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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Jumping Jets! Beano’s Dennis swops his iconic jumper in a good cause this week
Ahead of the much-anticipated Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 14th December, the Beano‘s Dennis has changed his iconic striped jumper in support of the charitable event. This week’s issue of the Beano comic encourages fans to don… Read More ›
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Joy Division Graphic Novel Arrives, Launch Party in Manchester
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Rare Al Williamson interview resurfaces thanks to Classic UK Comic Zines archive site
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A Comics Mystery: How did a street in Norwich become a location for Alberto Breccia’s “Mort Cinder”?
Inspired to buy Alberto Breccia’s Mort Cinder through the downthetubes articles by artist Ron Tiner and the urgings of artist David Roach, one of our readers came across an interesting little oddity in the art. Mort Cinder, in case you… Read More ›
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Mike Noble In Focus: “Wide World” (1962)
Following the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved and most influential comic artists, Mike Noble, who died last moth, Norman Boyd turned his attention to some of his lesser known, earlier work for the long-running adventure magazine Wide World… I… Read More ›
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Comic Book Masters: Cover Artist Giorgio De Gaspari
Italian artist Giorgio De Gaspari may be an artist unfamiliar to many downthetubes readers, but throughout the 1960s his cover art thrilled many a young comic reader of British digest titles such as Thriller Picture Library and War Picture Library…. Read More ›
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Jeff Hawke Space Gen Cards: comics inspired education!
Back in 1956, Junior Express Weekly, a weekly comic from the Daily Express, produced a batch of Jeff Hawke-inspired cards with a scientific background. The settings are those in which comic strip hero Jeff Hawke works, all with reference to… Read More ›
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Tales to Astonish: Statix Press latest graphic novels are, simply, a joy to behold
Titan Comics Statix Press imprint has already published some terrific, high quality books since its inception, but this week sees the publication of two truly wonderful graphic novels, re-published in English for the very first time. For those unaware, the… Read More ›
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Garth Ennis and Keith Burns’ “Out of the Blue” out next March
Out next March from US publisher Aftershock Comics is a new war story, Out of the Blue, a superb-looking tale that is sure to appeal to fans of Battle, Commando, “Johnny Red” and other war comics. Writer Garth Ennis (Jimmy’s… Read More ›
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Comics is All You Need: Oxford Comics Network spotlights The Beatles, Cold War!
This week’s free meeting of the Oxford Comics Network offers an intriguing look at Science Fiction and Beatles comics. The meeting at TORCH will be hearing from – and debating with – Jordan Newton (from Canterbury Christ Church University), who… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away Issue 46 out now – and the Mekon is back in action
The 2018 autumn issue of Spaceship Away (Issue 46) is available now and sees the Mekon return in Tim Booth‘s continuing Dan Dare adventure, “Shakedown Cruise“. Other strips in the magazine include a continuation of “Operation Pintos“, with part five… Read More ›
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Top Doctor Who artist David Roach faces podcast Mind Probe
Episode #106 of Doctor Who: Panel to Panel from erudite Who comics aficionados Jeremy Bement is live. Artist, inker and art connoisseur David Roach chats with him about drawing the Third Doctor and Jo for the Doctor Who Infinity computer/app… Read More ›
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British comics goodies from Phil Comics, on eBay now
Just a quick post to plug some of the British Comics items up for grabs this month from Phil Comics on eBay: hundreds of vintage comics, annuals, free gifts, holiday specials and flyers in 550 odd listings. Check it out… Read More ›
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Jim Alexander’s GoodCopBadCop released as a novel
GoodCopBadCop is a crime novel from 2000AD writer Jim Alexander, with a cover by Alex Ronald, with a twist. It’s a modern crime take on Jekyll and Hyde where both ‘good cop’ and ‘bad cop’ are the same person. GoodCopBadCop… Read More ›
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2019 2000AD, Treasury of British Comics Books schedule revealed
2018 is not yet out but the levels of Thrill-power for 2019 are already building with a blistering line-up of graphic novels from 2000AD and The Treasury of British Comics. We’ve already trailed some of the 2019 books here on… Read More ›
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Andersonic Issue 24 Out Now
Andersonic Issue 24 is now available, dedicated to all things Gerry Anderson, and features a new UFO comic strip and the following line up, wrapped in a cover image by Peter O’Roarke. In This Issue: The Story of SIG –… Read More ›
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Latest “Men of Violence” tackles historical fiction
The latest issue of the fanzine of men’s adventure paperbacks, Men of Violence (Issue 11) is a historical fiction special from Justin Marriott with a cover by Rik Rawling. Historical fiction is popular today, but the number of titles available… Read More ›
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Back Issue magazine celebrates landmark Superman: The Movie 40th anniversary
You’ll believe a magazine can fly with Back Issue #109, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Superman: The Movie starring Christopher Reeve, available now from all good comic shops, published by TwoMorrows and featuring a cover by Garry Frank. Explore the Superman movies’… Read More ›
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The Future’s Here: 2000AD Prog 2108 (and Megazine news!)
Time to plunge once more into the future-shocked worlds of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, 2000AD, screaming toward you today behind a smashing cover by Pye Parr. The latest “Skip Tracer” thriller, “Legion”, comes to its explosive finale this prog (but Tharg… Read More ›