Mark Millar on Kingsman: ‘I was seeing so many demonised housing estate characters’

Comic book writer Mark Millar was sick of seeing estate kids patronised – so in Kingsman, his first film adaptation since Kick-Ass, he created one who becomes the new James Bond

A week inside Charlie Hebdo: how the ‘survival issue’ was made

In the wake of the shocking attack on Charlie Hebdo, Ed Vulliamy spent time with the magazine’s surviving cartoonists as they put together their survivors’ issue

Neel Mukherjee’s top 10 books about revolutionaries

Those acting to overthrow an existing order have not had an easy ride from writers, but the portraits here give compelling life to these turbulent men and women

Star Wars makes million-selling return to Marvel comics

Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo sees characters taking on the Empire again and set to make ‘biggest noise of the year in comics

Scarlett Johansson plugs into lead role in Ghost in the Shell remake

Actor reportedly offered $10m to star in US remake of classic Japanese anime, after solidifying her action-star credentials in Lucy and The Avengers

Here by Richard McGuire review – an exquisitely drawn ecological warning

Dizzying technique and moral purpose mark out graphic novelist Richard McGuire’s return to the themes he first explored 25 years ago, writes Rachel Cooke

The best graphic novels of 2014

From the Tour de France and Moomin to a life-affirming cancer memoir, it’s been a great year for tales told in pen and ink, writes Rachel Cooke

Readers suggest the 10 best pirates

Last week we brought you our 10 best pirates. Here, we present your thoughts on which swashbucklers should have made the list…

My inspiration: Satoshi Kitamura on why he loves Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and manga

When Satoshi Kitamura came to the UK he was shocked to find reading comics was looked down on, things were very different when he was growing up in Japan...

Minecraft meets The Beano with official Dennis and Gnasher mod

Publisher DC Thomson collaborates on official mod for popular game as it continues to take its pranks digital

Writers pick the best books of 2014: part one

Naomi Klein tackled climate change, Owen Jones got to grips with class politics, and Russell Brand preached revolution. Writers from Hilary Mantel to Lena Dunham recommend the titles that leaped out at them this year

Chocolate kills, loser! When health-tracking gadgets go bad

In a world of wearable tech, will smartwatches have the last laugh? GP and the Bad Doctor graphic novelist Ian Williams looks into the future in this exclusive comic strip

Christopher Nolan releases Interstellar comic prequel

Absolute Zero, a comic-book prelude to the director’s recent blockbuster, tells the story of a previous expedition through the wormhole to find Earth’s new home

Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson tiptoes back with new comic

After years of silence, the revered and reclusive cartoonist has been relatively busy this year, a happy surprise for his legions of fans

The Beano’s Gnasher gets microchip

Dogs Trust teams up with the Beano to produce comic strip encouraging dog owners to follow Dennis and microchip pets