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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Exclusive Hand Made Transformers Figures Up-For-Grabs!
Transformers — a robot toy range that has spawned several successful comics across the globe down the years and will see the launch of a new UK comic title from Titan in October — has a massive collector fan base,… Read More ›
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Unico Launches Collections Title
After a two-year gestation period, indie British publisher Unico Comics is soon to publish a special annual collecting a number of strips from some of the best amateur comics talent in the UK. Unico Collections was started in 2007 by… Read More ›
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New Anti Doping Comic from UNESCO
Just launched on the UNESCO Social and Human Sciences website is a new weekly comic by Mychailo Kazybrid which aims to promote the battle against doping in sport. Published by UNESCO in partnership with EDGE G3 Ltd., The Case of… Read More ›
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Comics International Returns to Action!
After a prolonged absence from comic shops, Comics International is finally about to return to the stands — and is offering its readers the opportunity to win a ClanDestine original specially drawn for the competition by British writer/artist Alan Davis,… Read More ›
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Crossovers That Never Happened: The Two Doctors
… The Two Doctors in question being Doctor Who and Marvel’s Doctor Strange. It was TV Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel who proposed a Doctor Who/ Doctor Strange crossover and submitted a plot to me around 1991/92, about the… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday Beano: The Dandy’s Better!
One last word from the Happy Birthday Beano exhibition in the Lamb Gallery in Dundee. One of the first things you see on entering the exhibition gallery from the stairway is a comments book for the exhibition and it has… Read More ›
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Ron Smith in Book and Magazine Collector
The long running series of articles on Great British Comics Artists by David Ashford and Norman Wright in Book and Magazine Collector has reached part 28. This time the subject is Ron Smith and it is the first time that… Read More ›
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In Review: Happy Birthday Beano Event At Dundee University
GASP! Would you believe it? The Beano is 70! Taking place on 30 July 2008, which was The Beano’s 70th birthday date, this event had been billed as the official opening of the Happy Birthday Beano exhibition in the University’s… Read More ›
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The BeONEo Show!
Thanks to iplayer, there’s still time to catch an appearance by Beano writer and artist Kev F. Sutherland on the BBC’s The One Show, which featured an item on the 70th birthday of the comic on Wednesday. With a mix… Read More ›