Author Archives
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.
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Crime Writer in the making
Our congratulations to downthetubes contributor and former editor of the critically-acclaimed fanzine Eagle Flies Again Ian Wheeler, who has just been announced as the winner of this year’s Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival competition, which takes place in his… Read More ›
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Commando Shop – Summer Offer
DC Thomson’s official Commando shop is currently offering free postage on all its orders. The Commando Gear shop offers T-shirts and mugs in a variety of different colours and designs with the Commando logo and the familiar F-S fighting knife… Read More ›
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Stealing Dilbert
When the G8 governments met in Japan this week, one of the items on the agenda that has been discussed in secret for months was signing an agreement that could enable customs officers and others to search your laptop or… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 9 July 2008
• Jason Wilson has sent me a copy of Smuggling Vacation, now available in all good bookshops. I’ll post a longer review later in the week as I’ve only had chance to flick through it today, but I love the… Read More ›
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Science in Education — or is it…
New Scientist has published a worrying feature focusing on the news that on 28th June, The Science Education Act was passed as law in the State of Louisiana in the US. This piece of legislature now allows teachers in this… Read More ›
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NetFinds: SF in Six Words
A nice little find this evening… back in November 2006, Wired Magazine published the results of an appeal for some very short SF stories – six word stories to be precise. The challenge to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from… Read More ›
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Beano Birthday Publicity Ramps Up
DC Thomson is pulling no punches when it comes to promoting the Beano‘s upcoming 70th issue, running a two page feature in this week’s Sunday Post to promote Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park’s upcoming guest editorship of the birthday… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Volume 21 Number 2 – Summer 2008
The latest issue of the Eagle Society‘s magazine Eagle Times (Volume 21 Number 2, Summer 2008) is now available by mail order. The magazine includes features on the artists who worked on the “Riders of the Range” strip, a look… Read More ›
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Forbidden Planet Polls its Punters
In 1978, Forbidden Planet opened its first store in London’s Denmark Street (better known to some as “Tin Pan Alley”) and has been at the forefront of all things science fiction, Fantasy, Cult TV and Film, including books, comics, DVDs… Read More ›
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The DFC – Single Issues Now Available
Much has been said over the last few months on the subject of the new British children’s comic, The DFC, and a lot of it has to do with its distribution method. The only way to get hold of it… Read More ›