Marvelman Challenge Winner!

Marking the 30th anniversary of the launch of Warrior earlier this year, here at DownTheTubes we issued a challenge to creators on our Forum to draw one of its most famous characters, Marvelman.

While the response wasn't huge - we aren't a huge group and many of you are very busy people! - our Marvelman Challenge 2012 did garner some terrific entries, from artists including Keith Page, John Peter Britton and others.

However, after much agonising, I came down to two entries - one by Andrea Motta, whose art offers a very singular vision of the hero, and Paul McCaffrey, who took a more traditional but dramatic approach to the character.

After mulling over the different approaches, I've decided to decalre Paul the 'winner' of the Challenge, but it was a very close thing.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

• Any thoughts on what our next challenge should be? Drop me a line via the DownThe Tubes Forum.

Panel Borders: Young Graphic Novelists, Spring 2012

Art by and © Warwck Johnson Cadwell

As part of the Panel Borders radio show's month of episodes on British comics, they're having their twice yearly look at a pair of young graphic novelists this weekend.

Warwick Johnson Cadwell has garnered a great reputation for his small press work and contributions to short story collections, and Dickon Harris talks to him about his first graphic novel, Gungle, to be published in the near future by Blank Slate Books.

Also, Alex Fitch talks to artist Jennie Gyllblad who, following a number of web comics and self-published collaborations with writer Corey Brotherson, has just finished The Arrival, the first of a three volume steam-punk graphic novel series Clockwork Watch curated by film-maker Yomi Ayeni.

• Panel Borders: Young Graphic Novelists, Spring 2012 airs at 8.00pm, Sunday 22nd April, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com/ podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Great Beast awakens - a new UK indie publisher

The cover to Ellerbsims by
Marc Ellerby

Just launched is a new indie UK publisher, Great Beast, described as "the home of the UK’s best independent comics and creators."

The brainchild of creators Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby, Great Beast aims to provide the most fun and creative stories to as wide an audience as possible. All of their titles will be creator owned and professionally self published.

The fledgling publisher launches with two collections of successful self published and award nominated comics to Great Beast; Marc Ellerby's Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter series, and the vampire slacker series Blood Blokes by Adam Cadwell.

Both creators will also be publishing long-awaited collections of their previous web-comic work, Ellerbisms and The Everyday, later in the year.

• For more information visit: www.greatbeastcomics.com

Comic Creators out to raise funds for charity on Free Comic Book Day

May 5th is the annual Free Comic Book Day and many comic creators are banding together not only to promote their books but also support charities.

Simon Furman, Andrew Wildman, Stephen Baskerville, Jason Cardy and JP Bove, the Transformers ReGeneration One team will be signing at Orbital Comics in Great Newport Street, London on the day, where you'll be able to get your  free copy of the comic, get it signed and make a donation to trasnform the life of a child less fortunate than yourself.

All proceeds from this upcoming event will be going to Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, the leading wishgranting charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.

Draw the World Together recently teamed up with Make-A-Wish Foundation and addition to the usual ʻSketch for Donationsʼ model that Draw the World Together have
successfully used over the past few years they are now creating the possibility of having all
signatures at signing events in the UK raise a minimum of £1 per signature in aid of charity.

"Comic Book creative teams generally do not charge for signatures and it seems like the perfect opportunity for comic book fans and readers to express their support for those children who do not have the opportunities that many of us take for granted," explained DwT's Andrew Wildman. "This simple exchange between the professionals of the comic book world and their fans will help fund the amazing work undertaken by Make-A-Wish."

The Oribital Comics even, coinciding with Free Comic Book Day, will be the first event to implement this sceheme, but Andrew is hoping other comic creators will take up the challenge to raise money.

• For more information visit the website at www.drawtheworldtogether.com, or join DwT at facebook.com/drawtheworldtogether;  or contact Andrew Wildman - infoATdrawtheworldtogether.com

Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK is Charity Registration Nos. (England & Wales) 295672 (Scotland) SC037479