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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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 ›
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Cybermen set to invade Cubicle 7’s Doctor Who Time Clash card game in May
Cubicle 7’s Doctor Who Time Clash Starter Set card game has been selling out in hobby stores, and hot on the heel of its success, the company has revealed it will release Doctor Who Time Clash: Against the Cybermen, its first expansion, in May…. Read More ›
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The Gang’s All Here (well, almost): 2000AD’s 40th birthday – full line-up and schedule announced
The full guest list and schedule for next month’s 2000AD 40 Years of Thrill-Power Festival has been announced – featuring a huge range of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’s contributors. While not every creator involved in creating the 2000AD legend will be… Read More ›
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Declassified: James Bond – Hammerhead #4 (Sneak Peek)
In the latest Issue of James Bond: Hammerhead from Dynamite Entertainment, Bond finds himself at the mercy of Malfakhar, a Yemeni smuggler and black marketeer. But both men are mere pawns in a far greater game, with the fate of… Read More ›
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downthetubes Discoveries: Turkish comics culture, thanks to comic hero Tarkan
Almost every downthetubes visitor is a comic reader, but up until I came across an item on the Facebook Mighty World of British Comics group, to my shame, I had no idea comics reading once as popular in Turkey as I already… Read More ›
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Groovy, Baby! Doctor Who Magazine Goes Retro with free Dalek-infested classic comic giveaway
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 508, out now from all good UK newsagents, has a grab bag of treats on offer for fans of 1970s Doctor Who – and great comics. Not only does it include a terrific free gift – a re-presentation… Read More ›
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US politicians up to unsavoury antics? Are these rumours the work of British ex-secret agents – or comic book writers?
For those of you possibly reeling at the sometimes bizarre twists and turns of the current US political scene, perhaps wondering what is real and what is true, we can’t not mention the upcoming release from Dynamite Entertainment of the… Read More ›
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The Dandy’s Korky the Cat hits, er… the catwalk! Thanks to top fashion designer Stella McCartney
The Dandy comic may sadly be long gone but Beano Studios has teamed up with fashion designer Stella McCartney to bring some of its characters back into the public eye for her autumn 2017 collection. Korky the Cat, Dinah Mo and… Read More ›
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The original “Something Wicked” creeps into the digital world, features early work by Al Ewing and more
Back in in 2007 (or maybe earlier, my zombie brain isn’t quite working properly today), British independent comics publisher FutureQuake Press launchd Something Wicked, a horror anthology that included work from the likes of Cullen Bunn, Al Ewing, PJ Holden, Michael Carroll,… Read More ›
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In Review: Doctor Who Adventures Issue 21 (Doctor Who meets Doctor Strangeglove?)
The Comic: Doctor Who Adventures is a fun-filled, action-packed magazine for girls and boys aged 6 – 13 who love Doctor Who. Aimed at a slightly younger audience than Doctor Who Magazine, it offers a crazy plunge into the wacky world… Read More ›
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Something For the Weekend: Titan Comics Rolls Out Five New Titles, including new era for Doctor Who titles
It’s a busy week for Titan Comics with five, fantastic new launches: Walter Hill‘s new Hard Case Crime series (and the inspiration behind the upcoming neo-noir movie starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver), The Assignment #1; Khaal #1 – Titan’s new… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up!
Here’s a round up of the recent Awesome Comics Podcasts from Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and our very own Tony Esmond (we’d write that in bigger letters, but the web doesn’t let you). The gang were really busy getting on… Read More ›
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New Commandos out this week, readers survey launched
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4983 – 4986), on sale from Thursday 12th January 2017 in all good newsagents in the UK and via various digital platforms – plus news of a readers survey… Read More ›
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Taschen returns to documenting Manga with “100 Manga Artists”
Since the original TASCHEN edition of Manga Design, Japan’s comic phenomenon has produced yet more captivating characters and a whole host of hot new talents. The revised and updated edition edited by Julius Wiedemann – 100 Manga Artists, out later this month… Read More ›
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Celebrating David Bowie: Moonage Exhibition opens this week at London’s Orbital Comics
January marks what would have been David Bowie’s 70th birthday, and the first anniversary of his untimely death to cancer. Celebrating the career of one of popular art’s most vital innovators, chameleons and talents, Moonage Daydreams – an exhibition at London’s… Read More ›
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Art Model Collective and 2000AD team up up for unique “Muties & Perps” life drawing event in London
Budding artists should prepare to head into the dystopian futurescape of Mega-City One, the home of Judge Dredd, with the first part of 2000AD’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Muties & Perps is a unique life drawing session taking place at London’s… Read More ›