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.
-
Enniskillen ComicFest returns next month
Enniskillen ComicFest returns for its fourth year next month, on 10th and 11th May, bringing the world of comicbooks and superheroes to the town to celebrate sequential art and storytelling
-
In Review: Mancunian #1
Published by Volcano Comics Created and Edited by Brian M. Clarke and John JJ Jackson Art by John JJ Jackson, Colour by David Robinson, Spot Art by Nick H. Jackson, Back Cover by John Royle Out: Now – available from… Read More ›
-
Petition calls for arts funding support for British Comics on a par with Opera
The UK has a long tradition of making good comic books. Yet since the 1980s, sales of comics in newsagents, while still stronger than some magazine sectors, have declined drastically. Comic creator Sean Michael Wilson – author of the upcoming graphic novel The Many Not the Few with artist Robert Brown, introduced by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, is calling for better funding support for comic art projects to encourage creators.
-
Giles “Grandma” and family head to the stage in a new musical
Are you a fan of the cartoons of Carl Giles, best known for his work for the Daily and Sunday Express? Then you might like to know his characters – yes, including his often terrifying Grandma – are being brought to life in in a new musical, opening at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich next week
-
Vice Press launch E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial limited edition posters “timed sale”
Vice Press have just announced a new partnership with ISH, Bottleneck Gallery, Andrea Alvin and the John Alvin Estate that will see the release of some classic film poster reproductions originally created by a John Alvin, starting with a classic – E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial
-
Flash Gordon 40th Anniversary movie figures in the works from BIG Chief Studios
BIG Chief Studios Ltd – the company also behind some smashing Doctor Who and Thunderbirds figures – has announced a licensing deal with Hearst Holdings, King Features Syndicate Division, via Allsorts Licensing, to produce a range of high-end collectables based… Read More ›
-
Murderers in the desert stalk latest Commando Comics!
Brand new issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 5219 – 5222) are out this Thursday – and together with the wider release of The Art of Ian Kennedy book, fans of the comic have some treats in store! Previously offered… Read More ›
-
Official Film Chart: Aquaman makes a splash as the week’s biggest superhero film on UK home release
Aquaman makes a splash at Number One in its first week on the British Official Film Chart, documenting the best-selling films on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K and digital download. Outselling the rest of the Top Five combined, the film (reviewed here… Read More ›
-
Lost Dan Dare: “Return to Terra Nova” by John Ridgway and Nick Spender
We’re currently running a series of articles by Jeremy Briggs on attempts down the decades to either relaunch Eagle, or create a comic on similar lines. In that spirit, here’s a couple of pages from a lost Dan Dare project,… Read More ›
-
Thunderbirds “Parker” joins BIG Chief Studios collectable International Rescue figures line up
By popular demand, BIG Chief Studios Parker figure, from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1960s smash hit Supermarionation show Thunderbirds, will soon be available to order via the company’s Launch Pad platform and specially selected exclusive retail partners. Available as an… Read More ›
-
“Nothing But Trouble” Limited Edition Prints by Sleek celebrate Beano, Oor Wullie
Sleek is a young, classically trained artist who found his distinctive style by connecting street art together with pop art, creating a fresh new fusion genre – and has just released a range of limited edition Beano and Oor Wullie-inspired prints
-
Out Today! The all-new Cor!! and Buster Humour Special
Today’s the day! The all-new Cor!! and Buster Humour Special is on sale today in all good newsagents and British comic shops!
-
Artist Keith Page commemorates Notre-Dame cathedral after devastating fire
Commando and Eagle comic artist Keith Page has posted a poignant artwork featuring his crime fighting heroine Charlotte Corday, marking the devastating fire that tore through Notre Dame cathedral in Paris yesterday
-
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.
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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
-
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
-
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 ›