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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Shelly Bond To Launch Creator-Owned Imprint At IDW Publishing
US publisher IDW Publishing has announced the arrival of Shelly Bond to its editorial ranks and the launch of its creator-owned imprint, Black Crown. One of the most respected and admired editors among her peers, Bond previously served as VP-Executive Editor of… Read More ›
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Freeway Fighter #1 signing at Forbidden Planet London in May, Jim Burns, “Fan Appreciation” variant covers revealed
Join an all-star Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks line-up at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore, launching Titan Comics’ Ian Livingstone’s Freeway Fighter: The Comic on Saturday 20th May 2017 from 1.00 – 2.00pm. At the special signing will be Gamesmaster Ian Livingstone,… Read More ›
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Wonder Woman artist Liam Sharp gets home city exhibition in Derby
Current Wonder Woman artist Liam Sharp is to be honoured in his home city of Derby with a special exhibition documenting his comics career later this year. Currently living and working in California, Derby-born writer and artist Liam Sharp is… Read More ›
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Watch: Kicking it Old School – Talking British Comics at 2000AD’s 40 Years of Thrill-Power Festival
2000AD has posted a video of the panel called “Kicking it Old School” from last month’s 40 Years of Thrill-Power Festival (our feature on the event is here). Chaired by myself, the panel featured John Higgins, Ian Kennedy and Jesus… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Sink Your Teeth into Comic Book Slumber Party’s new title, Deep Space Canine
Available to order now from Avery Hill Publishing is the British Comic Award nominated series, Deep Space Canine, produced in partnership with comics powerhouse Comic Book Slumber Party. Life in space can be tough – and when you’re balancing a hydro-herb habit, mysterious… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Catch-Up! Listen to interviews with Jay Gunn, Susie Gander and more!
OK, I admit it – I’m well behind on the terrific Awesome Comics Podcast now. Again. So behind, key contributor and fellow DTT contributor Tony Esmond has threatened to get his cane out, and I’m not chancing that. So without further ado,… Read More ›
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Lancaster Comics Day 2017: Full Line Up Announced (it will be more than a Roy of the Rovers moment!)
This year’s Lancaster Comics Day will be bringing some “Roy of the Rovers” moments to Lancaster in June, when special comic guests artist David Sque and writer and editor Barrie Tomlinson recall their time working on Britain’s best-loved and most… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures offers a Mutants Meets Harry Potter Mash-Up
The latest issue of Doctor Who Adventures (Issue 22) is on sale now, with strip writer Andrew Cartmel delivering a story poking affectionate fun at Marvel’s mutants, Harry Potter and, possibly, Bunty’s “The Four Marys” for good measure. A talking… Read More ›
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5000 Not Out: DC Thomson’s Commando comic celebrates a landmark issue next week
DC Thomson’s Commando comic celebrates its 5000th issue next week with an all-new story from writer Ferg Handley with strip art from long-standing artist on the title, Carlos Pino and – who else? – a cover from Ian Kennedy, whose memorable… Read More ›
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Comic Strip Revolution exhibition opens soon in Belgium
A “Comic Strip Revolution” exhibition at La Boverie, Liege, Belgium will present art from two game-changing French bande dessinée magazines, Métal Hurlant and (A SUIVRE) from 17th March to 11th June 2017. Showing more than 300 original drawings from French, Belgian,… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival celebrates Will Eisner with competition, comic and exclusive exhibition
Recognising the work of ground-breaking American comic creator Will Eisner, creator of “The Spirit”, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival is pleased to announce not one but three celebratory projects to mark his incredible contribution to the development of the comics form – a competition… Read More ›
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Faceache, Ken Reid’s best-loved comic character and Leopard of Lime Street returns in new Rebellion collections
Rebellion, publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, have announced full details of their first new collections featuring all-time classics of British comics from the 1970s and ‘80s. And what a terrific selection from their recently-expanded cache of characters it… Read More ›
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Vaughn Bode’s Cobalt 60 returns in New Augmented Reality Graphic Novel by his son
Heavy Metal and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artist Mark Bodé is to launch a new graphic novel, based on one of his father Vaughn Bodé’s earliest works – the ground-breaking Cobalt 60. In the late 1960s, Vaughn Bodé was one of… Read More ›
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Britain’s second city set to go comics crazy in June as Birmingham Comics Festival returns for third year
The Birmingham Comics Festival will be celebrating its third consecutive year of activity across the second city this June, with a weekend-long convention the culmination of a month of planned events. A city-wide series of comics-related events, large and small,… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor #10
DOCTOR WHO: NINTH DOCTOR #10 Writer: Cavan Scott Artist: Adriana Melo Publisher: Titan Comics FC – 32pp – $3.99 – On sale: 1st March 2017 in all good comic shops and various digital platforms The Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Jack… Read More ›
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Nick Abadzis talks Doctor Who for latest Panel to Panel podcast
Episode 72 of of Jeremy Bement‘s Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is up and features an interview with writer-artist Nick Abadzis. Nick, whose many credits also include Laika and Cora’s Breakfast, has been writing the adventures of the Tenth Doctor since… Read More ›
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Hidden Nazis, Deadly Secrets Uncovered – in the new Commando comics
Here’s the latest intel on the new DC Thomson Commando releases (Issues 4995 – 4998), on sale now in all good newsagents and available on various digital platforms… Commando 4995 – The Village Story: Ferg Handley Art: Vicente Alcazar Cover:… Read More ›
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Beyond 2000AD Celebration Signings Continue This Weekend across the UK
2000AD continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary this weekend with a number of special signings by some of its top talents this weekend in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester – and these are just the first of many through the year. All… Read More ›
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Comics’ Sweeping Graphic Novel Prince Valiant Turns 80
While we’ve been celebrating the 40th anniversary of British comic 2000AD a lot in recent days, another comic – well, comic strip – marked its 80th anniversary earlier this month and we couldn’t let it pass by given the lasting impact… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, 2000AD (your “Official” birthday, that is)
Happy Birthday 2000AD! Or, rather, Happy Birthday, Judge Dredd…