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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Commando comics go behind enemy lines in latest adventures!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5155-5158) are on sale now from DC Thomson in all good UK newsagents and via various digital platforms. Feel the heat of a Type 100 flamethrower in the Burmese jungle, dodge deadly foes in the English… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics Artist and Writer Frank Quitely
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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Comic creators Laura Locker and Julia Scheele delve into American Politics in new book
Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Queer: A Graphic History, comics artist Julia Scheele has teamed up with Dr Laura Locker for American Politics: A Graphic History – a comic-book introduction to the political history of the Land of Opportunity…. Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: “Miki’s Mini Comics” artist Mikiko
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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Manga in the spotlight at Cheltenham Literature Festival
Chie Kutsuwada, Fumo Obata and Paul Gravett head up “The Manga Phenomenon” at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival on Friday 5th October 2018. as regular downthetubes readers know, Manga is big business in Japan. Comics make up nearly 40% of… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Comics artist and writer Monty Nero
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Audio Adventures producer B7 Media announces Dilation, a new SF thriller
UK independent producer and publisher B7 Media, the team behind the award-winning Dan Dare Audio Adventures, has announced Dilation, a new audio drama co-production with Par-sec Productions. Dilation revolves around a gifted scientist Amanda Higgs (voiced by Sioned Jones). Missing… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: 2000AD Prog 2097 – and some hints of new thrills in Prog 2100!
As the countdown continues toward 2000AD Prog 2100, here’s a quick look at the next issue of Britain’s only SF weekly comic, on sale on Wednesday in all good newsagents, UK comic shops and via various digital platforms. This issue… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons
Seeking crowdfunding on Unbound, Glarnies, Green Berets & Goons is a new book by Julie Warren, aiming to tell the remarkable story of Larry Stephens, a World War Two commando who transformed British comedy. British popular culture would probably be… Read More ›
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Titan Comics announces new Minions comic, launches in November
Titan Comics has announced that Illumination’s Minions – the breakout mascots of Universal and Illumination’s global phenomenon Despicable Me animated film series – are set to return to comics this November in an all-new series, Minions: Viva Le Boss. Spinning… Read More ›
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Money Spinning: How many times can you re-publish a British war comic?
As comic fans, it’s often easy to forget that publishing them is very much a business as far as companies such as DC Thomson, Rebellion and Titan Comics are concerned, and syndicating or re-using comics published is a major part… Read More ›
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Lakes Festval Focus: Comics Artist and Illustrator Emmi Nieminen
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›
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DC Universe SVOD platform plans revealed, new “Titans” series announced
Details around a new Subscription Video on Demand platform dedicated to the DC Universe are starting to emerge, with Titans, a 12-week episodic series announced as the first scripted original show for the $7.99 a month service for the United States…. Read More ›
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In His Own Words: The Comics Career of Misty and Tammy artist John Armstrong
Comics artist John Armstrong died this week, He’s best known for his work on the girls comics titles Bunty, Misty and Tammy, and for co-creating the long-running “Bella at the Bar” strip for the latter – but made very few… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Misty and Tammy artist John Armstrong
We’re sorry to announce the passing of British girls comics artist John Armstrong, co-creator of “Bella at the Bar” for Tammy and “Moonchild” for Misty, who died peacefully yesterday. He was 94. As John himself related back in 2003, although… Read More ›
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Gnasher goes missing again, in this week’s Beano (but it’s in a good cause)
One of Beano’s most loved and cheeky characters, Gnasher, disappears in the latest issue of the iconic British humour comic. It’s not the first time this has happened, of course – but this time, it’s all in a good cause!… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Can you help get ComicScene UK into WHSmith and other newsagents?
The new ComicScene UK magazine has launched a crowdfunder to get the magazine into over 600 shops across the UK on a monthly basis. They need to raise £5000 plus for the upfront cost to do this. Declaration of interest… Read More ›
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2096
Featuring a striking The Order-inspired cover by Neil Roberts, the latest issue of weekly SF comic 2000AD is on sale now in all good comic shops and newsagents across the UK, and various digital platforms. Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby clearly having… Read More ›
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2018 Ignatz Awards shortlist announced
The 2018 Ignatz Awards shortlist was announced this week, and the full list of nominees reflects a huge range of diverse comics talent. Congratulations to everyone nominated. Launched in 1997, the Ignatz Awards – the name inspired by the brick-throwing… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2018: Orijit Sen, creator of India’s first graphic novel, River of Stories
Every year, in the countdown to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, we bring you a series of interviews with guests at the event. Over 70 are attending in 2018 in October (and that’s not including creators you’ll find in… Read More ›