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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2000AD-inspired Lawgiver convention returns to Bristol in May
Tickets for the 2000AD-inspired LAWGIVER 4 event at the end of May in Bristol are now on sale. “If you enjoyed 2000AD’s 40th last year,then this is the convention you want to be at this year,” say the organisers of… Read More ›
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Could a Captain Britain TV series be back on the cards?
Updated 16:36: Could a possible barrier to a Captain Britain TV series now have been put behind the team who were working on such a “Producer’s Pitch” for such a project, back in 2016? Well, forgive us in advance if… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Wild’s End: Journey’s End by Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard, out in June
BOOM! Studios has announced Wild’s End: Journey’s End, a full-length graphic novel conclusion to the celebrated, anthropomorphic SF trilogy, will be released in June 2018. Written by Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman Rebirth) and illustrated by INJ Culbard… Read More ›
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi Art Director Kevin Jenkins joins Portsmouth Comic Con line-up
With the news that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the biggest film at the UK and Irish box office in 2017, Portsmouth’s newest Comic Con has announced that ILM London’s supervising art director Kevin Jenkins will be attending the… Read More ›
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In Review: Mockingbird: Nightmare on Another Planet by Flix Gillett
By Flix Gillett Self Published – Limited Print Run 128 Pages The Book: 128 pages of Mockingbird’s space adventures, collecting the first three issues of Space: Out of this World with an additional 35 plus pages (that would have been… Read More ›
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Acclaimed Spainish comic artist Luis García Mozos retrospective exhibition announced
Spanish cartoonist, editor, illustrator and painter Luis García Mozos – perhaps best known in the UK for his work for Warren Publishing on titles like Creepy – has just confirmed the wonderful news that he is going to have a… Read More ›
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More early Marvel UK art goes under the hammer at Heritage Auctions, alongside iconic US Amazing Spider-Man cover
Following up on our report on how some art created for British comics helped Heritage Auctions profits soar in 2017, a number of early Marvel UK published pieces go under the hammer next month as part of their upcoming auction… Read More ›
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Webfinds: The Forbidden Planet the Movie Facebook Group
There are some movies that stick in your head your whole life and for me (and George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry and so many, many more), one of them has to be Forbidden Planet. One of the most American SF movies… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Retro! Time, Memory, Nostalgia – The Ninth International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference
The organisers of Retro! Time, Memory, Nostalgia – The Ninth International Graphic Novel and Comics Conference taking place at Bournemouth University (Wednesday 27th – Friday 29th June 2018) have issued a Call for Papers. Here’s their appeal: Retro – a looking to the past –… Read More ›
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Fumio Obata’s thought-provoking “On the Palm of Unknown” exhibition opens in Whitehaven
A ground-breaking exhibition of comic art by Fumio Obata, On the Palm of Unknown, has gone on display at the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria, running until 25th March 2018. Commissioned by Lakes International Comic Arts Festival, the art project makes surprising… Read More ›
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2064
The latest issue of 2000AD is on sale today in all good newsagents, comic shops and a variety of digital platforms. With Rufus Dayglo‘s “Bad Company” cover leaping from shelves in your face, how can you miss it? Inside, Tharg… Read More ›
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If a “The Avengers” TV Show Reboot is in the works, would a tie-in new comic be far behind?
Writer-directors Shane Black and writing partner Fred Dekker have scripted a TV pilot reboot for cult 1960s spy show The Avengers for Warner Bros. – but there’s no indication, as yet, if or when it might get optioned. Various web sites,… Read More ›
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Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition continues at Sale’s Waterside arts venue until next month
Ian Cullen from the wonderful SciFiPulse.net has kindly given downthetubes permission to feature some of his photographs of the free Cosgrove Hall Films exhibition at Waterside, in Sale. Waterside is a thriving and vibrant arts venue in the heart of… Read More ›
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British auction house Vectis teases massive Bronze Age comics sale, rare “The Investigator” toy car offered
Coming soon from British auction house Vectis is a massive sale of thousands of predominantly Bronze Age Marvel and DC comics. Bought from newsagents and stored away with the sole purpose of creating a collection, these comics are largely from… Read More ›
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Dunfermline Comic Con back in March, some ticket proceeds will support “Books For Schools” charity
Dunfermline Comic Con is returning to Pittencrieff Park on Saturday 3rd March 2018 for another day of comic book fun, promoted with a gorgeous poster by SICBA award-winning creator Hari Conner. Comic book artists and writers from across the globe… Read More ›
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Zoom Rockman announced as latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival patron
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced its latest patron is cartoonist Zoom Rockman, who sprang to comics fame at a young age with his work for the humour weekly, Beano. Zoom Rockman is a British artist/ satirist whose comic strip, Skanky Pigeon… Read More ›
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It’s time for another Awesome Comics Podcast Catch-Up! Comichaus secrets revealed! Books to look out for in 2018! And more!
The Awesome Comics Podcast continues to broadcast some great stuff about British comics and more. Once again, I’ve been a bit neglectful in keeping you posted with its, well, awesome coverage of some terrific creators, including great interviews and entertaining… Read More ›
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Transformers head to China, just as new prequel film teased
Hasbro has launched its Transformers Autobot Alliance interactive exhibition in China. The initiative, created in partnership with Cityneon Holdings Limited, a global innovator in exhibitions, finds Transformers at the centre of a walk-through attraction in Chong Qing’s Shin Kong Place. It features… Read More ›
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Dog Friendly! Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast chats with the Gluepot Books team
The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast is online now and leads with an interview with sisters Scarlett and Sophie Rickard who have created their own publishing company, Gluepot Books, publishers of the hugely enjoyable canine-inspired comic tale (no… Read More ›
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The Really Heavy Greatcoat Review of the Year 2017
The Really Heavy Greatcoat by myself and Lancaster-based artist Nick Miller was published fairly regularly for about 20 years in alternative Lancaster print titles such as On The Beat and Off the Beat and online on virtual-lancaster.net. These days, Nick Still draws an annual celebratory Greatcoat at… Read More ›