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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Don’t miss out on this limited edition Captain Scarlet Blu-Ray, which includes Ron Embleton art prints, new comic!
There’s a new Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Limited Edition Blu-Ray out now that is definitely an item comic fans will want to track down, featuring an all-new comic based on the show – and much more. One of Gerry… Read More ›
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Fantagraphics announces English language edition of Mort Cinder by Héctor Oesterheld and Alberto Breccia
There’s some great news for fans of the astonishingly brilliant South American comic artist Alberto Breccia. His stunning Mort Cinder strip, written by the equally talented author Héctor Germán Oesterheld, is to be published in English by Fantagraphics in October…. Read More ›
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A Slice of British Comics History – Fantasy Advertiser #1
Artist David Hathaway-Price, who runs the terrific Classic UK Comics Zines online archive, has unearthed a rare copy of one of Britain’s first fanzines, Fantasy Advertiser #1, published by Frank Dobson in 1965. Two years before Anthony Roche published his… Read More ›
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Shadow Girl set to roam the streets of Manchester this August, a new kind of superhero…
Manchester. Saturday 4th August 2018. A regular Saturday afternoon in the City Centre. Shoppers going about their business with the usual hustle and bustle. But something is a bit different. From the corner of your eye you catch sight of… Read More ›
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Out Today: 2000AD Prog 2092 – Mechastopheles on the rampage!
With a stunning cover from Clint Langley, 2000AD Prog 2092 is on sale now in all good newsgents, comic shops and bia various digital platforms. This Prog leads with Tharg’s pleasure at the Rogue Trooper film news, and sees the… Read More ›
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Beano artist Laura Howell joins ICE 2018 line up in Birmingham this September
Long time Beano artist Laura Howell has joined the guest list for ICE Birmingham in September, joining other Beano legends at the special celebratory retrospective panel for the long-running weekly British humour comic at the expo. Laura Howell likes drawing… Read More ›
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In Full: Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Winners 2018
The winers of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2018 were announced at San Diego Comic Con recently. The nominees were for works published between 1st January and 31st December 2017 and were chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges…. Read More ›
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Beano launches new Fan Club
Beano Studios has launched a free-to-join Dennis and Gnasher Fan Club – a modern take on the fondly-remembered Dennis the Menace Fan Club. In addition to downloading a membership pack from the Beano.com web site enabling entry to a special area… Read More ›
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Food for Thought: a classic British Charity Comic that now commands a high collector price
Back in the 1980s, before the dawn of the internet, the British comics community celebrated the form in print. It was a vibrant scene, encompassing not only zines about comics such as Arkensword, Fantasy Advertiser and Speakeasy but fiction-based titles… Read More ›
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The Impossible Space Helmet: Why Frank Hampson’s “Dan Dare” drives engineers crazy, but delights us still
Commando artist Keith Page follows up his profile of French artist Hugo Pratt with a look at the work of “Dan Dare” creator Frank Hampson… Anyone can see that Dan Dare’s space helmet just wouldn’t work. How could you possibly… Read More ›
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Battle’s “Rat Pack” guest star in final issue of Rebellion’s Sniper Elite Resistance mini series!
Back in May, we reported 2000AD publisher Rebellion’s plans for Sniper Elite Resistance, a three-issue mini-series based on their games division’s bestselling World War Two game Sniper Elite, but for British war comic fans there’s now another reason to pick… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: The new “Psycho Gran Versus…”, from David Leach, poor Howard!
This weekend at London Film and Comic Con, artist and writer David Leach will unleash a new collection of Psycho Gran Versus on an unsuspecting world… and it is very, very silly but well worth your hard-earned pounds. Just like… Read More ›
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Scream & Misty back for another Special scare feast this Halloween!
After the success of last year’s fright-filled outing, the Scream & Misty Special is back returns for Halloween 2018 from 2000AD publisher Rebellion. Two of Britain’s best-loved comics of the 1970s have reunited once again, offering an anthology of brand… Read More ›
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Future of creating comics to be explored at free Cartoon Museum event this Saturday
London’s Cartoon Museum is to host an creating comics event entitled Sustaining Comics: What the Future Holds this Saturday. Join a host of comics professionals to explore the challenges of working in comics, the opportunities out there, and what the future might… Read More ›
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Who will be cast as Minnie the Minx in new live-action show?
Who will be cast as Minnie The Minx? That’s the question many Beano fans are asking, some wondering if this week’s anniversary celebrations will be accompanied by more news about the announced live-action TV show from Lime Pictures, in partnership… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: The Masters in Comics Podcast launches with Dave Gibbons as first guest
A new monthly comics podcast – Masters in Comics – launches in two weeks time, a new project offering insight into creating comics from the University of Dundee’s Phillip Vaughan. Masters in Comics will offer a chat with some of… Read More ›
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2091 (plus, a plug for the new Brink and Lawless books out now from Rebellion)
Mark Harrison might have delivered a dramatic cover and a stunning episode of “Grey Area” for this week’s 2000AD (Prog 2091), but it seems it’s Dan Abnett who’s taken over Rebellion’s output this week more than anyone else, with collections… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Talking Cryowulf, a gender-flipped take on Beowulf, with comic creator Sam Roads
downthetubes had a virtual chat with Cardiff-based writer, entrepreneur, musician and game designer Sam Roads about his latest comics project, the terrific-looking Cryowulf, now seeking support on Kickstarter – a gender-flipped retelling of Beowulf, set on a long-abandoned space-station. Sam trained as… Read More ›
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Dan Dare – The Audio Adventures rocket to BBC Radio 4 Extra
Dan Dare is returning to BBC radio, with broadcasts of the first three audio adventures from B7 Media on BBC Radio 4 Extra next month. The first three episodes (Volume One) of the Dan Dare – The Audio Adventures starring… Read More ›
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Space Kingley artist Ron Jobson’s Airfix art documented in latest Constant Scale magazine
What’s in the latest issue of Constant Scale? Find out here