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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Comic Strip Revolution exhibition opens soon in Belgium
A “Comic Strip Revolution” exhibition at La Boverie, Liege, Belgium will present art from two game-changing French bande dessinée magazines, Métal Hurlant and (A SUIVRE) from 17th March to 11th June 2017. Showing more than 300 original drawings from French, Belgian,… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival celebrates Will Eisner with competition, comic and exclusive exhibition
Recognising the work of ground-breaking American comic creator Will Eisner, creator of “The Spirit”, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is pleased to announce not one but three celebratory projects to mark his incredible contribution to the development of the comics form – a competition… Read More ›
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Faceache, Ken Reid’s best-loved comic character and Leopard of Lime Street returns in new Rebellion collections
Rebellion, publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, have announced full details of their first new collections featuring all-time classics of British comics from the 1970s and ‘80s. And what a terrific selection from their recently-expanded cache of characters it… Read More ›
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Vaughn Bode’s Cobalt 60 returns in New Augmented Reality Graphic Novel by his son
Heavy Metal and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artist Mark Bodé is to launch a new graphic novel, based on one of his father Vaughn Bodé’s earliest works – the ground-breaking Cobalt 60. In the late 1960s, Vaughn Bodé was one of… Read More ›
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Britain’s second city set to go comics crazy in June as Birmingham Comics Festival returns for third year
The Birmingham Comics Festival will be celebrating its third consecutive year of activity across the second city this June, with a weekend-long convention the culmination of a month of planned events. A city-wide series of comics-related events, large and small,… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor #10
DOCTOR WHO: NINTH DOCTOR #10 Writer: Cavan Scott Artist: Adriana Melo Publisher: Titan Comics FC – 32pp – $3.99 – On sale: 1st March 2017 in all good comic shops and various digital platforms The Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Jack… Read More ›
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Nick Abadzis talks Doctor Who for latest Panel to Panel podcast
Episode 72 of of Jeremy Bement‘s Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is up and features an interview with writer-artist Nick Abadzis. Nick, whose many credits also include Laika and Cora’s Breakfast, has been writing the adventures of the Tenth Doctor since… Read More ›
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Hidden Nazis, Deadly Secrets Uncovered – in the new Commando comics
Here’s the latest intel on the new DC Thomson Commando releases (Issues 4995 – 4998), on sale now in all good newsagents and available on various digital platforms… Commando 4995 – The Village Story: Ferg Handley Art: Vicente Alcazar Cover:… Read More ›
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Beyond 2000AD Celebration Signings Continue This Weekend across the UK
2000AD continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary this weekend with a number of special signings by some of its top talents this weekend in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester – and these are just the first of many through the year. All… Read More ›
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Comics’ Sweeping Graphic Novel Prince Valiant Turns 80
While we’ve been celebrating the 40th anniversary of British comic 2000AD a lot in recent days, another comic – well, comic strip – marked its 80th anniversary earlier this month and we couldn’t let it pass by given the lasting impact… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, 2000AD (your “Official” birthday, that is)
Happy Birthday 2000AD! The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic is celebrating its 40th birthday today with the release of the 2000AD 40th Anniversary Special and 2000AD Prog 2019 in newsagents, comic shops and various digital platforms. More information below! Technically, it’s actually “Happy Birthday… Read More ›
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Drawing The Line: 100 Comic Artists unite to Change the World
More than 100 comics artists and illustrators from around the world have launched Draw the Line – a lively, visual guide to positive political action that anyone can take. A reaction to dramatic social, environmental and political changes in the United… Read More ›
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Jack Fallows stunning “Cryptogram” available to pre-order
Comic creator Jack Fallows, whose work we’ve praised before here on downthetubes, has announced you can now pre-order what I can only describe as amazing-looking Cryptogram 0.1 Spring 2017 (March) | The Woods. “Cryptogram Puzzle Post is a monthly bundle of… Read More ›
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Morecambe Gets a Comic-Con for Easter
Morecambe, Lanacashire will play host to a Comic Con this Easter, although at present the announced guest list – which includes Sixth Doctor Who Colin Baker, who has written a comic strip – leans more toward TV and film guests… Read More ›
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Utopia/Valhalla, rare comics fanzine featuring early work by teenage Alan Moore offered for £2700
Over on eBay, there’s an auction running for a comics fanzine published in 1970 – Utopia/Valhalla Issue One – with a starting bid of over £2700. Before anyone starts scrabbling in their attics for fading issues of Comic Media News,… Read More ›
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Origins of “Doctor Who” revealed in new Sydney Newman memoirs
Exactly where did the idea of Doctor Who come from and how much of the show was the idea of Canadian film and TV producer Sydney Newman? That’s just one of the subjects tackled in The Man Who Thought Outside… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers comic artist David Sque confirmed for Lancaster Comics Day – making a rare comics convention appearance
The Lancaster Comics Day team have announced the appearance of Roy of the Rovers comic artist David Sque at Lancaster Comics Day 2017 (Sunday 11th June), who will be at the event alongside ROTR editor Barrie Tomlinson. Both creators – like… Read More ›
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BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe and Titan Comics team up for new “Little Nightmares” comic
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe and Titan Comics have announced the creation of comics based on the upcoming, highly anticipated 3D puzzle-platformer Little Nightmares. The new comic is written by Dan Watters and Alex Paknadel (writers of Assassin’s Creed: Uprising) with… Read More ›
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The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic Convention? A Day out at the 2000AD – 40 Years of Thrill-Power Festival
The 2000AD – 40 Years of Thrill-Power Festival took place last weekend and downthetubers John Freeman (who was drafted to run a panel about British comics, Richard Sheaf and Tony Esmond (who got to interview Pat Mills on stage) share their… Read More ›
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Pick a Card, Any Card, it’s an Ace! (Aces Weekly, that is!)
Aces Weekly, the on-line comic magazine, founded in 2012 by David Lloyd and Bambos Georgiou, has announced the release of a set of collectable “trading cards”, which give purchasers access to volumes of the award winning publication. Each of the… Read More ›