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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“Charley’s War” and “Timeslip” art, rare Beanos included in May ComPal British comics auction
The latest ComPal auction run by Comic Book Auctions Ltd is now live offering a wide selection of comic items – both British and US. As usual, our focus is on the British section, which includes some great art offerings… Read More ›
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2000AD Prog 2030: Dark Judges, Martians and Much More!
2000AD Prog 2030 is on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops across the UK from tomorrow (Wednesday 10th May 2017). Here’s a quick taster of the issue. It’s another smasher – although, to be frank, we’re still reeling… Read More ›
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Work in Progress – London Comics Gathering This Saturday
This Saturday sees a day-long gathering of W.I.P. Comics (aka Work In Progress Comics) at London’s Royal Festival Hall, a gathering of comic creators that aims to offer collaborative feedback on each other’s work. Originally known as Graphic Novels and… Read More ›
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Karl Kersch Robotech Covers Revealed
Robotech – the iconic 1980s Sci-Fi anime – returns to comics in July from Titan Comics with a set of special covers by Karl Kerschl – superstar artist of Gotham Academy and Isola. These five stunning Robotech character spotlight covers are available across… Read More ›
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ICE grips Brighton in June! (No, it’s not a weather report)
Some of the biggest stars from the world of comic art are coming to Brighton this June as part of ICE Brighton 2017 – an international celebration of the medium organised by Smallzone Events. As the summer sun beats down, a cool… Read More ›
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On Sale This Week: Ian Livingstone’s Freeway Fighter #1 (Sneak Peek)
Out this week from Titan Comics is the hotly-anticipated Ian Livingstone’s Freeway Fighter, written by Andi Ewington with art by Simon Coleby. Inspired by the classic Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, if you’re a Mad Max fan then this book will surely resonate with you…. Read More ›
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Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with 2000AD, Doctor Who and more
Today is Free Comic Book Day, an industry-led annual promotion to encourage you to visit your local comic shop. Not only to pick up free comics, but to hopefully buy some from that shop too – and generally have fun… Read More ›
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Blazing Battle Action – the story of one of Britain’s best-loved war comics recounted
In 2003, David Bishop, co-author of the newly-updated Thrill-Power Overload (and more) wrote a behind the scenes account of how trail-blazing British war comic Battle was created and nurtured, as told by those who were there. Commissioned for the Judge Dredd Megazine… Read More ›
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Sector 13, new 2000AD fanzine launches
This Saturday Sector House 13 – The Pit Crew, a Belfast based 2000AD fan group will be debuting their fanzine, Sector 13 at the Enniskillen Comics Festival. The 24 page A4 zine, which will be on sale for £3 ,… Read More ›
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Production is Underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Super Hero Action Adventure “Aquaman”
Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure Aquaman, helmed by James Wan (The Conjuring films, Furious 7). Jason Momoa stars in the title role, returning to the character he plays in this autumn’s Justice League. The film also… Read More ›
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2000AD’s Rogue Trooper revealed for “Rogue Trooper Redux” Game
Rebellion has released just released a new video revealing the look to Rogue Trooper in their upcoming game Rogue Trooper Redux, an updating of their acclaimed game. Fronted by Michael Molcher (aka “The Man with the Terrifying ‘Tache”), the video… Read More ›
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“What if I’m not a comic?” – A Review of “The Human Beings” Issue One
By Stuart (SJ) McCune Published by Millicent Barnes Comics This is fully intended to be a non traditional review, since The Human Beings is a book that does not adhere to a world of cliche or even what goes on… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2017 Comics Clock Tower Line Up Revealed
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the comic creators who will have a presence in their free-to-enter Comics Clock Tower venue in Kendal Town Hall in October. The creators were chosen after hundreds of applications were sifted through… Read More ›
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Time Travel, Tiger Tanks – and a Traitor in the ranks? New Commando comics on sale now
Here’s the inside intel on DC Thomson’s latest issues of Commando (Issues 5015-5018), on sale from today in all good newsagents and various digital platforms. This week’s bundle of Commandos will take you across the battlefields and skies of World… Read More ›
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Kate Evans next guest speaker for London’s Laydeez Do Comics next week
Graphic novelist, cartoonist and activist Kate Evans and Gemma Seltzer, Relationship Manager at Arts Council England, are the speakers at the next Laydeez Do Comics event in London next week. Kate’s book Red Rosa, the graphic biography of Rosa Luxemburg,… Read More ›
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Brits among the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominees
The nominees for the 2017 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been announced and among the names are some British creators, including three for artist Sean Phillips. Once again, this year’s nominees reflect the wide range of material being published… Read More ›
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A feast of 2000AD goodies this week – and a Free Comic Book Day special on its way, too!
Run, do not walk, to your nearest purveyor of Thrills and pick up 2000AD Prog 2029 – the latest edition of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! There’s a lot of other great titles out from Rebellion this week, too, but here’s… Read More ›
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Comic Connections: New Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds figures on way from BIG Chief Studios
Coming soon from replica figure makers BIG Chief Studios is a range of high-end collectables based on the classic series Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and other series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson… and the box art they’ve created has several comic… Read More ›
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Andy Luke’s new comic “We Shall Not Be Stapled” launches this week in Belfast
We Shall Not Be Stapled , a new anthology, will get a lunchtime launch at Comic Book Guys in The Spires Shopping Centre, Belfast tomorrow – Wednesday 3rd May, 1 – 2.00pm. Copies will also be available at the Enniskillen Comic… Read More ›
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Melinda Gebbie, Tom Richmond and more join Lakes International Comic Art Festival Line-Up
Tickets for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival are on sale now – and the guest list is attracting plenty of attention from fans across the UK – and abroad. This year, the Lakes Festival is moving to a pass system for the… Read More ›