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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Royal Society of Literature launches UK Writers Survey
Are you a graphic novelist? What do you need to flourish professionally? Mentoring? Money? A space to write? Multidisciplinary workshops? Networking opportunities? Then you might just want to complete the UK Writers Survey, a project initiated by the Royal Society of Literature.
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Hannah Berry reveals Comics Laureate plans in new Lakes international Comic Art Festival Podcast
Reaching a terrific milestone with Episode 50, the latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast catches up with the Hannah Berry, who has now taken on the reigns as the UK Comics Laureate, a post she’ll hold for the next… Read More ›
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WebFind: The Legendary Daily Express cartoonist Giles at work – in 1945
British Pathé has posted a short film about Carl Giles, one of Britain’s most-loved newspaper cartoonists, at work in 1945. At this point, Giles was working for Express Newspapers, but some of the very best of the cartoons he produced… Read More ›
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Alberto Breccia Centennial Exhibitions in France and Argentina celebrate an incredible artist
A centennial exhibition celebrating the life and work of the hugely influential comic artist Alberto Breccia will open at the Casa Nacional del Bicentenario in Buenos Aires, Argentina, next month. But if a trip to South America isn’t an option… Read More ›
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Simon Furman and Geoff Senior’s “To the Death” heads to comic stores
To The Death – the new comic book series from Simon Furman and Geoff Senior – is now available to pre-order from all good comic books stores, ahead of its 19th June 2019 on sale date
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Warner asserts copyright over early Captain Marvel appearances
There are a number of comic sites online quite legally republishing digital versions of comics now considered to be in the public domain, based on extensive research and sourcing original copies. One of them is the Digital Comics Museum – run by a team clearly determined to honour contested ownership when companies like Warner Bros. recently asserted rights over early appearances by the original Captain Marvel, first published by Fawcett
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Silent Manga Audition offers publishing opportunities in Japan for international artists
Russian Silent Manga Audition MasterClass member SIDEBURN004 made recently recently, by being the first SMA MasterClass member to debut in a Japanese manga magazine. A work originally conceived by Japanese manga artist Matsuri Midou (Black Terror) for the first Zenon… Read More ›
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Don Harley “Dan Dare” art from early Spaceship Away up for auction
A page of Don Harley‘s original art featuring Eagle‘s Dan Dare, from the story “The Phoenix Mission” published in Spaceship Away Issue 3 published back in 2004, is up for sale on eBay. Offered by Des Shaw, the publisher of… Read More ›
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Bob Wakelin classic games covers art prints now available
Bob Wakelin, the artist behind some of the most iconic cover art of the 1980s, passed away in January last year – but now his family are offering prints of some of his work via Etsy, which left an indelible… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Comic Writer James D. Hudnall
We’re sorry to report the passing of American comics writer and novelist James Hudnall, who died earlier this week aged 61, a day before his 62nd birthday. He had recently been working on a new episode of the fantasy adventure,… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: SHARKS! by Christian Talbot and Sophie Hodge
The eagerly anticipated book of internet sensation The Life of Sharks is finally here – of it will be if folk hunt it down and spear a copy of SHARKS! on Unbound. It’s much nicer than spearing real sharks, which… Read More ›
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First Blade Runner 2019 Covers Revealed
Titan Comics and Alcon Entertainment have unveiled the first covers and further details for Blade Runner 2019 — a brand-new, in canon series set during the exact timeframe of the original Blade Runner film. In the polluted and rain-drenched neo-noir… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast set to go live in a London pub on Free Comic Book Day!
The brilliant indie-comics focused Awesome Comics Podcast are celebrating reaching their milestone 200th episode with a live recording at the Two Chairmen pub in central London on, appropriately enough, Free Comic Book Day – 4th May 2019. Adding to the… Read More ›
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Beano Studios “Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!” gets set for the stage!
Beano Studios is teaming up with the production company Selladoor to create a new musical stage production based on its hit TV show, Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! The family friendly show, is being developed by the company behind the upcoming… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: ComicScene Issue Three, on sale in two weeks!
Issue 3 of ComicScene – released Thursday 25th April – celebrates Free Comic Day on 4th May with a look at the free Funny Pages comic from Rebellion and Doctor Who from Titan Comics, including an interview with creator Jody… Read More ›
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Ladybird Books: ‘How it Works’ running at Reading Museum
An exhibition celebrating the history of Ladybird Books is is currently running at Reading Museum, presented in partnership with the University of Reading, who hold a Special Collection of artwork, and publisher Ladybird
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Scarlet Traces returns to 2000AD this week! Plus, Upcoming Titles News from Rebellion…
2000AD Prog 2126 is on sale now in all good newsagents, UK comic shops and via various digital platforms, with a cracking cover from D’Israeli, marking the return of the alien invaders story “Scarlet Traces” to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!… Read More ›
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Amigo Comics announces “Planet of Daemons” collection
Spanish publisher Amigo Comics will release the first collection of their acclaimed mini-series Planet of the Daemons: The Eye of Lucifer in June, a bewitching story of occult adventure from British creators writer Kevin Gunstone and artist Paul Moore, coloured… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: An Archive Interview with Roy of the Rovers co-creator Frank S. Pepper
The Continuing Adventures of Frank S. Pepper This feature offers the full text of an interview Andrew Darlington conducted with the legendary writer Frank S. Pepper, extracted from a long series of correspondence, exactly as it was published in the… Read More ›
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Re-discovering Vintage Cereal Packets, and how one Star Trek memory still plagues my fuzzy brain
This week’s “Rabbit Hole” mission across the web started with memories of Letraset’s marvellous “Action Transfers” – specifically, Joe 90 “instant transfers” which if memory serves, I acquired through an offer on the back of a cereal packet… and ended… Read More ›