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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Frank Hampson’s “Modesty Blaise” art sample up For Sale for a cool $5000
In 1962, Beaverbrook Newspapers asked author Peter O’Donnell to suggest a new strip idea. He thought long and hard and came up with Modesty Blaise, an action adventure strip. Kennedy Aitken, who was Beaverbrook’s strip cartoons editor, suggested they should… Read More ›
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Manchester’s National Football Museum to host comics talk with “Invincibles” author Michael Barrett
This Saturday, 15th July 2017, author Michael Barrett will be at the National Football Museum in Manchester, giving an illustrated talk about the story behind the graphic novel Preston North End – The Rise of the Invincibles. Michael, the writer and publisher… Read More ›
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Titan’s new Dan Dare adventures from Peter Milligan and Alberto Foche debut in October
Titan Comics has announced new details for their upcoming four-issue mini-series, Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, written by Peter Milligan (Shade, X-Statix, Enigma) and top Spanish artist Alberto Foche. Britain’s greatest hero latest comics incarnation debuts in October 2017, featuring… Read More ›
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Rebellion to publish Look-In’s “The Beatles Story” by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson
Rebellion Publishing, owners of 2000AD, are to publish a print edition of The Beatles Story, written by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which charts the rise of the Fab Four from their early days through to the band’s break-up. First… Read More ›
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Marvel UK Mystery: An unpublished Motormouth story
Ace artist Jesús Redondo Romain recently posted some great looking pages of a Marvel UK-commissioned Motormouth story, guest starring Death’s Head II. The only problem – he couldn’t remember what the story was called, so we did a bit of digging… Read More ›
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More Dredd for your cred: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection to continue
Rebellion have announced a further ten issues will be added to the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection partwork from 2000AD and Hachette Partworks. Already a hit with readers across the country, The Mega Collection has brought together some of the… Read More ›
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Myriad Comic Cuts Competition launched to create new comics-inspired TV comedy
Brighton-based publisher Myriad Editions has teamed up with the award-winning comedy television company Roughcut Television (perhaps best known as producers of The Office and The IT Crowd) in a call-out for a comedy or comedy/ drama in graphic novel form that… Read More ›
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Classic UK Comic Zines Recalled: Chain Reaction, featuring Archie Goodwin and Jim Shooter
Blimey! What’s not to love about this 1983 issue of the British comics fanzine Chain Reaction (Issue Five), edited by Frank Plowright, the late, great and still much-missed Steve Whitaker and Hassan Yusuf? Initially titled Direct Currents (the name changed… Read More ›
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Rebellion announces “The Dracula File” collection from British horror weekly, Scream
Continuing with collections made in part possible by its acquisition of the Fleetway comics and characters library last year, Rebellion has announced it will release The Dracula Files, from the short-lived 1980s horror weekly Scream, in October.
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Sneak Peek: 100% Biodegradable Issue 17 – Switchblades and Skowdogs!
With Issue 17 of the digital anthology comic 100% Biodegradable nearing completion, here’s a preview of some of the strips appearing inside. In “Capsule” by Brian Pearlman and Armin Ozdic (with colours by Liam O’Connor and letters by Ken Reynolds)… Read More ›
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Newcastle upon Tyne’s Seven Stories announces new British comic art exhibiton
Love The Beano? Can’t get enough of superheroes? Read The Phoenix? Always wanted to have a go at making your own comic? You must visit the brand new Comics: Explore and Create Comic Art exhibition at Seven Stories in Newcastle… Read More ›
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Spot the Difference: Scream comic art uncensored
Over on eBay, seller “Forbidden Box” is not only selling a smashing piece of 2000AD Dan Dare art by Dave Gibbons but also an early, uncensored page from the short-lived weekly Scream drawn by Jesus Redondo. The Scream art from “Monster“, a… Read More ›
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A Magnificent Seven signing for an Incredible Comic Shop
Seven top UK indie creators (writers and artists) are heading to Swindon’s Incredible Comic Shop on Saturday 15th July 2017. Celebrating the UK small press scene hot on the heels of the national Small Press Day the previous Saturday (8th… Read More ›
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Classic Comics Giveaway from the Irish Independent
From today, Saturday 1st July until Saturday 5th August, The Irish Independent are re-printing some classic DC Thomson comics each Saturday, including The Beano, today, and an edition of girls comic Bunty later this month. After 40 years they haven’t… Read More ›
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Mentioned in Dispatches: How “Victor” documented the story of World War One Victoria Cross winner Jack White
Running at the Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster, until Sunday 12th November 2017 is “Boom Town“, combining the story of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in action on the Western Front, Salonika and Mesopotamia in 1917, and tragic events on… Read More ›
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Lew Stringer’s Combat Colin Returns!
It’s here! Copies of TOXIC and Doctor Who Magazine cartoonist Lew Stringer‘s self-published comic, Combat Colin #1 have arrived from the printers and the comic will be launched at Macc-Pow! in Macclesfield at Macclesfield Town Hall tomorrow, Saturday 1st July 2017…. Read More ›
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Panelalia anthology expands digital release in aid of Refugee Action, new contributors sought
Comics creator and artist Dave Crane doesn’t consider himself a political cartoonist, but he’s increasingly concerned about the refugee crisis, and the scapegoating of immigrants in the UK and elsewhere. Now, with friends in the comics community, he’s put together… Read More ›
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Gordon Livingstone – An Appreciation by Calum Laird
Former Commando editor Calum Laird pays tribute to artist Gordon Livingstone, who died recently… When British comics lost Gordon Livingstone, they lost one of their finest servants. As I was lucky enough to work with him, on and off, for… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival gets four-year Arts Council funding deal
England’s Arts Council has just announced its National Portfolio Organisations for the next four years – and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is one of them, securing long-term funding for its ambitious comic art development and promotion plans, which… Read More ›
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Heroes at War: new Commando comics out this week
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson‘s war comic Commando (Issues 5031-5034), on sale in all good newsagents across the UK and via various digital platforms from Thursday 29th June. The releases come at a sad time… Read More ›