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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Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct revived for new, official comic
Space Precinct: Reloaded, a colour prequel comic to Gerry Anderson‘s Space Precinct TV series is due from Anderson Entertainment next month. Announced back in October 2017 during the FAB Live event, Space Precinct: Reloaded, written by Chris Thompson and illustrated… Read More ›
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Belfast’s “Laughter in the Dark – Illustrating the Troubles” exhibition includes free workshop by 2000AD artist PJ Holden
A free political cartoons exhibition “Laughter in the Dark – Illustrating the Troubles” is running in Belfast’s Linen Hall Library for the rest of the month. The exhibition which charts the birth and rise of the political cartoon and its… Read More ›
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British comics art helps boost Heritage Auction sales record, first European auction date revealed
Numerous records set by Heritage Auctions‘ Comics & Comic Art category in 2017 include total sales of $44.3 million (almost £32 million) – the highest ever in the 16-year history of the category and a new standard for the second… Read More ›
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New Andersonic zine delves into 1990s Captain Scarlet comics and more
Issue 23 of the fab Andersonic zine is now available via the title’s website (and eBay for a short period in the Collectibles > SF > Thunderbirds section). There’s a great mix of articles in the ‘zine, including a look… Read More ›
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Darryl Cunningham to talk “Graphic Science” at this year’s Glasgow’s Aye Write!
Glasgow’s Aye Write! Book Festival has announced their March 2018 line-up. Their planned events include an appearance by graphic journalist Darryl Cunningham talking about Graphic Science, a cracking collection of stories about some often overlooked scientists last year. Darryl Cunningham’s… Read More ›
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Manchester TimeQuake Steampunk Festival – details announced for massive Steampunk Expo
Details of the first TimeQuake Steampunk Festival, taking place in Manchester on 30th March 2018, have been announced. The event is the brainchild of the Victorian Steampunk Society, who are teaming up with Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre and the organisers of… Read More ›
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Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s “Resident Alien” hits the Big Apple!
Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse are ready to crack open a new case file as the next chapter of the acclaimed science-fiction/ murder mystery Resident Alien, published by Dark Horse, takes their curious and compassionate alien detective to New York… Read More ›
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“Do, Think, Share” – the free 64 Million Artists campaign seeking to support creators in all walks of life
Libraries across the UK are taking part in 64 Million Artists, a national campaign and inviting everyone to get involved, be creative and have fun. Now in its fourth year, the initiative aims to support visitors to libraries to feel… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Festival Podcast chats with Tillie Walden
Cartoonist and illustrator Tillie Walden is the latest guest of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, a comics creator with a track record of producing some amazing books, including The End of Summer, released in 2015 by Avery Hill Publishing and… Read More ›
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Beano creators hit back at media sniping as comic hits 80, buoyed by success of new “Dennis and Gnasher” TV show
Just after Christmas, perhaps because they’d been drinking too much mulled wine while reading this year’s top-selling Beano annual, some of Britain’s national media got into one of its occasional “comics aren’t what they used to be” funks. Specifically, with… Read More ›
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In Review: 2000AD Prog 2063
Wrapped in a cover from Neil Roberts, 2000AD Prog 2063 hits all good newsagents, comic shops and digital platforms today, Wednesday 10th January 2018. This week’s favourite dialogue? Got to be Fly-Trap’s “My tendrils… they’re throbbing!”. Yes, much in demand… Read More ›
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Kamikaze conjurors and bickering air-duo bail outs! New Commando comics on sale this week
Here’s the intel on the latest Commando war comics from DC Thomson (Issues 5087-5090), on sale in newsagents and various digital platforms this Thursday, 11th January 2018. Buckle up and get ready for evading raiders in the Kenyan bush, bickering… Read More ›
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Titan Comics “Lost Fleet – Corsair” by novels author Jack Campbell draws to a close – a preview, and a thank you
Tomorrow (10th January 2018) sees the release of Lost Fleet – Corsair #5 in comic shops and digital platforms, the final issue in what will hopefully be the first in a series of tales based on the best-selling Lost Fleet… Read More ›
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Buster’s bonkers adventure tale “Von Hoffman’s Invasion” collected
Mad scientists, giant monsters, and courageous saboteurs! That’s the one line “pitch” with which 2000AD publishers Rebellion are promoting their Treasury of British Comics collection of the Jet and Buster strip “Von Hoffman’s Invasion” – and it sums this crazy… Read More ›
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Dan Dare – Raumschiffpilot! That’s Dan Dare in German to you – plus, “Jesus von Nazareth”, too
Dan Dare has a long tradition of reprint in other languages, so it’s no surprise, perhaps, to discover that the early adventures of the Eagle character had an outing in two volumes in German in the late 1980s – Dan Dare,… Read More ›
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Inspiring Art: Ernest Chiriacka
Ernest Chiriacka (1913-2010) is internationally known as an impressionistic painter of dramatic Western moods and the American landscape. He is one of few fine artists that successfully made the leap from illustration, leaving behind a large commercial legacy including pulp… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: “The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head”, exploring relationships and memory
The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head, a new graphic novel by David Gaffney and Dan Berry explores relationships, memory, loneliness and obsession in a darkly humorous way – and debuts very soon, published by US publisher Top Shelf. The project,… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: TV Century 21 and Battle Comic Artist Jim Watson
We’re sorry to report the recent passing of comic artist British comic artist Jim Watson, perhaps best known for his work on TV Century 21 during the 1960s and his strips for DC Thomson’s Commando and Warlord, and the Fleetway title,… Read More ›
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Wow! Retracted – A crazed delight from David Robertson
Wow! Retracted is the latest title from Dundee-based Fred Egg Comics – and if you’ve previously bought any of this quirky indie publisher’s books… then be prepared for even more quirkiness! LeadIng with plenty of head-scratching, brain-teasing strips from writer-artist… Read More ›
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Jim Baikie: A Stripography (and some Musical Notes)
Here’s a guide to comics artist Jim Baikie’s comics career, including his lesser known British girls’ comic work, revealing his huge contribution to many titles. Jim died in December 2017; you can read our obituary here and an Appreciation by Alan Moore… Read More ›