Changes in the Works at downthetubes
Under the bonnet update is in the works next week, but there's plenty to catch up on, published over the past seven days...
Heads up, loyal Tubers! Behind the scenes maintenance and upgrades on downthetubes.net mean we won't be adding news items to this main site for a few days from Monday 3rd March - normal service resuming Tuesday 12th March 2025. Our computer really does need updating…
In the meantime, keep an eye on this Substack and BlueSky for items we hope of are immediate interest to readers this week.
The site will continue to be up and running during the changes so please enjoy all our features as usual, including our Events Guide, Exhibitions Guide, British and Irish Comic Shop Map.
Or, why not catch up on some of our features? Our "Classic British Comics: Who Owns What?" guide, for example, or our "Action - The Sevenpenny Nightmare" comic and "Charley's War" micro sites? Our British Comics Industry Q&A, or our guide to British TV-related Comic Strips, our guide to Starblazer, complete with cover gallery, or ourMarvel UK Genesis 1992 Projects, Dan Dare and Garth sections?
Thank you for your understanding and support!
Right, on with this week’s round up – don’t forget all our recent stories feature here on downthetubes
NEW COMIC STORIES…
• Celebrating 48 Years of Thrill Power!
This week’s edition of 2000AD celebrates its recent “birthday” and the arrival of Judge Dredd in the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic back in 1977…
• Commando marks International Women’s Day with four archive adventures
Celebrating two of the war comic’s most significant female writers
CREATING COMICS
• Creating Monsters: The Story behind the new Doctor Who comic strip, “Dance ‘Til You Drop”
Forgive me blowing my own trumpet, but the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Issue 614, on sale now, features a very special comic strip, “Dance ‘Til You Drop”, written by me, John Freeman, with Jason Quinn and Mike Collins, with art by Mike – the culmination of a Doctor Who Monster Competition organised by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in partnership with the long-running magazine. It was great fun to do and I hope you enjoy it.
• 2000AD “Dan Dare” art comes to auction, and the mystery of Adrian D. Beeton
Do you know Adrian? Do you know where he is now?
• In Memoriam: Cartoonist Colin Whittock
A regular cartoonist for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines across several decades, Colin will be best known to comic fans for his work for Whizzer and Chips and more
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Don’t forget to check our Events Guide, Exhibitions Guide
• Artist Table Applications Open for “Sequential Scotland”
Comic artists, zinesters, experimental book makers, small and micro presses needed!
• On the Margins: Comics, Gender, Identity & Subversion – comic conference announced
Comic creators and academics combine forces for two-day event
• A special artists event in Eastbourne
Catch up with 2000AD artists Boo Cook and Chris Weston, and concept artist Calum Alexander Watt, too
• “Ace of Wands” to be celebrated with one-day convention
Head back to the 1970s – and Derby! – for a celebration of a cult TV show
• “Afterlife Inc” comic exhibition in Gloucester next month
Explore an independent comics classic!
• Dan Cornwell, Mick McMahon and John Wagner at GOSH! in April
2000AD giants amongst us! Well, Londoners, anyway…
THIS WEEK’S TOP STORY
• Bloomsbury and Marvel Announce Marvel Age of Comics
Bloomsbury and Marvel have announced a multi-year, multi-volume licensing agreement to develop and publish Marvel Age of Comics, a series of beautifully designed books launching in November 2025 with authors including Paul Cornell and Chris Ryall, exploring the deep and rich history of more than 85 years of Marvel Comics
Have a great weekend, everyone!
John Freeman
Waiting for clouds to descend, just as those planets align for the only time until 2040…
• All our recent stories feature here on downthetubes
