''Comics International'' was a British news and reviews magazine about comic books. Founded in 1990, it was published monthly by

Quality Communications Quality Communications was a British publishing company founded by Dez Skinn that operated from 1982 to 2008. The company's most notable publications were the monthly comics anthology ''Warrior'', which featured early work by writer Alan Moore ...

until 2006, and then by Cosmic Publications Ltd. until 2010. Over time, ''Comics International'' became quite popular, often outselling the very comics it covered. Being so comprehensive in content, ''Comics International'' was carried by many leading UK reference libraries. The magazine was given the

National Comics Award The National Comics Awards was a series of awards for comic book titles and creators given out on an annual basis from 1997 to 2003 (with the exception of the year 2000) for comics published in the United Kingdom the previous year. The votes we ...

for "Best Specialist Comics Publication" four times in six years.

Overview

Described in '' Time Out'' as the ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' of comics, ''Comics International'' provided up-to-date news and reviews of comics from around the world. There was a particular focus upon the British comics scene, including British comics creators, conventions and comics-related events, and information on British comics retailers. ''Comics International'' featured a question-and-answer section with responses by comics experts, as well as a lively letters page. Originally printed in black-and-white on newsprint, the magazine later featured full-colour glossy covers with interior colour pages.

History

The magazine was published and edited by Quality Communications owner

Dez Skinn Derek "Dez" Skinn (born 4 February 1951) Miller, John Jackson"Comics Industry Birthdays" ''Comics Buyer's Guide'', 10 June 2005. Accessed 14 August 2010WebCitation archive is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of books o ...

for its first two hundred issues, from 1990 to 2006 (Skinn's ''Dez Sez'' column appeared in each issue during this time). With the magazine's sale to Cosmic Publications in 2006 (and Skinn's departure as editor), news editor Mike Conroy was promoted to editor with issue #201.Johnston, Rich
"Comics International Closes Shop,"
Bleeding Cool (May 27, 2010). Conroy had taken over the main news section of the magazine in 1997 from Phill Hall. Conroy announced a new direction for the magazine under his editorship: After the editorial changeover, however, the magazine's frequency became increasingly sporadic, casting doubt on its long-term future under the new editorial team. In May 2010, Cosmic Publications was dissolved, thus confirming that ''Comics International'' had ended, Freeman, John
"Comics International publisher company dissolved,"
DownTheTubes (May 21, 2010). after publishing only eight regular issues (and a few specials) under its new regime.

Regular features

In addition to Dez Skinn's own editorial column, ''Comics International'''s main features included: * ''Frame to Frame'', a long-running column by Mike Conroy on the interaction between movies and comics * ''Talking Shop'', a column about British comics retailing by Stephen Holland, owner of Page 45 * ''It's Only a Comic'', a humorous column from the creator's side by

Tony Lee Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...

* ''Novel Graphics'', a column about

graphic novels A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

Paul Gravett Paul Gravett is a London-based journalist, curator, writer, and broadcaster who has worked in comics publishing since 1981. He is the founder of ''Escape Magazine'', and for many years wrote a monthly article on comics appearing in the UK magaz ...

; this column originated in '' Borderline'' magazine * ''Networks'', Internet comics gossip by Tim Pilcher; Pilcher went on to become associate editor of ''CI'' * ''Illuminations'', upcoming news of future comic releases by Martin Averre * ''Movers & Shakers'', the comics industry's first gossip and marketing column; voted the magazine's most popular column in a poll conducted in 1997. Created by former ''Comics International'' news and features editor Phill Hall * ''Hotshots'', a top ten picks column originally by Phil Hall and later by Martin Averre * ''The World of

Jack Staff Jack Staff is a British superhero created by comic book writer/artist Paul Grist. Billed as "Britain's Greatest Hero", it is known for being in the style of an anthology title and for its multi-linear plotlines. He first saw print in comics pu ...

'', a serialised comic strip by Paul Grist * ''Comic Cuts'', by Mike Kazybrid, a three-panel gag strip * ''Outside the Frame'', by John Freeman/Nick Miller, a three-panel gag strip In addition, there was a lengthy review section by a regular team of over twenty reviewers, a festivals calendar, and listings of U.K. comics specialty stores, mail-order companies, and the following month's U.K. & U.S. releases.

Awards

* 1997

for Best Specialist Comics Publication * 1999 National Comics Award for Best Specialist Comics Publication * 2001 National Comics Award for Best Specialist Magazine or Website * 2003 National Comics Award for Best Specialist Magazine or Website

Notes

External links