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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This week’s Beano – Making Waves, As Usual!
This week’s Beano (Issue 3885) features a great cover from Nigel Parkinson featuring Dennis the Menace and Roger the Dodger and is on sale now in all good newsagents. Featuring strips by Laura Howell, Lew Stringer, Wayne Thompson and more,… Read More ›
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Leopard from Lime Street, Dracula Files and more coming this year as part of Rebelllion’s Treasury of British Comics range
Rebellion‘s first collection of the Buster strip Leopard from Lime Street goes on sale in all good bookshops from 13th July 2017, and is already available to pre-order. The 2000AD publishers now own a slew of great characters (more information here)… Read More ›
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Terrorists Stalk Mega-City One in latest 2000AD, Nick Dyer’s art on Dredd shines!
On sale now in all good comic shops and newsagents (and various digital platforms) is 2000AD Prog 2031, which leads with “Judge Dredd: Sons of Booth“, a great “slow-burn” tale from writer TC Eglington, with one of my favourite artists, Nick Dyer (coloured… Read More ›
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New 2000AD Thrill Cast offers more insider views on Judge Dredd: Mega-City One
As we’ve previously reported, the world of 2000AD‘s Judge Dredd is coming to TV – and now the latest 2000AD Thrill Cast gives you an exclusive behind-the-scenes chat with Judge Dredd: Mega-City One’s producer Brian Jenkins, and executive producers Jason Kingsley… Read More ›
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Choose your own adventure for Britain with the London Graphic Novel Network
The National Poetry Library and the London Graphic Novel Network will be presenting a collaborative workshop next month at the Royal Festival Hall, exploring how the expression of poetry can be paired with the art of comics. The aim is to… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Dan Fadil – First Light by Tomislav Košta and Edinburgh’s Komic Brew
Edinburgh-based independent publishers Komic Brew have just launched a Kickstarter to fund publication of Dan Fadil: First Light by Croatian artist Tomislav Košta – a gorgeous-looking, hand painted graphic novel publication, the first of an adventure trilogy set in medieval times…. Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Biblical Volume 1 – The Holy and the Dead
Working with Rats & Crows Publishing, artist and writer Tzvi Lebetkin has just launched a modest Kickstarter to collect his Biblical comic strips for the first time, which has already reached its first “stretch goal” marker. The “fiercely Biblically accurate comic series… Read More ›
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Sea Aces and Troubled Troopers make for a great Commando comic mix
Here’s the intel on the latest issue of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 5019 – 5022) on sale now in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. Our apologies for the delayed availability of this intel, which is brought to… Read More ›
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Andersonic Issue 22 proves a model of a fanzine!
Issue 22 of the fabulous Gerry Anderson series/inspired zine Andersonic is on sale now available from their website (and eBay for a short period in the Collectibles > SF > Thunderbirds section). This issue includes: David Palmer interview – Model… Read More ›
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Two Thargs descend on Stoke Newington for celebratory 2000AD chat
2000AD, the beloved weekly home of Judge Dredd turns 40 years old this year. As part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival, celebrate with two insiders who’ve worn the mantle of ‘Tharg’, alien editor of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. Steve… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Audio Adventures gets Radio Award nominations
I’m delighted to report B7 Productions, the company behind the new Dan Dare Audio Adventures and an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s classic SF novel I, Robot, has four nominations for the 2017 NYF Radio Awards. The Dan Dare Audio Adventures… Read More ›
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First details of “Comic Book Hero: Working with Britain’s Picture Strip Legends” released
The first details of former Tiger and Roy of the Rovers editor Barrie Tomlinson‘s next book on British comics, Comic Book Hero: Working with Britain’s Picture Strip Legends, have been released. The book, published byPitch Publishing Ltd, goes on sale in… Read More ›
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Beano cartoonist Marc Jackson joins Lancaster Comics Day line-up
Aces Weekly and Beano cartoonist Marc Jackson is coming to Lancaster Comics Day on Sunday 11th June, to run one of his special Cartoon Club events, alongside the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Other guests at Lancaster Comics Day include… Read More ›
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2017 Lakes International Comic Art Festival Programme Revealed, some of the British Comics events highlighted
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just revealed its programme for its Festival Weekend in October 2017, celebrating comic art from across the world, and I’ve picked out just some of the highlights for fans of British comics. The Festival Weekend features… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: 2000AD Comic Artist Edmund Bagwell (Edmund Perryman)
I’m sorry to report the passing of artist Edmund Bagwell, aka Edmund Perryman, who I first met as one of the team working in the Marvel UK basement back in the 1990s, bringing his unique style to the Black Axe series… Read More ›
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Comics project for Syrian refugees picks up pace, seeks further backing and creators
Here’s a smashing comics project from the Comics for Youth Refugees Incorporated Collective, a US-based non-profit organisation that produces and delivers free comic books for refugee children, based on the folklore from their own homes. Working in conjunction with mental health… Read More ›
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British Cartoonists work on show in Greek Cartoonists Association “Sweet Europe” exhibition
A number of British cartoonists’ work features in a “Sweet Europe“, on this week in the Syntagma Metro Exhibition Center in Athens, the second cartoon exhibition of its kind organised by the Greek Cartoonists Association. “Sweet Europe” features 150 cartoons by… Read More ›
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Spider-Man Homecoming – Picture Preview
Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, as seen in Civil War, Spider-Man Homecoming – in cinemas from 7th July 2017 sees young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) return home to live with his Aunt May. Here’s some pictures from the… Read More ›
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Simon’s Cat set to storm US Licensing Expo (and his creator!)
Attendees at this month’s Licensing Expo in Las Vegas can look forward to a live drawing demonstration and meet and greet with award-winning illustrator, animator and director Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat. Endemol Shine, who acquired a controlling stake… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Aces Weekly and Beano artist Marc Jackson latest Comic Art Festival Podcast guest
The latest Comic Art Festival Podcast (Episode Four) is live and features an interview with Marc Jackson, who has written and drawn for Aces Weekly and Beano and is currently working on Here Comes Cat Stevens which will be officially launched… Read More ›