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.
-
Beano creators hit back at media sniping as comic hits 80, buoyed by success of new “Dennis and Gnasher” TV show
Just after Christmas, perhaps because they’d been drinking too much mulled wine while reading this year’s top-selling Beano annual, some of Britain’s national media got into one of its occasional “comics aren’t what they used to be” funks. Specifically, with… Read More ›
-
In Review: 2000AD Prog 2063
Wrapped in a cover from Neil Roberts, 2000AD Prog 2063 hits all good newsagents, comic shops and digital platforms today, Wednesday 10th January 2018. This week’s favourite dialogue? Got to be Fly-Trap’s “My tendrils… they’re throbbing!”. Yes, much in demand… Read More ›
-
Kamikaze conjurors and bickering air-duo bail outs! New Commando comics on sale this week
Here’s the intel on the latest Commando war comics from DC Thomson (Issues 5087-5090), on sale in newsagents and various digital platforms this Thursday, 11th January 2018. Buckle up and get ready for evading raiders in the Kenyan bush, bickering… Read More ›
-
Titan Comics “Lost Fleet – Corsair” by novels author Jack Campbell draws to a close – a preview, and a thank you
Tomorrow (10th January 2018) sees the release of Lost Fleet – Corsair #5 in comic shops and digital platforms, the final issue in what will hopefully be the first in a series of tales based on the best-selling Lost Fleet… Read More ›
-
Buster’s bonkers adventure tale “Von Hoffman’s Invasion” collected
Mad scientists, giant monsters, and courageous saboteurs! That’s the one line “pitch” with which 2000AD publishers Rebellion are promoting their Treasury of British Comics collection of the Jet and Buster strip “Von Hoffman’s Invasion” – and it sums this crazy… Read More ›
-
Dan Dare – Raumschiffpilot! That’s Dan Dare in German to you – plus, “Jesus von Nazareth”, too
Dan Dare has a long tradition of reprint in other languages, so it’s no surprise, perhaps, to discover that the early adventures of the Eagle character had an outing in two volumes in German in the late 1980s – Dan Dare,… Read More ›
-
Inspiring Art: Ernest Chiriacka
Ernest Chiriacka (1913-2010) is internationally known as an impressionistic painter of dramatic Western moods and the American landscape. He is one of few fine artists that successfully made the leap from illustration, leaving behind a large commercial legacy including pulp… Read More ›
-
Sneak Peek: “The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head”, exploring relationships and memory
The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head, a new graphic novel by David Gaffney and Dan Berry explores relationships, memory, loneliness and obsession in a darkly humorous way – and debuts very soon, published by US publisher Top Shelf. The project,… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: TV Century 21 and Battle Comic Artist Jim Watson
We’re sorry to report the recent passing of comic artist British comic artist Jim Watson, perhaps best known for his work on TV Century 21 during the 1960s and his strips for DC Thomson’s Commando and Warlord, and the Fleetway title,… Read More ›
-
Wow! Retracted – A crazed delight from David Robertson
Wow! Retracted is the latest title from Dundee-based Fred Egg Comics – and if you’ve previously bought any of this quirky indie publisher’s books… then be prepared for even more quirkiness! LeadIng with plenty of head-scratching, brain-teasing strips from writer-artist… Read More ›
-
Jim Baikie: A Stripography (and some Musical Notes)
Here’s a guide to comics artist Jim Baikie’s comics career, including his lesser known British girls’ comic work, revealing his huge contribution to many titles. Jim died in December 2017; you can read our obituary here and an Appreciation by Alan Moore… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: Music and Comics
In a pair of interviews recorded in front of a live audience, Panel Borders investigates the work of a trio of creators who have an interest in combining music and comic book art. At Thought Bubble Festival, Alex Fitch talks… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: Comic Artist Jim Baikie
We’re sorry to report the passing of Eisner Award-winning Scottish comic artist Jim Baikie, perhaps best known to many downthetubes readers as co-creator of 2000AD’s alien-on-the-run, Skizz. He enjoyed a career in comics that began with work for girls titles in the 1960s that would go on to encompass “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terrahawks” for Look-In, 2000AD and superhero work in the United States. He was also a much in demand artist beyond the comics medium
-
Happy New Year from Score ‘n’ Roar star “Nipper”, who lives on – in Croatia! (and football comics are on the ‘keepy up’, too)
2018 has begun with a a reminder from 2000AD publisher Rebellion that Roy of the Rovers, one of the major British comic characters they now own, is returning (as we reported last September). But Roy isn’t the only football comic… Read More ›
-
“Lost” Doctor Who strip materialises
This Doctor Who story was victim to the cancellation of Doctor Who Adventures
-
McClane or Cross? Win a festive painting in Graeme Neil Reid’s December Art Raffle!
Doctor Who artist Graeme Neil Reid is in the festive spirit this month and has a little bit of festive movie magic for his art raffle this month. He’s offering art inspired by two films from 1988 that have become… Read More ›
-
New artist joins Commando ranks for final 2017 releases
Brand new Commando comics from DC Thomson (Issues 5083-5086) are on sale in newsagents and various digital platforms this Thursday, 28th December. It’s the final set for 2017, featuring the debut of another artist new to the veteran title, Paolo… Read More ›
-
Rare Dan Dare concept art unearthed from classic story “Reign of the Robots”
Eagle co-creator Frank Hampson’s son Peter Hampson recently dropped us a line to tell us about some recently-discovered Dan Dare concept sketches, now online on the artist’s official web site. The art, designs for the story “Reign of the Robots”, was… Read More ›
-
2000AD’s Dark Judges stalk into New Scientist – the strangest crossover yet?
You cannot kill what doesss not liiiive – but how will the future cope with the four alternative horsemen of the apocalypse? For a darkly gothic Christmas treat, Britain’s biggest comic – 2000AD – has teamed up with New Scientist,… Read More ›
-
First Awesome Comics Podcast anthology in the works, to launch at True Believers in February
The Awesome Comics Anthology – the work of the team who bring you the Awesome Comics Podcast dedicated to British independent comics – is making its debut at True Believers Comic Festival on Saturday February 3rd 2018 and the book is… Read More ›