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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Siberian slaughter for Judge Dredd in the all-new 2000AD!
On sale today in all good newsagents and comic shops – and various digital platforms- is 2000AD Prog 2057, sporting a knock out cover by Boo Cook. Lurking behind this is an enjoyable line-up of thrills, with Dredd’s mission into… Read More ›
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The Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up – Don’t Miss their great ComicHaus Competition!
It’s time for one of my overdue Awesome Comics Podcast catch ups – but the main reason for this is to plug the terrific competition in their latest Episode (124)! The ACP team – Dan Butcher, our very own Tony… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Jack Kirby and Wally Wood’s Sky Masters – Sunday strip collection coming from Amigo Comics
US publisher Amigo Comics are to publish an English language collection of Sky Masters of the Space Force: The Complete Sunday Scripts in Colour: 1959-1960, edited by Ferran Delgado in January 2018, featuring self-contained stories from an amazing newspaper strip drawn… Read More ›
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Comic artist Keith Burns turns his hand to new World War Two Ladybird Books
Launched earlier this year as part of the new Ladybird Expert series, Battle of Britain is an accessible, insightful and authoritative account of the most famous aerial battle in history – featuring stunning art by “Johnny Red” artist Keith Burns…. Read More ›
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Coming Soon: the first ever Sheffield Micro Comic Con
The first ever Sheffield Micro Comic Con will take place in December. The event’s an extension of the Sheffield Comics Network, which was founded by comic artist and editor Bambos Georgiou last year, a monthly meet-up for comic creatives, Taking… Read More ›
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Harlem Heroes 2000AD Prog 74 Pin-Up art by Massimo Belardinelli offered on eBay
We all know that 2000AD Prog 74, published in 1978, features a stunning Judge Dredd scene from the “Cursed Earth” saga featuring deadly dinosaur Satanus by Mike McMahon… but the back cover by Massimo Belardinelli is pretty impressive, too –… Read More ›
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Alan Moore’s early work as a cartoonist comes under the spotlight in new academic work
Alan Moore‘s early work as a cartoonist comes under the spotlight in the recently-released academic text, Alan Moore, Out from the Underground – Cartooning, Performance, and Dissent, by Dr Maggie Gray. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, the book explores Alan Moore’s… Read More ›
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Adrian Salmon’s “Steelbook” Shada Art – a Doctor Who delight
One marvellous extra to the upcoming release of the “missing” Doctor Who story Shada is Doctor Who Magazine illustrator and comic artist Adrian Salmon’s art for the limited edition Steel Box Blu-Ray – but this isn’t his only contribution to… Read More ›
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David Hine and Mark Stafford annouce Arts Council-backed graphic novel “Lip Hook”
Top British comic creators David Hine and Mark Stafford have announced a new graphic novel for SelfMadeHero, Lip Hook, a story of “rural unease” set in a sleepy English village – a project that being backed by funding from Arts… Read More ›
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Campaign launched to free cartoonist Ramón Esono Ebalé
EG Justice and the Cartoonists Rights Network International – along with a coalition of international organisations – are inviting cartoonists and artists from around the world to support the #FreeNseRamon campaign. Cartoonist Ramón Esono Ebalé was arrested on 16th September in Equatorial… Read More ›
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Burlesque art class launched in Manchester thanks to Magazine and Comics Festival partnership
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival and The Mancunian Way, a small press magazine celebrating all things Manchester through Illustration, writing, design and photography, are teaming up to deliver a regular Manchester-based Burlesque Life Drawing Class. The Class will take… Read More ›
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Cartoonists, writers all reveal “The Secret Life of the Pencil”
The Secret Life of The Pencil was published last week – a hardbound book of super-close-up photos of pencils! Before you start wondering if this is another example of University researchers getting money to engage in crazy studies, it’s not… Read More ›
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A Cutaway Above: An interview with Captain Scarlet artist Graham Bleathman
Following up on our recent review of the Haynes Captain Scarlet Agents’s Manual – a great new guide to the Gerry Anderson show celebrating its 50th anniversary – we caught up with cutaway artist Graham Bleathman, whose impressive visuals form… Read More ›
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In Review: Dan Dare #2 from Titan Comics
The latest issue of Titan Comics new Dan Dare mini series written by Peter Milligan with Art by Alberto Foche is on sale now in all good comic shops – and finds one bored space hero unexpectedly moonstruck by an… Read More ›
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New Rivers of London comic, “Cry Fox”, debuts today
Titan Comics hit Rivers of London comic series returns for a brand-new story, picking up the threads from the most recent bestselling novel, The Hanging Tree – and the creative team will be signing copies at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on… Read More ›
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IDW launches Artist’s Editions site
If you’re a fan of great comic art and have already discovered US publisher IDW’s Artist’s Editions, then you’ll want to check out the dedicated web space for the range. An Artist’s Edition is an art book that mimics the… Read More ›
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Caption is back, celebrating 25 years with Brighton evening event in December
The wonderful Caption comic event is back after a two year hiatus, as an evening event on 1st December in Brighton, celebration the 25th anniversary of this much-loved comic creator gathering. Caption is the UK’s longest running comics festival, showcasing… Read More ›
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Mike Carey and Arvind Ethan David’s comics mini series “Darkness Visible” heads to TV
IDW Entertainment, publisher, content development, production and distribution arm of IDW Media Holdings, has finalised an agreement to develop, finance and produce a new scripted series based on British writer Mike Carey and producer Arvind Ethan David’s comics mini-series Darkness Visible…. Read More ›
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WebFind: True North Country Comics, a new web site launched to promote Canadian Comics
True North Country Comics is a new web site that’s been launched with the goal of promoting Canadian comic book creators and promoters. The new site, supported by a myriad of social media, provides a calendar of events, candid interviews,… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Comics Laureate Charlie Adlard in Dundee this week
Acclaimed comics artist, and the UK’s Comics Laureate, Charlie Adlard will be in Dundee this Friday to give a free talk at Dundee Comics Creative Space on his career, and his work as Comics Laureate. Charlie is of course best known… Read More ›