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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Artist Spotlight: Peter Dobbin’s role in re-imagining the classic game, Cluedo, as a new critically-acclaimed mobile app
Last year, we reported on top British Concept Artist Peter Dobbin‘s stunning Mythical Monster Map – a nifty way to keep track of those things that might be lurking under your bed. Well, Peter’s currently working on another beautiful-looking project… Read More ›
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A New Doctor for “Doctor Who” – and a New Doctor Who Magazine editor
Panini UK have just announced longtime Doctor Who Magazine, editor Tom Spilsbury is stepping down from the role – but a name familiar to the title’s thousands of readers worldwide is stepping into his place. Doctor Who Magazine, first published in… Read More ›
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British Library launches new project to preserve British digital comics
The British Library have begun a new project focusing on digital comics publishing in the UK, and the challenges of preservation and access in the long term. Since April 2013, the British Library has been able to collect material published… Read More ›
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Latest Spaceship Away Reveals A Long Forgotten Dan Dare Stage Play
It was long thought that the only time that Eagle’s Dan Dare officially trod the boards of a British theatre was in the 2003’s Dan Dare: The Musical at the Customs House in South Shields. However another, much earlier, play has recently… Read More ›
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Frank Hampson’s “Modesty Blaise” art sample up For Sale for a cool $5000
In 1962, Beaverbrook Newspapers asked author Peter O’Donnell to suggest a new strip idea. He thought long and hard and came up with Modesty Blaise, an action adventure strip. Kennedy Aitken, who was Beaverbrook’s strip cartoons editor, suggested they should… Read More ›
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Manchester’s National Football Museum to host comics talk with “Invincibles” author Michael Barrett
This Saturday, 15th July 2017, author Michael Barrett will be at the National Football Museum in Manchester, giving an illustrated talk about the story behind the graphic novel Preston North End – The Rise of the Invincibles. Michael, the writer and publisher… Read More ›
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Titan’s new Dan Dare adventures from Peter Milligan and Alberto Foche debut in October
Titan Comics has announced new details for their upcoming four-issue mini-series, Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, written by Peter Milligan (Shade, X-Statix, Enigma) and top Spanish artist Alberto Foche. Britain’s greatest hero latest comics incarnation debuts in October 2017, featuring… Read More ›
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Rebellion to publish Look-In’s “The Beatles Story” by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson
Rebellion Publishing, owners of 2000AD, are to publish a print edition of The Beatles Story, written by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which charts the rise of the Fab Four from their early days through to the band’s break-up. First… Read More ›
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Marvel UK Mystery: An unpublished Motormouth story
Ace artist Jesús Redondo Romain recently posted some great looking pages of a Marvel UK-commissioned Motormouth story, guest starring Death’s Head II. The only problem – he couldn’t remember what the story was called, so we did a bit of digging… Read More ›
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More Dredd for your cred: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection to continue
Rebellion have announced a further ten issues will be added to the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection partwork from 2000AD and Hachette Partworks. Already a hit with readers across the country, The Mega Collection has brought together some of the… Read More ›
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Myriad Comic Cuts Competition launched to create new comics-inspired TV comedy
Brighton-based publisher Myriad Editions has teamed up with the award-winning comedy television company Roughcut Television (perhaps best known as producers of The Office and The IT Crowd) in a call-out for a comedy or comedy/ drama in graphic novel form that… Read More ›
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Classic UK Comic Zines Recalled: Chain Reaction, featuring Archie Goodwin and Jim Shooter
Blimey! What’s not to love about this 1983 issue of the British comics fanzine Chain Reaction (Issue Five), edited by Frank Plowright, the late, great and still much-missed Steve Whitaker and Hassan Yusuf? Initially titled Direct Currents (the name changed… Read More ›
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Rebellion announces “The Dracula File” collection from British horror weekly, Scream
Continuing with collections made in part possible by its acquisition of the Fleetway comics and characters library last year, Rebellion has announced it will release The Dracula Files, from the short-lived 1980s horror weekly Scream, in October.
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Sneak Peek: 100% Biodegradable Issue 17 – Switchblades and Skowdogs!
With Issue 17 of the digital anthology comic 100% Biodegradable nearing completion, here’s a preview of some of the strips appearing inside. In “Capsule” by Brian Pearlman and Armin Ozdic (with colours by Liam O’Connor and letters by Ken Reynolds)… Read More ›
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Newcastle upon Tyne’s Seven Stories announces new British comic art exhibiton
Love The Beano? Can’t get enough of superheroes? Read The Phoenix? Always wanted to have a go at making your own comic? You must visit the brand new Comics: Explore and Create Comic Art exhibition at Seven Stories in Newcastle… Read More ›
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Spot the Difference: Scream comic art uncensored
Over on eBay, seller “Forbidden Box” is not only selling a smashing piece of 2000AD Dan Dare art by Dave Gibbons but also an early, uncensored page from the short-lived weekly Scream drawn by Jesus Redondo. The Scream art from “Monster“, a… Read More ›
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A Magnificent Seven signing for an Incredible Comic Shop
Seven top UK indie creators (writers and artists) are heading to Swindon’s Incredible Comic Shop on Saturday 15th July 2017. Celebrating the UK small press scene hot on the heels of the national Small Press Day the previous Saturday (8th… Read More ›
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Classic Comics Giveaway from the Irish Independent
From today, Saturday 1st July until Saturday 5th August, The Irish Independent are re-printing some classic DC Thomson comics each Saturday, including The Beano, today, and an edition of girls comic Bunty later this month. After 40 years they haven’t… Read More ›
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Mentioned in Dispatches: How “Victor” documented the story of World War One Victoria Cross winner Jack White
Running at the Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster, until Sunday 12th November 2017 is “Boom Town“, combining the story of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in action on the Western Front, Salonika and Mesopotamia in 1917, and tragic events on… Read More ›
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Lew Stringer’s Combat Colin Returns!
It’s here! Copies of TOXIC and Doctor Who Magazine cartoonist Lew Stringer‘s self-published comic, Combat Colin #1 have arrived from the printers and the comic will be launched at Macc-Pow! in Macclesfield at Macclesfield Town Hall tomorrow, Saturday 1st July 2017…. Read More ›