downthetubes News Round Up - Friday 14th February 2024: Space Zombies, venge-filled crusaders, and more
Happy Valentines’ Day! Although, if you are celebrating the day (chocolates, flowers and kittens optional), you might be surprised to learn early nineteenth century Valentines were solely intended to insult, attack, humiliate, or otherwise torment their recipient. Mind you, given some of the cards I’ve had in past years, perhaps I shouldn’t be that surprised.
Anyway…
I’ve been Creating Comics: Neil Edwards has completed his amazing art for Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies #3, the SF thriller I wrote for B7 Media. Expect “space zombies”, intrigue and an entity that may, or may not, be on our heroes side in due course. Back issues are available here, along with copies of Hancock: The Lad Himself by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
I’ve been to That There London: A brief trip for Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo and a rain drenched trip to the London Aquarium. I felt as wet as the exhibits and my body has rebelled against me in revenge.
Next Week: A new project in discussion at B7 Media, a script to complete and work on the comics project I previously mentioned I’m working on with Wam Nick, which will run here on Substack first. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
NEW COMICS AND MAGAZINES
• “V for Vengeance” returns – an exclusive Commando preview!
Check out some great character designs by Alberto Saichann for a new strip on its way to Commando later this year, written by Dominic Teague
• Face-off on a tank! Kampfgruppe Falken returns to Commando!
• Tharg teases Judge Dredd versus Strontium Dog clash in latest 2000AD
The Prog is great, but how could we not highlight a tease?
CREATING COMICS
This Just In: The Kickstarter for Pat Mills “Ragtime Soldier is live, the successor to “Charley's War”, the world famous anti-war strip that Pat created with Joe Colquhoun for Battle. Yes, of course I’ve backed it. The art by 2000AD’s Gary Welsh looks great!
• Mark Stafford, Bob Fingerman and Hans Kresse the focus of latest “illustrators” quarterly
I’d never heard of Hans Kresse, to my shame - but I know about him now… and what an artist!
• Coming Soon: Marshall Rogers: Brightest Days & Darkest Knights
A smashing looking new title from TwoMorrows Publishing, who need our help, hit hard by the fallout from distributor Diamond’s woes
• Who will win this year’s Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award?
Recognising the exemplary bravery of cartoonists facing threats to their human rights
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Yo Comics!, the first South London Comics & Zine Fair for kids and by kids launches next month
A brand new event brings together kids comics, and kids who make comics, from across the UK
• Enter the Mollusc Dimension at Cartoon County!
Find out more about the work of this prolific zinester and musician, author of the comic book memoir The Weird and Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse
• The downthetubes British and Irish comic events guide is here
SOME TV, FILM AND RADIO ITEMS
• Escapades: An Exploration of Avengers Curiosities available now
All you ever wanted to know about the TV “Avengers” comics and other spin-offs?
• Master Replicas, Paramount announce new Star Trek deal, first new figures available to preorder
These new 4.5” figures look fun!
• Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse star in new Radio 4 drama, “When Alan Met Ray”
Exploring the origins of a legendary comedy writing partnership
• Magic: The Gathering heads to the big screen, TV
Fantasy battles ahead!
All our latest news posted to downthetubes can be found here
FAREWELL TO ARTIST CHRIS MOORE
Sadly, our most read item this week marked the passing of artist Chris Moore, best known for his SF art, but who was equally at home in other genres. He was 78.
His family has asked that donations in his memory be made to Myeloma UK.
Publisher John Jarrold, commenting on his passing, described Chris as “a great man and a wonderful artist”, while fellow artist Bob Eggleton described the news as “heartbreaking” and, separately, that “I shall always remember his guitar playing, not to mention his stunning art.”
Author Stephen Gallagher, author of The Art of Chris Moore, described him as “one of the great people in my life and a good friend, a self-deprecating artist of astounding talent.”
Our sympathies to family and friends at this time.
Enjoy the weekend! Don’t forget the kitten.
John Freeman
Not chained to a desk by his publisher. Honest.