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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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics Writer John Ferguson, creator of “Saltire”
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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Beano gains Guinness World Record for Finish the Comic Strip” competition
Beano has achieved a new Guinness World Records title at the opening of the new V&A Dundee, launching the world’s largest competition to finish a unique comic strip. The iconic British children’s entertainment brand received an excess of 650 entrants… Read More ›
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Dan Dare and Comic Book Movies in the Lakes Festival Podcast Spotlight!
In a bumper episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, Ian Loxam and Nikki Bates chat to Andrew Mark Sewell and Richard Kurti of B7 Media about the Dan Dare Audio Adventures, which have been airing on BBC… Read More ›
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New Frank Hampson exhibition opens in Southport, launch event next week
Following up on our earlier post, an exhibition of art by Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson has just opened at The Atkinson, in Southport, Lancashire – where both the character and Eagle comic were “born” in the 1950s – and… Read More ›
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Orbital Comics announces “Art of Arthur Ranson” exhibition
Orbital Comics in London will be hosting an exhibition by British comics legend Arthur Ranson. The show will run from 5th October to 4th November 2018, and will feature original artwork spanning Arthur’s illustrious career. In addition, Orbital will host the UK… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: graphic reportage illustrator Victoria Lomasko
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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Comic Scene Issue 2 Celebrates 80 Years of The Beano, giant-size Christmas Special announced
ComicScene UK Issue 2 is in comic stores and available to order online now, celebrating 80 years of the Beano and humour comics. This issue includes interviews with Emily McGorman Bruce, Tim Quinn and Dicky Howett, Frank Quitely and the… Read More ›
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Britain’s Coolest Comic Convention Returns to Birmingham on Saturday
With the autumn convention season now in full swing it’s time for the spotlight to shine on England’s Second City once again as flocks of comics fans and cosplayers descend onto Birmingham City Centre for the annual International Comic Expo… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Terry Wiley – a tribute by Jay Eales, Selina Lock and other friends
The British comics community was stunned by the news of the passing of award-winning comic creator Terry Wiley, a key figure of the independent scene for decades, after a long battle with cancer. He was 56. Here, Jay Eales, Selina… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Marc Jackson, the Man from GOOF!
Earlier this year, comic creator Marc Jackson turned digital publisher and launched GOOF!, a new online subscription only title that features a host of comics talents. Three issues in, GOOF! is going from strength to strength, but it’s a project… Read More ›
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Artist John Higgins joins Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up
Award-winning comic artist John Higgins has been added to the line up for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, running 12th – 14th October in Kendal, Cumbria. John’s career as a freelance comic artist started in 1977 soon after… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Kripa Joshi, creator of Miss Moti
UPDATE – Tuesday 9th October 2018: Unfortunately, Kripa Joshi has had to cancel here appearance at this year’s Festival due to illness. We wish her a speedy recovery. We’ve left this interview in place so you can find out more… Read More ›
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Comics and Beer? No-one’s going to find that attractive, right? But if you do…
. For those of you who once shocked the French in Angoulême during their annual BD Festival by drinking bars dry, and those of you who’ve laughed when hotels fail to understand some comic fans capacity for drinking… there’s good… Read More ›
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League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest #1 reprints in comic shops now, along with #2
It’s a Top Shelf Two-in-One! Issue #1 of Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill‘s final project, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest sold out immediately upon release, but reprints are now back in stock… along with the brand-new issue #2! Head to your… Read More ›
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Goldsboro Books announces “Capital Crime”, comics convention-styled crime fiction festival for London
A comic convention style crime and thriller festival is to launch in London in September 2019, a new project from Goldsboro Books. Capital Crime – founded by Goldsboro Books Managing Director David Headley and novelist and screenwriter Adam Hamdy – will… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con announced First Wave of guests for tenth anniversary celebrations in December
Wicked Comics has announced its first guests for this year’s Malta Comic Convention in December – and the First Wave includes a number of British as well as international guests, plus some great up and coming talents from the Mediterranean… Read More ›
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The 2018 Lakes International Comic Art Festival: A Quick Primer
A world of comic art will be arriving in Kendal for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, 12–14th October, 2018. downthetubes readers know this already of course, especially if you’ve been following our “Festival Focus” interviews with comic artists and… Read More ›
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New Nemi hardback collection, “Sugar and Reptiles”, released in English
There’s great news for fans of Nemi, the Norwegian comic strip by Lise Myhre, last seen in the UK in the Metro newspaper before the publishers stupidly pulled the plug on the strip, back in 2016. The latest collection –… Read More ›
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New “TV Years” magazine celebrates the 1980s with look back at Doctor Who, Spitting Image and more
TV YEARS, a brand-new magazine about old telly is on sale now in all good newsagents – and includes articles by a host of great writers, including Doctor Who Magazine contributors Graham Kibble-White and Andrew Pixley. Published by Bauer Media,… Read More ›
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Creating a Tumult – Lakes International Comic Art Podcast talks creating comics with John Harris Dunning and Michael Kennedy
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Podcast hosts Ian Loxam and Nicole Bates chat to the creators of the SelfMadeHero published book Tumult, writer John Harris Dunning and artist Michael Kennedy. These two fine gentleman talk about… Read More ›