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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Vintage Comics aplenty, Frank Bellamy and Roy Wilson art, offered in latest Phil-Comics auction
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Thunderbirds 50p coins prove sell-out success
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Artist Spotlight: Paleoartist Robert (“Bob”) Nicholls
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First Light: The Science Fiction Art of Alex Storer
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Doctor Who Annual Artist Spotlight: Stanley Freeman
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Comic Creator Spotlight: Rafael Cortiella Juancomartí
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Master Replicas launches new Star Trek: The Next Generation Board Game
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Epic Dredd ahead in 2000AD, trailed this week!
The penultimate prog of 2000AD for 2025 finds “Judge Dredd: Messengers” wrapping up with a preview for what’s to come in 2026, as Dredd embarks on a new Mega-Epic with horrific consequences for the Lawman of the Future. 2000AD Prog… Read More ›
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Doctor Who and Vinyl Detective author Andrew Cartmel wins Terrance Dicks Award
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Kadokawa launches World Manga Contest
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New creepy Christmas Fifteenth Doctor comic strip adventure in Doctor Who Magazine
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Scratch Comics publisher launches new ComicUnity app for comic creators to promote – well, comics!
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Batman British toy rarities, “Bobby Bear” annuals included in upcoming TW Gaze auction
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Tank Girl first appearance art offered in upcoming Ewbank’s Comic Book auction
Alongside a number of US first issues and “first appearance” editions of a wide range of villains or heroes, including a comic featuring the early work of Frank Frazetta, the upcoming Ewbank’s auction of Comic Books on Thursday 18th December… Read More ›
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Art Auctioned in aid of collector and comics professional, Larry Shell
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Chanel celebrates Superman at Métier d’Arts 2026 New York show
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First 2000AD “Dan Dare” centrespread at auction today
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Soo Lee’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz Graphic Novel
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John R. Mullaney “Aliens” art included in this weekend’s Propstore auction

















