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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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 ›
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Dinosaur are Forever – TASCHEN’s new “Paleoart” book released
TASCHEN’s stunning-looking new book Paleoart: Visions of the Historic Past, featuring a wide range of gorgeous dinosaur and prehistoric animal-inspired visuals, has just been released. And yes, it’s not cheap at £75, but it looks absolutely gorgeous! It was 1830… Read More ›
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Sam Glanzman Forever! tribute project announced after veteran comic creator enters hospice care
Sue Glanzman, US comic artist Sam Glanzman‘s wife, has asked Drew Ford, who has successfully got some of his most critically-acclaimed work back into print, to inform his fans that the much-admired comic creator has entered the first stages of… Read More ›
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Snashing Frashing! Garth Ennis and Mauricet’s reimagining of Dastardly and Muttley gets launch date
Garth Ennis is reimagining Dastardly and Muttley of Wacky Races and Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines for DC’s teen-oriented Hanna-Barbera line. Written by Garth, the six-issue Dastardly & Muttley series, launching 6th September, will be drawn by Mauricet, whose own… Read More ›
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Beano named as theme for library-based 2018 Summer Reading Challenge
Beano Studios is continuing to ramp up activity surrounding the comic’s 80th anniversary next year, and Beano has been named the creative theme for the Summer Reading Challenge 2018. The Summer Reading Challenge, organised by the Reading Agency and run… Read More ›
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Redan launches “World of Dinosaur Roar!” Magazine
Media company Nurture Rights has partnered with Redan Publishing – publishers of titles such as Sparkle World and Peppa Pig – for the launch of a new magazine based on Dinosaur Roar, entitled World of Dinosaur Roar! The pre-school aimed magazine… Read More ›
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“I Just Love It” gift company launches personalised Thunderbirds comic collections
Gift company I Just Love It has launched a range of personalised hardback and softback Thunderbirds-inspired books utilising strips from several sources – and a Gerry Anderson Collector’s Edition that offers other strips, too. Seven new personalised books are now available, re-packaging… Read More ›
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Dreams are made of this: win a trip to Japan in annual “Manga Jiman” comic competition
The Embassy of Japan in the UK has just launched their annual comic-writing competition to find the best creators of comic short-stories, and this year the theme is “Dreams”. Manga Jiman 2017 has two categories; Yonkoma Manga, requiring a comic… Read More ›
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Dan Dare’s Number One Fan was … top Doctor Who artist Andrew Skilleter
Organised comics fandom in the UK is usually considered to have begun in the late 1960s when the first zines began to appear, starting with Tony Roche‘s Merry Marvel Fanzine and, later, Heroes Unlimited. But there was an earlier attempt… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures goes on hiatus but may be back in 2018
Panini UK has announced Doctor Who Adventures has gone on hiatus, effective immediately, although we’re told it may be re-launched with the arrival of a new series lead in 2018. The company has published over 24 issues of the title,… Read More ›