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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World’s Greatest Cartoonists create Heroes!, a new comic for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital patients
Liverpool Lions Club have teamed up with some of the world’s best known cartoonists to produce a new comic book, HEROES!, for the patients of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
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Find out more about Brazilian comics, for free!
A special free lecture by artist and Festival organiser Rafael Coutinho on Independent Comics in Brazil takes place later this month at the Embassy of Brazil in London. Brazil’s comics scene is livelier than ever. Festivals are flourishing across the… Read More ›
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Lost Marvel UK Projects: Mutator, created by Paul Neary and Tom DeFalco
During the tail end of the busy period in the 1990s when Marvel UK was developing numerous projects for the US Direct Sales market, one of the last unpublished proposed series was Mutator, which we’ve brought to a little bit… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Dave Reeder, magazine editor and comics collector
A longtime comics and music collector, writer, journalist and longtime magazine editor
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Star Trek: Discovery U.S.S. Enterprise model out soon from Eaglemoss Collections
The next issue of the Star Trek Discovery Starships Collection from Eaglemoss Collections, out 31st March 2019, features a model of the show’s version of the Constitution-class U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 – the most iconic Starfleet vessel of the 23rd century
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First Look: The Art Of Ian Kennedy
DC Thomson Media’s Heritage Comics much-anticipated and eagerly awaited book, The Art Of Ian Kennedy, celebrating 70 years of Kennedy’s illustrious career at DC Thomson, is available to pre-order now
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Spaceship Away springs into 2019 with a focus on Dan Dare artist Don Harley
The first issue of the Dan Dare-inspired title Spaceship Away for 2019 – Issue 47 – is available now, featuring front and back covers, and a centre spread, by veteran artist Don Harley. Don of course worked on the original… Read More ›
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“Inspirational” Captain Marvel joins Madame Tussauds Blackpool Marvel Super Heroes
Standing shoulder to shoulder with a female pilot, Madame Tussauds Blackpool launched its brand new Captain Marvel wax figure last week, on International Women’s Day. A former US Air Force pilot who rose to security director at NASA, Captain Marvel’s… Read More ›
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Manga Jiman 2018 Winners on display at Embassy of Japan
The winners of the 12th edition of the Manga Jiman competition were revealed at a reception hosted at the Embassy of Japan last month – and an exhibition of the strips is on display until the end of March. The… Read More ›
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Jaws set to bite again with new t-shirts heading to UK stores
Look out for new t-shirt designs featuring Universal Pictures properties such as Back to the Future, Jaws, Despicable Me and more in British high street stores later this year. Licensed clothing specialist Poetic Brands has just announced a new agreement… Read More ›
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Free Cult Comics and Fantasy Film from Indonesia event in London this weekend
Offering film screenings, a comics exhibition and discussions, A Weekend of Cult Comics and Fantasy Film from Indonesia, takes place at SOAS University of London this weekend, 16-17th March 2019. The free exhibition, at the College Buildings in Russell Square… Read More ›
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Graphic Brighton 2019 dates announced
This year’s Graphic Brighton symposium will be taking place on 3rd and 4th May at the University of Brighton City Campus – and features a great line up of independent comic creators. The two day event will be a mixture… Read More ›
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Nick Abadzis Retrospective Exhibition announced
Eisner Award-winning British comic creator Nick Abadzis been invited by Scott Eder Gallery at the Mana Contemporary in New Jersey to put on a show. “It’ll be in Fall (Autumn to you/us Brits),” says Nick, “so that gives me a… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: An Interview with Junko Mizuno
We’re delighted to bring you this interview with Junko Mizuno, a comics creator and illustrator who has created the terrific promotional poster for this year’s upcoming Lakes International Comic Art Festival, and is one of many international guests who will be… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Inking and Painting Women
Celebrating International Women’s Day, Panel Borders: Inking and Painting Women features guest presenter Myriad Editions publisher Corinne Pearlman introduce three talks about female comic creators, recorded at Laydeez Do Comics
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Limited edition print edition of FANSCENE 2, celebrating British Comics Fandom, available now
A limited print edition of FANSCENE 2, another terrific, mammoth celebration of British Comics fandom is available now
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival announces first guests, Junko Mizuno poster revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced its first guests for its weekend-long event in October 2019, with Early Bird Passes on sale now. Announced are Japanese manga artist Junko Mizuno, who has also provided the stunning poster art for this… Read More ›
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Giant Spiders on the march in latest Commando Comics?
Spiders, jets, avengers, and rebels! All this in brand new Commando issues 5207 – 5210 out this Thursday and available in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms
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Sneak Peek: The Burning Black – Legend of Black Shuck
Renegade Entertainment are to publish The Burning Black: Legend of Black Shuck by Mark Allard-Will, a British-born writer now living in Canada, bringing one of Britain’s most famed monsters, Black Shuck, to comics. Regular readers may recall the project was… Read More ›
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Back in Print: Hunt Emerson’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Knockabout have re-published Hunt Emerson’s brilliant version of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner now back in print.