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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New 2000 AD, Judge Dredd Megazine out this week
Nick Percival provides the cover for 2000 AD Prog 2158 on sale this Wednesday, an issue of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic offering a scintillating smorgasbord if strip action…
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Draw Spider-Man for Maisy, and support the work of Read for Good
Spurred by the story of four-year-old Spider-Man and Elsa fan and avid book reader Maisy on BBC Children in Need, who is being treated for cancer, comics artist Neil Roche is asking comic artists to donate drawings of the Marvel superhero to charity Read for Good, to cheer young patients’ day
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In Review: Rain by Mary and Bryan Talbot
By Mary and Bryan Talbot Published by Jonathan Cape Set against the backdrop of the disastrous 2015 floods in northern England, it seems more than timely to re-read Rain this weekend, after the recent floods that have impacted on so… Read More ›
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Down the Rabbit Hole: Alice in Wonderland, illustrated by A.H. Watson
Here’s some beautiful colour plates from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by A. H. Watson
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New ComicScene out next week, offers free pull out comic
On sale Thursday 21st November, ComicScene Issue 10 features seven new comic strips behind a Judge Dredd cover by John Charles, including four strips in a free 24 page pull out Corker! comic. The idea is comic fans can pull… Read More ›
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In Review: Once Upon a Time in France
An international bestseller with over one million copies sold, the French series Once Upon a Time in France, collected here in one omnibus edition, has won the BDGest’Art Best Scenario Award, BDGest’Arts Album of the Year, and Angouleme International Comics Festival Best Series Award, among many others… and I’m not surprised, because it’s a truly astonishing piece of work, on many levels
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Adam Hughes joins growing Portsmouth Comic Con 2020 guest list
Portsmouth Comic Con – International Festival of Comics has announced multiple Eisner, Harvey and Inkpot award-winning and New York Times best-selling author, Adam Hughes, to its increasingly impressive Artists Alley line-up for 2020 sponsored by Catawiki. The largest event of… Read More ›
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23red and Network Rail to reveal “Eighteen” rail safety comic at MCM’s Comic Con Birmingham
Behaviour change agency 23red has announced the redesign of its multi-award-winning film Eighteen, created in partnership with Network Rail to highlight the dangers of electrified railways. The film has been reworked into a 32-page comic book and will launch at… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast – Festival Round Up!
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, team members Nikki Bates, Ian Loxam, Pete Taylor, Mike Williams and Tom Stewart get together and discuss the recent Festival weekend in full. Pete discusses his time behind… Read More ›
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Panini Comics “Mighty World of Marvel” breathes its last – for now
Panini Comics UK has just announced the closure if the latest incarnation of Mighty World of Marvel, on the same day its latest issue goes on sale. “Hi, Marvelites”, the company announced along with details of Issue 22 on its… Read More ›
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Thrillpower Overload! This Week’s 2000AD, Operation Overlord and more upcoming Rebellion releases
There are some terrific new releases out from Rebellion Publishing this week and in coming weeks and months, including this week’s 2000 AD, sporting a great cover by Cliff Robinson, coloured by Dylan Teague. Without further ado, let’s get down… Read More ›
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Futurequake Press Recent Releases offer huge range of indie talent
Two recently-released Futurequake Press titles – Zarjaz #35 and FQP’s latest edition of their ace horror anthology, Something Wicked #2019 – are now available from the British independent comics publishers web site
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Sneak Peek: “Doctor Who: Ground Zero” Collection, out in December
Panini have released the cover of the upcoming Doctor Who comic collection Ground Zero featuring art by David Roach and James Offredi, and shared some more details of what’s included with downthetubes – and some of the newly remastered art…. Read More ›
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Italian Comic Heroes heading for the big and little screen (and an intriguing Batman crossover project)
Production on Dampyr, the first film of a new independent vampire franchise, began last month based on the comic series published in Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore since 2000, created by Mauro Boselli and Maurizio Colombo. But it isn’t the only… Read More ›
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Savage Skies and Cycling Heroes: New Commando comics on sale this week
Brand new issues of war comic Commando (Issues 5279 – 5282) are on sale soon from DC Thomson Media. Here’s the intel, hot from our codebreakers… Commando 5279 – Home of Heroes: A Boy Goes To War Story: Iain McLaughlin… Read More ›
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Silent Running, Thundercats prints and more from Vice Press
Thought Bubble this weekend saw ace print house Vice Press show off a range of limited edition posters – and some are now on general sale, with more to be released next week
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Out This Week: “Our Encounters with Evil” by Mike Mignola and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Out in comic shops tomorrow, here’s some pages from Dark Horse Comics original graphic novel Our Encounters with Evil: Adventures of Professor J.T. Meinhardt and his Assistant Mr. Knox. The highly anticipated book is the sequel to the acclaimed graphic… Read More ›
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2020 Toy of the Year Awards Finalists Revealed
The US Toy Association has unveiled 114 toy and game finalists for the prestigious 2020 Toy of the Year Awards, which include Barbie, Marvel character figures, LEGO‘s Stranger Things sets, Meccano, Pokémon, Power Rangers and more. Known as the “Oscars”… Read More ›
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Gosh Comics to host Gilbert Shelton signing later this month
London’s Gosh Comics will host a signing with legendary comics creator Gilbert Shelton on Saturday 23rd November 2019
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Cartoonist Ken Reid’s Centenary celebrated with special Power Pack print offer
18th December 2019 would have been comic artist Ken Reid’s 100th birthday, and to celebrate this special occasion, Irmantas Povilaika, publisher of the brilliant Power Pack of Ken Reid books, is offering a Christmas gift to fans who still haven’t bought the two beautifully presented collections.