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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Dan Whitehead and David Hitchcock’s Frankenstein comic heads for new heights
Independent gothic western graphic novel Frankenstein, Texas has reached its Kickstarter goal in just five days, and is now raising funds towards additional content, including an all-star gallery of bonus pin-ups from established comic stars. Created by writer Dan Whitehead… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: A Turn of the Millennium Interview with Alan Moore, Part One
First published on the Engine Comics web site way back in 2002, this wide-ranging interview with Alan Moore specifically about writing comics with Daniel Whiston is a fascinating read, and we’re delighted to have permission to re-publish it here on… Read More ›
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Gateway, the SF novels that inspired Marvel UK’s “Warheads”, comes to TV
The NBCUniversal-owned cable network owned Syfy has announced it is developing Frederik Pohl‘s award-winning best-seller Gateway as a series, novels that once inspired comic creator Paul Neary while he was developing Marvel UK’s Warheads back in the 1990s. First announced… Read More ›
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Out Now: Beano 3904 – The One where Minnie the Minx does Strictly!
Inside this week’s Beano (No. 3904) Minnie the Minx does Strictly Come Dancing! Behind a smashing cover by Nigel Parkinson, Minnie finds herself in the spotlight this week at Strictly Beanotown’s Got Talented Ballroom Dancers! Plus: shiver me timbers! Roger… Read More ›
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DC Thomson is launching “This Is”, a monthly children’s magazine series
(UPDATED 29th September): Launching in October and featuring different content each month, This Is is a series of magazines designed to cover topics that are trending and popular with kids right now. Maria Welch, Head of Publishing for Magazines at DC Thomson… Read More ›
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Who will win the first ever Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art?
As we’ve previously reported, Sergio Aragonés, the world’s fastest cartoonist, will be making a rare appearance as part of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (13th – 15th October in Kendal, Cumbria). One of the most famous and influential living… Read More ›
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Vault Comics issues rallying cry in defence of comic creators under attack from “fans”
US publisher Vault Comics has issued a statement condemning harassment and intimidation of comic creators – and have called on larger publishers to follow suit. The statement highlights attacks on creators who identify with one or more minority group, describing some… Read More ›
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Neil Gaiman’s American Gods returns
Last year at New York Comic Con, Dark Horse announced the comic adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Ahead of this year’s New York Comic Con, Dark Horse has just revealed more details about the next nine-issue story, American Gods:… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: My Comic Shop Country, a new documentary about US comic shops
My Comic Shop Country is a feature-length documentary from Anthony Desiato, who runs a podcast of the same name, exploring comic shops across the United States. He previously directed a feature about now-closed New York comic shop Alternate Realities, My Comic… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with Comics Writer and Festival Patron, Mary M. Talbot
With just over two weeks to go to until this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). The downthetubes “Kendal Calling” interviews continue with a chat with award-winning comics writer and Festival patron Mary M. Talbot…… Read More ›
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Out Now: Pierce Brown’s Red Rising – Son of Ares #5
Pierce Brown’s Red Rising continues with Sons of Ares, written by Rik Hoskin. in #5, the penultimate issue of the series on sale now from US publisher Dynamite, featuring a lead cover by Toby Cypress and interiors by Eli Powell, Fitchner’s quest to… Read More ›
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Jump onboard the 2000AD express with Prog 2050!
Want a good place to start reading (or re-reading!) 2000AD? Prog 2050 is out today in all good newsagents and comic shops, with all-new thrills and an absolutely stonking line-up to appeal to both loyal and lapsed Squaxx dek Thargo…. Read More ›
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Artist John Stokes at Gosh Comics in October
Comics creator and stage designer John Stokes will at Gosh! Comics in London, in conversation with Broken Frontier’s Editor-in-Chief Andy Oliver, on Friday 6th October to celebrate the release of the wonderful Marney the Fox from the Treasury of British… Read More ›
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Tynside’s freedom fighters immortalised in a new, free comic
Historical figures from Britain’s North East, including suffragette Emily Davison, the Jarrow Marchers and anti-slavery campaigner Frederick Douglass are among the Tyneside radicals whose stories are told in Freedom City Comics, which is to be distributed free around Newcastle and… Read More ›
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Tove Jansson-inspired “Archipelagogo” exhibition first salvo in countdown to this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Archipelagogo is an amazing-looking exhibition by Felt Mistress and Jonathan Edwards with an Andy Votel soundtrack. There’s a preview evening this Saturday (30th September) at the Wildman Gallery in Kendal in the run up to this year’s Lakes International Comic… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2017: An Interview with Comic Artist, Writer and Festival Patron Bryan Talbot
There’s not long to go now until this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (13th – 15th). The downthetubes “Kendal Calling” interviews continue with a chat with award-winning comics artist, writer and Festival patron Bryan Talbot, who will… Read More ›
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Celebrate Your Local Library!
Discover something new during Libraries Week, a national week-long celebration of libraries from Monday 9th October to Saturday 14th October 2017. Libraries across the country will take the opportunity during Libraries Week to demonstrate the services and activities they offer, including showcasing their… Read More ›
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Upcoming British Comic Conventions – A Quick List for the rest of 2017 and into 2018
2017 has seen no shortage of comics events great and small across the UK, and there are a few more to come this year, so I thought I’d run a quick listing, which, I hasten to point out, is not… Read More ›
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London’s GOSH Comics to host Bog-Eyed Books Launch, Orbital Comics to host Big Comic Draw
The exciting new kids comics publisher Bog Eyed Books will be at London’s GOSH Comics store on Thursday 5th October to officially launch themselves, with appearances by the whole talented team – Gary Northfield, Nicky Evans, Jim Medway, Alexander Matthews… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con returns in December
Malta Comic Con – one of the friendliest comic conventions it’s ever been my pleasure to attend – is back in December, the ninth edition to be held on Saturday 2nd (10am-6pm) and Sunday 3rd December (11am-7pm) 2017 at the Mediterranean… Read More ›