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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Kate Evans, Frank Quitely, Bryan and Mary Talbot and more join 2018 Lakes International Comic Art Festival line up
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just announced more guests for its Festival weekend (12th – 14th October 2018) in Kendal, including Kate Evans and Frank Quitely. Now in its sixth year, the latest guests revealed are Hunt Emerson (Calculus Cat, Bloke’s… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Nine Rules for Amazing Dialogue by Monty Nero
Death Sentence and occasional X-men writer Monty Nero lays out nine foolproof ways to write wonderful dialogue. He offers these tips because of his incredibly giving nature and not because he wants you to check out his totally awesome kickstarter… Read More ›
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Neil Gaiman, Brian Michael Bendis, Kelly Sue DeConnick and More Join Forces in Comic Anthology to Benefit Las Vegas Shooting
US publisher Image Comics has announced the forthcoming Where We Live anthology curated by JH Williams III, Wendy Wright-Williams, Scott Allie, Dave Stewart, and Image Comics’ Publisher, Eric Stephenson. Due for release in June 2018, proceeds for the anthology will… Read More ›
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A Chat with Cinebook – Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast probes European comics publisher
In the latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast, the team chat to Jerome Saincantin about his role as a translator for Cinebook. Cinebook, whose titles we’ve often featured on downthetubes, are publishers of best selling European books… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Darkboy & Adler #1
Here’s a nifty looking comic with LGBT themes that’s currently seeking backing on Kickstarter. Be advised, Darkboy & Adler #1 is very definitely for mature readers, but from the samples available and art on the crowdfunding page, this is a… Read More ›
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In Review: The Prisoner #1
Writer: Peter Milligan Artist: Colin Lorimer Publisher: Titan Comics FC, 32pp, $3.99 Out: Now The Comic: In the 21st Century, the global currency is no longer oil or gold but information. And he who possesses it possesses the world. There… Read More ›
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“One Man Bond: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes” – First Tour Dates announced
One Man Bond: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes chronicles over half a century of the most successful movie franchise in history and is on tour this year, with stops at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and the Lakes International Comic… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: Nightwing #44 – “shockingly retro and eight minutes into the future” (according to Warren Ellis)
I subscribe to a fair few creator newsletters, and one that always helps get your synapses firing arrives regularly arrived this morning from Warren Ellis. This week, apart from deconstructing Avengers: Infinity War, he also turned his attention to a… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: Avengers: Infinity War – The Official Movie Special
Following up on our review of the film, don’t miss out on Titan Publishing’s Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Official Collector’s Edition on soon now in UK newsagents – celebrating the making of Avengers: Infinity War. From amazing cast interviews to… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds: Beyond the Horizon opens in London in November
ITV Studios Global Entertainment has detailed the world premiere of a new live interactive theatrical event, Thunderbirds: Beyond the Horizon. Based on the original series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the event gives audiences access to the world of… Read More ›
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Nominees Announced for 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Comic-Con International has announced the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2018, and a number of British creators are honoured, including John Allison, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. The Spirit anthology, edited by artist Sean Phillips and published… Read More ›
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Stella McCartney celebrates her Beano-inspired childhood with a new fashion range for today’s kids
Fashion designer Stella McCartney and Beano Studios have collaborated once again, to create a new kid’s autumn/winter fashion collection featuring characters from Beano and Dandy comics. Here’s a peek at some of the new collection. The AW18 Stella McCartney kid’s collection, which… Read More ›
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Female mutant ninja turtles, Vulverine and the Visible Woman feature in Hero(ine)s – a new exhibition on gender and comics
Being a comic hero has traditionally been the dominion of the male. This is about to be challenged through a new exhibition called Hero(ine)s featuring iconic comic heroes re-interpreted and reimagined in their female form. The exhibition features more than twenty… Read More ›
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Rare “The Trial of Nasty Tales” comic, charting groundbreaking censorship comic trial, offered on eBay, featuring Dave Gibbons art
One of the downthetubes team, Richard Sheaf, is offering a copy of the special The Trial of Nasty Tales comic, published in 1973, on eBay – featuring a cover and interior art by Dave Gibbons. This rare comic is inspired by the Nasty… Read More ›
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Emily Zeinner’s 2000AD Summer Special variant cover, Marguerite Sauvage poster revealed
The 2000AD Summer Special is available to pre-order now from the comic’s official web store, featuring an incredible roster of creators and a shop-exclusive variant cover by Emily Zeinner. Creators lined up include Tula Lotay, Alex De Campi, Maura McHugh,… Read More ›
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New Doctor Who merchandisers on board for Thirteenth Doctor’s upcoming debut
Doctor Who is continuing to attract new and returning licensors in the run up to the debut of the series first female lead. BBC Studios, which recently merged with BBC Worldwide to form a singular commercial entity, has put the… Read More ›
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Titan Comics Beatles-inspired “Yellow Submarine” graphic novel out in August
Titan Comics adaptation of The Beatles Yellow Submarine will be out in August, and we’re sure news that specialist music films distributor Abramorama has agreed with Apple Corps Ltd. and Universal Music Group to re-release the animated feature film in North… Read More ›
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So you’ve broken into the comics industry… What do You do Next?
Many people have broken into the comic industry after attending the Birmingham event Comics Uncovered, which returns to the city this July. But breaking in is just part of the journey to a successful career in comics. “What Happens Next”… Read More ›
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You’d be Mad not to check out Graeme Neil Reid’s latest art raffle… Fury-ous, even!
Oh, what a raffle, what a lovely raffle! Here’s an opportunity to win one of these two Mad Max: Fury Road original gouache paintings by Graeme Neil Reid. The 2015 action film Mad Max: Fury Road took the world by… Read More ›
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Killtopia creators reveal Darick Robertson print for their stunning-looking SF comic
Here’s Darick Robertson’s fantastic Kickstarter Print for Killtopia, which will go out to all £12+ backers in October. Even if you didn’t back the comic, which secured over £16,000 in funding support, you can pre-order the first issue here on… Read More ›