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 girls magazines launched, DC Thomson’s “Sweet” includes strip by Laura Howell
DC Thomson and Panini UK have both launched new girls titles this week – Sweet and Disney’s Eleanor of Avalor, the latter based on the animated series screened on the Disney Channel. DC Thomson say their title, Sweet, which includes… Read More ›
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Britain’s annual comics-promoting Small Press Day 2017 Announced for Saturday 8th July
Small Press Day, celebrating comics and self-publishing at shops and events across the UK and Ireland, is back. The fantastic Broken Frontier web site – ever at the forefront of promoting independently published small press comics and encouraging their creators… Read More ›
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Happy 30th Birthday, Combat Colin!
Huge congratulations to longtime British comics creator Lew Stringer this morning, whose much-loved clumsy combat hero Combat Colin celebrates 30 years of publication. The first Combat Colin strip appeared in print in Marvel UK’s Action Force Issue 5, published on… Read More ›
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VIZ among Big Issue editor’s favourite reads
Best-selling humour comic magazine VIZ is one of Big Issue editor Paul McNamee‘s favourite reads, he reveals in an opinion piece for InPublishing magazine. He’s also a fan of Private Eye, Q – and the Church Times advertiser section. Celebrating… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Panel to Panel Podcast – Back with More Comic Reviews
Episode 74 of Jeremy Bement’s execellent Doctor Who: Panel to Panel podcast has just been posted.
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Last Chance to get your hands on some classic British comic collections from Bear Alley Books!
Over at Bear Alley Books, publisher Steve Holland has a special offer on two of his latest books collecting two great strips from DC Thomson, featuring work by artists Ian Kennedy and Enrique Alcatena. “This will be your last chance to… Read More ›
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Celebrate Red Nose Day the Mekon Way!
Make a donation to Red Nose Day via www.rednoseday.com Dan Dare Mekon art by Charlotte Corday, Dan Dare and Commando artist Keith Page. (With thanks to Richard Sheaf)
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In Praise Of: Comic Artist Jack “King” Kirby
Had he lived, Jack “King” Kirby, born 28th August 1917, would have been 100 this year. In advance of Lancaster Comics Day 2017, where Kirby’s work will be celebrated on a special panel, British comic artist (and Comics Day guest)… Read More ›
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Leamington Comic Con on Saturday
Leamington’s award-winning comic convention – Leam Comic Con – returns on Saturday (25th March 2017) at the Royal Spa Centre bringing big name guests, independent publishers and creators and local talent to the town. Top guests include Christian Wildgoose, artist… Read More ›
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2000AD Prog 2023 On Sale Today – Jump on Board for All-New Thrills, Scarlet Traces and Deadworld Return!
The latest issue of 2000AD is on sale today in all good newsagents and comic shops, featuring a cover by Cliff Robinson and is a perfect jumping on point for new readers with an all-new story line up, which includes the… Read More ›
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Titan Comics Lost Fleet: Corsair #1 by Jack Campbell – covers, first pages revealed
Titan Comics have revealed more details about The Lost Fleet: Corsair Issue #1 – including all the covers and interior pages from this new military SF release, which launches in June in all good comic shops. (Bias declaration – this… Read More ›
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Battle of the Somme Re-Visited in “For Valour”, a new comic by Stephen Mooney and Eoin Coveney
An exciting comics project jointly produced by Monaghan County Museum, Armagh County Museum and Craigavon Museum Services recently saw the creation of For Valour, a comic created by Stephen Mooney and featuring interior art by Eoin Coveney that focused on the story… Read More ›
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In Memoriam and Celebration: Comic Artist Bernie Wrightson
We’re sorry to report the passing of US comic artist Bernard Albert “Bernie” Wrightson, sometimes credited as Berni Wrightson, after a battle with brain cancer. The news was shared on his web site by his wife, Liz Wrightson. He was 68. He… Read More ›
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Hammer Films Captain Kronos returns to comics
Titan Comics has announced the next title from its Hammer Horror line of comics – Captain Kronos, written by Dan Abnett, which has previously had just one strip outing in the past. Based on the 1974 film, Captain Kronos will… Read More ›
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“Marionette Unit” Script Book Released
Regular downthetubes readers will recall The Marionette Unit, a creepy, scratch the back of your eyeballs work of gothic steampunk-driven horror we reviewed positively last year. Well, now the team behind the book – filmmakers Azhur Saleem and James Boyle –… Read More ›
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2017 Brussels Comic Strip Festival celebrates 60 years of Gaston LaGaffe (that’s “Gomer Goof” to his English fans)
This year’s Comic Strip Festival in Brussels will celebrate the 60th anniversary of famous Belgian comic character Gaston Lagaffe, organisers have announced. The gag-a-day comic strip was created in 1957 by the Belgian cartoonist André Franquin in the Franco-Belgian comics… Read More ›
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Canny Comics Goings on in Newcastle this Saturday!
This Saturday (18th March 2017) will see Newcastle City Library taken over by comics for Canny Comic Con, a free event which includes an appearance by 2000AD artist Nigel Dobbyn and Marvel artist Gary Erskine – and a host of independent comic creators…. Read More ›
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New Thrills! 2000AD Prog 2022 On Sale Today!
The latest issue of 2000AD is on sale today in all good newsagents and comic shops, featuring a cover by Ben Willsher and: Judge Dredd: The Grundy Bunch by Arthur Wyatt (Writer) Tom Foster (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer) Mega-City One, 2139… Read More ›
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In Review: Football Earth – The Wild Side by Steve English
By Steve English Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Summersdale Out: Now The Book: In 2009 scientists discovered dolphins playing football with jellyfish off the coast of Wales. Some believe they have been playing this game for hundreds, if not thousands of… Read More ›
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Call for Graphic Submissions Special Collection: Graphic Science
Comics have been well received in the science community and by publishers as a form of science communication. Recent publications demonstrate that comics have the potential of becoming academic outputs in their own right. (In October 2017, for example, Myriad Editions… Read More ›