Author Archives
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War" and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
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Future of the comic industry under scrutiny at French comic conference
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Wombles, “Eagle” art, a Dandy No.1, and Commando, and OZ, too, offered in latest Compal auction
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New Spaceship Away available now, featuring Dan Dare, Jeff Hawke and Bill Merrill
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Don’t miss Minnie the Minx’s Mission of Maximum Mischief!
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Site Changes at downthetubes
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In Review: The Complete Comet Jet Ace Logan
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Samaritans founder Chad Varah’s Eagle and Girl comic rarities included in latest Phil-Comics auction
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Now We are Three: Third Cover reveal for Vworp Vworp! Issue 6
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Blankets by Charles Burns – an Illuminated Tapestry!
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New Carol Day newspaper strip collection cut-off date for pre-orders fast approaches
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Cowardly Cadman returns to Commando, as an air ace!
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Tintin Reporter – Cigars of the Pharaoh game launched
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Doctor Who Panel to Panel Podcast probes Panini editor Ed Hammond
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Out Now, The Doctors: The Sylvester McCoy Years – Behind the Scenes
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Second cover for new Vworp Vworp! revealed
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In Pictures: Adventures in Time and Space – 60 Years of Doctor Who Art at Weston Museum
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Asterix book with art dedication by Albert Uderzo leads the bidding in latest Catawiki Original Comics Art Auction
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Cracking! A Wallace & Gromit Van Bundle from Corgi
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Celebrating Doctor Who at 60: Artist Chris Waples
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New Vworp Vworp! coming soon, first cover reveal

![TV Century 21 (1965-69) 1-242 complete run. No 1 wfg Special Agent Identicode Decoder, No 155 wfg Captain Scarlet Album. Gerry Anderson's TV Century 21 achieved iconic status during its 1960s print run. This was largely due to the influence and deployment of the greatest artists of their day in its production. Frank Bellamy and Don Harley drew Thunderbirds, Mike Noble and Don Lawrence took turns at Fireball XL5 and Ron Embleton and Turner drew The Daleks, Stingray and Captain Scarlet. Even Dan Dare's legendary creator Frank Hampson drew Lady Penelope in issues 40-45 and the first few episodes of Fireball XL5. To our knowledge, this is the only complete run to come up for auction and the last 6 issues are notoriously hard to find | From The Woodard Archive of British Comics | No 1 has cream/light tan cover and pages [vg+], the free gift has a Special Agent's name & address neatly filled in. No 2 [vg], No 3 [fn-], 4-17 [fn/fn+], No 156: 2 ins lower b/cover cut-out [gd/vg], balance issues 18-242 [fn/vfn/nm] (242)](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TV21-1-242-Complete-1-105x85.jpg)

















