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 Review: 2000AD: The Ultimate Collection Issue One – Sláine: The Horned God
Out: 23rd August 2017 Publisher: Hachette Partworks, in association with Rebellion Publishing Available: From high street newsagents and on subscription via www.2000adcollection.com About The Launch: A Facebook Live competition will take place from 10.00am on Wednesday on 23rd August on the 2000AD… Read More ›
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Italy’s Fumettomania association continues appeal for their online Jack Kirby celebration
Italy’s cultural association Fumettomania are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Jack Kirby‘s birth – and they’re inviting comic creators worldwide to join the comics tribute on their web site, launching 28th August and running for the whole of September 2017. Delivery… Read More ›
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Comics Take Over Gloucester This Sunday
The team behind the hugely-successful True Believers Comic Festival, returning next year, are hosting Summer Variant Edition this Sunday (20th August 2017) at Blackfriars Priory, Gloucester. The event offers a small slice of what to expect from the team’s main… Read More ›
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John Stokes interviewed in Judge Dredd Megazine, classic strip “The Lawless Touch” from Tornado reprinted
We’ve already trailed this week’s 2000AD – but don’t forget Judge Dredd Megazine (Issue 387) is on sale now, with a plethora of great strips – “Judge Dredd”, “Anderson – Psi Divison”, “Havn”, “Dredd” and “The Dark Judges”. The issue… Read More ›
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John Allison’s Giant Days Special announced for November release, tips a hat to Richard Curtis’ films, Bridget Jones
US publisher BOOM! Studios has just announced a Giant Days 2017 Special, on-sale in November 2017. Just in time for the holiday season, Eisner Award-nominated Giant Days creator John Allison (Bad Machinery) is teaming up with Jem & the Misfits artist Jenn St-Onge for a… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with former 2000AD editor and writer Steve MacManus
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 former 2000AD editor and comics writer Steve MacManus. Steve began his career in… Read More ›
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Alan Moore to introduce new Ken Reid “Faceache” collection
Watchmen and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen writer Alan Moore has written an introduction to the upcoming collection of some of Ken Reid‘s “Faceache” strips, Faceache: The First Hundred Scrunches. The hugely influential humour artist’s son, Antony Reid, also provides an… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival honours Leo Baxendale with unique print installation in Kendal
Honouring the acclaimed comics creator Leo Baxendale, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is has announced a specially-made print – “Baby Basil Does His Bit” – is now on permanent display in Kendal’s Brewery Arts Centre. The installation is a a… Read More ›
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Comics-inspired band “Blues Harvest” get a Podcast probing!
The latest episode of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast features a great chat with the comics-inspired band Blues Harvest, who will be playing at the festival this year. Blues Harvest – fronted by comic book artist Nick Brokenshire… Read More ›
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle mobile game set to launch next month
NHN Pixelcube, MARV Films and FoxNext Games have partnered to develop a new mobile game inspired by the Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle films. The film debuts in cinemas in the UK on 20th September. In the… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with Comic Artist Aimée de Jongh
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 award-winning comic author, animator, writer and illustrator Aimée de Jongh, from Rotterdam, who… Read More ›
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In Review: Velicity Jones in “The Devil’s Breath” (for Aces Weekly)
By Lee Robson and Bryan Coyle Out: Now via Aces Weekly Subscription: Just £1 a week The latest volume of David Lloyd‘s brilliant digital anthology Aces Weekly recently started and three weeks in, I have to draw your attention to a terrific action… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: Blimey! It’s an Interview with Comic Artist and Writer Lew Stringer!
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 comic creator and British comics archivist Lew Stringer, who has worked for all… Read More ›
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Comic Book Hero: Looking back on a time when celebrities courted comics, not the other way round!
In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, children’s comics were a massive part of a young person’s life. Comic Book Hero by former comics editor Barrie Tomlinson – out on 1st September 2017 – tells the story behind the production of comics… Read More ›
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Dark Horse and Moebius Production add to Moebius Library
US publisher Dark Horse has announced the third volume in the Moebius Library with Moebius Library: Inside Moebius Part 1. Dark Horse is working closely with Moebius Production in France to produce the beginning of Moebius’s intensely personal project in… Read More ›
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New SelfMadeHero graphic novels announced, Corbyn Comic Book out in October
Independent UK graphic novel publisher SelfMadeHero continues its tenth anniversary celebrations in 2017 with a varied line-up of books for Autumn 2017. There’s a wide range of biographies, original fiction and fantastical work in translation that takes us from Australian… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with Comics Writer Peter Milligan
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with a chat with comics writer Peter Milligan, who’s working on several projects, including a new Dan… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales Figures, Winners and Losers (January – June 2017): Publishers bullish, MEGA and LEGO titles on the rise
The latest sales figures for comics available on the UK new stand might on first sight make for depressing reading for both publishers and readers alike (the latter fearing for the cancellation of their favourite titles). But closer inspection of… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: 2000AD Prog 2044
Wrapped in a cover by Jimmy Broxton, 2000AD Prog 2044 comes crashing into newsagents, comic shops and digital platforms this Wednesday, offering a great selection of stories. It also sees the final episode of the latest Judge Dredd tale “Ouroboros”,… Read More ›
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In Review: The Beautiful Game
Writer: Jason Quinn Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma Inker: Jagdish Kumar Colourists: Vijay Sharma & Ashwani Kashyap Letterer: Bhavnath Chaudhary Publisher: Campfire Out: 7th September 2017 The Book: They call it the “beautiful game”, but there’s very little beauty when your… Read More ›