wulf the Briton from Express Weekly 155 (published in 1957), in which Viking Wulf proves himself to the warrior tribesmen in his quest to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Also beng offered is original Dan Dare art from the Eagle by Desmond Walduck (featuring both Dan and the Mekon), Supercar and Joe 90 art, a Dan Dare space gun, bound copies of Eagle and Lion, issues of TV Century 21 - including several rare and much sought after Specials - Valiant, Tiger and more.

For US comics fans, the chance to own the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 is sure to stir plenty of interest, even if the issue comes stickered with a British 9d tag. A first issue of Amazing Spider-Man is also in the auction, along with plenty of ther goodies including Fantastic Four #1, X-Men #1, Millie the Model, Batman #20 from 1944 - the first Batmobile cover - and lots of other goodies.

• Bids on items, which include comics and original art, will be accepted until Tuesday 9 June at 8 PM UK time (GMT).

Catalogue Links:

• British comics, annuals and artwork
• US Golden Age comics
• US Silver Age Marvel comics
• US Silver Age DC comics
• US 1970's & 1980's comics

Marvel Europe Collection Released

Out now from Marvel US is Marvel Europe, a collection of strips by some of Europe's top creators from native European Marvel titles such as Panini's Spectacular Spider-Man. The trade comes with a cover by Staz Johnson and James Offredi.

Pride of place in the book for British Marvel fans has to be a story featuring Brian Braddock, the original Captain Britain, back in costume in a story from Spectacular Spider-Man Adventures #114 - but can even he help Spider-Man stop a Red Skull on the rampage?

"I'm well chuffed with this," says Jon Haward, who drew the story. "The story is inked by John stokes and written by Jim Alexander another very talented Scottish writer.

"It would be nice if Marvel US published more of my Spidey stuff – I did about 32 issues in five years on Spectacular Spider-Man, featuring characters such as Sue Storm, Spidey versus Doctor Doom, Mephisto, Ghost Rider, the Black Widow, just to name a few!"

Also in the collection is Daredevil & Captain America: Dead on Arrival, drawn by Italian artist Claudio Villa with colour from Fabio D'Auria, a series of bizarre murders suggests that a long-dead villain has returned from the grave. The desperate New York Police Department turns to the Man Without Fear, Daredevil, to solve the case. Daredevil, however, is unaware that Captain America is also investigating on behalf of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. The result is all-out action and a titanic team-up for two of Marvel's marquee heroes.

Wolverine: Saudade!, drawn by Philippe Buchet and coloured by Walter Pezzali, is a vicious, manga-styled saga of bloody revenge as only the X-Men's most popular mutant can deliver. While on holiday in Brazil, Logan has his motorcycle stolen by a group of young boys - one of whom has a secret. When a brutal gang kidnaps the boy, Wolverine sets off on a quest to find him - leading to a deadly encounter with a corrupt faith healer who may not be what he appears!

The collection also features a comprehensive atlas of Marvel Europe, from the splendour of Doctor Doom's Latveria to the wonders of the X-Men retreat, Muir Island.

• Buy Marvel Europe from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Marvel Europe from amazon.com

Spider-Man Sneek Peek

Courtesy of artist John Royle, here's a sneek peek to the cover of Panini UK's upcoming Spectacular Spider-Man Issue 180, on sale in February. The issue sees Spidey up against Kraven the Hunter, side by side with Spider-Woman.

Foss First for Compalcomics Auction

Rare triptych cover art by acclaimed science fiction illustrator Christopher Foss for 2000AD is just one item in the Winter 2008 auction of London-based Compalcomics that also includes Dan Dare and Desperate Dan art and a number of first issues of early US Marvel Comics, some featuring the first appearances of characters such as Spider-Man and Iron Man.

The gouache Foss art is bound to attract plenty of attention from 2000AD fans, which formed the covers of three consecutive issues of the weekly comic back in 1995 (Issues 953, 954 and 955). Featuring Judge Hershey and Judge Dredd against the backdrop of a Mega City skyline, all three main images are signed separately.

Christopher Foss is a renowned British artist and science fiction illustrator whose futuristic visions have adorned many book covers, including Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy, The Demon Princes series by Jack Vance and E E Smith’s Lensman. His film work has encompassed Dune, Alien and Superman and this triptych is his only known cover artwork for 2000AD and Compal believe it is the first piece of his artwork ever offered at auction.

There are 449 lots in the auction overall with other British highlights being a dummy issue of The Broons Book 4 from 1949 - publisher DC Thomson's unique pre-print run copy.

Also on offer are some rare DC Thomson Magic comics along with The Dandy No 1 Flyer, an eight-page mini comic in its own right. A large number of 1960s Gerry Anderson-inspired comic TV Century 21 are also on offer.

Bound volumes include collections of Schoolgirls Own, Sexton Blake, Union Jack, Champion and Thriller titles plus artwork from Desperate Dan by Dudley Watkins, lassoing a Christmas tree for the poor kids party; Oor Wullie - finding oot that everybody has a wee lassie except hi'self; The Broons twins, fed up wi' lickin' envelopes fir Christmas cards; and a page of Journey to the Stars art from tan issue of Speed comic by Ron Turner; and a page of Dan Dare original front cover artwork by Desmond Walduck for Eagle Vol 5: No 5.

The bumper US section highlights a high grade single owner Amazing Spider-Man collection in 133 lots, all cents copies from #1 with 25 issues CGC graded. The main Silver Age section includes Amazing Fantasy #15 featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man, Journey Into Mystery #89 re-telling the origin of Thor, Tales To Astonish #27 featuring the first appearance of Ant Man, Tales Of Suspense 39 featuring the first appearance and origin of Iron Man, and first issues of Fantastic Four, The Avengers, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man and X-Men.

The Golden Age is represented with Batman #6 and #31, Human Torch #5 and Marvel Mystery #14 and #30. Also offered is artwork from The X-Men #43 by Werner Roth featuring Cyclops, the cover of Witching Hour #65 by Louis Dominguez and a superb page of Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four #95 featuring Medusa, Crystal and the Human Torch.

Compalcomics holds four auctions a year. Bids will be accepted until Tuesday November 25 at 8.00pm UK time.

• To go directly to the main page for the catalogue, click here: www.compalcomics.com/catalogue

Spectacular Spidey Sneek Peek

Here's a peek at a page of the originated new Spider-Man strip in the upcoming Panini comic Spectacular Spider-Man #180, on sale in a couple of months, guest starring Spiderwoman and Kraven the Hunter. The strip is written by Ferg Handley with pencils by John Royle and inks by David Roach. "I love drawing the ladies!" says John.

• Direct link to details of the latest issue of Spectacular Spider-Man on the Panini UK site
• Panini Comics UK
• John Royle's web site

Ferg Handley Signing In Edinburgh

Spider-Man and Commando writer Ferg Handley will be signing copies of the current issue of Panini UK's Spectacular Spider-Man at Deadhead Comics in Edinburgh's Candlemaker Row on Saturday 26 January from 2pm.

As previously reported here on Down The Tubes this issue features Peter Parker visiting Edinburgh in his European search for clues about the deaths of his parents.

Handley is interviewed by Liam Rudden in today's The Guide section the of the Edinburgh Evening News, which features a cover of Spider-Man in front of Edinburgh Castle by Andie Tong.

• Spectacular Spider-Man Issue 162 is available at all good newsagents for £1.99 and comes with a free Spidey Target Game.

Spider-Man Controversy Makes UK Papers

[WARNING Spoilers for One More Day #4 released by Marvel 28 December]

Controversy surrounding Marvel's decision to separate Spider-Man's alter ego Peter Parker from his beloved Mary Jane thanks to a deal with demonic Mephisto to save the life of the superhero's Aunt May has been picked up by The Guardian.

The paper reports some Spider-Man fans are outraged that in a four issue story, One More Day, Marvel Comics has turned back the clock and dissolved the marriage of its wall-clinging superhero, which happened way back in 1987 in the comic. "While followers of the movie version know the character is single with a sweetheart, as far as comic book fans are concerned Spider-Man has been married to Mary Jane Watson for the past 21 years," the paper explains.

The change and some other major continuity reversals apparently reflects the fact that the marriage made life "difficult for [Spider-Man] writers and had been a source of regret" but comment by writer J. Michael Straczynski's about re-writes on scripts by Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, Joe Quesada, have provoked plenty of online debate about the story.

Straczynski is particularly concerned that the changes in continuity have been explained away as magic. "There's this notion that magic fixes everything," he commented. "It doesn't. 'It's magic, we don't have to explain it.' Well, actually, yes, you do. Magic has to have rules. And this is clearly not just a case of one spell making everybody forget he's Spidey... suddenly you're bringing back the dead, undoing wounds, erasing records, reinstating web shooters, on and on and on.

The writer does not want the matter to become a "public pissing match" but feels the story changes were sloppy. "It violates every rule of writing fiction of the fantastic that I and every other SF/Fantasy writer knows you can't violate," he feels. "It's fantasy 101."

In a lengthy interview for Comic Book Resources Quesada, who has made it clear he was not a fan of the marriage of Peter Parker and Mary Jane, explained the reasons for the end of the marriage. "On one side, there is a contingency of fandom that wants Peter to age along with them and live life as they do. He needs to get married, have kids, then grandkids, and then the inevitable.

"On the other side, there are fans that realize Spidey needs to be ready for the next wave or generation of readers, that no one can lay claim to these icons, no one generation has ownership and that we need to preserve them and keep them healthy for the next batch of readers to fall in love with.

... "At the end of the day my job is to keep these characters fresh and ready for every fan that walks through the door ... while also planning for the future and hopefully an even larger fan base."

In a separate posting, Straczynski, while expressing regret at the changes made to the story which almost led to him removing his name from two issues of the series, acknowledged that despite his disagreement with Quesada, he was absolutely certain that "What Joe does with Spidey and all the rest of the Marvel characters, he does out of a genuine love of the character. He's not looking to sabotage anything, he's not looking to piss off the fans, he genuinely believes in the rightness of his views not out of a sense of "I'm the boss" but because he loves these characters and the Marvel universe.

"And right or wrong, you have to respect that."

Spider-Man: Agent of SHIELD

The latest issue of Panini UK’s Spectacular Spider-Man, #162, brings Peter Parker's search for information on his parents to Edinburgh. In Local Hero, writer Ferg Handley and penciller Andie Tong have Spidey swinging through the Edinburgh skyline trying to find a secret AIM base, while being diverted into a fight with Union Jack who is chasing a werewolf.

Since the title is aimed at late primary school age children, they would probably be unaware of the significance of the illustration of a werewolf with an X on her tunic on the cover (you can click here if you would like to know who it is).

Edinburgh based Handley has a few nice touches for the older readers with late running trains and a dig at the tabloids, while Edinburgh residents will get the reference to the AIM base being in a recently closed infirmary.

The issue also includes a two page spread of various UK based Marvel characters including of course Captain Britain and Psylocke, although it would probably be best to draw a veil over what readers in the Republic Of Ireland would think of the title colouring their country in with a Union Jack or labelling the Irish mutant Siryn as part of "The Brit Pack".

• Update 18 January 2008: Writer Ferg Handley, who is also still busy " hammering out Commando books" for DC Thomson, tells downthetubes the story will climax in London. "After the European/British stories, it's back to New York City for run-ins with classic villains (Spider-Slayer, Doc Ock, Electro, Vulture); then a two-part tie-in with Iron Man, followed by a Hulk two-parter (due to the movies that are coming out)."

Liam Michael-Rudden reported on the new issue for the Edinburgh Evening News on 16 January. You can read the article online here.

• Spectacular Spider-Man Issue 162 is available at all good newsagents for £1.99 and comes with a free Spidey Target Game.

Spectacular Spider-Man sneak peek

Here's a nifty looking Electro versus Spider-Man page that will open a new story by Ferg Handley running in Panini UK's Spectacular Spider-Man #166, on sale in a few months.

Pencils are by John Royle, inks by Lee Townsend and colour by James Offredi.

• More about the latest Spectacular Spider-Man on the Panini web site

I'm a Marvel, I'm a DC: After Hours with Superheroes

Very funny. Reminds me of those brilliant Toyfare magazine strips -- do they still do those?

Spider-Man rules the world

It might have had mixed reviews ("Fun factor nil", sniffs The Guardian), but after a record-breaking US opening, Spider-Man 3 has now demolished the international box office record with nearly £114 million at 16,700 playdates in 105 countries in six days. Variety reports that's almost £32 million more than the foreign launch mark set by The Da Vinci Code a year ago in its first five days.

No doubt helped by a huge marketing campaign culminating in eight international pre-ems, Spider-Man 3 set records in 26 foreign markets including Brazil, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia and South Korea. Asia in particular sparked strongly to Spidey with new highs in every single territory.

Even in markets where the pic's opening didn't topple records, Variety reports nearly all the openings eclipsed the first two Spidey pics. In Britain it was set to be the third-biggest three-day opening with £11.45m, after Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Looks like we could be in for a stonking summer box office even if it is packed with sequels, including Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End and Shrek The Third.

Spider-Man Muscial Madness

Okay, I think we're probably reaching Spider-Man saturation point here because after several rumours Marvel released a statement yesterday confirming that Spider-Man is indeed headed to Broadway … as a musical no less.

Hot on the heels of the release of Spider-Man 3 (and all the attendant discussion of what will form the plot to Spider-Man 4), the show is to be directed by Julie Taymor, who directed The Lion King on Broadway, with music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge.

Hello Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment and Sony are producing the Spider-Man musical, which, as yet, doesn't have an official name or opening date.

Marvel did say that a reading for the show would take place this summer, and Playbill.com reports that reading will take place in New York on 12 and 13 July.

You just know someone's going to try to make a reality TV show out of this, don't you...