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.

  • Dan Dare at the Science Museum

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    Good news for Frank Hampson fans. The upcoming Dan Dare and the Birth of High Tech Britain exhibition at London’s Science Museum, which opens next week, now includes murals drawn by Dan Dare creator Hampson back in 1977. Talking of… Read More ›

  • Ewing and Holden Interviewed

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    Matthew Badham has just posted a great interview with 2000AD and small press creators Al Ewing and PJ Holden (who has also worked for Image Comics and Fantagraphics) on his Overspill blog. “We were supposed to be talking about Dead… Read More ›

  • Saint Johns Church Edinburgh Easter Sign

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    Saint Johns church Edinburgh Easter sign – China and OlympicsOriginally uploaded by byronv2 Following up on our earlier post about Chinese piracy, Forbidden Planet’s Joe Gordon recently published this photograph of a thought-provoking poster outside Saint John’s church on the… Read More ›

  • No More Narnia?

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    Several entertainment web sites including Digital Spy are reporting that Disney may end its The Chronicles of Narnia franchise after the third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is released. Prince Caspian, the second film in the series of… Read More ›

  • Chinese Copyright Theft

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    (with thanks to Matthew Badham): Illustrator Darren Di Lieto and British artist Jonathan Edwards are just two of many creators on the warpath after discovering a Hong Kong-based publisher has illegally used illustrations and interviews conducted by Darren in a… Read More ›

  • Classic Cold War Visions

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    (with thanks to Matthew Badham): The Guardian reports on an upcoming exhibition at London’s V&A Museum, featuring Sputniks, space suits, an early coupe form of the Trabant and a full-scale reconstruction of a futuristic inflatable building. Cold War Modern, which… Read More ›

  • Do You Want To Kiss It Better?

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    Do You Want to Kiss It Better - Green

    Do You Want To Kiss It Better is a new charity comics anthology aimed at raising money for good causes. The first issue, Green, is on sale now from retailers such as Forbidden Planet Online and London comic shop Orbital… Read More ›

  • Another DFC Strip Revealed

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    Following up on yesterday’s post about Neill Cameron’s strip for DFC, Mobot High, comes this image of Dave Windett’s strip for the new British weekly, subscription-only title, Lazarus Lemming. Dave’s credits include Simpsons Comics, Korky the Cat for The Dandy,… Read More ›

  • Mobot High joins DFC title

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    British comics creator Neill Cameron has just announced that his new strip Mo-Bot High, and will be appearing in The DFC, the brand new weekly subscription-only children’s comic being launched in May 2008 by David Fickling Books, an imprint of… Read More ›

  • No Barcodes Event

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    Oli Smith has published this promotional video for No Barcodes, the Camden Comics Mini-Con from 10-6pm on Saturday 31st May. The event features cheap food, glorious scenery (see video for more on this), sketching tables, entrance is free, and exhibitors… Read More ›