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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Dredd in Rip-Roaring Action in latest 2000AD (Prog 2027)
Featuring a cracking cover by Matt Ferguson, 2000AD Prog 2027 is on sale now in all good comic shops and UK newsagents – and via various digital platforms. John McCrea‘s art on “Judge Dredd” is adrenaline-soaked brilliance and makes it… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight – British Jack Kirby Documentary Project Launches
2017 marks the centennial of US comic book artist and writer Jack Kirby‘s birth – and British comics archivist Glenn Fleming has just launched a Kickstarter to back the release of a documentary about this key creator, based on interviews he… Read More ›
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Collectormania seeks to boost comic creator presence for June’s event at NEC
Major British event organisers Showmasters are offering comic book creators and other artists, illustrators and self published writers the opportunity to share their talents in front of the thousands attending the event at the Birmingham NEC at the next Collectormania. Showmasters… Read More ›
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Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series episodes launch this week
Award-winning developer and publisher of digital entertainment, Telltale Games, along with Marvel Entertainment, has announced that the first of five Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series episodes is now available on PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, Windows… Read More ›
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Gareth Brookes brilliant “A Thousand Coloured Castles” gets Gosh launch on Thursday
Top British comics creator Gareth Brookes is hosting a launch party for his new graphic novel A Thousand Coloured Castles, published by Myriad Editions, at Gosh! Comics in London later this week – and everyone’s invited. This book is, simply, genius. Disturbing… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: The Comic Industry and the Downside of Working from the Belly of the Whale
Our thanks to comics writer, inker, letterer, editor and publisher Ian Sharman today for kindly giving us permission to post his thoughts on working in the comics industry, addressing why creators seem loathe to challenge some of its working practices… So, let’s… Read More ›
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Coming Soon: Dazzle Ships and the Art of Confusion
If you’re a fan of Commando comics, then you may want to check out Dazzle Ships: World War One and the Art of Confusion, out later this year. Yes, it’s nonfiction – but there is a comics connection. Written by… Read More ›
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Frank Bellamy “Heros the Spartan” Art Goes Under the Hammer
A spread of “Heros the Spartan” art by Frank Bellamy published in Eagle in 1963 is currently being offered on the US auction site Heritage Auctions. The spread from the weekly comic appeared in Volume 14 (Issue 22, issue cover… Read More ›
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Borderliners is a Real Treat for fans of The Prisoner and Phillip K. Dick
Manchester-based writer/artist Brian Gorman‘s second graphic novel, Borderliners: True Realities, was published by Invisible Six Ltd a few months ago. I’m ashamed to confess he handed me a copy last October, but it’s taken me this long to escape The… Read More ›
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Philip Pullman’s The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship collection docks in June
Philip Pullman‘s The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship offers high-octane action and a deep twisting mystery combine in a visual feast of a time-travel tale of adventure on the high seas, due for release in June… Read More ›
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Achtung! Commando – a short-lived homage to Britain’s longest-running war comic recalled
Despite its longevity, DC Thomson’s last serving pocket library title, Commando, has never gained the kind of fan documentation that other British comics have. Achtung! Commando was a short-lived attempt to change that, published at the turn of the century… Read More ›
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“Blunderbirds” and Frank Bellamy’s “The Shepherd King” highlighted in new Eagle Times
The latest edition of Eagle Times the magazine of the Eagle Society – Volume 30 No. 1 – is now available. This Issue features articles about Alan Stranks (who created PC49 and scripted several Dan Dare stories), Space Fiction Films in… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson “UFO” convention in June
There hasn’t even a UFO Convention inspired by the Gerry Anderson TV series in the UK nearly 30 years… Until now. While many of the show’s principals are, sadly, no longer with us (including its creator Gerry Anderson), there is… Read More ›
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SF adventure “Geysers of Titan”, drawn by Doctor Who Adventures’ Russ Leach, continues in Aces Weekly
The latest volume of David Lloyd‘s Aces Weekly is available now and Volume 27 continues to be one of the most rip-roaring yet. For me, for example, it’s inevitable I’d be drawn to “Geysers of Titan“, an SF strip set on… Read More ›
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“This One Summer”, acclaimed graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, tops US “Banned Books” list
This One Summer, the award-winning, widely-acclaimed graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki – both guests at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October – has topped the 2016 list of most frequently challenged… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with artist Michael Cho
I’m delighted to present our second “Kendal Calling” interview of 2017, this time with artist Michael Cho, in the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, highlighting the event’s many international and British guests. (Tickets are… Read More ›
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Michael Cho’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival Artwork Revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has revealed top artist Michael Cho‘s artwork for this year’s Festival in October. Michael is of course best known for his Silver and Bronze age superhero comics aesthetics and his recent reprint collection covers which have… Read More ›
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Jamie Hewlett’s Gorillaz Cover for Q
In case you’ve missed it in your local newsagents, here’s Q magazine’s June 2017 cover, which features an exclusive Gorillaz design by the band’s co-creator, Jamie Hewlett, now reconciled with Blur frontman Damon Albarn. The collector’s issue, on sale now, comes… Read More ›
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ELCAF 2017 Programme Announced
London and New York-based publisher Nobrow has announced its plans for ELCAF 2017, the 6th East London Comics & Arts Festival, dedicated to showcasing the most exciting talent in comics, sequential art, illustration and storytelling. In June 2017, ELCAF is… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: An Interview with Commando Editor Kirsten Murray
With war comic Commando recently passing its landmark 5000th issue and many changes behind the scenes in its editorial department, downthetubes caught up with the veteran title’s recently-installed editor, Kirsten Murray, just part of her role as DC Thomson’s Heritage… Read More ›