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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“A-Force”, a new action squad, debuts in Commando
Brand new issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando (Issues 5275 – 5278) are on sale in all good newsagents tomorrow, Thursday 31st October – and from various digital platforms.
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Exclusive Cover Reveal: Dan Dare – The Audio Adventures Volume Three Cover Art by Brian Williamson
B7 Media have announced plans to crowdfund a third volume of its critically-acclaimed Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures, coinciding with Eagle comic hero Dan Dare’s 70th anniversary in 2020 – and we can exclusively reveal the cover art for the… Read More ›
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The Oxford Trollomicus – Our Competition Winners!
The winners of our recent competition to win copies of the smashing illustrated book, The Oxford Trollomicus, created by Spike Greenwood, were “The Rockwool Troll” by Joakim Järnström (all the way from Finland!) and “Jee Bee Lee, Troll Op-Orator of Troutbeck Bridge” by… Read More ›
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Edinburgh’s Scottish Gallery hosts “Mythos” exhibition by Paul Reid
Edinburgh’s Scottish Gallery hosts “Myhos“, an exhibition by the masterful Paul Reid this November, opening on Wednesday. Paul Reid is a artist who uses his skill to create a world which is both beautiful and uncompromising in its vision. He’s… Read More ›
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Beano readers name PM Boris Johnson “ghastliest figure of 21st Century”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been named “ghastliest figure of 21st Century” by two thirds of British parents and children in a Beano poll – and earns his place in 2019’s top Halloween costumes for kids alongside The Joker… Read More ›
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Comic Creator Spotlight: “Skid Solo” artist John Vernon
As it’s a Formula 1 weekend, downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf is marking the event on his Boys Adventure Comics Blog with a look back at an earlier era of motor-racing with this oddity – “The Champions” – a tie-in comic with Matchbox toys sponsorship of motor racing legend, John Surtees and Team Surtees, in the early 1970s, featuring art by “Skid Solo” artist John Vernon
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Death’s Head Omnibus – Contents Confirmed, Yes?
Marvel’s January 2020 solicitations include the much-anticipated Death’s Head Omnibus TPB among them – a delightfully chunky, 416-page collection of (almost) all the early Death’s Head greatest ‘hits’, scheduled for release on 3rd March, which we trailed earlier this year.
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Legendary artist Catherine Jeffrey Jones honoured at Lucca Comics and Games Convention
If you’re heading to the Lucca Comics and Games Convention in Italy next week (30th October – 3rd November), then you might want to catch the screening of the documentary Better Things: The Life and Choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones,… Read More ›
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Zombies stalk Commando – as British war comic goes Horror for Halloween
Releasing in time for Halloween, Commando is bringing a new menace to its pages – a Nazi zombie horde! The fear is very real in Commando 5277, “Commandos vs Zombies“… a spine-tingling story which features a team of commandos facing… Read More ›
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New “Beano Booktopia” book subscription service launched
Beano has today launched Beano Booktopia – a new book subscription service for kids offering newly published books across a wide range of authors and genres. The tailor-made programme will include fiction and non-fiction books specifically chosen by Beano experts based… Read More ›
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Italian auction house Urania offers art by Frank Hampson, Milo Manara and many more
The clock is ticking down to the latest auction by the Italian Urania Auction House, which features some stunning selected works of major international artists from the end of the 19th century to the present day.
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Robert Kirkman’s Thief of Thieves: Season One announced for Nintendo Switch
Rival Games, the critically acclaimed developer behind Alien: Blackout, and multi-platform entertainment company Skybound Entertainment have announce that Thief of Thieves: Season One arrives on the eShop for Nintendo Switch on 12th November 2019. Based on the award winning comic… Read More ›
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You have under a month to enter the 2019 Dundee Comics Prize
With a theme of ‘Water Worlds’, the hunt is on for entries for the 2019 Dundee Comics Prize, but you’ll have to be quick to submit three-page strips for the chance to win £300, because the deadline is under a month away
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Ron Embleton and Peter Jackson art up for sale at Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is back up and running after being hit by a malware attack last Friday, forcing them to delay some auctions, but to celebrate its speedy return we thought we’d promote two items of British comic art, one by Captain Scarlet artist Ron Embleton, and the other by Peter Jackson,
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Slam, Bam! Rebellion set to deliver a stack of Comic Specials in 2020
Legendary comics Battle and Action are back as part of a roster of twelve new special titles for 2020 from Rebellion Publishing, including the return of the popular Cor and Buster Special, which debuted earlier this year, as the Cor!!… Read More ›
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downthetubes nominated in inaugural ComicScene Awards
We’re delighted to have been selected as one the final nominations for the inaugural ComicScene Awards 2019. Thanks to everyone who submitted nominations for us in the category of “Best Comic Media” – we’re included among some fantastic great sites… Read More ›
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2020 British Annuals Checklist
Now all this year’s 2020 annuals are on sale – with the Strictly Come Dancing annual released just this week – here’s your guide to what’s on offer in bookshops and supermarkets across the country…
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Last Confession, a short film written by Kev Hopgood
The Last Confession, currently seeking crowdfunding on Greenlit, is a new short, from writer and comic artist Kevin Hopgood and director Dustin Curtis Murphy. Described as a genuinely shocking and frightening tale, it pushes genre and convention to pull the… Read More ›
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Battle’s “Death Squad” by Alan Hebden and Eric Bradbury collected for 2020 release
Rebellion is trailing the release of a collection of Death Squad, the tough war series that began in Battle-Action in July 1980. Written by Alan Hebden and illustrated by Eric Bradbury, with additional stories from at least one Eagle annual by Carlos Ezquerra, the collection is currently scheduled for release in August next year.
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New Poopsie Slime Surprise magazine launches this week
Egmont Publishing has partnered with MGA Entertainment to launch a new children’s magazine, Poopsie Slime Surprise, on sale in UK newsagents from tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd October, aimed at readers aged six to nine