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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A Shark for Santa? Something for the Christmas Weekend 2016
Here’s your British creator and publisher-skewed comics shopping list for this week, featuring new comics on sale in comic shops (from Wednesday 21st December) and newsagents. Have a great festive season, enjoy your comics and our very best wishes for… Read More ›
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Seventh Doctor in the Spotlight in free Celestial Toyroom Annual
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has just published the Celestial Toyroom Annual 2017 as a free digital download, spotlighting the era of the Seventh Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy. Released as a “Christmas present to everyone” as part of the Society’s 40th… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Bambi Wendt’s field guide to dragons
Currently smashing its fairly modest Kickstarter funding goal of $2500 out of the park, Bambi Wendt‘s proposed The field guide to: Dragons, Wyrms, and Serpents of the World is a gem deserving attention. The project is being promoted as a… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Lee Robson and David Broughton talk “Strontium Dog”
Lee Robson is the writer of the graphic novel Babble and a frequent contributor to many British independent titles, including Zarjaz, Futurequake, the Strontium Dog-inspired Dogbreath, Something Wicked and several of Accent UK‘s themed anthologies. He’s also penned a series of online daily strips featuring 2000AD‘s Judge Dredd for FutureQuakePress,… Read More ›
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IDW’s Judge Dredd: Deviations “Howl of the Wolf” by John McCrea coming in March 2017
Coming in March 2017 from IDW is Judge Dredd: Deviations, written and drawn by John McCrea, coloured by Mike Spicer, a project the comic creator describes as a tribute “to the late, and oh so very great, Steve Dillon”. Judge… Read More ›
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Fans and creators alike mass to support 2000AD artist Peter Doherty after critical illness
A JustGiving Page to raise money to support comic artist and colourist Peter Doherty (perhaps best known for his work on 2000AD‘s “Judge Dredd”) is closing in on its target to support him after he suffered a torn aorta a couple of… Read More ›
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Who the heck are Europe Comics, anyway? A quick guide to this exciting pan-European project
Many comics fans with a social media presence may have noticed sponsored ads for a project called Europe Comics popping up in their feeds. I’ve run a couple of stories on some books and re-posted some of their items, but… Read More ›
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SF adventure “Skow Dogs” and Alan Burrows “Switchblade”debut in all-new 100% Biodegradable,
Hot on the heels of the SF adventure “Death Duty” by myself, Dave Hailwood and Brett Burbridge in recent issues of digital anthology 100% Biodegradable comes another new story from the “WarWorldz” shared universe project – “Skowdogs“. In the WarWorldz universe, the once mighty… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Volume 29 Issue Four publication delayed after editor’s passing
The latest issue of the Eagle Society‘s Eagle Times, dedicated to Dan Dare and Eagle, has sadly been delayed and will now not be available until after Christmas after the passing of editor Howard Corn. Howard, who was Editor-in-Chief of… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Judge Anderson on trial in this week’s Judge Dredd Megazine!
The latest issue of Judge Dredd Megazine (Issue 379), on sale Wedneday (21st December 2016) comes wrapped in a stunning Juge Anderson cover by Alex Ronald and comes with a bagged reprint of “Sinister Dexter – Life Is An Open Casket”…. Read More ›
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One Plastic Carrier Bag, One Careful Star Wars Owner – A Snip at 240 Pounds!
How many of us have had a grumble at the new 5p carrier bag charge – and that’s for a cheap one? Well, on Wednesday 29th November a vintage carrier bag from the once Palitoy Staff Shop in Coalville went… Read More ›
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Splendid! Professor Elemental Has A New Home for his Steampunk-inpsired Comics
Chris Mole, official biographer to Professor Elemental and the organisational mastermind behind his comic misadventures, has just launched Splendid Comics and an associated a Patreon page, hoping to secure fan back for further stories. If you haven’t encountered the Professor before then… Read More ›
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Judge Dredd unofficial animated short film poster by Alex Ronald revealed
Well, here’s an interesting item that just popped onto my feeds – the latest developments for a short, not for profit Judge Dredd animated film, DREDD, that’s had quite a long gestation process. The poster above is by top comic artist Alex… Read More ›
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In Praise Of… Artist John Watkiss
“Painting and art for me is a means of showing the world a vision which I have seen with my mind not with my eyes – which I use merely as a means of perception. I call this ‘Mindsight’. –… Read More ›
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Spies, Secrets and Spitfires! It’s all happening in the new Commando comics
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando (Issues 4975 – 4978), on sale Thursday 15th December 2016 from all good newsagents and available on various digital platforms. NEW Commando 4975 – Flying Blind Story: Alan… Read More ›
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Embassy of Japan’s “Manga Jiman” 2016 Competition Winners Revealed
The winning entries for this year’s Manga Jiman and Yonkoma Manga competitions, run by the Embassy of Japan in London have just been announced. The winers of the competition, now in its tenth year, are listed below. The position of each… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: a 2000AD Podcast with comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson
“It’s real Roy of the Rovers stuff!” has been a cry of football commentators for decades – and the latest episode of the award-winning 2000AD podcast features an interview with author, comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson, the man who helped… Read More ›
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Fund Raising Online Art Auction for Lakes International Comic Art Festival Raises £2500
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce its an online fund-raising art auction raised £2500 toward future projects and events in 2017, including its weekend-long Festival (13th – 15th October) which includes a rare UK appearance by MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, who will be presenting the… Read More ›
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Alex Paknadel to introduce new Doctor Who companion Bill to comics
The Free Comic Book Day 2017 Gold Titles have been revealed, and include a fantastic new Doctor Who comic from Titan Comics, featuring a new cover by Will Brooks, written by Alex Paknadel with art from Mariano Laclaustra. The free… Read More ›
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Thought Bubble Festival move to September for annual comics gathering confirmed
The Thought Bubble Festival team have confirmed that, as rumoured among British comic fans for some time, next year’s week-long event will take place in September 2017 – and announced their first guest. “We’d like to say another massive thank you… Read More ›