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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New Dan Dare Audio Adventures promo released for second volume of new audio stories
This vintage-styled Dan Dare poster is the work of Midlands-based designer Sugary Tea, adapting art created by Doctor Who and Torchwood comic artist Brian Williamson. It’s been released to help promote the impending launch of The Dan Dare Audio Adventures… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly Volume 15 Now on ComiXology
The digital anthology Aces Weekly Volume 15 is now available on ComiXology. Aces Weekly is an exclusively digital comic art magazine featuring some of the world’s finest creators of comic art. Comic artist and publisher David Lloyd has gathered professionals from around… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers editor and “Scorer” writer Barrie Tomlinson confirmed for Lancaster Comics Day 2017
Roy of the Rovers and Tiger editor Barrie Tomlinson has been announced as a guest of Lancaster Comics Day 2017 (Sunday 11th June) – making a very rare appearance at a comics event. “It’s real Roy of the Rovers stuff!”… Read More ›
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Doctor Who and Road to Perdition artist Richard Piers Rayner to make rare convention appearance for Lancaster Comics Day 2017
Making a rare convention appearance at Lancaster Comics Day on 11th June 2017will be the Doctor Who, Hellblazer and Road to Perdition artist Richard Piers Rayner. His appearance is something of a coup, as Richard has only appeared at perhaps as many as three comic conventions in the… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers artist David Sque Sunderland AFC print released
We recently highlighted the terrific work of Roy of the Rovers artist David Sque in our review of The Rise of the Invincibles, the graphic novel account of the early days of Preston North End. Now, David is working on a… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Documenting Trauma: Comics and the Politics of Memory Symposium, Oxford
The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH), which offers the city’s humanities scholars to collaborate with researchers across other disciplines, and institutions, has issued a Call For Papers for a day-long symposium to be hosting here in Oxford on 22nd June 2017. (The… Read More ›
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Sabotage Stories and Pirate Patrols in the new Commando comics!
Here’s the lowdown on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4987 – 4990). These issues are on sale from Thursday 26th January 2017 in all good newsagents and on various digital outlets. Commando 4987 – Operation Arrowhead Story:… Read More ›
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Call for Papers for a Special issue Authorship: Comics and Authorship (deadline 31st July 2017)
The open-access journal Authorship has issued a Call for Papers around the subject of Comics and Authorship. Here are the details… The comic book, recently legitimized through the graphic novel phenomenon while remaining anchored in popular culture, can provide unique… Read More ›
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Jack Kirby to be celebrated in new book “Kirby & Me” as centenary looms
A crowdfunding project to fund a new book celebrating the life of Jack Kirby is gathering pace, which if successful, will include contributions from British comic creators such as Brendan McCarthy and John McCrea, as well as a host of internationally-accliamed… Read More ›
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The Independent celebrates modern British comics, offers Phoenix subscriber deal, UK news stand distribution costs revealed
British newspaper The Indpendent has published an upbeat article on modern British comics such as The Phoenix, which includes comments from Lew Stringer, Jamie Smart and Phoenix editor Tom Fickling. Written by David Barnett, the article (“How classic comics gave way to garish… Read More ›
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Celebrating “ABC Film Review”, Boys Adventure Blog spotlights the Dan Dare and other comic strips the magazine published
When news that the last ever ABC cinema has closed reached the ears of downthetubes writer Richard Sheaf, he began a series of features on its inhouse magazine, ABC Film Review, over on the Boys Adventure Blog, spotlighting some of the… Read More ›
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London’s Barbican Gallery announces “Into the Unknown”, summer SF exhibition and events
(with thanks to Richard Sheaf): London’s Barbican Gallery has revealed details of its upcoming “Into the Unknown” exhibition, which opens in June 2017, and includes comics in in its content. One of the most celebrated fields in popular culture, science… Read More ›
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This year’s DCA Thomson Exhibition inspired by Beano, Commando, features new Ian Kennedy art
Celebrating the 80th anniversary of The Broons and Oor Wullie, Dundee Contemporary Arts is hosting a unique group exhibition in partnership with DC Thomson, in which six artists have each created playful responses to the publisher’s extensive comic archives. The exhibition features… Read More ›
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“Rourke of the Radlands” returns via 100% Biodegradable shapes up
Back in the early 1990s, myself and now Wonder Woman artist Liam Sharp co-created “Rourke of the Radlands“, who has only, to date, appeared in Marvel UK’s STRIP anthology (Issue Four). As I previously mentioned here, the response to the… Read More ›
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Tributes to comics artist John Watkiss, who has died, from fellow creators and fans
I’m sorry to report the passing of the hugely/talented British film and comics artist John Watkiss, whose most recent comics work was Surgeon X from Image. He was 55. A very private man, he had been ill for some time…. Read More ›
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 20 Years On – new Dark Horse project in the works
It’s been twenty years since the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer first premiered on Fox in the US and Dark Horse Comics is celebrating with the release of the third installment of Buffy: The High School Years, featuring executive… Read More ›
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Another rare “Banned” Action offered for sale, start your bids at £2500
There’s another chance for someone with deep pockets to get their hands of a copy of the rare “banned” issue of controversial 1970s comic Action (Issue 37). The starting price this time around, through eBay once more, is £2,500 and… Read More ›
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BBC’s daytime drama “Father Brown” rocked by alien invasion – and some comics-inspired fun!
The production team on BBC daytime drama Father Brown had some great fun creating comic-related props for the recently-broadcast Season Five episode “Fire in the Sky“, not only creating a scene from a fictional B-movie but also mixing some genuine… Read More ›
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Nathan Sawaya’s “Art of Brick: DC Super Heroes” exhibition comes to London
Artist Nathan Sawaya returns to London soon with the World’s Largest LEGO Exhibition inspired by DC Comics heroes such as Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman. Following a successful run in Madrid, The Art of Brick: DC Super Heroes – more than 120… Read More ›
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Simon Spurrier “Power of the Dark Crystal” signing at Forbidden Planet London next month
Simon Spurrier will be signing The Power of the Dark Crystal #1, at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Wednesday 15th February 6 – 7.00pm. Archaia, the award-winning imprint of publisher BOOM! Studios, and The Jim Henson Company, announced The Power of the Dark Crystal, comic last… Read More ›