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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Marvel UK art mystery – who pencilled this “Dracula Lives” cover back in 1975?
[Updated 31st October 2018] This cover for Marvel UK’s Dracula Lives #29, published in 1975, has some comic creators wondering who actually drew it. Selling for just over $400 on Heritage Auctions this past weekend, the site doesn’t list the… Read More ›
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As relevant today as it was in 1955: why the EC story “Master Race” still resonates
On offer over on Heritage Auctions right now is the original art for the eight page story “Master Race” by Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein and Bernie Krigstein, a story first published in Impact #1 by US publisher EC in 1955… a… Read More ›
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How FANSCENE plans to continue celebrating British comics fandom – and comic creators – in 2019
FANSCENE 2 is a free 212 page PDF fanzine, out now, celebrating over fifty years of Comics Fandom in Ireland and the UK, with its focus this issue on Comic Conventions, from the very first held in Birmingham and organised… Read More ›
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FANSCENE 2, a free celebration of 50 years of British comic conventions, available now
Earlier this year, British comic fans were treated to the first issue of FANSCENE, a very special celebration of over fifty years of comics fandom in Ireland and the UK – and now, a second Issue is available, free. FANSCENE… Read More ›
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Good Grief! There’s a Charlie Brown exhibition at Somerset House!
Good Grief, Charlie Brown! Celebrating Snoopy and the Enduring Power of Peanuts is an ongoing exhibition at Somerset House, London, that brings together Charles M. Schulz original Peanuts cartoons with work from a wide range of acclaimed contemporary artists and designers… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: HERE & THERE – A Psychological Horror One-Shot Comic
Pitch perfect for the season, here’s a preview of a terrific new comic, HERE & THERE, seeking crowdfunding for HERE & THERE, about a man trapped in a coma, who traverses his damaged subconscious with a mysterious teenage girl to… Read More ›
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Etherington Brothers join Portsmouth Comic Con 2019 Line Up
The Etherington Brothers, creators of the UK’s most successful comic Kickstarter of all time, How to THINK when you DRAW, will be attending the Portsmouth Comic Con on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May 2019 with all their books –… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics anthology Issue Three now on sale
Debuting earlier this month, the third issue of The Awesome Comics anthology is on sale now from the same team who bring you the Awesome Comics Podcast. The anthology title continues three distinct stories from the team – “Murder Road” by Vince Hunt (also… Read More ›
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2019 Treasury of British Comics line-up takes shape, includes “Invasion 1984”, “Deathwish”
There’s been news of more Treasury of British Comics titles from 2000AD publisher Rebellion for 2019 over the past few days, so here’s a run down of what we know they’re releasing so far. Note that in some cases, covers… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons Watchmen art and much more on offer in latest Heritage Auctions
Art by British artists such as Charlie Adlard, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Dave Gibbons and Barry Windsor Smith is included in the latest Heritage Auctions, taking place 15th – 17th November in Dallas, Texas. Art by US artists such as Jim… Read More ›
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In Review: The Prisoner – The Uncertainty Machine
Writer: Peter Milligan Artist: Colin Lorimer Colour: Joana Lafluente Editor and plot: David Leach Publisher: Titan Comics Softcover, 112pp, $16.99, £13.99 On sale: 13th November 2018 ISBN: 9781785859151 The Book: Based on the TV show created by Patrick McGoohan, this… Read More ›
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In Review: Sniper Elite – Resistance #3
Script: Keith Richardson Art: Patrick Goddard Colour: Quinton Winter Letters: Jim Campbell Regular Cover: Patrick Goddard and Quinton Winter Variant Cover: Carlos Ezquerra Publisher: Rebellion Publishing On sale in newsagents and comic shops across the UK now The Book: The concluding… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Art of Ploog – Volume Two
Three years ago, science fiction and fantasy publisher FPG proudly brought comic art fans its first, massive collection of American artist Mike Ploog art, still on sale – but there’s now a Kickstarter running for Volume Two, offering an even more in-depth… Read More ›
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Superheroes and Villains descend on London for MCM!
Britain’s leading cosplayers arrived in the capital ahead of MCM Comic Con this weekend, with Iron Man, Spider Woman, Aquaman, Bane and Harley Quinn spotted out and about in London this morning. The characters paid visits to commuter hotspots, dazzling Londoners on… Read More ›
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What’s Your Best Comic Book Movie, Ever?
After a busy weekend at the Comic Art Festival, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast team got loads of content – including a recording of “Best Comic Book Movie… Ever” panel, hosted by Peter Kessler. “We had planned to… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: The Cosplay Journal Volume Two
With the success of the first volume, The Cosplay Journal team are back with their second edition, bringing even more of the amazing life of cosplay into focus. The Cosplay Journal , published by Markosia and edited by Holly Rose Swinyard,… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Developing your Graphic Novel with Rachael Ball
The House of Illustration in London is offering an advanced, two-day intensive course for people who have already completed a beginners’ graphic novel course, or those working on a graphic novel, tutored by Rachael Bell – but there are very… Read More ›
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Marvel Superheroes go hip-hop for new collector’s edition record titles
Marvel is to working with Universal Music Enterprises to debut exclusive album covers for select hip-hop collector’s edition titles that will begin to be released in December. Urban Legends, the urban catalog platform of Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), and Marvel… Read More ›
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Godzilla, the TARDIS and the Hulk become focus of modern constellations
Long ago, sky watchers linked the brightest stars into patterns reflecting animals, heroes, monsters and even scientific instruments into what is now an official collection of 88 constellations. Now, scientists with NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have devised a set… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Ken Reid’s Creepy Creations
Ken Reid’s Creepy Creations is available to order now from publisher Rebellion’s web shop, ahead of its release at the end of November. Debuting in March 1973, in the first issue of Shiver and Shake, a two comics in one… Read More ›