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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Journey Planet helps revive ground-breaking 1960s comic zine Heroes Unlimited for one last outing
Forty-nine years in the waiting and the making, Journey Planet recently published Heroes Unlimited #8, an incredible zine of fantastic proportions and wonderful content that bookends the publication that helped kickstart British comics fandom in the 1960s. In December 1966,… Read More ›
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Do comics still inspire future scientists and engineers?
Here’s a curiosity from the days of the original Eagle, comic, released around 1959 – an Eagle Presents British European Airways supplement given away with the title, which prompted me to wonder if the comics of today still inspire readers… Read More ›
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It’s Ice Cold in the new Commando Comics, on sale now!
Brand new Commando – Issues 5187 – 5190 – are on sale now in all good newsagents from DC Thomson, featuring icy escapes in the Russian wilderness, furious fights alongside the Red Devils, night-vision missions in the Iraqi desert – and… Read More ›
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Titan Magazines British DC Comics titles cease publication
Titan Magazines has announced that it will no longer be publishing its licensed DC Comics range in the UK. All titles on sale now in newsagents are the final issues. The company sent a brief email to subscribers of its… Read More ›
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Season’s Greetings!
Wishing all our readers a very Merry Christmas! John Freeman
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Crowdfunding Campaign promotion tips from “Killtopia” creator Dave Cook
Dave Cook – the writer of cyberpunk graphic novel Killtopia – recently offered some great creating comics tips on planning the promotion of your crowdfunding campaign on his Twitter, which he has kindly given us permission to repost on downthetubes…. Read More ›
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Portsmouth comic Con to host first ever Tripwire Awards
For over twenty-five years, Tripwire has been championing US and UK comics first in print and, since 2015, on the web. For the second Portsmouth Comic Con, taking place 4th-5th May 2019, Tripwire will be launching The Tripwire Awards, an… Read More ›
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2000AD Villains Takeover Special – Full Intel Released!
In time for Free Comic Book Day in May 2019, the bad guys take over the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic with a nefarious new special full of criminal capers and villainous ventures – the 2000 AD Villains Takeover Special! As we… Read More ›
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ComicScene comes to newsagents across the UK tomorrow!
ComicScene – a dedicated magazine to comics and comic culture – relaunches tomorrow, Saturday 22nd December – and will be on sale in selected WHSmith, McColls and all good comic shops across the UK. Available from 1000 locations in the… Read More ›
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New “Eagle Times” tracks down New Eagle’s “Data File” artist, Lionel Jeans
The new Eagle Times– Winter 2018 Vol. 31, Number 4 -is now available and is packed with some entertaining material on both the original and 1980s Eagle comics – including two great items on the “Data Files” cutaways that ran in the… Read More ›
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Free Comic Book Day 2019 Full List of Comic Books Announced, plus a 2000AD 99p Special!
Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) 2019 features an amazing selection of comic book titles for the industry’s most anticipated annual event which happens Saturday 4th May 2019 at participating comic book shops worldwide. British publishers Rebellion and Titan Comics have… Read More ›
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Rebellion dips its toe into the “Funny Pages” with Free Comic Book Day humour title
Rebellion has tapped into its funny bone for a new, all-ages Free Comic Book Day title, which marks its eighth year as a Silver Sponsor of Free Comic Book Day. Taking full of advantage of the huge number of humour… Read More ›
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Meet Hotdog and Mustard, Marc Jackson’s latest mad creations
Hotdog and Mustard is the latest crazy comic caper from cartoonist Marc Jackson, the brains behind digital comic Goof! Hotdog is a big dog, Mustard is a small dog. When Mustard opens a parcel addressed to his owner Dave, what’s… Read More ›
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Transformers return in March – new comic from IDW announced
US comics publisher IDW Publishing has announced that a brand-new Transformers series will debut in March 2019 that will explore the very moment when a glorious, peaceful Cybertron begins its downward spiral into chaos. Available twice monthly, IDW’s Transformers comic will be written by Brian Ruckley,… Read More ›
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This is Enid Blyton one-shot magazine on sale now from DC Thomson
This almost ducked under our radar, but on sale now in all good newsagents and supermarkets is a one-shot magazine celebrating author Enid Blyton, published by DC Thomson. The adventures of The Famous Five and the mysteries of The Secret… Read More ›
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Strasbourg shooting victim honoured by comics community he loved with “Prix Bartek”
Lionel Wurms, president of Alsace Bande Dessinée, and founder of the Strasbulles European Comics Festival, has announced a Call for Entries for the Prix Bartek Prize and Exhibition, in response to the murder of 36-year-old journalist and musician Barto Pedro Orent-Niedzielski,… Read More ›
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Laydeez do Comics announces Rosalind B. Penfold Prize for older comic creators
Rosalind B. Penfold was aged 59 when her first graphic novel, Dragonslippers: this is what an abusive relationship looks like, was published by Penguin (Canada) in 2004. It was subsequently translated into nine languages, becoming an important resource worldwide –… Read More ›
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In Pictures: Merry Chickmas! Time for Beano Festive Fun on Fleet Street!
Beano Studios have unveiled a new window display at their Fleet Street office in London, featuring a choir of singing rubber chickens to delight the public during the holiday season. Inspired by the immense popularity of rubber chicken content on… Read More ›
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Ramsey’s Raiders – Competition Winners!
Last week, we gave downthetubes readers the chance to win one of three copies of the new Commando Presents: Ramsey’s Raiders (reviewed here), courtesy of DC Thomson. Here are the winners, chosen by the office cat (borrowed from Sparky, of course)…. Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: “Acceptable Losses” by ”Pride” creator Joe Glass
Acceptable Losses is the latest brand new comic one shot from The Pride creator Joe Glass, currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. Telling a powerful and shocking story of what if our own heroes became the terrorists, it explores the never… Read More ›