Dean Simons

London

Comics Journalist and Researcher at Freelance

He/Him. Freelance comics journalist & researcher. Interests: global comics histories and cultures (on the other place as dean.simons…) Follow ≠ endorsement

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Articles

The Politics of Printing Comics in China

1 week ago | publishersweekly.com | Dean Simons

Comics journalist Joe Sacco’s next book, The Once and Future Riot, was supposed to hit bookstore shelves in September, but it’s running about a month late. Publication scheduling delays are neither ideal nor uncommon—but the holdup on Sacco’s latest, which PW’s starred review called a “meticulous and beautifully crafted account of religious and territorial strife” in Western Uttar Pradesh, India, wasn’t due to any routine issue.
Check out the nominees for the American Manga Awards

1 week ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

After a smashing success last year, the American Manga Awards return with their list of 2025 nominees. The second edition of the annual awards introduces a new seventh category, recognizing the best one-shot manga. Professional registration and voting are now open. Winners will be announced during a ceremony at New York City’s Japan Society on August 21, coinciding with Anime NYC weekend.
LUZ graphic novel TWO GIRLS NUDE wins ELLE Comics Prize

1 week ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

Another win for Luz as his graphic novel Deux filles nues [tr. ‘ Two Girls Nude ’] became the fourth recipient of ELLE France’s annual comics prize. Two Girls Nude looks at the march of history from the perspective of an Otto Mueller painting. Starting in 1919 the story traces the chain of the object’s ownership and the darkening society around it over the course of the 20th century, uniquely from the viewpoint of the object itself.
ILYA Kickstarter ROMO THE WOLFBOY enters final days

1 week ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

Romo the Wolfboy, a 256-page full colour kids graphic novel by esteemed British cartoonist Ed ‘ILYA’ Hillyer is calling for Kickstarter backers to hit target before the clock runs out in the early hours of June 19. As of writing it has passed 60% of its target and still has around $5000 to raise.
2000 AD digital subscription prices to go up

2 weeks ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

The price for a digital subscription to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic 2000 AD – home of Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more – is about to become a tiny bit dearer. A mailer to subscribers this week announced that the price for digital subscriptions to the weekly prog and its monthly sister title, the Judge Dredd Megazine will increase on July 9. The email said:“Dear Subscriber,“We hope this email finds you well.
U.K. Publishing in 2025: The U.K.’s Graphic Novel Boom Comes Stateside

3 weeks ago | publishersweekly.com | Dean Simons

Since the late 1980s, creators from the U.K. have played a major role in shaping the American comics industry. And today, British publishers of comics and graphic novels are making a bigger splash than ever in the U.S. market, racking up levels of critical acclaim and commercial success that allow their titles to sit comfortably beside those of established stateside rivals on shelves in American bookstores and comics shops. London’s Titan Publishing Group is one major player on the scene.
PHOTOS: Bowie graphic novel LOW by Reinhard Kleist launches in style at Comica Festival London

3 weeks ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

SelfMadeHero launched the English-language edition of Reinhard Kleist’s Low: David Bowie’s Berlin Years in style at London’s Century Club on Friday, May 30, 2025, courtesy of Comica and VIP Brands. The Celebrating David Bowie event featured a conversation between Comica founder Paul Gravett and Kleist about the making of the book, followed by a Bowie tribute performance and live drawing.
Interview: Richard Starkings on Elephantmen and ending the Hip Flask saga

1 month ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

In 2002, Hip Flask #1 introduced us to the world of the Elephantmen. Genetically engineered, indoctrinated human-animal hybrids built for war and “rehabilitated” to exist in a world that hates and fears them. Written and created by Richard Starkings (with initial assistance from Joe Casey) and gloriously rendered by José Ladrönn, Hip Flask was planned as a five-issue series, but the release timetable stretched a tad. Hip Flask #2 came out in 2003….#3 in 2005….#4 in 2012….and then nothing.
The wait is almost over: BRASS SUN returns to 2000 AD in September

1 month ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

At long last, Ian Edginton and INJ Culbard‘s clockwork punk fantasy series Brass Sun will return to the pages of 2000 AD for its sixth series in September 2025. The critically acclaimed series had been absent since 2018. Entitled Pavane, the new Brass Sun arc returns to the story of Wren and her mission to restore life to the dying Brass Sun at the heart of the clockwork Orrery of worlds.
Turning back the clock on SCARLET TRACES with Ian Edginton and D'Israeli

1 month ago | comicsbeat.com | Dean Simons

With 2000 AD Prog 2432, a new prequel series of Scarlet Traces has begun. Empire of Blood turns our attention back to the time between the conclusion of H.G. Wells famous 1898 novel The War of the Worlds and the first series of its fictional comic continuation, featuring a British Empire turbocharged by Martian technology.