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.
-
Jack Kirby tribute documentary gets world premiere – in Oldham
Comics archivist Glenn B. Fleming‘s unique documentary Jack Kirby – A Personal Journey will get a premiere screening in Oldham later this month, with comic artists Nick Brokenshire and Tim Perkins alongside the film maker to celebrate the life and… Read More ›
-
Frank Bellamy’s Thunderbirds art at auction, Dave Gibbons “Watchmen”, too…
A dramatic opening page of Thunderbirds art by Frank Bellamy from the 1960s comic TV Century 21 is currently on offer on the Heritage Auctions web site, with current bids at the $1400 mark. The page, which featured in Issue 146,… Read More ›
-
Valerian and Laureline’s co-creators head to London
Valerian and Laureline‘s co-creators Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières are coming to London. Just confirmed, they will be in conversation with Paul Gravett on Saturday September 30th at the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni in South Kensington. This will be followed… Read More ›
-
That Was the Comic Week That Was: New Aces Weekly, Strontium Dog, Moomins – and a chance to get your work in 2000AD – and Mr Men!
It’s been a busy week, and not just in terms of stories posted on downthetubes. Among other things, I’ve been to London (not for London Film and Comic Con, which looked incredible, but to discuss an exciting comics project at… Read More ›
-
Budding comic creator? Don’t miss out on Thought Bubble and 2000AD’s annual Creator Challenge
Do you have what it takes to be a 2000AD creator? At 2017’s Thought Bubble in Leeds, returning to the city next month, a quick reminder that 2000AD is again running its talent search for writers and artists. The prize?… Read More ›
-
New Andy Capp collection announced, helping celebrate 60 years of the strip
A new collection of Andy Capp strips is on its way, six years after Titan Books published the last assembly of tales starring Britain’s best-known layabout. Created by Reg Smythe for the Daily Mirror, Andy Capp first appeared in the… Read More ›
-
“Doctor Who”? No, it’s “Doctor Men”! New Mr Men-inspired figures revealed
The new Doctor may be female – and there’s no knocking that here on downthetubes. But Doctor Who‘s men still rule the roost for a new range of Dr Men figures that will be distributed in the UK by RP2 Global,… Read More ›
-
British Library pays tribute to Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali
The British Library in London will pay tribute to the life, work and legacy of the great Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali at a special event on Friday 27th October 2017. Speakers will include Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell. Born in Galilee… Read More ›
-
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: Keeping “Bad Company” with comic artist Rufus Dayglo
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with 2000AD and Tank Girl artist Rufus Dayglo. Working mainly in comics, illustration and storyboards – Rufus started… Read More ›
-
British cartoonist Alex Hallatt tackles climate change in internationally-syndicated “Arctic Circle” strip
Created by British cartoonist and environmental advocate Alex Hallatt and distributed by King Features Syndicate, popular comic strip Arctic Circle made a small impression on the Climate Change debate recently – by reducing its size through the week! Hallatt used her… Read More ›
-
Big Screen Outing for 2000AD-inspired Strontium Dog Fan Film at London
There’s some great news for fans of 2000AD‘s Strontium Dog keen to see him on a big screen this morning. The stunning Search/Destroy: A Strontium Dog Fan Film, will be screened as part of London Super Comic Con later this month. You… Read More ›
-
The Finns are In: Finnish Comics, and the Moomins, celebrated at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Continuing to promote the very best of comics from around the world, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to confirm the return of top Finnish creators Johanna Rojola and Petteri Tikkanen to this year’s event in October in Kendal. In fact, the Festival is… Read More ›
-
Steve Jackson’s The Trolltooth Wars Graphic Novel debuts
Fighting Fantasy‘s much-loved gamebook The Trolltooth Wars is back as a graphic novel, written by PJ Montgomery, co-writer of the horror comedy series Stiffs, with art by Gavin Mitchell (Santa Claus vs the Nazis, The Samurai Slasher and more) – and it… Read More ›
-
2000AD “Ultimate Collection” launches subscription drive next week
The ultimate collection of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic gets its launch this week when subscriptions launch for 2000AD: The Ultimate Collection – bringing you the best stories from forty years of Britain’s biggest comic. Regular downthetubes readers will recall our… Read More ›
-
Make Manga at the British Museum
The British Museum in London is running a number of workshops for children this month, including two “Make a Manga Comic” workshops this Saturday, 6th August 2017. Aimed at kids of seven plus, the free Make a Manga Comic workshops on Saturday… Read More ›
-
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with award-winning comic creators Metaphrog
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with METAPHROG, Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers, whose incredible work straddles children’s and adults’ comics with a… Read More ›
-
Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with comic creator Marc Jackson
The countdown has begun to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). We’re delighted to continue our “Kendal Calling” interviews with top indie comic artist Marc Jackson, whose new book, Here comes Cat Stevens! was commissioned… Read More ›
-
The British Comics Industry – Still in Decline or On the Up?
The state of British comics – and exactly what people mean by the “British comics industry” came into focus in a couple of threads on social media over the weekend, with many older comic fans noting with dismay the dominance… Read More ›
-
Sequentials, hub for comics-as-scholarship launches
The US-based Trace Innovation Initiative has launched Volume One, Issue One of Sequentials, a hub for comics-as-scholarship. Not to be confused with the digital publisher Panel Nine’s e-magazine of the same name, the site features a number of original comics that… Read More ›
-
Etherington Brothers get set to storm Oxford’s Story Museum
The hugely-talented Etherington Brothers will be presenting their Lost and Found Comic-Making Show at Oxford’s Story Museum on Saturday 12th August. Robin and Lorenzo, whose credits include Star Wars and The Phoenix comic – will take you on a humorous,… Read More ›