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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Work continues to celebrate the First Cat in Space with memorial statue
Late last year, artist Matthew Serge Guy launched a Kickstarter to create a memorial to Félicette, the first cat in space. The project clearly caught the mood of cat lovers worldwide, because he raised over £43,000 to make the project… Read More ›
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Crowdfunder in memory of 2000AD artist Carlos Ezquerra smashes target
Fans of 2000AD artist Carlos Ezquerra, who died earlier this week, have launched a JustGiving page in his memory, which has already raised £2600. “Carlos was one of the finest comic book artists of his generation,” says Dale Jackson, who… Read More ›
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Tales from Toxic! That Never Were: “Dino-Wars”, by Pat Mills and David Pugh
Toxic! was a British weekly comic book published in 1991 by Apocalypse Ltd. that ran for just 31 issues before numerous problems combined to bring the project to a halt and the publisher sadly went out of business. But it… Read More ›
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Roger Dean “Crossing the Line” Exhibition announced
Trading Boundaries in Uckfield, Sussex, has announced their 2018 official Roger Dean exhibition – Crossing the Line.
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Narnia comes to Netflix
Streaming service Netflix is to be the new home for C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, working with Entertainment One (EOne) and the C.S. Lewis Company to create movies and series based on all seven of Lewis’ fantasy tales. Considered a… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Lady Penelope focus of new merchandise from Half Moon Bay
Award-winning wholesaler Half Moon Bay has secured the licensing rights for both Moomin and Thunderbirds, adding the classic brands to its expanding gift and publishing portfolio in the UK, with new launches early in 2019. The Bath-based company, established in… Read More ›
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Blackpool Tower gets an Iron Man makeover, re-named Stark Tower!
Known as a national icon, it’s been announced that The Blackpool Tower has changed its name to Stark Tower to honour Marvel Super Hero Iron Man – a move that surprised residents of the seaside town. Stark Tower is of course… Read More ›
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“65 Years of Minnie the Minx” Beano Bookazine Special available now!
Celebrate 65 years of Beano star Minnie the Minx with a 68 page special, available now from UK newsagents, or direct from DC Thomson. We trailed this new bookazine back in August: it covers everything from the story of her… Read More ›
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Salón del Cómic de Zaragoza to dedicate a special edition of Tebeíco del Salón to Carlos Ezquerra, contributions welcomed
The Organización del Cómic de Zaragoza has announced an initiative to publish a Tebeíco del Salón special edition in December in time for its annual festival, paying tribute to 2000AD artist Carlos Ezquerra, who died earlier this week – and… Read More ›
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Dunkirk drama and army imposters in new Commando comics
Brand new Commando (issues 5163-5166) are on sale later this week from DC Thomson, in all good newsagents and via a variety of digital platforms…
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Fired up for the Lakes Festival! Podcast spotlights Clockwork Watch event plans
There’s another packed episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast on offer this week, as the team prepare for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2018 – not long to go now! This episode Ian Loxam and Nikki… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Killing Superman with Louise Simonson and Frank Quitely
In this week’s Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of comic book creators who have been involved in titles which depicted The Death of Superman. In a discussion recorded at Portsmouth Comic Con, writer Louise Simonson talks about… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: A Chat with Canadian cartoonist Seth
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2018 is Seth, the cartoonist behind the comic book series Palookaville, which started… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Simon Grennan’s “Drawing in Drag by Marie Duval”
Trouser-wearing, French-speaking, home-wrecking Victorian cartoonist Marie Duval – best known for her work on Allie Sloper – appears to have drawn a new comic book – ‘Drawing in Drag…’ But has she? Looking more closely, Drawing in Drag by Marie… Read More ›
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Judge Dredd Co-Creator Carlos Ezquerra dies aged 70
Carlos Ezquerra, legendary co-creator of Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and many more all-time classics for 2000AD has died, aged 70. One of the all-time greatest comic book artists, the Spanish illustrator was one of the titans of 2000AD but had recently… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: PanelxPanel #16 – Giant Days
PanelxPanel #16 – Giant Days is on sale later month, covering US publisher Boom’s Giant Days series, by John Allison, Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar and Jim Campbell. PanelxPanel is a digital magazine celebrating the medium of comics, edited by Strip… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Oxford Trollomicus by Spike Greenwood
An intriguing art book, The Oxford Trollomicus, created by Spike Greenwood, has caught my eye over on Kickstarter – a gorgeous-looking Illustrated Guide Book to the Bridge Trolls of Oxford, based on the increasingly dubious research of Professor Bulstrode Whitless…… Read More ›
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Mike Bryson’s “Country Characters” set to cheer during Lakes Festival weekend
Cartoonist Mike Bryson has announced he a small exhibition of some of his “Country Characters” at the Signature Gallery in Kendal during the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. On Sunday 14th October, Mike will be in the gallery, with his… Read More ›
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When Dan Dare went Pop: Loose Talk’s first single from 1982
Back in the 1980s, pop-rock group Loose Talk produced a song based on Eagle‘s Dan Dare (in his 1982 re-launch incarnation, not the 1950s original). But there’s a tip of the hat to another SF saga too, in the promotional… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Animator and Comics Artist Guy Delisle
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. This “Festival Focus” for 2018 is Guy Delisle, the award-winning Canadian animator and comics artist. In… Read More ›