downthetubes News Round Up - Friday 4th April 2024
Catching up on Liam Sharp's "Conan" teasers, "The Expanse", and remembering Ian Gibson's "Annie Droid"
Family time last week meant skipping last week’s weekly roundup of downthetubes top news items, but it didn’t stop the news coming, of course, including, this week, reaction to US President Trump’s new tariffs on US imports and how they will impact comic publishers and retailers. As yet, there don’t seem to be many positives.
While away, my nephew’s book shelf caught my eye, while not minding one baby or other youngster, and I realised, to my horror, that I am way behind on The Expanse, the SF series created by James S.A. Corey (the pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck). Somehow, instead, I’ve managed to jump straight to their new series, The Captive’s War, an Amazon MGM Studios deal in development. I thoroughly recommend The Mercy of Gods, out now, the second novel in the trilogy out next March.
Lo and behold, I get home from travels south to see Boom! Studios Kickstarter for The Expanse: A Little Death, which gained full funding (and then some) in just 11 minutes. So of course I was going to back that, as well as trying to work out which novels I haven’t read – although only the digital release, because I’ve worked in comics for over 30 years now and am not made of money! (Plus, tariffs…)
Beyond recommending some reading, I’ve been catching up on some behind the scenes downthetubes stuff, and was delighted to receive Martin Baines colouring over Neil Edwards art for Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies #3 for B7 Comics, written by me. Lettering is the next step, but here’s a teaser page, more information on the long-in-gestation project here at pilgrim2121.com.
On with our News Round Up from downthetubes! | Our full news archive is here
New Comics
• John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, aka Metaphrog, sign two-book deal with Scholastic UK
A new book from John and Sandra is always a treat!
• Crowdfunding Spotlight: Tyrant Fall by C. Brennan Knight and Max Davenport
The hit kung-fu fantasy series returns
• Zero Genesis weekly webcomic launched, a tabletop skirmish game tie-in
Big armour suits locked in kinetic action!
Here’s a “New Comics” extra for you subscribers! Check out this simply amazing Conan art by my old co-conspirator Liam Sharp – do check out his social media for other work in progress on this incredible project for Titan Comics!
This art is a teaser for #11 - look out for Savage Sword of Conan #8, on sale from 16th April in all good Local Comic Shops, which includes a story written and drawn by Liam - available to order here from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)
Creating Comics
• Trump’s Tariffs: How They Impact the Comic Industry and others
Reaction to new US tariffs from both sides of the Atlantic
• WHSmith High Street sale good news for publishers?
More opportunities for comic and magazine sales ahead on the high street? (See also “High street WHSmith sold to owner of Hobbycraft”
• Ian Gibson “Annie Droid” art set to go under the hammer next week
An opportunity to revisit this wonderfully quirky newspaper strip
• Creating Comics (and more): Hireillo launches “Ultimate Artist Contract” for creators
An essential part of your workflow as a comic creator?
• Coming Soon: How to Make Your First Comic, by Matt Garvey
Creating comics, tips and tricks, coming soon!
Upcoming Comic Events and Auction News
• Small Press Day returns in July
Mark your calendar now!
• 2000AD “M.A.C.H.1” cover art by Mike Dorey heads to auction this weekend
Anyone got a few thousand on them?
• Shubbak Festival features “Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free” exhibition
Palestinian comic art exhibition comes to London
• Comics, Cake and Chat! Latest Commando and British Comic Swapmeet another success
James Bacon headed to Glasgow for a Grand Day Out
• Leo Baxendale’s “Super Comic” art returns to auction, Bob Kane “Batman” sketch, too
Definitely not a Bad Penny to be spent on this!
Beyond Comics…
• New Forest’s Furzey Gardens goes Jurassic this summer!
New Forest gardens taken over by dinosaurs… check out some stunning mural art by 2000AD veteran Alan Langford
• Dalek and other Doctor Who replicas feature in London storage sale
Recreations of Doctor Who monsters go to auction
• New The Tomorrow People novel, “Prime Factors”, out now
Did you sense this was near?
• In Review: Escapades – An Exploration of Avengers Curiosities
Andrew Pixley, a much respected contributor to Doctor Who Magazine who started writing for that title on my watch, reviews a smashing new book
• Rafe Wallbank celebrates 15 Years of the Eleventh Doctor
Awesome artwork ahead!
Right… that should keep you all going! Time to crack with some more script writing… Have a great weekend, all!
John Freeman
Wondering when the water shortage will be announced, Lancaster