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: Doctor Who: The Highgate Horror
Doctor Who: The Highgate Horror is the latest collection of Twelfth Doctor strips from the pages of Panini’s Doctor Who Magazine, wrapped in a smashing cover by David A. Roach. The strips in this collection are: “Space Invaders!” First published… Read More ›
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Dan Dare heads into the Vortex as new Audio Adventures released
Dan Dare Audio Adventures stars Ed Stoppard, Geoff McGivern, Heida Reed and Raad Rawi are the cover stars of the new issue of Vortex (Issue 94) from distributors Big Finish. With Volume One of B7 Media‘s audio revival of the pilot of the future… Read More ›
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“Do Something” anthology launched in aid of Hope Not Hate
Launched at the weekend in Leicester, Do Something is a zine of powerful, thought-provoking short stories, illustrations, strips and poetry that came about as a result of the EU Referendum and the rise in hate crime that followed. Published by… Read More ›
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It’s a Christmas Cracker! The Christmas Beano is On Sale Now
The Christmas Beano (Issue 3864) is on sale now in all good newsagents – and what a whopper of comic it is, too. Yes – it’s the issue where it’s Christmas all the way through and this week’s issue comes… Read More ›
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From 1940s Hollywood occult to kicking Tolkien – 2000AD’s Christmas special is out next week!
Once upon a time, 2000AD annuals would languish beneath the Christmas tree until the big day, creating an agonising delay before readers could tuck into the Thrill-powered delights inside… But these days, publishers Rebellion don’t force readers to wait until 25th December… Read More ›
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Step aside WWE, here’s Johnny (Cougar, that is)! But could this comics hero make a comeback today?
Long before WWE in its present form and ITV’s Gladiators there was a wrestling star that outfought all his opponents – Johnny Cougar, a Canadian Seminole mat fighter, co-star of the long-running weekly comic Tiger alongside the likes of “Roy of… Read More ›
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Comic Creators “Draw The Line”, taking protest to the page
A new group of comic creators from across the globe has just launched, assembled as ‘Draw the Line: Concrete Political Actions Comics‘. The creators involved hope to focus protest at recent political developments into positive action for alternatives. Upset since Donald… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: Judge Dredd! Aliens! Assassin’s Creed! New Comics On Sale (w/c 5th December 2016)
Here’s this week’s round up of new comics in British newsagents and comic shops skewed, as ever to highlighting British creators and publishers. 2000AD steps neatly back to its early “Judge Dredd” tales this week with “In Denial” from Michael… Read More ›
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Dabel Brothers announces “Mr. Bean” comic, will debut in 2017
Atlanta-based Dabel Brothers Publishing is to publish a new Mr Bean comic, set to launch in Spring 2017. Featuring Rowan Atkinson’s Mr Bean – already a comics character thanks to the animated show in print with titles such as Mr Bean’s… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 75: A Guide to Printing Your Comics
This week, the Awesome Comics Podcast crew tackle something that every small press or indie comics creator has to deal with at some point – printing! Joined by one of the best indie printers in the biz, Rich Hardiman from… Read More ›
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Bid to become a Beano character – and support the NSPCC
Could you (or your child) be the next Dennis the Menace or Minnie the Minx – and support the NSPCC? Beano Studios is offering the comic’s thousands of fans a once in a lifetime opportunity to star in the world’s… Read More ›
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Creators at 2000AD Forty Years of Thrills Festival revealed!
Rebellion has revealed the massive creator line up for its 2000AD Forty Years of Thrills Festival, a one day event taking place Saturday 11th February 2017, just outside London. Marking 40 years and over 2000 issues of thrill power, the… Read More ›
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Quentin Blake’s Roald Dahl “Portrait” Exhibition opens at British Library, Harry Potter news
Marking the phizz-whizzing anniversary of Ronald Dahl’s birth earlier this year, artist Sir Quentin Blake has drawn special portraits of some of the author’s most celebrated characters from Dahl’s stories, now on display at the British Library. Find out which… Read More ›
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New Issue of “The Pull List” probes future of digital comics with Aces Weekly’s David Lloyd
The latest issue of Pipedream Comics‘ indie digital comics fanzine The Pull List is set to be released today, Thursday 1st December 2016. “This issue, we look at the Future of Digital Comics with Aces Weekly’s David Lloyd, Expanded Comics’… Read More ›
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Al Ewing’s U.S. Avengers #1 storms into UK in January with Captain Britain cover
Al Ewing will be signing the first issue of U.S. Avengers #1 at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on 4th January 2017 at 6.00pm – the day of the new Marvel title’s release worldwide. In a world beset by danger,… Read More ›
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Will You Be Joining Commando comic’s Press Gang?
Here’s the latest Commando release information from DC Thomson for Issues 4971 – 4974, going on sale Thursday 1st December 2016. It’s of course entirely coincidental one edition out this week is titled “Press Gang”, just as DC Thomson issues… Read More ›
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Frank Hampson’s Ladybird Books art for sale
Following up on our item on Ladybird Books exhibitions, Peter Hampson – son of Dan Dare co-creator and Ladybird Books artist Frank Hampson – has let us know he’s added a number of items from the books he illustrated to… Read More ›
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MASK (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) Returns Today!
M.A.S.K. is back thanks to IDW, written by Brandon Easton, with art by Tony Vargas and cover artist Tommy Lee Edwards Launching from the events of IDW’s REVOLUTION! five-issue mini series, which concludes this week, the M.A.S.K. team streaks into a dangerous, unstable… Read More ›
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Roy of the Rovers: A Collector’s Guide
The recent release of longtime comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson‘s book Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff (Barrie himself talks about that project here, and Ian Wheeler’s review is here) made us wonder what other Roy of the Rovers books… Read More ›
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“Beau Peep” blows his last post at the Daily Star, nearly 40 years after first appearance
Veteran strip writer Roger Kettle has announced the sad news that the Daily Star has made dropped its longest-running comic strip, Beau Peep, which had been running in the newspaper since the first issue in 1978. Beau Peep will end sometime… Read More ›