downthetubes News Archive: July 2004

JOURNEY INTO SPACE
24/7/04: BBC Audiobooks are to release the first part of the 1950s children's science fiction radio series Journey into Space. The show entranced children of all ages when it was broadcast between 1953 and 1958. All were eager to hear what happened next to Captain Jet Morgan and his crew.
Now, over three box sets, BBC Audiobooks are bringing the adventures to a whole new audience. All the episodes have been digitally remastered, ready for release on CD, starting with Operation Luna.
Also included on the release is the documentary Another Journey Into Space and an excerpt of rare footage from a lost episode.
The further two adventures, The Red Planet and The World in Peril, scheduled for released sometime next year.They have been previously released on audio cassette.

MISTY SPECIAL BACK ON
16/7/04: Since an earlier announcement that the Misty Halloween Special 2004 was to be postponed, Misty web site runner Chris has been approached by a third party to try and keep the publication on track for this October / November 2004. The good news is that it may still happen. If you're interested in contributing -- be it text story, feature or art - check the Misty site for submission guidelines.
Plans for a fan tribute to the former UK's girls fantasy comic Misty were initially shelved because of a lack of submissions.
"Many readers had promised their support but had failed to commit and with the planned publication date drawing ever close, deadlines were becoming tight," Chris says.

MARVEL BUYS BACK STOCK
Marvel Enterprises, Inc., owners of Spider-Man, X-Men and other comics characters, has announced that its Board of Directors has authorised a $100 million common stock repurchase program, ICV2 reports. Go to ICV2 for the full story 

SPOOF SPIDEY!
9/7/04: British animation company Spite Your Face Productions Ltd. has released a brilliant spoof of the Spider-Man films, Spider-Man: The Peril of Doc Ock -- an action packed, comical take on the Spider-Man movies, commissioned by Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios and The LEGO Group. You can view it at: www.spiteyourface.com
"We've tried to bring a touch of Hollywood grandeur to the miniature world of the LEGO man," says Spite Your Face Productions co-director Tim Drage. "I think people will be surprised by the scope of the film." We certainly were -- this is a very clever piece of work and we recommend taking a look. It's peen published in Quicktime, WMV and DovX formats.
• Spider-Man: The Peril of Doc Ock can also be viewed on movies.yahoo.com and yahooligans.yahoo.com

MARIO CAPLADI DIES
6/7/04: Comics artist Mario Capaldi, one of the unsung stalwarts of Marvel UK's junior titles for many years, has died.
Mario, who died last week after a long illness, started regular comic book work back in 1959. He drew every type of strip and illustration work imaginable from then on. His credits for Marvel UK range from Care Bears to James Bond Junior and Zorro.
"Mario was one of the first illustrators that I had the pleasure of working with when I entered into children's publishing," Managing Editor of Panini Comics Alan O' Keefe told downthetubes. "Right from our very first conversation I knew I'd enjoy working with him enormously. He had a genuinely warm, friendly and engaging disposition. A few days later, after receiving his commissioned artwork I knew he was also a truly gifted and professional artist. The many years that followed, I worked with Mario on a variety of children's comics, because he was such a modest and honest professional who could turn his hand to a great variety of illustration styles. Mario was a true gent, a unique and charming man with a fantastic talent -- and an absolute joy to work with."

A panel from The Ghost of Christmas Future from Misty Comic #48, drawn by the late Mario Capaldi