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.
-
2000AD’s Rogue Trooper revealed for “Rogue Trooper Redux” Game
Rebellion has released just released a new video revealing the look to Rogue Trooper in their upcoming game Rogue Trooper Redux, an updating of their acclaimed game. Fronted by Michael Molcher (aka “The Man with the Terrifying ‘Tache”), the video… Read More ›
-
“What if I’m not a comic?” – A Review of “The Human Beings” Issue One
By Stuart (SJ) McCune Published by Millicent Barnes Comics This is fully intended to be a non traditional review, since The Human Beings is a book that does not adhere to a world of cliche or even what goes on… Read More ›
-
Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2017 Comics Clock Tower Line Up Revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the comic creators who will have a presence in their free-to-enter Comics Clock Tower venue in Kendal Town Hall in October. The creators were chosen after hundreds of applications were sifted through… Read More ›
-
Time Travel, Tiger Tanks – and a Traitor in the ranks? New Commando comics on sale now
Here’s the inside intel on DC Thomson’s latest issues of Commando (Issues 5015-5018), on sale from today in all good newsagents and various digital platforms. This week’s bundle of Commandos will take you across the battlefields and skies of World… Read More ›
-
Kate Evans next guest speaker for London’s Laydeez Do Comics next week
Graphic novelist, cartoonist and activist Kate Evans and Gemma Seltzer, Relationship Manager at Arts Council England, are the speakers at the next Laydeez Do Comics event in London next week. Kate’s book Red Rosa, the graphic biography of Rosa Luxemburg,… Read More ›
-
Brits among the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominees
The nominees for the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been announced and among the names are some British creators, including three for artist Sean Phillips. Once again, this year’s nominees reflect the wide range of material being published… Read More ›
-
A feast of 2000AD goodies this week – and a Free Comic Book Day special on its way, too!
Run, do not walk, to your nearest purveyor of Thrills and pick up 2000AD Prog 2029 – the latest edition of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! There’s a lot of other great titles out from Rebellion this week, too, but here’s… Read More ›
-
Comic Connections: New Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds figures on way from BIG Chief Studios
Coming soon from replica figure makers BIG Chief Studios is a range of high-end collectables based on the classic series Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and other series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson… and the box art they’ve created has several comic… Read More ›
-
Andy Luke’s new comic “We Shall Not Be Stapled” launches this week in Belfast
We Shall Not Be Stapled , a new anthology, will get a lunchtime launch at Comic Book Guys in The Spires Shopping Centre, Belfast tomorrow – Wednesday 3rd May, 1 – 2.00pm. Copies will also be available at the Enniskillen Comic… Read More ›
-
Melinda Gebbie, Tom Richmond and more join Lakes International Comic Art Festival Line-Up
Tickets for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival are on sale now – and the guest list is attracting plenty of attention from fans across the UK – and abroad. This year, the Lakes Festival is moving to a pass system for the… Read More ›
-
BLAMM! Kate Charlesworth Retrospective opens this week in Glasgow
This week sees the opening of a new retrospective exhibition of the work of comics artist and illustrator Kate Charlesworth in Glasgow. Curated by John McShane, BLAMM!, at the iota arts space, is the first major retrospective of Kate’s work, spans her… Read More ›
-
In Review: Space Ace Volume Eight
Art and Stories by Ron Turner Colour by John Ridgway Published by John Lawrence The Book: 40-page anthology comprising four stories featuring “Space Ace” by Ron Turner, first published in The Book of Space Adventures in 1963, colourised and re-mastered… Read More ›
-
Lost Fleet – Corsair by Jack Campbell #2 – Covers Spotlight!
June sees the release of The Lost Fleet: Corsair #1 – a new comic series by Jack Campbell, based on his best-selling series of military science-fiction novels which I’m editing for Titan Comics – but the covers for #2 are already… Read More ›
-
Spectrum is Indestructible: a new Captain Scarlet book will include comic strip guides
Regular readers of downthetubes will recall we reported in 2016 that Chinbeard Books is to publish an unofficial guide to Gerry Anderson’s Captain Scarlet later this year, marking the character’s 50th anniversary since his debut on ITV. Spectrum is Indestructible… Read More ›
-
Aliens, Daleks and Paul Cornell, Oh My!
Out next month from IDW is Saucer State, written by Paul Cornell (who I recently worked with on Doctor Who: Heralds of Destruction) with art by Ryan Kelly (Lucifer) – and there’s a new Doctor Who comic collection out too,… Read More ›
-
Bryan Talbot payes tribute to Leo Baxendale in final Grandville tale
Artist Bryan Talbot has sent us this panel from his final Grandville story – a homage to the late Leo Baxendale, scripted five years ago, penciled and inked about 15 months ago and coloured in January. “I’m going to dedicate the book to his… Read More ›
-
New Doctor Who Adventures Out Now – We’ll Shout that ’til we’re Horse!
Doctor Who Adventures Issue 23 is in sale now from Panini, and I’m delighted to report that the Doctor is still battling aliens accompanied by an alien talking horse. (Not that it wouldn’t be great to have new companion Bill… Read More ›
-
Leo Baxendale Remembered, by Beano artist Nigel Parkinson
The first name I recognised in comics was Leo Baxendale, who signed his name on the front cover of WHAM! In 1964. Until earlier this month, he was still my favourite living cartoonist. In the 1950s he gave us Little Plum,… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: Leo Baxendale
Just days after posting an “In Praise of… Leo Baxendale” feature, focusing on his later, creator-owned material, we’re sorry to report his passing. I know this is a loss is going to hit a lot of my friends hard, especially those who know… Read More ›
-
DC announces Teen Titans live action show for new streaming service
Warner Bros. has revealed plans to bring a new live action Teen Titans series, titled Titans, to its upcoming DC branded streaming service which will debut in 2018. Deadline Hollywood reports the new series is the being helmed by Greg Berlanti… Read More ›