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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Creating Comics: Drawing and Life Lessons from Master Cartoonists in the works from IDW
Whether you’re an amateur or pro artist or like comics history or insights into artists you might like Drawing and Life Lessons from Master Cartoonists, set for release from IDW Publushing in July The very first book of its kind,… Read More ›
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2000AD celebrates 40th Anniversary with a great line-up of new comic collections – schedule revealed!
From boy wizards to future cops, from Martians trashing England to missions through post-apocalyptic landscapes – the 40th anniversary year of 2000AD, Britain’s biggest comic will be packed with incredible new collections, including a revised, expanded edition of Thrill-Power Overload, the… Read More ›
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Swansea Comic and Gaming Convention Returns in May
The second Swansea Comic and Gaming Convention takes place at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea on 27th May 2017. A “convention for the community by the community”, the event was founded by prominent members of the local geek community, who wanted to give a… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend? Judge Dredd takes on the Texans in 2000AD
If you’re heading to your local comic shop today (Saturday 7th December 2017), here’s some of the new releases you may find. (List courtesy First Age Comics, Lancaster). Our normal more detailed round up of new US comics and newsagents… Read More ›
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Happy Fifth Birthday to The Phoenix comic!
Rising from the ashes of sad demise of The DFC, there were some that doubted the weekly The Phoenix comic would endure any longer than its predecessor – but the naysayers have been proven wrong and this week the title… Read More ›
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2000AD, Titan Comics and NoBrowPress have Free Comic Book Day titles
British publishers involved in this year’s Free Comic Book Day are 2000AD, NoBrow Press and Titan Comics. Free Comic Book Day, taking place 6th May 2017, is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world… Read More ›
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Reasons To Be Cheerful: Why Transformers comic creator Simon Furman loves the new Hachette partwork, out now in the UK
Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection – Hachette’s superlative Transformers Partworks hardback book collection, has just got its nationwide launch here in the UK, backed by TV advertising – and a signing to promote the title, featuring some of the the top… Read More ›
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New Year, New Beano!
The latest issue of DC Thomson’s weekly humour comic The Beano is on sale now in all good newsagents and supermarkets acrss the UK, crammed with comedy goodness from creators including Barrie Appleby, Nigel Auchterlounie, Hunt Emerson, Bambos Georgiou, Laura Howell,… Read More ›
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In Review: Nylon Years – A Graphic Dramatization of the Flixborough Disaster
By Ramin Abhari Self Published through CreateSpace The Book: England, 1973. An exciting place at the forefront of popular culture. A giant addition to the Nypro chemical plant in the rural community of Flixborough has just started production. Using the… Read More ›
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Secrets of Ireland’s first-ever comics fanzine, featuring art by young Paul Neary, revealed
In December 1966, 50 years ago now, a 15-year-old Irish teenager called Tony Roche did a remarkable thing. He published the first issue of a comics fanzine called The Merry Marvel Fanzine. What was remarkable about this was that this… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Audio Adventures: Reign of the Robots Poster Revealed, story by Doctor Who author Simon Guerrier
B7 Media has revealed Brian Williamson‘s poster for Reign of the Robots, one of three Dan Dare Audio Adventures that will be released in April 2017. Written by Simon Guerrier and starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby and Heida… Read More ›
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Cartoonist Peter Brookes awarded CBE in 2017 New Years Honours
Times cartoonist Peter Brookes has been awarded the CBE – Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire- for services to the media in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list, announced earlier this evening. The full list of… Read More ›
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50 Years of Captain Scarlet to be celebrated in new unofficial guide
Chinbeard Books is to publish an unofficial guide to Gerry Anderson’s Captain Scarlet next year, marking the character’s 50th anniversary since his debut on ITV. Originally shown in September 1967, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons was Gerry Anderson’s follow-up to… Read More ›
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Beano blasts out of 2016 with final fun-packed issue
Yes, we know you had your special Christmas Issue, and even a Christmas Special – but Beano fans will be delighted there’s a new issue out now, on sale in all good British newsagents, supermarkets and digitally. In Beano 3865,… Read More ›
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Lest We Forget: Comic Creators We Lost in 2016
While there’s been much to celebrate in 2016 when it comes to our industry, we couldn’t let the year pass without noting some of those involved now sadly no longer with us, including one of our very own contributors. So… Read More ›
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In Review: The Can Opener’s Daughter by Rob Davis
By Rob Davis Published by SelfMadeHero Reviewed by Stephen L. Holland of Page 45 The Book: In the British Comic Award-winning The Motherless Oven, Scarper Lee asked: “Who the hell is Vera Pike?” Now, we get a chance to find out…. Read More ›
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Flying Phantoms and Nazis on the Run! Latest Commando Comics on Sale Now
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando (Issues 4979 – 4982), on sale now in all good newsagents across the UK and also available on various digital platforms. Commando 4979 – Sucker Punch Story:… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: How British actor Sydney Greenstreet inspired the look of the Kingpin – and Jabba the Hutt
Did you know British actor Sydney Greenstreet was the inspiration for not one but two comic villains – including the Marvel villain Kingpin, first brought to life on the page by John Romita Sr.? Some of our readers did I… Read More ›
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Frank Quitely: The Art of Comics exhibition heads to Glasgow
Heading to the Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow in April is Frank Quitely: The Art of Comics, running 1st April to 1st October 2017. The exhibition at Kelvingrove will be the largest collection of his work every displayed, offering the opportunity to… Read More ›
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So, Where else have I seen a disembodied Brain with Evil Eyes?
Watching (and enjoying) a certain TV Christmas special this weekend sent me scurrying to the web to explore other appearances of disembodied brains. Full heads in jars are pretty common of course, most notably those seen in Mike Baron and… Read More ›