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 colour edition of early Strontium Dog stories announced for 2020
The earliest adventures of one of 2000 AD’s greatest characters – Strontium Dog – are to be reprinted in colour for the first time in decades next year.
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Doctor Who: Panel to Panel probes Doctor Who Magazine founder Dez Skinn
Since today is the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who Magazine, what better way for host Jeremy Bement to celebrate than cover the latest news from New York Comic Con on his hugely enjoyable Doctor Who Panel to Panel podcast –… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, Doctor Who Magazine! I’m honoured to have played a part…
Today is the cover date for the first issue for Doctor Who Weekly, launched by Marvel UK in October 1979 – and I’m very proud to have played a small part in the continuing adventures amazing publication known today as… Read More ›
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Fan The Flame Concepts launches “Red Card”
Fan The Flame Concepts LLC, a US independent comic and graphic novel producer, has announced the first issues of Neymar Jr. Comics’ latest science fiction title Red Card, the first new comic series to debut on their enhanced digital comics… Read More ›
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Garth Ennis writes new “Rat Pack” story for 2020 Battle Special
The latest 2000AD Thrillcast offers a recording of the war comics panel from New York Comic Con
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UK News Stand Snapshot – 10th October 2019
New British news stand comics / magazine on sale this week include 2000AD 2152, Action Combat 106, Action GTX 109, Astonishing Spider-Man 38, Beano 4006 and more…
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Pin Some Words On A Strip! Aces Weekly challenges readers to script a comic…
In Week 7 of the digital comics anthology Aces Weekly Volume 41 (just past the title’s seventh birthday), the team are offering you a little party fun! Yes, a competition, like Pin The Tail On The Donkey, except this is… Read More ›
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A Comics Curiosity: The 1990s British “Smurfs Comic”
With a major exhibition dedicated to Peyo’s The Smurfs part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, running into November in Kendal, what better time to step back to the 1990s, when Maida Vale-based DeVere Entertainment published a British Smurfs comic?
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Danish artist Jacob Thybo joins Lakes Festival line-up
Danish comic artist Jacob Thybo – creator of Arminius, a graphic novel about a German revolt against the Romans, and a new story, Hemmingway’s Cats, released this month, is joining the Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up this weekend in Kendal,… Read More ›
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Blazing into newsagents today to you – 2000 AD Prog 2152
There’s rollicking adventure on all fronts this week in 2000 AD Prog 2152, an issue packed with peril for Judge Dredd and more, featuring a sizzling cover from Cliff Robinson
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Hammer Films’ unmade “Vampirella” to be performed live in London
Vampirella, one of the most famous films that horror studio Hammer Films never made, will be performed live in a production featuring one of the studio’s most famous stars, Caroline Munro, later this month
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Tom Foster joins the ranks of Commando Comics artists
2000 AD artist Tom Foster has provided the cover for an upcoming issue of DC Thomson Media’s Commando war comic, joining the ranks of artists such as Ian Kennedy, Graeme Neil Reid and Neil Roberts
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Lakes Festival Focus 2019: Comic Artist Staz Johnson
A chat with Staz Johnson, a professional comic artist for more than 30 years
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: “Bods” by Greenspike hits target in just six hours
After the crowdfunding success of the illustrated guide to the hidden world of the trolls of Oxford, The Oxford Trollomicus, it’s great to see the first novel set in the same world, Bods, has smashed its target goal within six hours of launch
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Art for first published “Judge Dredd” story in upcoming auction
The complete art for the first printed “Judge Dredd” strip from 2000 AD Prog 2, largely drawn by Mick McMahon – five pages in total – is one of the lots in the upcoming Heritage Auctions Comics, Comic Art and Animation Art auction in Dallas in November
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Berger Books announces new Peter Milligan project, “Tomorrow”
Berger Books has announced a shocking new story for 2020, Tomorrow – a five-issue comic series by critically acclaimed and legendary writer Peter Milligan, breakout artist Jesús Hervas and dynamic colourist James Devlin. When a Russian computer virus jumps the species… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2019: Comic Artist Rune Ryberg
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2019 is with Rune Ryberg, a Danish comic book artist… Read More ›
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Tenth and Thirteenth Doctor crossover kicks off Titan’s Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Year Two
Titan Comics is to publish a brand-new crossover Doctor Who team-up comic in early 2020, when the Tenth Doctor and the Thirteenth Doctor will join forces to save the universe from the Weeping Angels, with a little help from companion… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Mary Boys
What’s not to love about an irreverent comic centring on four brothers who gain superhuman abilities from getting drunk? Because that’s exactly what you’re being offered in The Mary Boys by comics writer and artist Karl Stephan… and it looks great.
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Latest Phil Comics eBay auction offers complete run of Action, and more
There are some 200 vintage comic listings in the latest Phil Comics eBay auction this week including the full set of Action (1976-77) in three bound volumes, #1-250 of 2000AD, issues of wartime Beano and Dandy, various annuals and a 1970s/80s IPC collection including 20 or so free gifts!