downthetubes News Archive: June 2004

WARPTON LAUNCHES NEW SCHEMES TO HELP COMICS CREATORS
16/6/04: UK comics publisher Warpton has launched an new imprint to support creative talent.
As an add-on to our range of one-shot titles the company is developing they're also launching a unique opportunity for creators who have a comic book ready for publication and/or want to hold control over their work, but need support to help get their book to market.
The "Warpton independents – all yours" project is looking to expand Warpton's titles by providing a printing and marketing service for new titles. The basic idea is that for a small fee Warpton would cost effectively print a creators comic book, for them to then sell. It would carry the Warpton name and for all intense purposes be a Warpton Comic, but Warpton would not take the money for the sales, the creators would.
The fee creators pay would cover the printing, marketing, some distribution of the comic and a place in the Warpton online shop, whilst giving them the freedom to promote and sell their title how they wish and take all the money made on what they sell.
Warpton are looking at charging around £200 per 100 copies Black and White interior with colour cover in and out, 32 pages.
Warpton's other initiative is "Warpton Development", a scheme where Warpton look at helping those who have an idea and want help in developing it.
" We recognise that there are loads of people who are looking to get into the comic industry," says publisher Steve Causer, "who enjoy writing and those who are artists and want to show what they can do but do not have anything to illustrate and so need to create a story and this is not their strong area. Warpton will look to help in developing a story for those people who want help, as well as help new writers with their scripts and stories.
" For this we only ask for a share in the rights of the story. We would look at the possibility of publishing it if we felt it fitted with what we were doing, but otherwise they can take it anywhere they want."
Link: www.warpton.com

WARPTON HELPS THE DEVIL TAKES REVENGE!
14/6/04: Having spent the last 4 million years as an outcast, the Devil has had enough! Tired of his role, and with no desire to act as God's Adversary any longer, he confesses to a priest that he wants to die!
This summer a truly unique tale will hit comic stores. Written by Chris McCay an awe inspiring comic book writer, and illustrated by the talented Lee O'Connor, British publisher Warpton Comics has done it again.
"Throughout history I have been painted as the greatest evil in existence. No one cared to find out if this representation was correct". states the Devil. "I was portrayed as evil as humanity is too hypocritical to admit the truth". The truth that is revealed in Confessional is that mankind is the ultimate evil -- not the devil.
Chris McCay takes us through a world that we all know but for the first time tells the story of the true reason the Devil has become the lonesome and loathsome figure he is depicted as.
Confessional is a 40 page one-shot in stunning full colour, being distributed via Diamond Comics, in the July edition of their Previews Magazine.
"This is an exiting story that shows you can be completely unique with a tried and tested idea", exclaims Steve Causer, co-founder of Warpton Comics. "As soon as I read the script I knew this had to be made".
"If you want to know why the Devil wants to die then get this book, I have read it and am hooked, it epitomises the classic story in a one book that comics is all about". Says Steve.
Confessional is available to order from any comic book store from July or direct from the Warpton website.
A UK publisher of comic books, Warpton is heavily involved in the UK indie scene and has a range of schemes that support creators. Publishing its titles internationally Warpton is all about creativity and involvement.
• For more information about Warpton see the Warpton website at www.warpton.com

DIY COMICS FOR MOBILE LAUNCHED
10/6/04: UK web publisher iComic Press has launched a service providing comics for mobile phones.
Users choose a comic from the iComic website and order by sending a text message (SMS). Comics cost £1.50 each and are paid through SMS billing.
The comics only display correctly on a limited number of mobile phones at present, and do not work on black and white phones.
Readers can also use the site to design new comics with other writers and illustrators, and will earn 40p from the sale of each comic.
"I don't know of anyone who is publishing comic books for mobiles, let alone opening up their development tools so the public can create their own," founder Adam Priest told DotJournalism. "We are publishing these independent stories in a similar way to underground print comic book publishers."
Links:
• iComic Press: http://icomicpress.com
• iComic Press WAP site: http://wap.icomicpress.com

DJs BUILD HOLMES ON THE WEB
10/6/04: The details for Digital Jesters' latest adventure game Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring have, until now, remained as vague as the clues unravelled by the Great Detective himself. But the UK publisher has now unveilled the official Website for the first original Sherlock Holmes adventure in years.
Located at www.sherlockholmesgame.com, the site offers a heady mix of tantalising screens, downloads, links and its own dedicated forum in which fans can discuss all aspects of the great man himself.
Playing as both the detective Sherlock himself and his no less loved sidekick Dr Watson, the player will investigate their way around massive, sumptuous levels rich in graphical detail, which are sure to delight knowledgeable fans and newcomers alike. An expansive adventure that spans the globe, The Silver Earring promises to deep and involving experience that will, in all likelihood, completely destroy any social life that hopeful PC owners aspire towards.
• If you're a detectives and comics fan, check out www.thrillingdetectives.com with plenty of online strips and information on the genre.

MY HERO WRITER AT FARINGDON FESTIVAL
2/6/04: During the first weekend of July 2004, more than 100 events from the brightest local and national talents in Music, Literature, Dance, Art and Drama will be presented in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, staging the biggest arts programme the town has ever seen.
My Hero writer Paul Mayhew-Archer is among the guestswhich also include Rory Bremner, Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter, new Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, Rob Shearman, Nev Fountain and many, many more.
Web Link: www.faringdonartsfestival.org