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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Misjudging A Book By Its Cover (In A Good Way)
The recent furore over fantasy author Terry Goodkind‘s comments about the cover of his novel Shroud of Eternity has provoked some fierce debate and criticism over the past week, leading to a forthright apology for offence caused to artist Bastien… Read More ›
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Eddie Campbell and Audrey Niffenegger to talk Bizarre Romance and more at the British Library
Eddie Campbell and Audrey Niffenegger will be heading up a comics event exploring the bizarre nature of romance and relationships in a mixture of comic strips and illustrated prose at the British Library in London in April, at a talk… Read More ›
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In Review: Combat Colin #2 by Lew Stringer
By Lew Stringer Self Published Available from Lew’s web shop, direct from Lew at appearances and a limited number of comic shops The Book: The second in a six-issue mini-series reprinting Lew Stringer’s “Combat Colin” strips from the 1980s and… Read More ›
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Underdog Gallery hosts new exhibition by pop surrealist artist Michael Forbes
London’s Underdog Gallery is to present a solo exhibition by British pop surrealist artist Michael Forbes. Opening on Friday 2nd March from 6.00pm to 10.00pm, the solo exhibition showcases original paintings and limited edition prints. As always, entry to this… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast celebrates first birthday with Rachael Smith interview
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is celebrating its first birthday by interviewing Rachael Smith, creator of The Rabbit and the biographical comic Wired Up Wrong. Rachael Smith’s debut graphic novel House Party came out in 2014 with Great Beast Comics… Read More ›
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downthetubes partners with British Library for “Digital Conversation” event in April
I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be chairing an event at the British Library in April, the first event downthetubes has ever been a partner in organising. Titled “Venturing off the page: exploring multimedia, animation and new narrative forms” guest… Read More ›
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2070
Brains in jars? All-out robot battles? creeping horror in Mega-City One? if only one of those concepts tickles your fancy, then it’s more than enough for you to pick up 2000AD Prog 2070, which comes with a thoroughly spooky, haunting… Read More ›
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As Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 reaches the UK, will it be show’s last hurrah?
Season Five of Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is well underway on ABC in the US – and it gets its UK debut next week on E4, launching Sunday 4th March at 9.00pm – but will it be the last as… Read More ›
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From Stage to Screen – Art & Hue’s Stylish Pop Art inspired by Film Adaptations of Stage Plays!
Art & Hue treads the boards for the new collection of stylish pop art inspired by plays adapted into films, released recently. From the glitzy showbiz of musicals to the provocative black comedy of Joe Orton, Art & Hue has… Read More ›
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Artist Pete Wallbank delivers Six Million Dollar Man for upcoming INFINITY magazine
Artist Pete Wallbank has been delighting fans of many classic cult TV shows with his stunning covers for INFINITY magazine – but his latest, for Issue 9, on sale soon, featuring the Six Million Dollar Man was clearly a delight… Read More ›
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Moniaive Comic Festival back in June
Moniaive Comic Festival is back, coming to the Dumfries and Galloway town 2nd – 3rd June 2018. It might seem a small, out of the way place to some, but alongside the two hotels, a Post Office and a chocolate… Read More ›
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In Pictures: DC Exhibition – Dawn of Super Heroes opens in London
We trailed its opening a couple of weeks back, but the DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes has now opened at the O2 in London – and looks really good, Tripwire magazine’s Joel Meadows was at the launch and has kindly… Read More ›
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Remembering Robert Sutherland: An Appreciation by Jenny O’Connor
Former Marvel UK staff and the present team at Redan Publishing were all saddened by the news of the death of Robert Sutherland, whose passing was announced last week. Here, Redan’s Editorial Director Jenny O’Connor, who knew Robert for almost… Read More ›
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Original Cover Art for The Amazing Spider-Man #100 Sets $478,000 World Record at Heritage Auctions
The original art for The Amazing Spider-Man #100 sold for $478,000, at Heritage Auctions on Friday, setting a world record for the most expensive Marvel Comics Silver or Bronze Age cover ever sold at public auction. It also is the… Read More ›
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SF author Robert Silverberg reveals life-long love of comics as Humanoids new Downward to the Earth debuts
Jud Meyers has interviewed Robert Silverberg about the graphic novel adaptation of Downward to the Earth, now available from Humanoids, a chat that offers a fascinating insight into the work and background of the acclaimed SF author. American author and… Read More ›
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Titan Comics reveals more from its new “The Prisoner” title
Titan Comics announced some fantastic new projects at the annual ComicsPRO retailer event held in Portland in the United States on Friday, including more about the company’s eagerly.anticipated new comic based on The Prisoner TV series. The brand-new comic series set… Read More ›
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Set phasers to stun! You could win a Star Trek Discovery original painting
Star Trek has returned to the small screen with the highly different (for Trek, anyway) series – Star Trek Discovery. Set before the original 1960s show, this series, screening on Netflix in the UK, has an awful lot going on… Read More ›
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Maggie Gray’s new Alan Moore study to get launch at one day “Original Writer” conference
Out next month is Alan Moore, Out from the Underground by Maggie Gray and the book gets its launch on Saturday 17th March at the University of London. The launch is part of the conference taking place that day, The… Read More ›
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Leah Moore and John Reppion back on the case with Sherlock Holmes: The Vanishing Man
Nine years after Leah Moore and John Reppion‘s first Sherlock Holmes series arrived on comic shop shelves, the dynamic writing duo are back at US publisher Dynamite Entertainment, writing a brand new mystery –Sherlock Holmes: The Vanishing Man. Dynamite continue… Read More ›
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Sizzling Summer Reads! Titan Comics Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer hits stores in June
Celebrating the centenary year of Mickey Spillane, Titan Comics has announced Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, a brand-new Hard Case Crime comic book series, based on a story originally written by Mickey Spillane and adapted by Max Allan Collins (Road To… Read More ›