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 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 ›
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Call for Papers: Comics Up Close – New Perspectives in Comic Art
A Call for Papers for Comics Up Close – New Perspectives in Comic Art, the opening event of Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2019 in October, has just been announced by the team from ReOPeN, Lancaster University’s graphic novels and… Read More ›
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Indigo Prime returns to 2000AD, Death Wish collection out in book shops today!
2000AD Prog 2139 crashed into your newsagents yesterday, with an all-new “Indigo Prime” tale debuting this issue – and officially on sale today in all good book shops is Death Wish, a collection from Rebellion of the strip created by… Read More ›
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Rowland Emett’s amazing “Cuckoo Valley” masterpiece goes on display ahead of auction
Rowland Emett, the British artist and inventor, is most famous for his magical flying car and the crackpot machines made for the film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But his largest, most ambitious – and in Emett’s view, his finest work… Read More ›
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New York Times best-selling thriller author James Swallow pens new Commando tale
Hallucinations in the Burmese jungle, dogfights above the curvature of the Earth, betrayals in France, and friends torn apart by World War Two! It’s all happening in the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 5243 – 5246), out soon… Read More ›
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It’s Myne, not a thief’s, Gromit! New Wallace and Gromit anti-fraud cards launched
Myne Cards – a company specialising in credit card-sized devices to place into wallets and purses, which give protection over all contactless cards – has just added Wallace and Gromit cards to its catalogue. Myne Cards are specifically designed to… Read More ›
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Counting down to the new Death’s Head from Marvel!
The countdown has begun to an all-new Death’s Head mini series from Marvel, launching 31st July 2019 in all good comic shops! Starring Death’s Head, originally created by Simon Furman and Geoff Senior in the 1980s, the new series is… Read More ›
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Manchester’s National Football Museum’s 65th anniversary Roy of the Rovers exhibition opens next week
Celebrate the 65th anniversary of Roy of the Rovers with a visit to the dedicated pop-up exhibition at Manchester’s National Football Museum, which opens next week, on Friday 19th July. The Melchester Rovers legend made his first appearance in Tiger… Read More ›
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Swinging Sixties British superhero Johnny Future returns! Collection out next year
Never before reprinted in the UK, 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics publisher Rebellion will publish a complete collection of Johnny Future next year, a stunning superhero strip that appeared in 1960s comic Fantastic, featuring art by the late Luis Bermejo
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Re-decorate your home Eighties style, the Stranger Things way
With Stranger Things Season Three now screening on Netflix, 1980s inspired décor is back in the spotlight. Neon flashes, science fiction movie posters and bold retro-styled furniture are taking centre stage in this cult classic themed room to amp up the nostalgic feel.
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Polar Gear adds Spider-Man-inspired lunch bags to range
Is your younger sibling ready for a Spider-Man: Far Frome Home or Avengers-inspired summer road trip? Polar Gear’s Avengers Spider-Man lunch bag and bottle might be just the thing to brighten that car journey to the coast. You know, without them blasting the caravan in front of you with their super powers, or something
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Florida’s Norton Museum of Art hosts major Dwight M. Cleveland Collection film poster exhibition
If you’re heading to Florida on holiday this summer, then you may want to pop along to the Norton Museum of Art, which is presenting the first, extensive museum exhibition of classic movie posters from one of the most prominent… Read More ›
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Albion: Looking back at Wildstorm’s “British Invasion”
Luke Williams looks back at Wildstorm’s attempted revival of some British comic characters…
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Vault Comics marks Independence Day 2019 with “Free Firsts” offer
Marking US Independence Day yesterday, Vault Comics is offering the first issues of 13 of its favourite series, completely free on its website, including Friendo by Alex Paknadel (Arcadia) and Martin Simmonds (Punks not Dead), and Deep Roots by Dan… Read More ›
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Osprey gets set to launch “Under Fire” graphic novels series in September
Osprey Publishing will launch a new graphic novel series, Under Fire, in September, telling the stories of history’s most dramatic battles and campaigns through the eyes of the men who were there. Offering authentic historical detail combined with vivid illustration… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away 48 sports spiffing John M. Burns cover
The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comic magazine Spaceship Away (Issue 48) is on sale now, sports a great cover and double-page poster by 2000AD artist John M. Burns. Burns best-known work on Dan Dare is for a strip… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: BREAKS 2: Special Edition – Emma Vieceli & Malin Ryden
Emma Vieceli and Malin Ryden have launched a Kickstarter to fund the creation of BREAKS 2: Special Edition, bringing a their young adult drama, LGBTQ and romance story to print. In BREAKS – a book recommended for ages 16 plus,… Read More ›
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WebFind: Love Death and Robots: Beyond The Aquila Rift Concepts
Wojtek Fus, a Freelance Concept Artist at MPC, has shared some of his concepts of an ancient “Surge Point” station featured an episode of the Netflix show, Love Death and Robots, based on a short SF story by British author… Read More ›
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Out Today: 2000AD Prog 2138 (with Prog Rock References!)
I couldn’t help but smile reading the latest episode of this week’s “Judge Dredd” story in 2000AD Prog 2138, because nestling in the story from Kenneth Niemand is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tip of the hat to one of the bands that… Read More ›
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Top Danish comic creators head to 2019 Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the full line up of Danish comic creators heading to Kendal in October, along with guests from Estonia, Finland and Italy – and beyond. Working with the Art Bubble Comics Festival (which next… Read More ›