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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Which British school will write themselves into Roy of the Rovers history?
To celebrate the return of the classic Roy of the Rovers comic, the National Literacy Trust and publisher Rebellion are inviting pupils aged 8 to 12 to get creative and write a club motto for Roy Race’s iconic football team, Melchester Rovers
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Animated “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” heads to Channel 4
Lupus Films has announced that Channel 4 has commissioned the new hand-drawn animated special they are co-producing with HarperCollins Children’s Books UK, of Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea, which will air this Christmas.
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Rebellion’s Keith Richardson talks “Treasury of British Comics” plans, return of “The Vigilant”
There are exciting times ahead for fans of classic British comics as 2000AD publisher Rebellion expands its “Treasury of British Comics” line in 2019, taking full advantage of the huge range of characters and comic titles it now owns, from… Read More ›
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Who’s Who on the Cover of the Cor! & Buster Special
News of Rebellion’s Cor! & Buster Special (out 17th April) has gone down well with downthetubes readers and artist Neil Googe‘s cover brings the classic British comics humour characters bang up to date. But for those of you might be… Read More ›
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Rare “Bella at the Bar” artworks by John Armstrong offered on eBay
Hot on the heels of the launch of a community group celebrating the life and work of Misty artist John Armstrong comes the auction of a comics rarity – some of his original artwork featuring “Bella at the Bar” from… Read More ›
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Beano launches National Jokes Competition for Schools
The Beano has launched a new national joke competition to find Britain’s funniest primary school class. Pupils and teachers (on behalf of pupils) across the UK will be able submit their primary school classes’ top three jokes at www.beano.com/jokes from… Read More ›
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Ken Reid Creepy Creations T-Shirts in the works – vote for your favourite now!
Fans of Frankie Stein and Faceache creator Ken Reid have been clamouring for them, and now Rebellion are delivering t-shirts based on his brilliant “Creepy Creations” – but which design is best?
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Awesome Comics Podcast talks… Awesome Comics!
This week the Awesome Comics Podcast gang – Dan Butcher, Tony Esmond and Vince Hunt – are talking about the work and creation of their anthology series Awesome Comics as Issue Four launches this weekend – and to help them do it, they’re joined by Tom Stewart from the brilliant podcast That Comic Smell
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Sounds Good! ComicScene UK magazine announces Podcast plans, Cam Kennedy interviewed
ComicScene UK – the new monthly magazine dedicated to comics and comic culture – is to launch a fortnightly podcast on Tuesday 5th February, presented by Phillip Vaughn and produced at the University of Dundee
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Robot Archie’s Dutch Adventures as “Der Man van Staal”
Explore Robot Archie’s Dutch adventures!
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Easter Delight! All-new Cor! & Buster Special out in April
We’ll have more on the Cor! & Buster Special out this April from Rebellion soon – there’s plenty to tell you – but for now, here’s an item drawing on the official Previews information for this brand new British humour comic. With… Read More ›
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Life and work of Misty artist John Armstrong celebrated
A colour copy of John Armstrong’s cover for a fan-published special dedicated to girls comic Misty, published in 2006 by A new Facebook group dedicated to British girls comic artist John Armstrong has just gone public with the support of… Read More ›
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When “Trigan Empire” almost went Hollywood
Richard Fleischer, son of animator/producer Max Fleischer, was an American film director known for such films as The Narrow Margin (1952), Fantastic Voyage (1966), Soylent Green (1973) and The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire… Wait, what? I know… Read More ›
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Brand Promotion? New Product to plug? Call a comic artist!
Back in 1984, the corn-based snack food KP Outer Spacers was rebranded as KP Alien Spacers – and to promote them, alongside TV ads, 2000AD and Bogey Man artist Robin Smith was hired to draw a series of advertorial comic… Read More ›
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Eagle Cutaways by Roy Cross recalled in Constant Scale magazine
The latest issue of Constant Scale, the journal of the Airfix Collectors Club, features an article by downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs about the 1950s and 1960s Eagle comic cutaways by artist Roy Cross, the Club’s Honorary President.
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Stunning graphic novel telling origins of the SAS out in September
War comics seem to be getting a new lease of life right now. Following up on DC Thomson’s release of their full colour Commando Presents Ramsey’s Raiders volume, and the serialised release of Battle Presents: Operation Overlord with the latest… Read More ›
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£1.3 million raised by UK comic creators through Kickstarter in 2018
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter PBC has announced that 2018 was a record-breaking year in its Comics category, with $16 million (over £12 million) pledged to projects from independent creators around the globe, including some great UK- based projects – and many artists of colour and LGBTQ creators who have traditionally been under represented in the industry.
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Awesome Comics Podcast 185: Getting ‘Away’ with Comics – with Grant Richards
The artist on the graphic novel Away, Grant Richards, joins the Awesome Comics Podcast crew – Dan Butcher, Tony Esmond and Vince Hunt – to talk about his amazing artwork, processes and upcoming projects for the year ahead. There’s also… Read More ›
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Lawless, Dredd-inspired comic convention, returns in May
Comic artists Ian Gibson and Jock and writers John Wagner, Alan Hebden and Alan Grant will headline this year’s Judge Dredd-inspired Lawless comic convention in Bristol this May. Lawless is an annual not for profit comic convention organised by comic… Read More ›
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Cardiff Comics Carnival launches in March
A new comic and zine fair, Cardiff Comics Carnival, will be taking place for the first time on Sunday 24th March 2019, a free, day-long celebration of small press comics, zines and illustrations, featuring some of the best talent from… Read More ›