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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Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse storms UK’s home entertainment Official Film Chart
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse swings five places up to Number One on the Official Film Chart detailing top UK home entertainment sales across Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital Download, after a tight battle with Mary Poppins Returns. Following its release on… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Podcast probes the work of Harvey Kurtzman with artist Brad Brooks
Offering a slightly different episode, on Episode 51 0f the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast finds Pete Taylor chatting to freelance designer, comics creator and author Brad Brooks about EC and MAD creator Harvey Kurtzman, the comic making process,… Read More ›
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Oxford Comics Network probes The Holocaust in comics, also announces Tom Gauld event
The Oxford Comics Network has announced a new series of events, starting on the 7th May with “Early Holocaust Narratives in Comics”. Philip Smith of the University of The Bahamas seeks to examine representations of the death camps, particularly in… Read More ›
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Phil Elliott and Robert Wells “Malty Heave” comic gets Portsmouth Comic Con launch
Malty Heave #1 is a new indie comic from Phil Elliott and Robert Wells, launching at both Portsmouth Comic Con this coming weekend, and at Ace Comics in Colchester, where Phil will be signing for Free Comic Book Day. Published… Read More ›
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Klep! “Cosmic Comics” is a Kevin O’Neill comics miscellany that may burn your eyeballs!
Independent publisher Hibernia has teamed up with the Treasury of British Comics to publish Cosmic Comics, a terrific, eye-searing collection of legendary comic creator Kevin O’Neill’s formative work on such titles as 2000AD, Lion, Tornado and Starlord
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A bevy of Jeff Bevan covers for Commando, out this week
Pirates in disguise on the cold seas, airmen trapped in a secret U-boat den, a dispatch runner behind enemy lines in World War One and a day of doom for one British naval lieutenant! It’s all going on in brand new issues of Commando from DC Thomson (Issues 5223 – 5226), out this Thursday and available through all good newsagents.
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International Graphic Novel Conference to see launch of new Dementia-focused comic and Laydeez do Comics Manchester
Comics archivist and internationally-respected advocate of the form Paul Gravett is giving a Keynote Speech at the 2019 International Graphic Novel Conference at Manchester Metropolitan University in June. The Speech is just one of a number of pubic events that are part of a full day of public comic events that are part of the conference, including the launch of There’s No Bus Map for Dementia, a new mini-comic about dementia and a Your Life Stories as Comics workshop from members of Laydeez do Comics, as well as LDC’s first ever Manchester event.
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Two Days back with Doctor Who – A Guest’s Eye View of Capitol IV
Doctor Who may be a worldwide phenomenon unlike any other today, but back in the 1970s, its fandom was small, although growing, and one organisation, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, was at the forefront of celebrating the BBC’s best-known science… Read More ›
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Airboy returns, crowdfunding continues to expand revival from Chuck Dixon and It’s Alive!
Thanks to a hugely successful crowdfunder by publisher It’s Alive!, Chuck Dixon is returning to write Airboy #51, joined by artists Brent McKee (on pencils and inks) and Jok (colour and letters), with a story that picks right up where… Read More ›
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Hellboy: The Board Game Launched worldwide
Mantic Games, in partnership with Dark Horse Comics, have just launched Hellboy: The Board Game, available now in stores worldwide
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Strong showing for British creators in Eisner Award nominees
The nominees for this year’s Eisner Awards have been revealed and include a number of terrific British creators, including John Allison, Jim Campbell, Alex de Campi, Al Ewing, Lee Garbett and Sean Phillips
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Glenrothes Comic Con adds Ian Kennedy to Guest List
Legendary Scottish comic artist Ian Kennedy will be attending Glenrothes Comic Con on Saturday 8th June 2019
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Animation brings family history to life in moving new film, “Irene’s Ghost”
An award-winning documentary featuring the animation expertise of a Northumbria University academic will make its North East debut next weekend. Irene’s Ghost uses animation mixed with filmed footage to tell the story of director Iain Cunningham’s mother Irene, who died when… Read More ›
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Original Cyberman head, Harry Potter set plans, Catweazle scripts up for auction next month
In addition to a massive amount of James Bond-related and rock and pop memorabilia in the upcoming Astons Entertainment & Memorabilia Auction in May, there are Doctor Who and Harry Potter lots that may be of interest – and some… Read More ›
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In Review: Space Ace Issue 12
The final issue of Space Ace Issue 12 – is available now, collecting four adventures of the space hero created by Ron Turner, the artist best known perhaps for his work on “The Daleks” for TV Century 21 – and… Read More ›
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Lazarus artist Michael Lark joins Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2019 line up
US comic artist Michael Lark has just been announced as a guest at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (www.comicartfestival.com – tickets on sale now) exclusively revealed during a quick interview yesterday with John Freeman for BBC Radio Lancashire… Read More ›
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eBay “SMASH Comic” item reveals rare insight into writers and artists working on British comics in the 1960s
Nestling among hundreds of comic lots currently on offer from online eBay auctioneer Phil Comics is a copy of SMASH Issue 8, cover dated 26th March 1966, that some collectors might turn their noses up, because each strip inside has… Read More ›
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ComicScene Issue Three – out now!
The third issue of the award-winning ComicScene is on sale now, in selected high street newsagents and all good comic shops (Thursday 25th April)
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A Bad Day for The Avengers in London… in 1993!
If you think Marvel’s The Avengers were in bad shape at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, you should have seen them at the end of the Lord Mayor’s Parade back in 1993! A chilly November winds cut through capes and skintights like lasers.
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IDW continues the Star Trek: Discovery story with “Aftermath”
Following the shocking events of the Season Two finale, the thrills of the wildly popular Star Trek: Discovery – broadcast on CBS in North America and Netflix across the rest of the globe – continue in a new three-issue comic book miniseries from IDW Publishing, Star Trek: Discovery – Aftermath