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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The77 retro anthology smashes crowdfunding target, expands publication plans
There’s great news for fans of anthology comics this morning, after retro anthology project The77 smashed its relatively modest Kickstarter target within days of launch
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Coming Soon: Moochin’ About with comic creator Tim Quinn in Arnside, Cumbria!
Arnside’s coffee hub Moochin’ About is hosting an evening with comics editor, writer and raconteur Tim Quinn, making an appearance at the Cumbrian cafe in March
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“Friday Foster” collection instigated by Javier Meson and David Moreu for Spanish publisher Norma Editorial
Following up on yesterday’s downthetubes post revealing Portland-based Ablaze Publishing is to release a collection of the ground-breaking 1970s US Sunday newspaper strip Friday Foster, co-created by James Bond newspaper strip writer Jim Lawrence and Spanish artist Jorge Longarón, with art also by Gray Morrow, comes the information that Barcelona-based Norma Editorial will be the first to publish the collection, in Spanish.
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Avery Hill’s Katriona Chapman, Gustavo Vargas chat creating comics in new Lakes Festival Podcast
The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast features chats with the creator of Let Me In, Katriona Chapman and comic creator Gustavo Vargas, creator of the independent dystopian SF thriller comic, Manu.
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In Review: Stig and Tilde: Vanisher’s Island/ Leader of the Pack
If you like your Young Adult graphic novels crammed with adventure, mystery and just a touch of quirky fantasy, then you should check out Stig and Tilde: Vanisher’s Island and Leader of the Pack by Max de Radiguès, both available now from NoBrow…
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PULP trailer teases new graphic novel from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Image Comics have released a specially drawn trailer for the original graphic novel tale, PULP, on its way to us from this May from the multi-Eisner Award winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
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Have you entered Myriad’s First Graphic Novel Competition?
The deadline for entries to the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition 2020 – launched at last year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, which publisher Corinne Pearlman discussed on a previous Festival Podcast, is fast approaching. The competition is for a graphic… Read More ›
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Friday Foster, first nationally syndicated comic strip across the US with a black female lead character, collected at last
There’s terrific news for fans of the stunning 1970s US newspaper strip, Friday Foster, this week. 50 years since it debuted, an English language collection of the is on its way from Ablaze Publishing, edited by Christopher Marlon
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Vice Press offers limited edition “The Prisoner” print by Dan Orgill, new badges from Florey
Vice Press head back to The Village this week, with a brand new art print and limited edition badges inspired by the classic 1960s TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. On offer is Canadian artist Dan Orgill‘s first print… Read More ›
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A Case for Comic Collection: Sally’s “The Cat Girl” with art by Giorgio Giorgetti
With over one hundred years of comics and associated titles now part of what could be collected and published by Rebellion, you can imagine there have been plenty of suggestions from fans of both their boys and girls comics – and a recent one was “The Cat Girl”, who appeared in the 1970s comic Sally…
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Kadokawa Corporation launches international EJ ANiME STORE for Animé and Manga fans
The Kadokawa Corporation, known as the entertainment company behind globally popular works including Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World and Sword Art Online, has announced the opening of the EJ ANiME STORE, an online store where people living… Read More ›
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Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s Resident Alien gets Omnibus Collection, TV show launches this summer on SYFY
Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s Resident Alien is getting collected in a value priced omnibus paperback collection, capitalising on the upcoming SYFY show starring Alan Tudyk, based on the brilliant SF comic, which is due to hit the small screen… Read More ›
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Root and Branch Overhaul for the downthetubes UK and Ireland Comic Shop Map
We’ve given the downthetubes.net British and Irish Comic Shop Map a major overhaul this week, updating a lot of Comic Shop details and, sadly, removing a large number of stores that have closed but also highlighting those battling on –… Read More ›
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New Paragon anthology delivers “Bulldog” tales and more
I’m dreadfully late to the party on this one, but in case you missed it Issue 24 of the ace comic anthology title Paragon is available now, both in print via Comicsy and digital format via Lulu
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Chris Weston “Judge Dredd” art offered on eBay
If you’re a fan of the art of 2000AD artist Chris Weston, you may be interested in this Judge Dredd art he’s currently selling on eBay – but with nine days to go and the top bid already at £320, you may need deep pockets…
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Creating Comics: An Interview with the team behind “The77”, a new retro anthology comic
The77 is a brand new, retro anthology comic currently seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter that aims to be a fantastic quarterly comic showcase for UK’s emerging talent, present day professionals and heroes from your childhood, and downthetubes caught up with its… Read More ›
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George Takei’s “They Called Us Enemy” scoops Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
They Called Us Enemy, the New York Times-bestselling graphic memoir of actor and campaigner George Takei, published by Top Shelf Productions, was announced today as the winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature by the Asian/Pacific American… Read More ›
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Learn to Draw Caricatures with MAD Magazine’s Tom Richmond
Top MAD Magazine cartoonist Tom Richmond is running two workshops in Europe this summer, one in Vienna and one in Dublin
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Marvel UK’s “Strip” celebrated, 30 years on
In his latest regular “Hatch, Match & Dispatch” features on major British comics anniversaries on his brilliant Rusty Staples blog, comics writer Michael Carroll notes the upcoming 30th anniversary of Strip, published by Marvel UK
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Cover Spotlight: Best of 2000 AD #1 – 4
As the countdown to the launch of Rebellion’s new Best of 2000 AD title continues, here’s all four covers for the first issues, revealed last year – but perhaps you need further encouragement to order…