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.
-
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part Two
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between July and December 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. 2019 has been a difficult year for the family… Read More ›
-
Comic Artist Spotlight: Bruno Oliveira
I came across this eye-catching study of DC Comics character Shazam by Bruno Oliveira quite by chance – tracking down the Brazilian artist’s original post here back in 2012 on DeviantArt – and thought I’d quickly spotlight it and his work.
-
Do you remember Lion’s “Danger Man” comic strip?
Back in the 1960s, the success of James Bond in print and on the big screen spawned or inspired many similar heroes – and heroines – on TV and comics. One of them was the hugely-popular British series Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan, who would go on to star in the cult show The Prisoner. One of the show’s comic spin-offs is less well known than others…
-
In Memoriam: Those We Have Lost in 2019 – Part One
downthetubes regularly tries to pay tribute to comic creators no longer with us. We list those we have noted who died between January and June 2019, and others reported elsewhere, here. There have also been major changes in the US… Read More ›
-
Recommended Web Viewing: The Brian Bolland Appreciation Society
If you’re a fan of artist Brian Bolland and you’re on Facebook, then one group you might want to consider joining is The Brian Bolland Appreciation Society. Not only will you find discussion of Brian’s work; Brian himself also posts… Read More ›
-
Doctor Who: Panel to Panel Podcast is tinsel tinged!
Episode #116 of Jeremy Bement’s Doctor Who comics-focused podcast Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is live, and has a linger to h of the Christmas spirit about it, past and present
-
WebFind: We Are The Martians – The Legacy of Nigel Kneale
If you have access to BBC iPlayer, then you may already know the broadcaster’s 1958 serial Quatermass and the Pit is available to watch right now for free – and a terrific piece of vintage SFTV it is too
-
Updated: Search continues for missing Scottish comic creator Gordon McLean
Scottish Police are appealing for help to find missing award-winning comic, TV, radio and film writer Gordon McLean, who has been missing for over a week, after going to a party
-
Classic “Doctor Who” tops BritBox viewing
Streaming service BritBox has announced its most streamed content over the Christmas period. Tracking subscriber habits from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day, it quickly became apparent that the most streamed series was Doctor Who Classic
-
Remembering Ellie deVille, by Jenny Wackett
Editor Jenny Wackett pays tribute to comics letterer and friend Ellie deVille, who died on Christmas Eve. Our full tribute to Ellie is here I first met Ellie DeVille in the summer of 1996 when I was an Editor at… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: 2000AD Comics Letterer Ellie deVille
We’re very sorry to report the death of prolific comics letterer Ellie deVille, best known for her work on many strips for 2000AD, but whose many credits included Judge Dredd Megazine, Sonic the Comic and more. Ellie, who was taken… Read More ›
-
Read P. Craig Russell’s Complete Comic Book Adaptation of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”
Just before Christmas, in the spirit of the season, Wayne Alan Harold, who’s busy publishing Fine Art Editions of the work of comic artist and illustrator P. Craig Russell, offered his fans the opportunity to read his Complete Comic Book Adaptation of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”
-
London Film Fair returns in February 2020
The London Film Fair is kicking off 2020 in style. Their first event of the year is happening Sunday 2nd February at the Royal National Hotel
-
WebFind: “Hidden Wyndham: Life, Love Letters”
Mention that John Wyndham’s classic science fiction eco-thriller The Day of the Triffids passes out of copyright next year (in the United States and Canada, at first), led to discovery of the recently-published Hidden Wyndham: Life, Love, Letters by journalism lecturer and writer Amy Binns
-
Box Clever – grab your new Commando Comics today!
Out and about for the Christmas sales? Don’t forget to pick up your copies of the latest issues of Commando from your local newsagent, or grab them digitally. Issues 5291-5294 are on sale now from DC Thomson Media!
-
Missing Mousetrap game part, LEGO, Meccano or something else? Help is at hand!
Are you missing parts for board games or other toys this Christmas? Well, good news – it’s actually easier than ever to get replacements for some of them.
-
Merry Christmas from downthetubes!
Merry Christmas, downthetubers! Here’s the cover for Galaxy Magazine, cover dated January 1956, featuring a four-armed Santa Claus – the work of Ed Emshwiller, an American visual artist notable for his science fiction illustrations and his pioneering experimental films. He… Read More ›
-
Coming Soon: Rejected, a one shot comics anthology
Coming soon is Rejected, a British independent anthology with a terrific cover by Stephen Sampson, edited by Baden James Mellonie, with pre-orders being taken now
-
Brian Bolland “Rok the God” Variant Cover Reveal
Work is proceeding apace on the Kickstarter-funded Rok the God graphic novel from John Wagner, Alan Grant and Dan Cornwell, the sequel to Rok of the Reds, out next year. One element of the campaign was a limited edition variant cover by Brian Bolland – and the artist has now revealed the final cover.
-
A Christmas Comics Mystery – The Case of the Missing Garth Strip
A Garth strip has surfaced on eBay that has fans of of the Daily Mirror newspaper strip in a bit of a spin – because it suggests there may be missing, unpublished sequences from some stories out there, that were… Read More ›