A quick round up of news that have caught our eye across the webosphere…
Happy Birthday to The Batmanwho made his debut on Monday 30th March 1939 in Detective Comics No. 27. A high grade copy today might cost you a fair bit: a copy graded by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) achieved a record in 2024: $1.82 million (£1,456,000). It was the top lot in the ComicConnect Event Auction 57 sale in March 2024.
Fortunately, Forbidden Planet has the 2024 Facsimile Edition on offer for £5.40 (Affiliate Link)
Daredevil #1 by Stephanie Phillips with art by Lee Garbett launches in Local comic Shops on Wednesday (1st April). Marvel details all the variant covers available here. Hell’s Kitchen is full of secrets, but no secret stays buried for long! As a fearsome new super villain named Omen has targeted Matt Murdock, it will be his alter-ego Daredevil who takes the hits. But, beware… This mysterious new player isn’t all that they appear, a secret Daredevil will have to learn quickly as he scrambles to settle into a life and status-quo we’ve never seen him before.
“Garbett’s art pulls from all of Daredevil’s greatest poses†note Big Comics Page in their review. “Whether it’s Daredevil leaping into the air, or hurling his billy club, or looking down from the rooftop to zero in on his prey, it all looks iconic.â€
Grab a copy here from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)
Indie Comics News
The all new, all singing and dancing issue* of the long-running independent anthology PARAGON is now funding! (*singing or dancing in issue not guaranteed).
This issue – which you can back here on Kickstarter for a measly £3 plus postage – sees a double length story for Spencer Nero, the Civil Centurion, as he tries to come to terms with no longer having his Janus mask to help him in his fight against the Nazis. Written by creator Greg Meldrumillustrated by long term artist Scott Twells and lettered by Filippo Roncone“this issue is a game changer,†publisher Dave Candlish says.
Plus, flip the magazine over (yes, it’s a flip book!) to find the final two episodes of Bulldog on Mars. Our anthropomorphic hero has been transported to Mars after a call for help was transmitted from the planet – but are things as they seem? By Jason Cobley, Paul Harrison Davies and D Gray and Joe Ahern.
This is “old school†comic zines writ large, a publication I’ve backed so long I even have the t-shirt (no, really). Check it out here
Lydia Turner reviews Sanctuary by Jenny Murean illustrator and comics creator based in Nottingham, over on Broken Frontier. Launched at Thought Bubble last year, it’s a self-published comic about motherhood, loss and longing. Set in the looming tower belonging to the Witch of the Crossways, the narrative explores the duality of being incredibly physically powerful, yet still helpless to protect the things you love most.
Monopoly Merchandise: KPop Demon Hunters
• Monopoly Deal: Kpop Demon Hunters is available now, as it takes the fast-paced card game and meshes it with the Netflix film. Help HUNTR/X prepare for their most epic concert yet, and compete to collect items that Rumi, Mira, and Zoey need to make the concert a success and seal the Honmoon! (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John  is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazineand its successor, Star Trek Explorerand more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War†and “Dan Dareâ€, and Hancock: The Lad Himselfby Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of  comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucibleâ€, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty†and “Skow Dogsâ€, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Previews, Comics, Creating Comics, Crowd Funding Projects, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Games, Merchandise, Other Worlds, US Comics
