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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Sector 13, the Belfast-based 20000AD zine, is back!
Belfast-based 2000AD fan group, Sector House 13, launch the second issue of their Sector 13 fanzine on Friday 3rd November from 7.30pm in their regular haunt of the Parlour bar on the city’s Elmwood Avenue. Bigger, and more ambitious than… Read More ›
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It’s snow joke – artist Graeme Neil Reid’s Halloween art raffle is not for the nervous!
All things spooky and creepy crawl out for Halloween and this month’s art raffle from artist Graeme Neil Reid features two nasty hags riddled with evil and murderous intent! Graeme is a Scottish artist who now works primarily in traditional… Read More ›
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Moominvalley, the new Moomin animated show, heads to Sky next year
Moominvalley is to air on Sky late next year, bringing the characters from the award-winning author Tove Jansson’s classic books back to life in a new Sky Original Production made by Finnish company Gutsy Animations, who successfully secured over $250,000… Read More ›
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Daily Mail goes berserk over Beano “farting statue” idea for new V&A Museum
British daily newspaper the Daily Mail has gone into outrage overdrive over a leaked memo which it claimed suggested London’s Victoria & Albert Museum had plans to turn its galleries over to the Beano, which apparently include augmenting the cast of… Read More ›
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Massive Guest List for Malta Comic Con 2017 continues to grow, includes many British comic creators
Malta Comic Con 2017 tickets will be on sale exclusively during Wicked Comics Halloween Party, which will take place today, Saturday 28th October 2017 at the St. Andrew’s Band Club in Luqa. The Halloween Costume party is free of charge and… Read More ›
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Egmont launches Disney Descendants magazine
Egmont Publishing recently launched a new magazine inspired by the Disney Channel’s original movie, Descendants, coinciding with the release of the follow up, Descendants 2, released on 20th October. The original movie, which has a huge fan base, followed the story of… Read More ›
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GAGGED, a new exhibition that speaks up for those who can’t be heard, opens in London next month
London’s Westminster Reference Library is to host GAGGED, a new exhibition organised by the Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation next month, highlighting the persecution of cartoonists across the globe – including one who had their hands broken for their work. The Professional… Read More ›
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Bastard Galaxia Kickstarter appeal soars to new heights as 1980s toy comic homage captures new fans
Regular readers will recall we plugged the Bastard Galaxia web comic a while back – and now the team behind the book are running a Kickstarter that’s already secured funding for their first print collection – but they’re hoping to… Read More ›
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Beano, Commando, nominated for Scottish cover awards
The special Commando Issue 5000 cover by veteran artist Ian Kennedy and a Batman-inspired Beano cover by Nigel Parkinson are among others shortlisted for this year’s PPA Scotland’s Cover of the Year Award. The DC Thomson comic titles join magazines… Read More ›
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Don’t Scream yet if you Misty-ed this Halloween Special from 2000AD… Here’s how to get you copy!
If you’ve missed out on a copy of the Scream & Misty Halloween Special 2017 – the first, we hope, of many such items from 2000AD publisher Rebellion (and the word is, there will be more!) – then there’s still plenty… Read More ›
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Swift comic in the spotlight in new Eagle Times
The latest issue of Eagle Times (Volume 30 No 3) is out now, the latest release from the long-established Eagle Society dedicated to Eagle comic and its many creators and strips. This issue includes features on Eagle‘s companion paper Swift,… Read More ›
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In Review: Porcelain Volume Three – Ivory Tower
Written by Benjamin Read Art by Christian Wildgoose Colours by André May Letters by Jim Campbell Published by Improper Books – Full Colour – £14.99 The Book: Porcelain: Ivory Tower sees another decade passing, and Lady becoming Mother. Hidden behind the… Read More ›
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Nottingham Does Comics back with Jade Sarson, Sally Jane Thompson and more next month
Nottingham Does Comics returns to Nottingham Writers’ Studio on Tuesday 14th November at 7.30pm with an event featuring Jade Sarson, Sally Jane Thompson and Myriad Editions publisher Corrine Pearlman, All of this introduced by the wonderful Josh Franks, on-line editor of INK Magazine…. Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Cam Smith’s Comic Book Inking Masterclass returns!
Ace inker and comics artist Cam Smith is doing another inking workshop at London’s Orbital Comics in London on Friday 17th November 2017. If you’re interested then book now because places are limited! “I can’t wait!” Cam tells us. “The… Read More ›
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Comic Book Hero Competition Winners!
Recently released by Pitch Publishing, Comic Book Hero by former comics editor Barrie Tomlinson is a joyful romp through the history of British boys comics – encompassing New Eagle, Speed, Wildcats and more. You can read reviews by John Freeman… Read More ›
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WebFind: a Modesty Blaise statue based on Jim Holdaway’s original look
Following up on our post earlier this week about Modesty Blaise comic strips up for auction this weekend for charity, we came across this limited edition item that fans of the popular adventure strip created by Peter O’ Donnell for… Read More ›
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Artist Dave McKean announced as inaugural winner of the International Award for Excellence in Comic Art
Arkham Asylum artist Dave McKean was announced as the inaugural winner of the Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art at the weekend. The announcement was made at the opening ceremony of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival… Read More ›
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In Review: Space Ace Volume 9
Art and Stories by Ron TurnerColour by John RidgwayPublished by John Lawrence The Book: 40-page anthology comprising three stories featuring “Space Ace” by Ron Turner, colourised and re-mastered by John Ridgway. The title includes the first of a series of… Read More ›
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All-out action in new Commandos, on sale now – complete with ghosts from World War One!
Here’s the latest intel on DC Thomson’s new Commando comics (Issues 5063-5066), on sale from today (Thursday 19th October) in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. These issues feature Motor Boat malaises, Commando bomb disposals, Heinkel hesitations and… Read More ›
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Comics creators head to Margate! New Festival announced for April 2018
Comics are coming to Margate! The team behind ICE Birmingham and ICE Brighton have announced that Smallzone Events will be bringing a brand new comic art festival to the coastal town of Margate in Kent. Featuring the usual variety of… Read More ›