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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Page 45 announces Lakes International Comic Art Festival signing, exclusive book launch plans – plus, win a Moomin!
Nottingham-based comic shop Page 45 is making its annual pilgrimage northwards for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival next month – and has announced a slew of special signings at the weekend-long event. The Page 45 team, led by Festival… Read More ›
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Fanzine Flashback – KA-POW, Britain’s first comics zine?
Over on the superb Classic Comics UK Zines site run by David Hathaway-Price, there’s a wonderful addition to its growing archive – the first issue of KA-POW, possibly Britain’s first comics fanzine. Published in July 1967, KA-POW #1 was edited… Read More ›
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Remembering Disney’s dalliance with terror – Doctor Syn retrospective announced
A special retrospective of a classic Disney-told tale starring Danger Man and The Prisoner star Patrick McGoohan is to get a retrospective in Hollywood in October. The Scarecrow’s story was filmed on location in the Romney Marsh area and at… Read More ›
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William Shatner in Manchester in December
See Star Trek star William Shatner at For the Love of Sci-Fi convention this December 2nd-3rd B.E.C Arena Manchester. William, who played Captain Kirk, will appear for a live Q&A with fans on the Sunday which is included in your… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with comic artist and illustrator Jillian Tamaki
This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival is back next month (13th – 15th October 2017). The downthetubes “Kendal Calling” interviews continue with a chat with multiple award-winning illustrator and comics artist Jillian Tamaki. Jillian’s illustration work is imaginative and… Read More ›
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Titan Comics Robotech #1 Goes To Third Printing
Titan Comics has announced that due to incredible fan and retailer demand, the second print of Robotech #1 Cover A by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau has sold out again at distributor level and is now going to an amazing third print…. Read More ›
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In Review: Binary System by Eric Brown
By Eric Brown Publisher: Solaris (Rebellion) Out: Now The Book: After surviving a catastrophic starship blow-out, Delia Kemp finds herself stranded on the inhospitable, ice-bound world of Valinda, populated by the Skelt, a race of hostile aliens who will stop… Read More ›
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Channel Islands-set Commando spy adventure debuts this week
Here’s the details for the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 5051-5054), on sale from Thursday 7th September 2017 in all good UK newsagents, various digital platforms and on subscription. Parachute into Nazi territory with spies, pilots, gunners, and… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival: The ComiXology Clock Tower Line-Up!
The countdown to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival has begun and alongside some 70 creators as guests, there’s an amazing line-up of comics artist, writers publishers and more in the Comics Clock Tower – or rather, the ComiXology Clock Tower,… Read More ›
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Royal Mail Star Wars: The Last Jedi stamps revealed (some with UV secrets!)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is blasting its way onto British cinema screens from 14th December 2017. To celebrate, the Royal Mail has announced eight new Star Wars stamps, limited-edition collectibles and gifts, packed with friendly (and not so friendly)… Read More ›
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London’s Orbital Comics announces Pat Mills “Be Pure” talk and signing
London’s Orbital Comics will host a special signing event and free after-hours talk by 2000AD and Action creator Pat Mills next month. The event is a promotion for his new book Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! (reviewed here) and will take… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with comic artist Fumio Obata
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). The downthetubes “Kendal Calling” interviews continue with a chat with comics artist and “reportage” author Fumio Obata. Fumio is an author whose work… Read More ›
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BIG Chief Studios 50th Anniversary Captain Scarlet figure revealed
Following up on our previous post about this limited edition item, BIG Chief Studios have now released images of their Captain Scarlet Sixth Scale Character Replica Figure. Comic artist Lee Sullivan created box art for this figure, which features the… Read More ›
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Destination Star Trek Returns in October 2018 to Celebrate the Star Trek Universe
Destination Star Trek Birmingham, Europe’s official Star Trek convention, will open its doors to thousands of fans from across the universe for another weekend celebrating the many incarnations of the franchise in October next year. Under license by CBS Consumer… Read More ›
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Green Arrow’s history charted across 75 years in new Sequart book
Sequart Organization has just released Moving Target: The History and Evolution of Green Arrow by Richard Gray, featuring numerous interviews with the creators involved in the character down the decades, including Neal Adams and Mike Grell. For 75 years, Green Arrow… Read More ›
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Sid “Swab” Burgon’s “Ivor Lott and Tony Broke” art from Buster up for sale
The London-based Illustration Art Gallery, publishers of the fantastic Illustrators magazine (Issue 19 is out now) have, this month, branched out into some very reasonably priced humour comic artwork by longtime British comics artist Sid Burgon, including a complete two-page… Read More ›
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Gareth Brookes talks comics – and beer! – with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast
The latest Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast (Episode 11) is live and features an interview with award-winning comic creator Gareth Brookes. A man of many media, Gareth, one of this year’s Festival guests, is known for his unusual approach to materials,… Read More ›
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In Review: Comic Book Hero – Working with Britain’s Picture-Strip Legends
By Barrie Tomlinson Publisher: Pitch Publishing Out: Now The Book: In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, children’s comics were a massive part of a young person’s life. This book tells the story behind the production of comics such as Tiger,… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with comic creator and Festival patron Emma Vieceli
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). The downthetubes “Kendal Calling” interviews continue with a chat with artist and Festival patron Emma Vieceli, just as the first print collection of the… Read More ›
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Doctor Who: Thirteenth Doctor Art Challenge – The Winner is…
Back in July, we announced our latest Doctor Who art challenge, after confirmation that actress Jodie Whittaker is to be Doctor Who‘s Thirteenth Doctor, and many artists raced to draw her. Several artists have shared their take of Jodie online, including cover artist Hal Laren (the… Read More ›