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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20 Years and Counting – Thank You for supporting downthetubes!
As I prepare to head northwards to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, in Kendal, I’d just like to thank all our readers for their support as we celebrate 20 years of downthetubes. We wouldn’t be here without you!… Read More ›
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In Review: Cthulhu Kids, All Ages Cosmic Terror & Mythos Madness!
Writer: Peter Duncan Artist: Andrew Pawley The Comic: Meet the Cthulhu Kids at The Miskatonic Academy for Outer Entities- the most exclusive school in the multiverse for the children of Elder Things and Outer Gods! A mash up of vintage kids… Read More ›
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Unity Wall art project launches at Lakes Festival this weekend
The team behind the The Unity Wall project, which intends to showcase the creative talent of artists from around the globe, will be on the hunt for artists interested in contributing to a unique comics project at this weekend’s Lakes… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Zoom Rockman
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. We round off this year’s series with a quick chat to the force of nature that is… Read More ›
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Win a ticket to the opening night of the new Doctor Who exhibit at Madame Tussauds, Blackpool!
PLEASE NOTE THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED Madame Tussauds Blackpool – already home to many a Marvel Superhero – is launching a brand new Doctor Who area next Thursday night (18th October) and downthetubes has TEN tickets to the Opening Night… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Edmond Baudoin
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 comics artist and writer Edmond Baudoin, one of many contributors… Read More ›
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Next week’s TOXIC magazine to be another Gaming Special
The next issue of Egmont’s TOXIC, on sale next week, will be a Gaming Special, presumably following up on the success of the recent issue that included a bonus Fortnite premium. Published every three weeks, the title includes some comic strip… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Aces Week Volume 36… Are You Ready for Wikkaman?
The latest volume of digital anthology Aces Weekly published by David Lloyd is coming and not only includes new strips by Bo Hampton, David Leach and many more, but Rik Hoskin and Nick Taylor‘s tale “Wikkaman” comes with added musical… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Czech Comic Creator Toy_Box
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 Toy_Box, one of few Czech female comics authors. Her creations… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Marcel Ruijters
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 Marcel Ruijters, a Dutch comic artist, who is best known for… Read More ›
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In Review: The Apprentice does Comics… Badly
A fleet of four black cars, sixteen wheelie suitcases, early morning phone calls and a bunch of bold claims. If downthetubes is covering this show, it can only mean one thing… over on The Apprentice, they tried making some comics…. Read More ›
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Transitions 8 Programme announced
The Centre for Contemporary Literature has announced the programme for Transitions 8, their eighth symposium dedicated to comics and graphic narrative. Taking place next month, speakers include Barbara Chamberlin, Corinna Lenhardt and Nicola Streeten, with the free event including a round… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Artist JC Deveney
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 French comic writer JC Deveney, one of the team behind The Héro(ïne)s:… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Sayra Begum
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 Sayra Begum, a Cornwall-based illustrator. She studied Illustration at Plymouth College… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Jason’s Birthday Adventure, aimed at improving reading skills
Unity Empower, a Scottish charity working with adults with learning disabilities have launched a crowdfunder for a new comic project – Jason’s Adventures. Unity Empower is looking to raise £3000 to be able to produce and publish Jason’s Adventures, a… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Czech artist Tomáš Kučerovský
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 Tomáš Kučerovský, one of the weekend-long event’s Czech creators. Born… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Ken Niimura
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 Ken Niimura, a cartoonist and illustrator based in Tokyo. His breakthrough… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Image Comics “Traces of the Great War” anthology launches this weekend at Lakes Festival
Poet Simon Armitage, Edmond Baudoin, Victoria Lomasko, Dave McKean and the UK’s Comics Laureate Charlie Adlard are among creators whose work features in a new international comic anthology – Traces of the Great War – which gets its launch during the Lakes international Comic Art Festival this… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Ottilie Hainsworth
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 Ottilie Hainsworth, an artist and educator living in Brighton, where she… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero lands English rights to acclaimed graphic novel “Guantánamo Kid”
UK independent graphic novel publisher SelfMadeHero has acquired world English language rights to a landmark graphic biography about Guantánamo Bay, the United States detention camp in Cuba. Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani is a compelling, deeply moving story… Read More ›