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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NICE 2018 auction offers amazing comic art in fund-raising bid for future events
Quickly following up on the success of the NICE convention last weekend, the NICE 2018 Auction, in aid of next year’s event, opens soon on the CatWiki site. Comic artists who were guests at NICE 2018 last week – who… Read More ›
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Latest Panel to Panel Podcast looks back at IDW’s Doctor Who stories
Episode 103 of the Doctor Who: Panel to Panel Podcast is live and dials back time to IDW’s time publishing stories of everyone’s favourite Time Lord. Doctor Who Magazine contributor Will Shaw joins host Jeremy Bement discuss his article about… Read More ›
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SO Beano! show heads to SKY KIDS, inspired by Beano.com
SKY KIDS has announced a new deal with Beano Studios to produce a brand-new TV show SO Beano!; inspired by the rebellious and anarchic ethos of Beano.com, the multi award-winning digital kids platform. Filmed at Sky’s state of the art… Read More ›
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Rare “Dark They Were” poster by Bryan Talbot, Bob Monkhouse items, among Aston’s latest memorabilia auction lots
Dudley-based auction house Aston’s will be hosting an Entertainment & Memorabilia Auction later this month, which includes books and more from the private collection of comedian, quiz show host and comics creator Bob Monkhouse. The auction includes cinema posters, lobby… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: the new Striker comic magazine, launching in high street newsagents this week
Launching on Wednesday, the Kickstarter-funded Striker comic magazine arrives in selected high street newsagents and on subscription – and downthetubes has a sneak peek for fans of the long-running newspaper football strip created by Pete Nash. The crowdfunder raised £43,719… Read More ›
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Embassy of Japan 2018 Manga Jiman comics competition details
The Embassy of Japan continues its search to find the best comic short stories in the UK with the launch of its annual Manga Jiman Competition. This year’s competition, now in its twelfth year, again has two categories; Yonkoma Manga,… Read More ›
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WebFind: DC Thomson Comics Gift Cards
Here’s a nifty idea for a birthday or Christmas stocking filler for a comics fan – comics gift cards, on offer from the DC Thomson web shop for all their titles, including Beano and Commando. (I came across these after… Read More ›
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Commando comics go behind enemy lines in latest adventures!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5155-5158) are on sale now from DC Thomson in all good UK newsagents and via various digital platforms. Feel the heat of a Type 100 flamethrower in the Burmese jungle, dodge deadly foes in the English… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics Artist and Writer Frank Quitely
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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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: “Miki’s Mini Comics” artist Mikiko
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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Manga in the spotlight at Cheltenham Literature Festival
Chie Kutsuwada, Fumo Obata and Paul Gravett head up “The Manga Phenomenon” at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival on Friday 5th October 2018. as regular downthetubes readers know, Manga is big business in Japan. Comics make up nearly 40% of… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics artist and writer Monty Nero
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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Dan Dare Audio Adventures producer B7 Media announces Dilation, a new SF thriller
UK independent producer and publisher B7 Media, the team behind the award-winning Dan Dare Audio Adventures, has announced Dilation, a new audio drama co-production with Par-sec Productions. Dilation revolves around a gifted scientist Amanda Higgs (voiced by Sioned Jones). Missing… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: 2000AD Prog 2097 – and some hints of new thrills in Prog 2100!
As the countdown continues toward 2000AD Prog 2100, here’s a quick look at the next issue of Britain’s only SF weekly comic, on sale on Wednesday in all good newsagents, UK comic shops and via various digital platforms. This issue… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons
Seeking crowdfunding on Unbound, Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons is a new book by Julie Warren, aiming to tell the remarkable story of Larry Stephens, a World War Two commando who transformed British comedy. British popular culture would probably be… Read More ›
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Titan Comics announces new Minions comic, launches in November
Titan Comics has announced that Illumination’s Minions – the breakout mascots of Universal and Illumination’s global phenomenon Despicable Me animated film series – are set to return to comics this November in an all-new series, Minions: Viva Le Boss. Spinning… Read More ›
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Money Spinning: How many times can you re-publish a British war comic?
As comic fans, it’s often easy to forget that publishing them is very much a business as far as companies such as DC Thomson, Rebellion and Titan Comics are concerned, and syndicating or re-using comics published is a major part… Read More ›
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Lakes Festval Focus: Comics Artist and Illustrator Emmi Nieminen
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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DC Universe SVOD platform plans revealed, new “Titans” series announced
Details around a new Subscription Video on Demand platform dedicated to the DC Universe are starting to emerge, with Titans, a 12-week episodic series announced as the first scripted original show for the $7.99 a month service for the United States…. Read More ›