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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Britain’s Coolest Comic Convention Returns to Birmingham on Saturday
With the autumn convention season now in full swing it’s time for the spotlight to shine on England’s Second City once again as flocks of comics fans and cosplayers descend onto Birmingham City Centre for the annual International Comic Expo… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Terry Wiley – a tribute by Jay Eales, Selina Lock and other friends
The British comics community was stunned by the news of the passing of award-winning comic creator Terry Wiley, a key figure of the independent scene for decades, after a long battle with cancer. He was 56. Here, Jay Eales, Selina… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Marc Jackson, the Man from GOOF!
Earlier this year, comic creator Marc Jackson turned digital publisher and launched GOOF!, a new online subscription only title that features a host of comics talents. Three issues in, GOOF! is going from strength to strength, but it’s a project… Read More ›
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Artist John Higgins joins Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up
Award-winning comic artist John Higgins has been added to the line up for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, running 12th – 14th October in Kendal, Cumbria. John’s career as a freelance comic artist started in 1977 soon after… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Kripa Joshi, creator of Miss Moti
UPDATE – Tuesday 9th October 2018: Unfortunately, Kripa Joshi has had to cancel here appearance at this year’s Festival due to illness. We wish her a speedy recovery. We’ve left this interview in place so you can find out more… Read More ›
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Comics and Beer? No-one’s going to find that attractive, right? But if you do…
. For those of you who once shocked the French in Angoulême during their annual BD Festival by drinking bars dry, and those of you who’ve laughed when hotels fail to understand some comic fans capacity for drinking… there’s good… Read More ›
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League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest #1 reprints in comic shops now, along with #2
It’s a Top Shelf Two-in-One! Issue #1 of Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill‘s final project, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest sold out immediately upon release, but reprints are now back in stock… along with the brand-new issue #2! Head to your… Read More ›
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Goldsboro Books announces “Capital Crime”, comics convention-styled crime fiction festival for London
A comic convention style crime and thriller festival is to launch in London in September 2019, a new project from Goldsboro Books. Capital Crime – founded by Goldsboro Books Managing Director David Headley and novelist and screenwriter Adam Hamdy – will… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con announced First Wave of guests for tenth anniversary celebrations in December
Wicked Comics has announced its first guests for this year’s Malta Comic Convention in December – and the First Wave includes a number of British as well as international guests, plus some great up and coming talents from the Mediterranean… Read More ›
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The 2018 Lakes International Comic Art Festival: A Quick Primer
A world of comic art will be arriving in Kendal for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, 12–14th October, 2018. downthetubes readers know this already of course, especially if you’ve been following our “Festival Focus” interviews with comic artists and… Read More ›
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New Nemi hardback collection, “Sugar and Reptiles”, released in English
There’s great news for fans of Nemi, the Norwegian comic strip by Lise Myhre, last seen in the UK in the Metro newspaper before the publishers stupidly pulled the plug on the strip, back in 2016. The latest collection –… Read More ›
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New “TV Years” magazine celebrates the 1980s with look back at Doctor Who, Spitting Image and more
TV YEARS, a brand-new magazine about old telly is on sale now in all good newsagents – and includes articles by a host of great writers, including Doctor Who Magazine contributors Graham Kibble-White and Andrew Pixley. Published by Bauer Media,… Read More ›
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Creating a Tumult – Lakes International Comic Art Podcast talks creating comics with John Harris Dunning and Michael Kennedy
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Podcast hosts Ian Loxam and Nicole Bates chat to the creators of the SelfMadeHero published book Tumult, writer John Harris Dunning and artist Michael Kennedy. These two fine gentleman talk about… Read More ›
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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 ›