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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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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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 ›
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New Doctor Who adventures and more in latest free Cosmic Masque digizine
Hot on the heels of the release of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society’s free to view Celestial Toyroom 2017 Annual, they’ve just published Cosmic Masque III – 96 pages of magazine all about being a fan of the long-running SF TV… Read More ›
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In Review: The Dan Dare Audio Adventures – Marooned on Mercury
A B7 Production in association with Big Finish Distributed by Big Finish Directed By: Andrew Mark Sewell • Listen to the trailer Main Cast: Ed Stoppard (Dan Dare), Geoff McGivern (Digby), Heida Reed (Professor Peabody), Michael Cochrane (Sir Hubert Guest), Raad Rawi… Read More ›
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The Phoenix Comic celebrates Christmas 2016
Christmas came early for subscribers to the weekly The Phoenix comic, with a smashing issue wrapped in a cover by top artist Jamie Smart, who says he was “very honoured” to do this special issue. Also now available from select… Read More ›
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DMZ writer Brian Wood to pen Titan’s new Robotech Comic
Titan Comics have announced that New York Times best-selling writer Brian Wood (DMZ, Briggs Land, Northlanders) will helm the brand-new Robotech comic series from Titan Comics, set to launch in 2017 – based on the legendary 1980s animation by Harmony… Read More ›
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“Mr. Testy” book debuts from comics creator Paul Eldridge
Satirising a line of famous children’s books Paul Eldridge‘s Mr. Testy is the kind of project that might strike a chord with fans of VIZ, or Keith Lemon. An illustrated book rather than comic from this independent British comic creator… Read More ›
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2000AD Free Comic Book Day details revealed
2000AD, the galaxy’s greatest Eisner-nominated SF anthology returns to Free Comic Book Day in 2017, with a 32-page, 40th anniversary special. In the free giveaway – one of many comic shop customers will be able to pick up from their… Read More ›
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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 ›
