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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Monad Journal Launch Symposium at the University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is to host the launch of a new peer-reviewed open access online journal MONAD next month – and comics writer Alan Moore is among invited guests for the Launch Symposium. The Monad Journal Launch Symposium on Thursday… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Storytelling Conference 2018
The organisers of the Storytelling Conference 2018 (10th – 11th July) at the University of Suffolk have announced the call for papers is now open. They are inviting papers that theoretically and empirically engage with a broad range of disciplines… Read More ›
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Jurassic World expected to be popular draw at Brand Licensing Europe next week
2018 is going to be a perfect storm for the popular Jurassic World franchise, so it’s no surprise the franchise is expected to be a big attraction at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe show, taking place at Olympia, London (10th… Read More ›
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There’s no escape: The Prisoner is returning to comics
Not for the first time, the short-lived, highly regarded 1960s TV series The Prisoner is being adapted for comics. Titan Comics has announced they are to publish all-new comic books written by Peter Milligan, drawn by Colin Lorimer, to celebrate… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An interview with cartoonist Lynn Johnston
An interview with the creator of “For Better of Worse”
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Out Now: 2000AD Prog 2051
The latest issue of 2000AD, on sale now in all good newsagents and comic shops, comes wrapped in a smashing cover from David Millgate and features the following Thrills (and plenty of spills…) Favourite story this issue? Well, apart from… Read More ›
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downthetubes Site Update in progress
We’re doing some behind the scenes maintenance on downthetubes, which means there won’t be as many posts as usual here for the next few days. In the mean time, for your British comics news fix (and other distractions), we’ve reignited… Read More ›
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It’s Grimm Up North! Manchester’s Grimmfest offers cult classics and scary shorts
Grimmfest 2017, Manchester’s film festival of new and classic horror, cult, fantasy and sci-fi movies, returns this week (5th – 8th October 2017) at the Vue Printworks. The festival will feature world premieres, cult classics and eclectic film shorts and the… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast with Paula Knight, Pikkli and Plink!
Oh, all right, Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast hosts Ian and Nikki don’t really give two puppets the Podcast Probe. But the team do talk to their creators, Jonathan Edwards and the Felt Mistress, about their brand new exhibition Archipelagogo –… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Titans and Men of Action
Starting a new series of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch explores the work of two much loved American comic book writers. In a discussion recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival last year, Alex talks to Joe Kelly about writing Spider-Man,… Read More ›
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Colour Like Carlos Ezquerra! 2000AD & Judge Dredd Colouring Book Out Now
One of the best-loved and most successful sci-fi fantasy creators in the world, 2000AD superstar Carlos Ezquerra, has collected 50 superb drawings of his top characters in Carlos Ezquerra’s 2000AD & Judge Dredd Colouring Book. It’s a colouring book guaranteed… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly: Now We Are Five!
This week marks the beginning of David Lloyd‘s magnificent Aces Weekly‘s sixth year – and sees the launch of Volume 30 of the digital anthology comic, sent to subscribers screens in seven super parts every Monday, with all further volumes rolling… Read More ›
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Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives – Darren Cullen exhibits at The Other Art Show
Artist Darren Cullen – the creator behind the Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives web site – is showing a large selection of his work, including a brand new sculpture (and the above slightly older one) at The Other Art Fair in London (5th… Read More ›
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Marney the Fox: after Buster, a “Sunny” star, thanks to Bernard Long
The beautiful Marney the Fox collection, gathered from the pages of weekly comic Buster is out this week, but who remembers an incarnation published in the nursery title Sunny in the 1980s? The “Marney the Fox” comic strip – the story of a… Read More ›
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#Inktober is here: how about some Doctor Who art?
It’s #Inktober, so over at the Facebook Doctor Who Comics: A Voyage, we’re looking for your Doctor Who-inspired #Inktober art. (You’ll need to join the group to contribute). Inktober takes place every October with the aim of getting more of… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with comics creator and author Paula Knight
With the Lakes International Comic Art Festival just two weeks away, downthetubes catches up with freelance illustrator, comics creator and author Paula Knight. Based in Bristol, Paula’s first graphic memoir, The Facts of Life, was published by Myriad Editions in… Read More ›
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Misty and Scream Halloween Special Variant Cover Released
When Rebellion first announced its upcoming Halloween special featuring some classic comics from Misty, Scream and Thunder, there were accusations Misty – once considered the girls comic equivalent of 2000AD and a title that by all accounts once outsold it… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers rebooted, new stories start in 2018
BBC News Oxford has reported Roy of the Rovers is to be rebooted in new adventures thanks to new owners 2000AD publisher Rebellion. The new stories will chart the start of Roy Race’s career at the fictional Melchester Rovers, in… Read More ›
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2000AD New York Comic Con plans include sale Steve Dillon Memorial Charity Sketchbook
Jock (Batman, The Losers), Lee Garbett (Loki), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad), Alex De Campi (DREDD, Mayday) and Arthur Wyatt (DREDD) head 2000AD’s creator line-up at New York Comic Con next week: and a special Steve Dillon Memorial Sketchbook will be on… Read More ›
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Titan Comics NYCC 2017 schedule revealed
This New York Comic-Con (5th – 8th October 2017), Titan Comics is bringing its largest-ever offering of thrilling debuts, NYCC variants and special appearances from a host of creators including the creator behind The Death of Stalin which inspired the upcoming… Read More ›