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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Celebrating Scatterbrook: “Scatterbrook Days”, a Moving Tribute to “Worzel Gummidge”
2019 marks the 40th Anniversary of the TV series Worzel Gummidge starring Jon Pertwee as the scarecrow scallywag, and the centenary of the much-loved Jon Pertwee himself. To celebrate, Ten Acre Films took a trip to the countryside with some… Read More ›
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Rob Davis chats eagerly awaited “Book of Forks” with Lakes Festival Podcast
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast team chat to comic creator Rob Davis in their latest episode, creator of the abstract adventure trilogy that began with the British Comic-Award-winning The Motherless Oven, continued with The Can Opener’s Daughter and… Read More ›
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Young artist helps to raise funds to save the Amazon rainforest
Young artist Matylda-Mai McCormack Sharp has joined many creators worldwide, putting her talents to inspiring use, in an effort to aid efforts to protect the rainforests and wildlife endangered by the fires currently raging in the Amazon
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Major Mœbius exhibition heads to Germany’s Max Ernst Museum Brühl
Germany’s LVR Max Ernst Museum Brühl is hosting a major retrospective celebrating the visionary visual worlds of French comic creator Jean Giraud (1938-2012), known worldwide as “Mœbius”, from 15th September until February 2020
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Thunder Road Touring Theatre’s “The Body Snatcher” opens in October
Harrogate-based Thunder Road Touring Theatre‘s new touring co-production The Body Snatcher opens on the 23rd October – and they have a fantastic poster to promote their UK tour, created by Loose Nut Studio. The Body Snatcher is the company’s most… Read More ›
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downthetubes “Create a Troll” Art Competition
downthetubes Art Competition: Win a copy of Spike Greenwood’s “The Oxford Trollomicus”
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Ian Kennedy’s “Great War Dundee” cover revealed
Ian Kennedy’s cover art for the upcoming free Great War Dundee Comic has been unveiled, featuring “Ragtime Soldier”, a character created by Pat Mills, with art by Gary Welsh and Phillip Vaughan
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Transmission Vamp! FANSCENE Issue 3 e-zine celebrates Vampirella, and much more
FANSCENE Issue 3, the latest Issue of the zine edited by artist David Hathaway-Price dedicated to all things comic zine, is available now, as a free PDF format fanzine
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In Memoriam: 2000AD and Sonic the Comic Artist Nigel Dobbyn
I’m very saddened to report the sudden passing of 2000AD and Sonic the Comic artist Nigel Dobbyn, a comic creator whose work I very much admired. He was just 56. Via fellow artist Nigel Kitching, Nigel’s wife, Sue, tells us… Read More ›
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WebFind: Charming Mini Wall Art from StickersfromLola
These wonderful wall stickers by StickersfromLola are genius – hand-painted in the Cotswolds – mini murals that could be a wonderful storytelling aid, helping stir creative young minds and infuse a little magic into your house! Many designs come in… Read More ›
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Marvel’s Thor spotted alongside fracking protestors in Lancashire!
Residents of Blackpool have been joking about Thor causing the tremors felt in the area – so Madame Tussauds Blackpool decided to take him out to the fracking front line to see what all the fuss was about. Thor’s wax… Read More ›
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Fan Fiction Avengers UK Recap released ahead of new story
This Saturday, 31st August 2019, the not-for-profit Marvel UK and British media culture inspired Defenders UK project returns with Issue 4 of its latest series, available to read for free on Facebook, but first, why not catch up with the series mashing Marvel mayhem with Doctor Who, Tommy Cooper, and much more so far?
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Be Ready for the Etherington Brothers next Kickstarter!
If you’re an aspiring artist, comic artist or cartoonist, then you probably already have Lorenzo Etherington’s hugely popular, utterly brilliant How To Think When You Draw Books… and if you haven’t got them, there’s good news! There will be another chance to get your hands on copies, as part of a new crowdfunding campaign for Lorenzo’s equally talented brother Robin Etherington’s How to Write book, launching in October!
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London’s House of Illustration seeks Illustrator in Residence for 2020
London’s House of Illustration is seeking applications for its sixth Illustrator in Residence, so if you’re a designer or illustrator up for the challenge of creating an ambitious body of work that challenges perceptions of what illustration can be, apply… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2019: An Interview with Rob Williams
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 writer Rob Williams, whose works include “Judge… Read More ›
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Commando Comics to mark 80th anniversary of World War Two with Invasion: Poland
Commando Comics has announced Issue 5261 Invasion: Poland, a special one-off story focussing on Poland’s defence against the German invasion to commemorate 80 years since the beginning of World War Two
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Meet Captain Britain, 2099!
Marvel’s Excalibur returns to comic shop shelves in October, and #2, on sale in November, and on offer will be a variant cover featuring a 2099 version of Captain Britain, part of a crossover event celebrating the “2099” Marvel Universe we first saw back in the 1990s
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Judge Dredd features in latest Back Issue magazine, a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special
The latest edition of Back Issue magazine, available now, is a Sci-Fi Superheroes Special, leading with in-depth looks at Jim Starlin’s space-spanning Dreadstar and 2000AD’s dystopian lawman Judge Dredd.
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10,000 “Garfield” strips by Jim Davis head for Heritage Auctions sale
A trove of more than 10,000 pieces of the original art for Jim Davis’ iconic Garfield comic strip, with daily strips valued upwards of $500 (£400+) each, and Sunday strips considerably more, will be offered exclusively through Heritage Auctions over… Read More ›
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In Review: Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 2
Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 2 Writer: Jody Houser Artists: Rachael Stott, Roberta Ingranata Publisher: Titan Comics Softcover, $16.99/£13.99 Out: Now ISBN: 9781785866913 The Book: Best-selling comics writer Jody Houser and fan-favourite artist Rachael Stott bring you the second… Read More ›