John Freeman
@johnfreeman.bsky.social
Publisher, downthetubes.net | Linktree: https://linktr.ee/johnfsfreeman | Comics, feature writer, editor. Credits inc. Doctor Who Magazine, Overkill, Star Trek Magazine
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, Football Picture Story Monthly is back with two incredible graphic novel volumes out now from DC Thomson: Volume One: The Best of Stark and Volume Two: The Best of We Are United!
DC Thomson Football Picture Story Monthly collections launched
Two football classic comic collections drop into the box!
downthetubes.net
Hibernia Comics has just published its collection of the very first "Doomlord" story from Eagle in Doomlord Volume 1: Zyn, available to order here. The collection's designer, Richard Pearce, remembers his first encounter with the hugely popular alien executioner well…
Loving the Alien
Hibernia Comics designer Richard Pearce reveals some Doomlord secrets...
downthetubes.net
Croydon-based Herne Books have published Where We Stand, Where We Fall: The Politics of Doctor Who by award-winning author Lizbeth Myles – and another title exploring the show’s themes is on the way.
Herne Books offer new Doctor Who works exploring show’s many themes
Two new Who titles probe show’s many themes
downthetubes.net
A quick reminder that Bear Alley Books is releasing a collection of “The Shrinker” soon, plucked from the pages of Buster, written by David Motton with art by Mike Western, more information here on Downthetubes downthetubes.net/bear-alley-b...
Discover 'The Shrinker': A Classic British Comic Collection
Discover Bear Alley Books' latest collection, 'The Shrinker', featuring a classic weird menace tale from the 1960s British comic era.
downthetubes.net
Joining Judge Dredd and company behind a cover by Colin MacNeil in this week’s 2000AD is a one-off Thrill – “The Zombie Apocalypse ABC”, written by James Lovegrove, with art by downthetubes favourite Russell Mark Olson…
Are you ready for a Zombie Apocalypse? New 2000AD offers a Cautionary Tale!
An undead A to Z, shocks unexpectedly!
downthetubes.net
Earlier today, we reignited our occasional GoFundMe campaign to help support downthetubes running costs, which raised just over £3000 in 2024 to keep us operational. We would like to thank our readers for donating over £1000 in the last few hours towards server and operational costs
Thank You to our Amazing downthetubes readers for your kind support
A big thank you to our readers!
downthetubes.net
Two years ago, I ran a crowdfunder seeking support to keep my comic news site Downthetubes operational, and was blown away by support. Thank you. Can you support the site now? www.gofundme.com/f/downthetub...
Donate to Can you help downthetubes.net continue to promote comics?, organized by John Freeman
I'm John Freeman, publisher of the web site, downthetubes - and… John Freeman needs your support for Can you help downthetubes.net continue to promote comics?
gofundme.com
Backed this early on, you’ve still got time to support it. I hadn’t realised this excellent anthology needs more backers
Shelly Bond@sxbond.bsky.social · yesterdaySo stoked to back the third issue of the coolest Brit mag since the original Deadline! Let’s get this funded! SKRAWL COMIX MAGAZINE #3 www.kickstarter.com/projects/rus...
Doomlord Volume 1: Zyn is on sale now from Hibernia Comics, bringing fans a collection of the original photo strips from the relaunched Eagle, launched in a blaze of publicity in 1982
Watch Out, Earth! Doomlord is back!
The Death Lord Returns!
downthetubes.net
The IndieGogo for this unofficial “Dark Shadows” book is live | downthetubes.net/coming-soon-... - crowdfunding link in story
Celebrating Dark Shadows: The Collins Family Album Launch
Chinbeard Books has posted an Indiegogo page for The Collins Family Album, an unofficial celebration of the cult favourite TV show Dark Shadows
downthetubes.net
And here's part 2 focussing on the X-Men scifibulletin.com/2026/08/03/a...
A final Marvel update… to the potential X-cellence…
On the other side of the recent Marvel news, Alasdair’s got a breakdown of the current X-Men casting, confirmed and rumoured. To me, my information! Jean Grey After two years of the most ende…
scifibulletin.com
Rounding up all the Marvel news one last time (part 1) @alasdairstuart.com scifibulletin.com/2026/08/03/a...
A final Marvel update… from the bad…
There’s been a lot of Marvel news across our final weekend and Alasdair’s here with the first in a two part round up… Let’s start with Blade. Which has stopped. It’s now been conf…
scifibulletin.com
Steampunk comic "Figgerty's Gallop" by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page drops like a jackhammer onto the pages of downthetubes! new pages soon!
Starts Today! Strawjack in “Figgerty’s Gallop”
We're moving the new Strawjack to downthetubes from parts unknown... be ready for some pesky piracy!
downthetubes.net
Had more info on known TG Jones store closures, which will significantly impact UK comic and magazine publishers, so updated this item: downthetubes.net/store-casual...
TG Jones Store Closures: Impact on Retail and Publishers
TG Jones announces 150 store closures, impacting staff and high street sales, but publishers are fighting back
downthetubes.net
As announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Titan Publishing has revealed a major new publishing initiative celebrating the legendary works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, set to launch in Summer 2027, with a brand-new Dejah Thoris comic series
Titan Publishing outlines new. ambitious Edgar Rice Burroughs publishing program
Major new publishing initiative will celebrate legendary works
downthetubes.net
US publisher DC Comics has revealed the cover for DC Finest: Romance: Escape From Loneliness, the latest title in the line that also includes collections devoted to themes such as War, Horror and Science Fiction, as well as individual characters
DC Finest: Romance Collection announced
New DC Finest cover reveal
downthetubes.net
The latest edition of the superb illustrators magazine from Book Palace, Issue 51, is available now, and if you’re a Mœbius fan, you definitely don’t want to miss it.
Mœbius in the spotlight in latest illustrators magazine
Another superb edition of the long-running art anthology
downthetubes.net
Born in Rome in 1967, award-winning Italian comic artist Massimo Carnevale is perhaps best known for his cover art, for both American and Italian publishers, but draws strips, too.
Comic Creator Spotlight: Massimo Carnevale
Spotlight on the award-winning Italian artist
downthetubes.net
Yes, I am being exceptionally cute in an effort to secure treats…
The Society of Authors has joined the Creators' Rights Alliance in calling on British Government to protect creators from the existential threat of GenAI in a petition that needs further support to ensure it is debated in parliament
New UK petition calls for greater transparency on AI “training data”
New petition on GenAI to better protect creators rights needs support
downthetubes.net
Tim Robins webslinged his way to his nearest multiplex for an enjoyable foray back into the Spider-verse in “Spider-man: Brand New Day”…
In Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Does whatever a Spider-Man should…
downthetubes.net
A round up of quickfire news items, some comic related, that have caught our eye in recent days…
Tube Surfing: Comic Title Confusion Damaging Sales, and some Doctor Who trivia
A round up of quickfire news items, some comic related, that have caught our eye in recent days…
downthetubes.net
So I was researching a story and used the search term “Take A Break, AI”, and Google has obligingly switched off its AI generated search, chirping “You got it! I am pausing here. Let me know whenever you need me again.” Result!
Major British newspaper, comics, magazine and bookseller TG Jones has begun a major round of store closures, with 150 of its 480 shops expected to close. However, comic and magazine publishers have also begun developing strategies to counter this blow to their high street sales outlets
Store casualties mount as TG Jones store closures begin across the UK
150 of 480 shops across the UK set to close
downthetubes.net
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced its workshops program for this year’s annual Festival, taking place in Kendal, Cumbria, over the weekend of 2nd – 4th October
Lakes International Comic Art Festival workshop program launched
Learn or hone your comic skills at this year’s annual Festival..
downthetubes.net
Useful reference about quoting sources in general, as well as spotting, hopefully, AI fakes open.substack.com/pub/cardcata...
How to Spot AI Hallucinations Like a Reference Librarian
The verification tricks that would make fact-checkers weep with joy.
open.substack.com
Birmingham-based British indie publisher Time Bomb Comics has big plans to mark its twentieth anniversary
Time Bomb Comics celebrates 20th anniversary with new titles
Amnesia Agents – The Collected Edition starts a year of celebration
downthetubes.net
Tim Robins webslinged his way to his nearest multiplex for an enjoyable foray back into the Spider-verse in “Spider-man: Brand New Day”…
In Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Does whatever a Spider-Man should…
downthetubes.net
I've got a joke about Rorschach but everyone interprets the punchline differently.
Mike Zeck 6 print portfolio for the 10 Nights of the Beast four parter. I LOVE Zeck. I don’t get the sense he’s as well loved as he should be. In my head he’s up with Golden and Art Adams. If he’d got the runway to maintain his level and finish Punisher, perhaps that book would loom larger.