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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House of Illustration announces Raymond Briggs retrospective and more
London’s House of Illustration have announced their brand-exhibition programme for 2020 – and it’s going to be one heck of a year
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In Review: Bell Time by David Robertson
Bell Time is the latest project from talented comic creator David Robertson, released last month and available now from Fred Egg Comics
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Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips head West? (Wild West, that is…)
The multi-Eisner Award winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are working on an intriguing-sounding original graphic novel tale, PULP, on its way to us from Image Comics next May
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Arts Emergency charity makes Christmas push for new donors
Founded in 2013 by comedian Josie Long and campaigner Neil Griffiths, those in culture, media, academia may be interested in helping marginalised young people directly (with contacts, advice, opportunity) by supporting the charity Arts Emergency. This December, they are looking… Read More ›
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Call for Papers: “Graphic Medicine in/during Troubled Times: Health, Social Justice, and Human Rights”
A Call for Papers has been issued for “Graphic Medicine in/during Troubled Times: Health, Social Justice, and Human Rights”, taking place 16th – 19th July 2020 in Toronto, Canada, organised by Graphic Medicine. The 2020 Graphic Medicine conference aims to… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: The Eleventh International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference
The Eleventh International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference takes place at the London College of Communication next July – and a Call for Papers has just been released
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TV Times “The Snail and the Whale” competition now open
It can’t have escaped the attention of eagle-eyed downthetubes readers that Axel Scheffler, the illustrator of iconic children’s books including The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and The Snail and the Whale has created an original illustration for TV Times’… Read More ›
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Thank You for Voting for Us: downthetubes wins ComicScene Award
I’m delighted to report that downthetubes is recipient of “Best Comics Media” in the inaugural ComicsScene Magazine Awards, announced today in the digital edition of ComicScene Magazine Issue 11, on sale digitally now, a week ahead of its print release. Thank… Read More ›
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A Christmas Gift Suggestion: illustrators Magazine from Book Palace
If you’re looking for something for Christmas for the art lover in your life, then can we recommend a subscription to illustrators magazine from the Book Palace? The latest issue (Issue 28), features a stunning cover by Frank Kelly Freas,… Read More ›
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Digital delight! Get the new ComicScene a week early
If there is one issue of ComicScene Magazine you buy in digital make it this one, Issue 11, out tomorrow, Thursday 12th December – one week before the print issue!
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The Comedy Women in Print Prize includes Published Humorous Graphic Novels category
The Comedy Women in Print (CWIP) Prize, the UK and Ireland’s first prize to shine a light on witty women, launched earlier this year with a call for submissions for 2020. The deadline for entries is Monday 2nd March 2020… Read More ›
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Festive Treats galore, and more, on their way from 2000AD!
Prog 2161, the latest issue of 2000AD, with a cover by Nick Percival is on sale now in all good comic shops and newsagents, a warm up to next week when, alongside Judge Dredd Megazine 415, we get the release… Read More ›
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Daylight Rubbery! Boris Johnson immortalised as a Donald Trump puppet
Elections of any kind inevitably result in some great cartoons, from all sides of the political spectrum. We’ve seen a lot of them in the run-up to tomorrow’s general election in the UK, so it’s no surprise, then, that cartoonist… Read More ›
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Union Jack Jackson returns in Commando comic, out this week
Brand new issues of Commando – Issues 5287 – 5290 – are out this week, and include the teased release of a revival of another popular DC Thomson comic character, Union Jack Jackson, who first appeared in The Hotspur but… Read More ›
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Egmont Publishing celebrates Ryan’s World, its biggest launch of 2019
As the year draws to a close, Egmont Publishing, pocket.watch and Sunlight Entertainment are celebrating the incredible success of one of Egmont’s 2019 magazine launches, Ryan’s World, a title based on Ryan Kaji, the eight-year old star of the Ryan’s World… Read More ›
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Holy Caped Crusader! INFINITY Magazine heads “Bat” to the 1960s!
Artist Pete Wallbank has kindly shared his the full Batman cover for Issue 24 of Infinity magazine, on sale soon, inspired by the 1960s TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward. All 120 episodes from the 1960s live action Batman… Read More ›
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Brian Bolland illustrators Special On Sale Now
Available now from Book Palace is their latest illustrators Special Edition – a quarterly magazine that presents the world’s finest illustrators – and this time out the focus is on 2000AD and DC Comics artist Brian Bolland. And it looks… Read More ›
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Marvel Comics #1 sells for record $1.26 Million, first ever “Judge Dredd” for $90,000
The finest known copy of Marvel Comics #1 sold for $1,260,000 (£95,7530) on 21st November in Dallas, Texas to lead Heritage Auctions’ record-setting Comics & Comic Art auction to a staggering $14,936,295 (£11,350,762). A Brian Bolland page from Killing Joke sold for… Read More ›
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Despite gloom and doom for some comic shops, another British store is expanding
Amid all the doom and gloom about the high street and comic retailer woes, it’s great to hear that Eastbourne’s Scorch Comics is relocating and expanding in time for Christmas, with a big launch day planned for this Saturday, 14th… Read More ›
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Meet “Chuff” – and Ben Racey, British Rail superhero!
Regular readers of downthetubes will recall how earlier this year we reported on Britain’s National Railways’ foray into superheroes with safety-conscious Captain Caution, back in the 1980s – but he wasn’t their only costumed crusader!