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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2000AD artists and writers, Kate Charlesworth and award-winning Czech comics artist Vojtěch Mašek join Lakes Festival 2019 guest list
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2019 has announced further guests for its weekend-long event in Kendal in October, including a number of creators well known for their work on the top British SF weekly comic 2000AD and major US… Read More ›
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Happy 80th Birthday, Batman!
As fans across the globe prepare to celebrate Batman’s 80th birthday tomorrow, Saturday 30th March, the comic book series that first launched the crime fighting adventures of the world’s most popular Super Hero reaches a milestone this week with the… Read More ›
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Frank Hampson “Dan Dare” inspired rarity surfaces at Italian auction house
Italian auction house Urania is hosting a sale of original comic art and illustration in Parma on 11th May 2019 – and it includes a number of items by British artists including a Dan Dare-inspired artwork by Frank Hampson, alongside… Read More ›
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British Comic Heroes: Lion’s “Captain Condor”
Dan Dare, star of Eagle and early 2000AD, whose adventures extend to radio, award-winning adventures and more, is a British comics hero up there with Roy of the Rovers, Judge Dredd, Fungus the Bogeyman, Rupert the Bear and Dennis the… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Quebec BD in Comics Cultural Exchange backed by British Council
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced that Mikiko and Julie Rocheleau are the latest comic creators to be part of one of its many Comics Cultural Exchanges between countries. Continuing its efforts to develop an international network of… Read More ›
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Red 5 Comics “The Dark Age” picked up for new TV project
Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros, founders of Armory Films, are teaming with Knightfall co-creator Don Handfield on The Dark Age, based on a comic series from US publisher Red 5 Comics, Deadline reports. Red 5 Comics will release the comic… Read More ›
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Art Quarterly spotlights re-opening of London’s Cartoon Museum next month
The Spring 2019 issue of Art Quarterly, the quarterly magazine for members of the Art Fund charity, and features a focus on Comic Creators, spurred by the upcoming re-opening of London’s Cartoon Museum.
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Lyon BD 2019 Festival poster by Luke McGarry revealed
This Tintin-style poster to promote the 14th Lyon BD Festival is by “Sad Chewie” artist Luke McGarry is great fun – how many characters slipped into the image can you recognise? (Oh, and before any wag asks given this week’s… Read More ›
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Marvel’s Death’s Head is back, new series launches later this year
Death’s Head is back! Marvel has announced a new limited series, written by Tini Howard with art by Kei Zama coloured by Felipe Sobreir, edited by Sarah Brunstad – and with regular covers by Nick Roche, launching in July. Here’s… Read More ›
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British Library partners with Universities on Digital Comics PhD projects
The British Library is collaborating with university partners to award PhD funding for four new doctoral research projects, starting in October 2019, two on digital comics. As we previously reported, the projects will be co-supervised by the British Library, offering… Read More ›
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All-new Tammy and Jinty Special out in June
Tammy and Jinty were two of Britain’s best-loved girls’ comics in the 1970s and ’80s – ground-breaking female-led comics that covered everything from science fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama. This June, hot on the heels of the… Read More ›
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New Lion Kids Comic Bible released
Two years in the making, The Lion Kids Comic Bible, was published last week by Lion Children’s Books, a collaborative project from Ed Chatelier (original concept), Mychailo Kazybrid (script and pencils), Bambos Georgiou (inks), Jeff Anderson (colourist) and Jesus Barony… Read More ›
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Who knew Dan Dare’s “Digby” was also a cat?
Eagle fans will know Peter Hampson was his father Frank Hampson’s model for “Flamer” Spry in the original “Dan Dare” strip. But Peter was also called on to help his father when he illustrated for Ladybird Books… and the family… Read More ›
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Hellboy artist Ben Stenbeck joins Comics Salopia line up
At Comics Salopia this June, join host Leonard Sultana as he interviews the guest who has travelled further than any other to join the event in Shrewsbury.
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MACC-POW! announces first guests for June
This year’s line-up for MACC-POW!, a one day celebration of comics and comic art, in the heart of Macclesfield, Cheshire in June, has just been announced. Observer comics prize winner Tor Freeman, Jacob Phillips and Lew Stringer return, joined this year by Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, New Zealand cartoonist Roger Langridge and Rachael Smith.
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University of East Anglia announces Master’s in Comic Art for 2020
The University of East Anglia, near Norwich, will launch a Master of Arts program in Comics Studies in September 2020 – the first in the world. “Comics have never been more popular, and never more important,” an announcement reads. “Our… Read More ›
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Judith Kerr talks “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” as UK stage tour begins
Direct from a smash hit West End season, Judith Kerr‘s The Tiger Who Came to Tea has returned to the stage, celebrating its tenth year as a spectacular kid’s play – and we’ve got a short interview with the book’s… Read More ›
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Batman Who Laughs #2 original art by Jock for sale
The opportunity to purchase Jock‘s original art to the popular Batman Who Laughs Issue 2 (and remaining pages of #1) is on offer over at comic art web site Splash Page Comic Art – which also offers art by a… Read More ›
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Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman is back… and in big trouble!
The next issue of indie hit and Kickstarter-funded Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman (#8), created by Tom Ward and Luke Parker (artist on the Halloween Eagle strip for Dark Horse appearing in Astro Hustle), lettered by Nic J. Shaw, is available to pre-order now!
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MEGO Batman and Robin Figures offered in latest Aston’s Auction
The next Toy & Model Railway Auction from Dudley-based Aston’s Auctioneers next Tuesday (26th March 2019) has a great assortment of items on offer including collectables that will appeal to Doctor Who, Star Trek and Superhero fans… and more. The… Read More ›