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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Crowdfunding Spotlight: An Interview with “Hollow Monsters” creator Monty Nero and the Kickstarter experience
Monty Nero writes games, comics, screenplays, radio plays, and novels. Comics readers will probably best know him for Death Sentence London with Martin Simmonds for Titan Comics (he created Death Sentence withMike Dowling), The X-Men and Hulk for Marvel, and a… Read More ›
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In Review: Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Vault
By Chris Bentley Publisher: Signum Books Out: Now The Book: Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons made its television debut in 1967, presenting a dark and sinister science-fiction drama that has captivated audiences ever since. The scenario depicted a world at… Read More ›
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In Review: Captain Scarlet – Spectrum Agents’ Manual
By Sam Dunham, illustrated by Graham Bleathman Publisher: Haynes Out: Now The Book: The SPV, Angel Interceptor, Cloudbase and associated Spectrum and World Security vehicles, detailed in cutaways… This fascinating manual is a technical guide to Spectrum, the global security… Read More ›
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Observer celebrates 10 years of Graphic Novel Competition with Comics Special this Sunday
This Sunday (5th November), British newspaper The Observer is celebrating 10 years of the Observer / Jonathan Cape / Comica graphic short story prize with a graphic novel special section as part of its New Review section. This year’s winner… Read More ›
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Hugo Pratt’s “The Great Man of the North” set to make English debut thanks to IDW
Hugo Pratt’s classic graphic novel The Great Man of the North (also known as Jesuit Joe or L’uomo del Grande Nord) makes its English language debut this month thanks to US publisher IDW. A graphic masterpiece, this short story was… Read More ›
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EXCLUSIVE: Gilbert Shelton reveals some Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers secrets, new collection extracts!
Following up on news of a signing by Gilbert Shelton at London’s Gosh Comics to mark the launch of the new collection Fifty Freakin’ Years of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers from Knockabout Comics, we’ve got an exclusive extract of a… Read More ›
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Latest Zarjaz hits the stands, bursting with 2000AD-inspired weirdness!
The latest issue of the 2000AD-inspired zine Zarjaz – Issue 29 – is now available from FutureQuake Press, also publishers of the brilliant anthology title FutureQuake and the Strontium Dog-inspired comic Dogbreath. Wrapped in a smashing cover by 2000AD artist Simon… Read More ›
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Next “illustrators” Magazine Special spotlights British War Comics
illustrators is the art quarterly from publishers The Book Palace devoted to the finest illustration art ever published from around the world. It also guides you through the stories behind the artists and their art, with features by the leading… Read More ›
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Rare Tom Jung Star Wars film poster concept art goes up for auction – and many more cinematic gems too!
. Just when you thought you had seen everything, this amazing Star Wars artefact arrives after being hidden away for forty years – and goes up for auction through Heritage Auctions later this month, along with rare Casablanca, a rare… Read More ›
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Assassin’s Creed Origins “Pop Up” exhibition in London today, Titan Comics tie-in launches in January
Fans of Titan Comics Assassin’s Creed comic may be interested in heading to a pop-up promo event at the Hospital Club in London today for UbiSoft’s latest blockbuster video game title Assassin’s Creed Origins with a Time Travel Photography Exhibition. (Titan’s… Read More ›
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Looking Back at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival with the Festival Podcast Team
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, hosts Ian Loxam and Nikki talk about their experiences at the awesome Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2017. They look at each of their days at the event… Read More ›
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Fifty Freakin’ Years of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers? Party on, at GOSH, with Gilbert Shelton
Counter culture hero Gilbert Shelton will be at London’s GOSH Comics on Saturday 25th November, signing his work to celebrate fifty freakin’ years since the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers first debuted, For those who’ve been in a green haze since… Read More ›
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In Preview and Review – “It’s Cold In The River At Night” by Alex Potts
Created by Alex Potts Published by Avery Hill Publishing 112 pages – Full Colour – £9.99 The Story: Somewhere in an isolated area of Western Europe, Carl and Rita rent a house on stilts. Due to the pressure of spending… Read More ›
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British Comics Flashback: “The Phantom Footballer of Amiens” by “Charley’s War” artist Joe Colquhoun
Joe Colquhoun, co-creator of the seminal World War One comic strip “Charley’s War” with Pat Mills for Battle, had a long and accomplished career as an artist, providing not only strip work to many British boys comics but covers and… Read More ›
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Dangerous secrets revealed and deadly Nazis exposed in latest Commando comics!
Brand new Commando (Issues 5067-5070) are out tomorrow from DC Thomson, on sale in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. In this latest batch of war-inspired comics Nazis are at large, attempting high profile assassinations, seeking prestigious medals… Read More ›
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V&A Illustration Awards 2018 Opens
The V&A Illustrations Awards 2018 – the UK’s most prestigious annual illustration competition – has just opened. Now’s the time for illustrators to enter for the chance to win up to £8,000 – and join an illustrious list of past… Read More ›
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“You are the Ref” and Roy of the Rovers comic artist Paul Trevillion’s latest exhibition opens tonight
You Are the Ref and Roy of the Rovers comic artist and illustrator Paul Trevillion‘s latest exhibition opens tonight at the recently-opened Black Gallery in Tring, Hertfordshire. Paul himself will be at tonight’s private view of the new exhibition, which runs… Read More ›
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Titan Books completes its “Modesty Blaise” collections with “The Killing Game”
We’ve been remiss in not noting – and celebrating – the completion of Titan Books collections of the Modesty Blaise newspaper strips with the release of The Killing Game last month. Spanning 28 collections in this series, Titan have now… Read More ›
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Warning: The latest 2000AD may nuke you from orbit… and it’s on sale now! (and grab some classic “Nemesis”, too!)
2000AD Prog 2055 is on sale today in all good newsagents and comic shops, offering a smorgasbord of thrills, complemented by another stunning “Slaine” cover from Simon Davis. My favourite story this issue is the latest episode of “Absalom” –… Read More ›
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Join Bram Stoker’s great grand-nephew for a literary fright night at Northumbria University
Dacre Stoker, the best-selling co-author of Dracula the Un-Dead, the official Stoker family endorsed sequel to Dracula, due for Release next year, is set to appear at Northumbria University next week. In his free public lecture, Stoker on Stoker, author… Read More ›