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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Coming Soon: Nightwing #44 – “shockingly retro and eight minutes into the future” (according to Warren Ellis)
I subscribe to a fair few creator newsletters, and one that always helps get your synapses firing arrives regularly arrived this morning from Warren Ellis. This week, apart from deconstructing Avengers: Infinity War, he also turned his attention to a… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: Avengers: Infinity War – The Official Movie Special
Following up on our review of the film, don’t miss out on Titan Publishing’s Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Official Collector’s Edition on soon now in UK newsagents – celebrating the making of Avengers: Infinity War. From amazing cast interviews to… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds: Beyond the Horizon opens in London in November
ITV Studios Global Entertainment has detailed the world premiere of a new live interactive theatrical event, Thunderbirds: Beyond the Horizon. Based on the original series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the event gives audiences access to the world of… Read More ›
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Nominees Announced for 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Comic-Con International has announced the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2018, and a number of British creators are honoured, including John Allison, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. The Spirit anthology, edited by artist Sean Phillips and published… Read More ›
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Stella McCartney celebrates her Beano-inspired childhood with a new fashion range for today’s kids
Fashion designer Stella McCartney and Beano Studios have collaborated once again, to create a new kid’s autumn/winter fashion collection featuring characters from Beano and Dandy comics. Here’s a peek at some of the new collection. The AW18 Stella McCartney kid’s collection, which… Read More ›
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Female mutant ninja turtles, Vulverine and the Visible Woman feature in Hero(ine)s – a new exhibition on gender and comics
Being a comic hero has traditionally been the dominion of the male. This is about to be challenged through a new exhibition called Hero(ine)s featuring iconic comic heroes re-interpreted and reimagined in their female form. The exhibition features more than twenty… Read More ›
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Rare “The Trial of Nasty Tales” comic, charting groundbreaking censorship comic trial, offered on eBay, featuring Dave Gibbons art
One of the downthetubes team, Richard Sheaf, is offering a copy of the special The Trial of Nasty Tales comic, published in 1973, on eBay – featuring a cover and interior art by Dave Gibbons. This rare comic is inspired by the Nasty… Read More ›
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Emily Zeinner’s 2000AD Summer Special variant cover, Marguerite Sauvage poster revealed
The 2000AD Summer Special is available to pre-order now from the comic’s official web store, featuring an incredible roster of creators and a shop-exclusive variant cover by Emily Zeinner. Creators lined up include Tula Lotay, Alex De Campi, Maura McHugh,… Read More ›
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New Doctor Who merchandisers on board for Thirteenth Doctor’s upcoming debut
Doctor Who is continuing to attract new and returning licensors in the run up to the debut of the series first female lead. BBC Studios, which recently merged with BBC Worldwide to form a singular commercial entity, has put the… Read More ›
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Titan Comics Beatles-inspired “Yellow Submarine” graphic novel out in August
Titan Comics adaptation of The Beatles Yellow Submarine will be out in August, and we’re sure news that specialist music films distributor Abramorama has agreed with Apple Corps Ltd. and Universal Music Group to re-release the animated feature film in North… Read More ›
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So you’ve broken into the comics industry… What do You do Next?
Many people have broken into the comic industry after attending the Birmingham event Comics Uncovered, which returns to the city this July. But breaking in is just part of the journey to a successful career in comics. “What Happens Next”… Read More ›
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You’d be Mad not to check out Graeme Neil Reid’s latest art raffle… Fury-ous, even!
Oh, what a raffle, what a lovely raffle! Here’s an opportunity to win one of these two Mad Max: Fury Road original gouache paintings by Graeme Neil Reid. The 2015 action film Mad Max: Fury Road took the world by… Read More ›
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Killtopia creators reveal Darick Robertson print for their stunning-looking SF comic
Here’s Darick Robertson’s fantastic Kickstarter Print for Killtopia, which will go out to all £12+ backers in October. Even if you didn’t back the comic, which secured over £16,000 in funding support, you can pre-order the first issue here on… Read More ›
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Doctor Who “star lot” auction also features great film and comic gems
We previously reported on the upcoming Aston’s Auctioneers Film, Music and Comic Book auction on 3rd May 2018, focusing on the annotated “An Unearthly Child” script originally owned by William Hartnell, something of a “star lot”. But there are more… Read More ›
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Who’s Who in Rebellion’s “The Vigilant” classic comic character revival – and who created the characters
Rebellion Publishing, owners of 2000AD, announced an all-new 48-page special title The Vigilant earlier this week, the lead strip written by Simon Furman, with art by Simon Coleby coloured by Len O’Grady. Breathing new life into Fleetway characters acquired in… Read More ›
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Rebellion’s Roy of the Rovers revamp creative team and publishing plans revealed!
Rebellion Publishing has revealed its latest set of signings: the creative team for the highly anticipated 2018 reboot of Roy of the Rovers. Internationally acclaimed comics writer Rob Williams (Amazing Spider-Man, Adventures of Superman) and artist Ben Willsher (2000AD, Doctor… Read More ›
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Beano’s upcoming 80th birthday in July brings new merchandise, more event plans
With the Beano‘s 80th anniversary speeding ever closer (the first issue released in late July 1938, cover dated 30th July), Beano Studios is ramping up its event plans – and there’s a host of new merchandise on its way, too…. Read More ›
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DC Thomson releases This is Animal Jam magazine, available in UK and US
DCT Media and WildWorks are celebrating the release of This Is Animal Jam magazine, in a deal brokered by UK agent Rockpool Licensing. Now on sale in the UK, and available through Barnes and Noble in the United States, the… Read More ›
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New writers joins the Commando team!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5115 – 5118) from DC Thomson are on sale in all good newsagents this Thursday. Storming Messines Ridge, blasting Bettys in a Buffalo, tunnelling under the trenches with Maori Miners, and defending a Scottish island from an… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival art auction announced, includes Walking Dead, Batman originals
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is running another amazing original art auction, and advance viewing has just opened. The online auction itself begins on 1st May 2018. Aiming to raise funds for LICAF and the charity OCD Action, the… Read More ›