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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In Praise of… Comic Artist Harry Bishop, creator of “Gun Law” and more
I recently did some brief research on the work of British newspaper strip artist Harry Bishop, perhaps best known for drawing Gun Law, based on the TV series Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Matt Dillon, for the Daily Express. While… Read More ›
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Van Helsing’s Terror Tales rises from the grave
Available now direct from its original editor is a smashing collection of “Van Helsing’s Terror Tales“, strips first published in House of Hammer back in the 1970s. Unashamedly capitalising on the huge interest in the horror genre of the time, not only… Read More ›
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Back of the net! All-new Roy of the Rovers heads to Match of the Day Magazine
BBC Match of the Day magazine is to publish all-new Roy of the Rovers adventures, ahead of the release of Rebellion’s new graphic novels later this year. The much-loved character is being relaunched as a “swashbuckling 16-year-old” prodigy who is hoping… Read More ›
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Rebellion announces Sniper Elite: Resistance mini series
Based on the global bestselling videogame, Sniper Elite: Resistance is the brand new comic book from 2000AD publishers Rebellion. This high-octane three-issue US-format mini-series, written by Keith Richardson and with art from Patrick Goddard (Savage), launches 29th August 2018. Sniper Elite:… Read More ›
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Games Workshop moves into children’s fiction with “Warhammer Adventure” novels
Games Workshop has announced a new Warhammer book series, giving its stories of planet-wide chemical weapon strikes and demonic possession a re-working for a new line of children’s fiction. Published by Black Library – Games Workshop’s own publishing house – the… Read More ›
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In Preview/ Review: Bella at the Bar Volume One
Written by Jenny McDade Art by John Armstrong On Sale: 12th July 2018, 114 Pages ISBN: 9781781086254 Publisher: Rebellion Publishing/ Treasury of British Comics The Book: Bella’s gymtastic adventure begins here! Bella Barlow is a young orphan with ambitions to… Read More ›
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In Review: Space Ace Volume 10
Art and Stories by Ron TurnerColour by John RidgwayPublished by John Lawrence The Book: 44-page anthology (extra pages this issue) comprising three stories featuring “Space Ace” by Ron Turner, colourised and re-mastered by John Ridgway. The title includes the second… Read More ›
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2018 Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel Competition Short List Revealed
Myriad Editions has announced the shortlist for its First Graphic Novel Competition 2018: Cathy Brett, Sabba Khan, Clarrie Pope and Blanche Pope, Jenny Robins, Zara Slattery, Anna Trench and Sarah Ushurhe. Find out more about some of the creators… The… Read More ›
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Royal Academy of Art Stamps revealed
A new series of 65p and £1.55 stamps commissioned to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy. Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme has commemorated anniversaries and celebrated events relevant to UK heritage and life for more than 50 years…. Read More ›
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1938 – When “The Lone Ranger” first rode onto movie screens…
Printed in 1938, the same year Republic Pictures released their popular Lone Ranger serial based on the radio programme of the same name, these beautifully detailed and colorful premium cards were prizes at Gum Inc. Depicted are a range of… Read More ›
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Durham Red revamped in the latest 2000AD!
The mutant vampire bounty hunter Durham Red returns to the pages of 2000AD this week with a brand-new eight-part series written by Alec Worley (Judge Dredd, Star Wars, Warhammer), with art by Ben Willsher (Doctor Who, Roy of the Rovers)… Read More ›
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Roads Not Taken: Edmond E. Good’s “Knight Masters”
Canadian illustrator, writer and co-author of more than a dozen comics Edmond Elbridge Good (1st July 1910 – 22nd September 1991) created the Rex Baxter feature for Bell Publishing in 1942 and drew the Scorchy Smith strip (taking over from… Read More ›
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Beano Summer Special Out Now, Dandy Special out next month!
This year’s Beano Summer Special is on sale now in all good newsagents – and a Dandy Summer Special is on the way. The Beano special, with a cover by Nigel Parkinson, offers 68 pages packed full of comics, jokes, puzzles… Read More ›
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London’s Orbital Comics to host “Treasury of British Comics” exhibition
London’s Orbital Comics welcomes 2000AD publisher Rebellion Publishing to the Orbital Gallery in a celebration of their imprint, The Treasury of British Comics! Rebellion have been lovingly breathing life into some of the most classic British comics of the 1970s… Read More ›
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Camille Aubry shares some “Toddler Moments”
Camille Aubry is a Bristol-based French illustrator and graphic novel artist who recently released Toddler Moments, a self-published book of cartoons about a toddler and his mother. Camille is a keen observer, seeing any social unit as a micro-society –… Read More ›
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24 Panels charity comics project in support of Grenfell Tower survivors gathers pace
Following the successful and highly regarded 24 Stories anthology the team behind that charity project have embarked on a parallel comic book project, 24 Panels, promoting themes of hope, community, positivity and unity in aid of PTSD related needs of Grenfell Tower survivors. Edited by comic book writer and former computer… Read More ›
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Hibernia’s Fleetway Files, an incredible history of British comics, flies off the shelves!
New from independent publisher Hibernia is the brilliant The Fleetway Files, the fourth release in the publisher’s ‘Comic Archive’ series. It’s an utterly brilliant guide to the background behind some of Britain’s best-loved comics, crammed with amazing interviews and features…. Read More ›
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British Comics Mystery Artists – can you help identify them?
Across decades of British comics creation by major publishers, the names of many creators – both writers and artists – were never revealed to readers of titles that once sold in their millions. Artist and writer David Roach, author of… Read More ›
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2000AD Art Stars competition launched, offering artists chance to feature in Galaxy’s Greatest Comic
Soome of the biggest artists in comic books got their break at the legendary award-winning 2000AD – and you could be joining them! The comic’s new art competition – 2000AD Art Stars – launched last week and is inspired by the weekly SF… Read More ›
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Escaping Wars and Waves, Olivier Kugler’s powerful account of the Syrian Refugee crisis, to be published by Myriad Editions
Myriad Editions will publish Escaping War and Waves by award-winning reportage graphic artist Oliver Kugler soon, and if you’re in any way curious about the plight of refugees in the 21st century, you should buy this book. Escaping War and Waves is a… Read More ›