Happy Birthday, Mr Freeman – Other Voices

By John Freeman on November 23, 2009

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 137 - Cover — *DWM issue 137, John’s first issue as editor*

Andrew Pixley: Doctor Who Magazine Archivist

To John

Thank you for having the faith in me to give me the biggest opportunity of my life, and years of happiness in the most wonderful, enjoyable, fascinating job.

Thank you for encouraging me when I needed it, and looking after me when things went wrong. And thank you for the boundless enthusiasm you’ve put into promoting all these very wonderful things in life.

Have a terrific time! With deepest gratitude.

All the best

Andrew

John and Lee Sullivan during the DWM panel at Panopticon 1988 — *John and Lee Sullivan during the Doctor Who Magazine panel at Panopticon 1988*

Lee Sullivan: Artist, Radio Times and Doctor Who Magazine

*Telos partners, David J Howe and Stephen James Walker*

Happy 50th, John. It’s reassuring to know that you’re still younger than me. I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible 🙂

Stephen James Walker: Writer, co-owner & co-editor Telos Publishing

Happy Birthday, John. Thanks for all those commissions you gave me, back in the day. You were a great editor to write for.

Steve Holland, 2009 — *Chief Bear in the Alley, Steve Holland*

Steve Holland: Comics historian and Bear Alley webmaster

Anniversaries are always worth celebrating, especially when it’s a biggie like the big five-oh. 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of The Three Bears, Scoop Donovan, John Steel and Rory MacDuff, amongst many others, including the ever-youthful John Freeman, who doesn’t seem to have changed much since we first met nearly twenty years ago when he was editor of Overkill at Marvel UK. Wiser, perhaps.

As busy as ever, of course. But older? Maybe between scriptwriting, editorial chores and putting together downthetubes (10 years old itself) he just doesn’t have time to age.

Happy birthday, John, and congratulations on your thirtieth 21st birthday in a row.

Best wishes,

Steve

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.