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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Awesome Reads launches at San Diego Comic-Con, Richard Dinnick announced as Director of Publishing
Awesome Media & Entertainment, the IP and production company founded by writer-producer Jeff Norton, is launching a new graphic novel studio after the successful launch of its fiction publishing imprint Awesome Reads last year – and prolific comics writer Richard… Read More ›
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Apollo 11 at 50: The Race to the Moon – The Journey to the Moon
50 years ago today, Apollo 11 and its crew were on the first day of their journey from Earth orbit to lunar orbit. As much as science fiction stories suggest that space travel is fast, in reality the distances involved… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival graphic novel launches revealed
This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October in Kendal, will see the launch of several new graphic novels, including Barking by Lucy Sullivan from Unbound, commissioned by the organisation. The weekend-long event in Kendal will also see a quick… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Podcast chats BREAKS 2 with artist Emma Vieceli
This week, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival podcast welcomes back artist Emma Vieceli, who pops on the show to talk about her new book, Breaks 2 Special Edition, currently funding on Kickstarter, a young adult drama, LGBTQ and romance story…. Read More ›
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The Clangers celebrate 50th anniversary, limited edition Peter Firmin print released
![Clangers - "Once in a Blue Moon [Maybe Twice]" by Peter Firmin](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Clangers-Once-in-a-Blue-Moon.jpg)
Independent media group and rights owner Coolabi Group is celebrating 50 years since the first transmission of Clangers in 1969, with the launch of a new third series of the BAFTA-winning show. The company is running a run of special… Read More ›
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Apollo 11 at 50: Take Off!
50 years ago today, Apollo 11 and its crew of three – Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins – blasted off from Pad 39A at Cape Canaveral. 10 years ago on downthetubes, Jeremy Briggs wrote a 40th anniversary day-by-day… Read More ›
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Beano Time Travellers head to Mottisfont, Hampshire!
This summer, much-loved Beano characters are setting up home at Mottisfont, in Hampshire, for a vibrant new exhibition exploring 80 years of mischief and mayhem!
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Rare Ron Turner original art up for auction next month
Here’s something very unexpected coming up for auction at Heritage Auctions next month – a classic piece of vintage Ron Turner book cover art from the 1950s
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Doctor Who: The Edge of Time VR game to get Comic-Con launch
BBC Studios has partnered with Oculus on a feature-length Doctor Who VR videogame
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Apollo 11 at 50: The Race to the Moon celebrated in British comics
50 years ago today, the three astronauts making up the crew of Apollo 11, Command Module Pilot Mike Collins, Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin and Mission Commander Neil Armstrong were preparing for their launch on a Saturn V rocket from Pad 39A at Cape Canaveral in Florida
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David Lloyd celebrates 30 Years of V for Vendetta finale at San Diego Comic-Con
David Lloyd, today the publisher of the award-winning Aces Weekly digital anthology, Has confirmed he will be of of hundreds of comic creators at San Diego Comic-Con – and celebrating the 30th anniversary of the publication of the final issue… Read More ›
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The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists exhibition opens in Leicester
The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists exhibition has just opened at New Walk Museum in Leicester, offering not just an insight into the art and the many books published, but a visual history of 20th Century Britain in microcosm…. Read More ›
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Latest London Film and Comic Con offers large comic creator line-up
Alongside numerous film and TV actors, celebrities and much more, the upcoming London Film and Comic Con has a huge roster of comic creators attending its next show at Olympia later this month
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Amnesty International launches superhero-styled #SendBackUp Human Rights Defenders campaign
Inspired by Marvel and DC Superheroes, Amnesty UK have created a unique and inspiring take on a superhero collective – ‘The Human Rights Defenders’, aiming to spotlight the work of real life heroes battling for their rights worldwide. Passion is their power, and human rights for all is their mission – and the latest issue of Amnesty magazine features them in an eight page insert, with art by Marvel and DC artist Neil Edwards.
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Sassy Smart Women of Pre-Super Hero Comics in the Spotlight at San Diego Comic-Con
Before Batman and Superman were even a glimmer in Bill Finger and Jerry Siegel’s eyes, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson created National Allied Publications, which would then go on to become DC Comics; one of the largest comic publishers in the world. Last year, Hermes Press released DC Comics Before Superman: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s Pulp Comics, written by his grand-daughter, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson. Some of that history will be in the spotlight at a panel titled “Sassy Smart Women of Pre-Super Hero Comics”at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con…
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Latest Strontium Dog-inspired Dogbreath out now!
The latest issue of the longest-running 2000AD fanzine – Dogbreath, from FutureQuake Press, positively demands your attention, not least for its stunning cover by Colin MacNeil – and the more so because it includes a strip written by Marvel and… Read More ›
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ICE Birmingham postponed until 2020
Top British comics event ICE Birmingham has been postponed until 2020, organisers have announced. Initially planned for the deferment is due to health problems, director Shane Chebsey has explained, postponing the event until 19th September 2020. The venue has not… Read More ›
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Andersonic Issue 25 goes “Countdown”, interviews Thunderbirds puppet sculptor Joy Cuff
Issue 25 of the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson-inspired Andersonic zine has just been published, sporting a wonderful homage cover by Richard Farrell to the classic, sadly short-lived SF comic Countdown, which would morph into the longer-running Countdown and TV Action,… Read More ›
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Spirit of the Pharaoh graphic novel lays ground for new feature film
Not content with developing To the Death with Geoff Senior and reinventing a host of British classic comic heroes with artist Simon Coleby for Rebellion’s The Vigilant saga, writer Simon Furman has also been busy turning Egyptian mythology on its… Read More ›
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New World Of Dinosaur Roar! magazine launches soon from Signature Publishing
Specialist children’s publisher Signature Publishing – publishers of Dinosaur Action, My Little Pony, Transformers and more – has picked up the licence to publish The World Of Dinosaur Roar! magazine, working with Nurture Rights. Aimed at pre-schoolers aged 3-5 years,… Read More ›