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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The 2018 Scream and Misty Special – Cover Artist Spotlight!
Rebellion are offering pre-orders of this year’s Scream & Misty Special, no doubt acutely aware that newsagents didn’t carry enough stock of last year’s edition, which included first sight of the heroes now starring in the much more widely-distributed superhero special, The… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers – new book covers revealed, pre-order launch offer bargain on offer
Rebellion have revealed the covers to the new Roy of the Rovers books: Tom Palmer’s Scouted, on sale in October, and Rob Williams’ Kick-Off, out in November. The first book to hit the shelves is Scouted by Tom Palmer, an… Read More ›
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Topps 80th anniversary cards prove almost as collectible as the originals
If you remember the fun collecting bubble gum cards from younger days, then you may already know card company Topps is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2018, and to commemorate the occasion, they’re issuing weekly exclusives on their website –… Read More ›
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Sequart Releases Book on Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sequart has announced the publication of A More Civilized Age: Exploring the Star Wars Expanded Universe, edited by Rich Handley and Joseph F. Berenato. Almost as soon as there were Star Wars films, there were Star Wars novels. Alan Dean Foster got the ball rolling,… Read More ›
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I Kill Giants and Deadpool writer Joe Kelly talks to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
One of the creators of Ben 10 and the writer of the magnificent I Kill Giants, Joe Kelly is the guest on the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast. Joe, who returns to the Lakes International… Read More ›
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Big robots and super villains in this week’s 2000AD, a new Megazine – and The Vigilant, too! It’s a busy week from Rebellion
The latest issue of 2000AD is on sale now (alongside the latest Judge Dredd Megazine and The Vigliant) in all good newsagents and comics shops (and digitally), with a dramatic cover from Kei Zama coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick, highlighting some… Read More ›
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Creating Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet – Corsair comic: some unseen designs and behind the scenes reveals
Go behind the scenes on Titan’s Lost Fleet comic
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First ever Doctor Who Weekly strips head to audio adaptations by Big Finish
Two new audio adventures based on two much-loved Doctor Who Weekly comic strips – “The Iron Legion” and “The Star Beast” – stories originally written by Pat Mills and John Wagner and drawn by Dave Gibbons – are being released… Read More ›
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In Review: The Vigilant – Maelstrom
Editor: Keith Richardson Publisher: Rebellion Out: Wednesday 15th August (UK and Digital) – available from newsagents and comic shops The Vigilant: Maelstrom Written by Simon Furman Art: Simon Coleby Letters: Simon Bowland When the evil forces of Von Hoffman and… Read More ›
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Remembering the Daily Mirror strip “Romeo Brown”, the work of Alfred Mazure, Peter O’Donnell and Jim Holdaway
A quick guide to a British newspaper gem, published by the Daily Mirror between 1954 and 1962
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Lovern Kindzierski and John Bolton’s new graphic novel “Shame – Hope” really deserves your attention
A downthetubes reader dropped us a line to ask what John Bolton had been up to comics-wise recently, which gives us the chance to plug the Renegade Arts fantasy project Shame by the artist, working with writer Lovern Kindzierski. John recently did a signing… Read More ›
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Massive comic creator line up for next week’s Manchester Comic and Reading Festival
There’s a great line up of guest at Manchester Comic and Reading Festival taking place next Saturday (18th August 2018) at Manchester Central Library. A free event organised by the same team that brought us the brilliant Oldham Comic Con,… Read More ›
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Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles out later this year
Gemstone Publishing released their 48th edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide last month – a reference book full of updated US comic book prices, current market reports, new additions to the Overstreet Hall of Fame and a selection… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD (40th Anniversary Reprint)
A crowdfunder to celebrate a classic SF-inspired series of books has succeeded in attracting backing for a reprint of the fondly-remembered Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD Terran Trade Authority handbook by Stewart Cowley, to be published by Battlefield Press next… Read More ›
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British Comics Swapmeet and Mini-Mart invades Lochore in September
Coming soon to Lochore, Scotland is the third British Comics Swapmeet and Mini-Mart – and the organisers have just released this terrific promotional poster, the work of artist Richard Anthony Pester. The third swapmeet is scheduled to happen on 29th… Read More ›
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New documentary celebrates the ground-breaking SF art of Chesley Bonestell
Long before satellites would journey to planets and deep-space telescopes would photograph distant galaxies, there was an artist whose prescient vistas dazzled the eyes and the imagination of all who beheld them. His name was Chesley Bonestell. How could he… Read More ›
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Axa and Modesty Blaise artist Romero announces new art book
Modesty Blaise and Axa artist Enric Badia Romero, still very much active, has announced a new book, Legends of Comic Women and Men of Paper, available to pre-order from him direct. It’s the latest in a line of self-published Books… Read More ›
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Comichaus Spotlight: An interview with Brethren Born creator Jon Laight
Here’s the first in a series of interviews with creators whose work features on the digital comics marketplace Comichaus, in association with the platform. Midlands- based Jon Laight is a comic writer whose first comic, Brethren Born, was released in… Read More ›
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Scotland in the spotlight at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Kendal’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has played host to creators of many nations – and this year, the Scots will be among the nations in the spotlight over the Festival weekend in October. The weekend-long Festival will give visitors the… Read More ›
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Osprey Games Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth card game on its way
Osprey Games graphic adventure card game, Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth still doesn’t have a release date yet but downthetubes gathers the project is proceeding apace. Announced last year, Duncan Molloy, Games Developer at Osprey Games, has worked with Rebellion to… Read More ›