We're Battling Internet Demons!
That technical issue that almost ended the site before is back again...
Ahead of heading up to Bowness-on-Windermere for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (tickets still available here - see you there?), regular downthetubes readers will have noticed an absence of new news items on the site, and in mail boxes if you subscribe to the site itself. Unfortunately, we’re again battling some underlying technical issues, so we’re posting items to this temporary blog, until the problem’s resolved - hopefully by early next month (October).
The main site is still up and running; we’re just unable to post much there, or update older items, or regularly updated items, such as our events and exhibitions guides, and Comic Map. Sorry!
Project Updates…
This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be my last as part of the core team, and in all probablity, apart from downthetubes, it’s my last major project as a freelancer.
I hit retirement age later this year, and I’m determined to actually have one, even if it’s semi retirement, rather than full. There’s other things I want to do with life, but I will most certainly miss working with the dedicated team at LICAF, who have some exciting projects lined up in 2026, promoting the comics medium and comics creation in the UK.
downthetubes work will include developing new comics. Wamberto Nicomedes (aka Wam Nick) and I are still working on a new strips, and a French publisher has expressed an interest in one of them, a British publisher another. B7 Media has some irons in the fire for new comics, and Neil Edwards, hot off “Ghost Patrol” for 2000AD, is currently drawing the final issue of the first Pilgrim 2121 mini series I wrote, “Secrets and Lies”. Plus, I’ve had some great fun working with Bill Storie on a “Thunderbirds” strip for the next Fanderson annual.
But in the here and now, just in case you have missed recent news, here’s some of the items posted over the past week you might have missed thanks to server kerfuffle.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for your amazing support.
And thank you to everyone who nominated very kindly downthetubes for “Best Comics Media” in the ComicScene Awards. Much appreciated. Voting closes next week.
John Freeman
• British Comics News: downthetubes.net - online since 1998
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downthetubes news Round Up
Head to our downthetubes-2025 blog for latest news items…
• Tonight in Brighton! Birds of a Feather set to Flock Together at Cartoon County
Comic creator Lucy Sullivan and film writer and director Dylan Southern will be at the next Cartoon County event tonight (Monday 22nd September), in conversation with Alex Fitch.
• Deck the halls with BEANO jolly!
The Christmas adverts have started on the telly, so it’s no surprise to see DC Thomson’s BEANO Christmas Special is on sale, in shops from this Wednesday, 24th September, and available to order direct from the publisher web shop here, and online retailers including AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Zombies rise again in Commando Presents: Commandos Vs Zombies Volume 2!
Zombies return to harass wartime heroes, with Commando Presents: Commandos vs. Zombies Volume 2, arriving in TG Jones and other outlets from Wednesday 22nd October 2025…
• Coming Soon: SHIFT Volume Three, featuring the lost “Terminal Man”
SHIFT Volume Three Issue One will be in newsagents from Thursday 2nd October 2025, and if you haven’t picked up this comic anthology before this is a good jump on board point…
• Save The Date: Sequential Scotland returns in August 2026; new Small Press Scotland CIC formed
Get your diaries ready! The next Sequential Scotland will be happening on Saturday 8th August, again at the Doubletree by Hilton on Cambridge Street in Glasgow.
Other Media News
• New Star Trek Podcast Launch: Beyond the Final Frontier
A new Star Trek podcast launches, hosted by die-hard Trekkies Rich Matthews, Ian Spelling and Toby Weidmann...
• Former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner drafted for Thunderbirds duty – again!
Former Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner was recently brought her iconic Tracy Island build out of retirement, as Corgi launches its Thunderbirds die-cast anniversary collection.
New Features…
• Exploring the Art of the Radio Times
The current Radio Times cover, trailing the new series of Apple TV’s spy drama, Slow Horses, is quite the eye catcher. It’s great to see the TV listings magazine still commissioning the occasional art cover, especially given its long tradition of utilising original art.
• RPG Nostalgia: FASA’s Doctor Who Role Playing Game
Who remembers FASA’s groundbreaking Doctor Who Role Playing Game? First released as a Boxed Set in 1985, it was written by Guy W. McLimore Jr. and William John Wheeler, the game featured art by a number of artists.
• On downthetubes: Do You Remember Tiffany Jones?
Exploring a the creation of the first all-female newspaper strip team
Head to our downthetubes-2025 blog for latest news items…
• British Comics News: downthetubes.net - online since 1998
