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.
-
Top graphic novelist Reinhard Kleist heads to London to promote new Nick Cave art book
Award-winning, Berlin-based comic book artist Reinhard Kleist is coming to London to promote his latest book Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: An Art Book on 13th and 14th April 2018. The new book – published by SelfMadeHero – is a lavish, vinyl-cover sized… Read More ›
-
Incredibuilds new wooden Star Trek models to feature supplements by Dayton Ward
Some new wooden Star Trek DIY models from Incredibuilds are on their way to stores later this year – and look terrific. The IncrediBuilds collection, which also includes animals, famous buildings, Star Wars items and Marvel Superheroes, features do-it-yourself, customizable,… Read More ›
-
Carlisle Comic Con focus for latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast team took a trip up to Carlisle Comic Con recently and the latest podcast features interviews with some of the comic creators featured there. These include Emma Vieceli, featuring on the show for… Read More ›
-
Nottingham Does Comics offers its first Comic-Making workshop
The next Nottingham Does Comics event takes place at Nottingham Writers’ Studio on Tuesday 10th April at 7.30pm. This session brings Nat Titman and Gareth Howell from Nottingham Hackspace, who will be presenting NDC’s first comic-making workshop. So, for a… Read More ›
-
Comics and comedy collide in May at Kendal’s Freerange Comedy Festival
Comics will be mashing with some top comedy in Kendal in May, coming together for this year’s Freerange Comedy Festival. Barney Farmer of VIZ fame, co-creator of the darkly hilarious “Drunken Bakers”, will be rubbing shoulders with top touring comics… Read More ›
-
First Manchester Comic and Reading Festival announced for August 2018
The first Manchester Comic and Reading Festival (MCR for short) will take place on 18th August 2018, Taking place at Manchester Central Library, right in the heart of Manchester, with a bee mascot designed by Joe Matthews, this will be… Read More ›
-
In Review: Boudicca by Neal Romanek and Johan Swärd
Writer: Neal Romanek Artist: Johan Swärd Published by Markosia The Book: Britain. An island paradise, rich with gold and silver – and the world’s most powerful military machine wants it all for itself. The country and its tribes have been… Read More ›
-
Modesty Blaise fan? A Jim Holdaway original is up for sale
Heritage Auctions is offering this lovely “Modesty Blaise” original by the strip’s first artist, Jim Holdaway, in one of its latest auctions. An episode from “The Long Lever”, written by Peter O’Donnell, the art is described as being #194, published… Read More ›
-
Rebellion reveals Charley’s War bookplate limited editions
Rebellion have revealed details of their limited special edition editions of their three “Charley’s War” collections, the first due for release on 17th April. As we’ve previously reported, the publishers of 2000AD, now own most of the strip’s first published… Read More ›
-
WebFind: The Man from Earth (and its sequel)
So on a ramble through Amazon, I came across and watched the restored version of the intriguing 2007 film, The Man from Earth. Simply put, it’s a film that centres on “College professors discussing many topics with a colleague who claims… Read More ›
-
New York’s 2018 MoCCA Arts Festival honours Jaime Hernandez
The 2018 MoCCA Arts Festival, an annual festival honouring indie and self-published comics and graphic novels organized by the Society of Illustrators, will take place 7th – 8th April at the Metroplitan West event space and the nearby Ink48 Hotel… Read More ›
-
Comic Management Memos: Never Bring a Skateboard into Religion again!
In 1988, writer and editor Tim Quinn was working for America’s Saturday Evening Post and decided, for the Easter edition of its Children’s Digest magazine, that he would put his religious upbringing to good use. “Tim Tyme” could travel anywhere… Read More ›
-
New Eagle Times explores classic comics beyond “Eagle”, examines lost Frank Bellamy strip
The latest issue of Eagle Times, the quarterly journal of the Eagle Society – is available now from the organisation. While remaining dedicated to the memory of Britain’s national picture strip weekly Eagle, the team behind the Society have made a… Read More ›
-
10 Questions: An Interview with Comics Writer and Novelist Rik Hoskin
Rik Hoskin is a comic book writer and novelist from the UK. He’s written comics for Star Wars, Doctor Who, Superman, Shrek and a successful Spider-Man title aimed at younger readers, among many others. His most recent work includes… Read More ›
-
London’s Cartoon Museum gets a permanent new home
London’s Cartoon Museum has announced it has secured a new, permanent home in the centre of the capital, just as it launches its 50 Glorious Shows! exhibition, marking 12 years in its current home on Little Russell Street. The new… Read More ›
-
Eagle in the 1980s: The TV ad!
Cartoonist Lew Stringer has come across this advertisement for the launch of the new Eagle comic in 1980s, making the most of the return of Dan Dare and the title’s ambitious photo stories. The ad features Grange Hill actor Vincent… Read More ›
-
Europe Comics spotlights top-selling continental comics to mark Bologna Children’s Bookfair
This week is Bologna Children’s Bookfair, attended by publishers from across the globe. To celebrate, Europe Comics have gathered some of their extended previews of their bestselling children’s series and graphic novels. Europe Comics began as an idea of Franco-Belgian… Read More ›
-
Beano goes pop with Art & Hue!
As part of the ongoing celebrations throughout 2018 to mark 80 years of Beano, Art & Hue has created a new collection of stylish pop art prints inspired by the iconic British comic. Art & Hue has delved into vintage… Read More ›
-
Forbidden Planet announces Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter signing with Dan Abnett
Writer Dan Abnett signing copies of Titan Comics Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter at the London Forbidden Planet Megastore next month. In the depths of Eastern Europe, the legendary vampire hunter, Captain Kronos and his two assistants, Grost and Carla are… Read More ›
-
In Review: 2000AD Prog 2074
The latest issue of 2000AD (Prog 2074), featuring a cover by US artist Emily Zeinner, is on sale now in all good comic shops and newsagents in the UK, as well as various digital platforms globally. This week, the Galaxy’s… Read More ›