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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Get under Daredevil’s skin with “The Devil is in the Details”
Just as Daredevil season 3 arrives on Netflix, you may want to check out Sequart’s book The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil, edited by indy comics darling Ryan K. Lindsay, covering all aspects of the blind vigilante’s history…. Read More ›
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James Bond returns to Playboy for special comic story as part of “James Bond Origin”
Ian Fleming Publications and Dynamite will be bringing a standalone James Bond Origin story to the November/December issue of Playboy. The special six-page story from James Bond Origin, which recently debuted at Dynamite, has been produced by the creative team of writer… Read More ›
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Masters of Comic Book Art: Pino Dell’Orco
downthetubes contributor Colin Noble has a remarkable collection of Picture Library comics and we’ve featured his researches into just how often some classic tales – and covers have been re-used down the years. Here’s another gem, but this one by… Read More ›
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In Review: Bite Me Comic Issue One
Edited by Arlene Russo Available at www.bitememagazine.com Cover by Gary Crutchley and Matt Soffe Contributors include: David Braysher, Gary Crutchley, David Lucarelli, Colin Maxwell, Will Pickering, Dave West The Comic: From the shadows comes this special issue of Bite Me, dedicated to… Read More ›
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Uncovered: Kieron Gillen’s “Warhammer Monthly” Stories, his first pro work
Comics writer Kieron Gillen is at Gosh Comics in London later today (Saturday 20th October) to sign copies of the seventh collection of The Wicked + The Divine stories – but do you know his first professionally-published work was in Warhammer Monthly?… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Liberty Brigade
New publishing company Thrilling Nostalgia Comics recently launched their new Kickstarter, The Liberty Brigade, a one hundred-plus page graphic novel featuring the return of dozens of 1940s superheroes in a new World War Two graphic novel, featuring art by a… Read More ›
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Rare early Eddie Campbell comic offered on eBay
A rare, short run, self published comic from the 1980s by Eddie Campbell is currently being offered on eBay – featuring some early work by top British indie comic talent. In 1982, Eddie Campbell – today better known as the… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Blackpool Exhibition Winners
Last week, downthetubes announced ran a competition aimed primarily at North West residents to win entry to the opening of the new Madame Tussauds Blackpool Doctor Who exhibit later today. The competition, which closed at 12 noon on Wednesday 17th… Read More ›
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In Pictures: European Graphic Novels: Drawing Untold Stories at the British Library
Following up on their appearance at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Czech artists Tomáš Kučerovský and Toy_Box, two of the authors of the collective project We’re Still at War, were joined at the British Library in London last night… Read More ›
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All-New 2000AD, a Scream and Misty Special and Classic British Comic Collections on sale This Week
Here’s your lowdown on this week’s Rebellion releases, including the latest 2000AD (Prog 2103), featuring a cover by Adam Brown. Plus, don’t miss the Scream & Misty Special 2018, also on sale now – reviewed here! 2000AD Prog 2103 JUDGE… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Report: “The Friday Sessions” – When Academia and Comics Collide!
Dr Mel Gibson reports on a day of comic study and discussion held as part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival… The expansion and transformation of the academic wing of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival continued in… Read More ›
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First Look: Doctor Who Magazine’s first Thirteenth Doctor comic
Doctor Who Magazine has teased its first Thirteenth Doctor comic adventure. “The Warmonger” by Scott Gray, who also penned the first Twelfth Doctor story for the title and John Ross (whose work on Who stretches back to the first issue… Read More ›
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In Review: Scream & Misty Special 2018
WRITERS Alec Worley, Kek-W, Guy Adams, Jordi Badia Romero, Rich McAuliffe, Lizzie Boyle and Smuzz ARTISTS Frazer Irving, John Stokes, Leigh Gallagher, Simon Coleby, Dani, Steve Mannion, Jordi Badia Romero,Smuzz and Yishan Li COLOURISTS Len O’Grady and Barbara Nosenzo LETTERERS Annie… Read More ›
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First Collected Volume of Webcomic ‘Captain Fishbeard’ released this week
This week brings the release of Captain Fishbeard – Volume One, the culmination of the first 26 comics, published on WebToons and via CaptainFishbeard.com by cartoonist, Tom Sparke. Captain Fishbeard features the adventures of the ocean’s silliest fish-man and his weekly oddness… Read More ›
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Criminals on the loose in latest Commando comics!
Brand new Commando comics from DC Thomson (Issues 5167 – 5170) are on sale from this Thursday in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. Track down a vicious criminal in World War Two France, search the desert dunes… Read More ›
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Doctor Who is back in Blackpool!
Madame Tussauds Blackpool has launched an out of this world new Doctor Who area, including a wax figure replica of the Thirteenth Doctor. The Thirteenth Doctor and the TARDIS will set up home in an immersive new area at the… Read More ›
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Traces of the Great War tie-in education resource to get launch in Kendal
The Lakes international Comic Art Festival is launching a new learning resource that builds on its World War One-inspired anthology, “Traces of the Great War”
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Redan celebrates as Fun To Learn Favourites magazine turns 20
Children’s magazine specialist Redan Publishing Ltd is celebrating as its Fun To Learn Favourites magazine turns 20. The magazine has enjoyed a successful 20 years in the competitive pre-school magazine market, the Shrewsbury-based publisher offering its thousands of readers top… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: An Interview with Real Ghostbusters artist John Marshall
Joe O’Brien recently tracked down elusive The Real Ghostbusters artist John Marshall (John Williams)
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New “Eagle Times” continues to expand coverage of British comics
The latest issue of Eagle Times, the magazine of the Eagle Society (Volume 31 No.3 – Autumn 2018), is out now and includes a number of great features, including one by downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs on Eagle‘s extended family – Girl,… Read More ›