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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First ever Doctor Who Weekly strips head to audio adaptations by Big Finish
Two new audio adventures based on two much-loved Doctor Who Weekly comic strips – “The Iron Legion” and “The Star Beast” – stories originally written by Pat Mills and John Wagner and drawn by Dave Gibbons – are being released… Read More ›
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In Review: The Vigilant – Maelstrom
Editor: Keith Richardson Publisher: Rebellion Out: Wednesday 15th August (UK and Digital) – available from newsagents and comic shops The Vigilant: Maelstrom Written by Simon Furman Art: Simon Coleby Letters: Simon Bowland When the evil forces of Von Hoffman and… Read More ›
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Remembering the Daily Mirror strip “Romeo Brown”, the work of Alfred Mazure, Peter O’Donnell and Jim Holdaway
A quick guide to a British newspaper gem, published by the Daily Mirror between 1954 and 1962
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Lovern Kindzierski and John Bolton’s new graphic novel “Shame – Hope” really deserves your attention
A downthetubes reader dropped us a line to ask what John Bolton had been up to comics-wise recently, which gives us the chance to plug the Renegade Arts fantasy project Shame by the artist, working with writer Lovern Kindzierski. John recently did a signing… Read More ›
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Massive comic creator line up for next week’s Manchester Comic and Reading Festival
There’s a great line up of guest at Manchester Comic and Reading Festival taking place next Saturday (18th August 2018) at Manchester Central Library. A free event organised by the same team that brought us the brilliant Oldham Comic Con,… Read More ›
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Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles out later this year
Gemstone Publishing released their 48th edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide last month – a reference book full of updated US comic book prices, current market reports, new additions to the Overstreet Hall of Fame and a selection… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD (40th Anniversary Reprint)
A crowdfunder to celebrate a classic SF-inspired series of books has succeeded in attracting backing for a reprint of the fondly-remembered Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD Terran Trade Authority handbook by Stewart Cowley, to be published by Battlefield Press next… Read More ›
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British Comics Swapmeet and Mini-Mart invades Lochore in September
Coming soon to Lochore, Scotland is the third British Comics Swapmeet and Mini-Mart – and the organisers have just released this terrific promotional poster, the work of artist Richard Anthony Pester. The third swapmeet is scheduled to happen on 29th… Read More ›
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New documentary celebrates the ground-breaking SF art of Chesley Bonestell
Long before satellites would journey to planets and deep-space telescopes would photograph distant galaxies, there was an artist whose prescient vistas dazzled the eyes and the imagination of all who beheld them. His name was Chesley Bonestell. How could he… Read More ›
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Axa and Modesty Blaise artist Romero announces new art book
Modesty Blaise and Axa artist Enric Badia Romero, still very much active, has announced a new book, Legends of Comic Women and Men of Paper, available to pre-order from him direct. It’s the latest in a line of self-published Books… Read More ›
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Comichaus Spotlight: An interview with Brethren Born creator Jon Laight
Here’s the first in a series of interviews with creators whose work features on the digital comics marketplace Comichaus, in association with the platform. Midlands- based Jon Laight is a comic writer whose first comic, Brethren Born, was released in… Read More ›
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Scotland in the spotlight at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Kendal’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has played host to creators of many nations – and this year, the Scots will be among the nations in the spotlight over the Festival weekend in October. The weekend-long Festival will give visitors the… Read More ›
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Osprey Games Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth card game on its way
Osprey Games graphic adventure card game, Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth still doesn’t have a release date yet but downthetubes gathers the project is proceeding apace. Announced last year, Duncan Molloy, Games Developer at Osprey Games, has worked with Rebellion to… Read More ›
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Prison breaks and ghostly soldiers stalk new Commando comics!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5147-5150) are on sale this Thursday in all good newsagents and digital platforms from DC Thomson. Find the mole in the French Resistance, fight alongside the ghost of your lieutenant, escape from an American POW camp,… Read More ›
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Dinky Space: 1999 Eagles, Spider-Man cars, Stingray sweet cigarette cards and the Bionic Man, too – at auction next week
Next week, Aston’s Auctioneers are hosting a massive August Toy & Model Railway Auction that includes Doctor Who, Gerry Anderson and Star Wars toys and we’ve picked out some of the items that might interest downthetubes readers. The auction includes… Read More ›
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Robbie Morrison talks Nikolai Dante and more for latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
Robbie Morrison, co-creator of 2000AD‘s “Nikolai Dante”, is the guest of the latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast – available now. Robbie discusses his work at 2000AD, starting with the Judge Dredd Megazine and the creation of Nikolai Dante and… Read More ›
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Book Palace announces updated, limited edition Modesty Blaise Companion
British specialist publisher Book Palace is to publish an update to its hugely-successful Modesty Blaise Companion later this year, with additional pages, as a limited edition. The first edition of their Companion published in 2005 sold out very quickly and… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Gateway City Volume One by Russell Mark Olson
Regular readers of downthetubes will recall we’ve previously plugged the independent comic Gateway City created by Russell Mark Olson – and now the first four issues are to be collected into a new collection, accompanied by extra pages, new art… Read More ›
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Folk horror live at Orbital Comics, from 2000AD artists Boo Cook, Simon Davis and Frazer Irving!
Fans of forktail – the band comprising of 2000AD artists Boo Cook and Simon Davis – will be pleased to hear they’re doing a signing and live performance at London’s Orbital Comics on Saturday (11th August), accompanied by musical collaborator Frazer Irving. The instore signing runs… Read More ›
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Greg Goldstein, Publishing President at IDW, cautions over “soft” Direct Sales comic market
Greg Goldstein, Publishing President and COO at US comics publisher IDW (publishers of series such as Star Trek, Transformers, True Blood and many more) was interviewed by comics business site ICV2 at San Diego Comic-Con, and makes some interesting comments about… Read More ›