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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Eagle Times Summer 2016 Issue Out Now
The latest issue of the Eagle Society’s Eagle Times is available now, featuring: The Adventures of Tintin: King Ottokar’s Sceptre – a comparison of three editions of Herge’s picture strip story: the 1947 book by Casterman of Paris, its first publication… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Comic Creator Alan Joseph Mitchell
The sudden passing of the inspiring comics creator Alan Mitchell, perhaps best known for co-writing “Third World War” with Pat Mills for Crisis, aged just 55, came as a tremendous shock to both family and friends. Although we met only a couple of… Read More ›
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Safari Festival Returns in August
Safari Festival returns to London next month (27th August). The brainchild of Breakdown Press, the event is a celebration of the new wave of alternative and art comics from the UK and beyond. The festival is an opportunity for a curated… Read More ›
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Comic Creators Metaphrog win Scottish Culture Award
Congratulations this morning to Metaphrog – the Franco-Scottish duo of John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs – who tell us they are “Completely stunned” after winning The Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards 2016 for Best Visual Artist. Metaphrog – who had… Read More ›
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Authors Rally for Tommy Donbavand with Obverse Books project
As we’ve previously reported on downthetubes, Scream Street creator, Beano writer, Doctor Who author and all round lovely guy, Tommy Donbavand, has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently recovering from a series of painful and unpleasant treatments as he… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: New Comics On Sale (w/c 4th July 2016): Cybermen and Small Press Day!
Alongside the latest issue of 2000AD – and if you’re a fan of Gerry Anderson’s UFO, you’ll love the opening episode of the new “Scarlet Traces” story – be sure to be ready to pick up the superb collection of… Read More ›
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Shrewsbury International Comic Art Festival Goes Free! (Free to enter, that is…)
The first ever Shrewsbury International Comic Art Festival, taking place 15th – 17th July, is now a free event – giving full access to an amazing guest list and exhibitors for the general public all three days. Guests lined up include creators Dan Berry,… Read More ›
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Egmont to launch Bing magazine
Egmont will launch a new children’s magazine, Bing, as a regular monthly frequency publication later this month. Regular downthetubes readers may recall the company previously published its first Bing magazine as part of their pre-school Play & Learn titles, back in 2014. Bing is a pre-school… Read More ›
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Lancaster Library Gets its Lighting Rig, thanks to Lancaster Comics Day
Lancastrians enjoyed a great night boogieing to reunited local band Mostly Hums, Sea of Rain and Frenetic at Lancaster Library on 3rd July 2016. The event raised £500 raised for Cancer Care UK and the local St John’s Hospice, and included… Read More ›
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Graphic Novel Spotlight: I Am Legion by Fabien Nury and John Cassaday, re-released today
World War Two is a popular setting for comics, whether grounded in fantasy or reality, but is often quite a challenge to find the correct tone and balance when attempting the former. Originally published from 2004 to 2007 in French… Read More ›
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Leam Comic Con Backs Small Press Day With Special Competition and Prizes
Leamington’s award-winning comic convention – Leam Comic Con – is offering independent comic creators the chance to raise their profile and win a table at their 2017 event, and promotional support. Launching on Small Press Day 2016 this coming weekend (9th… Read More ›
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A Massive Awesome Comics Podcast Catch Up!
What with holidays and a mass of other stuff (yes, the work that pays the bills), I’ve gotten behind on coverage of what’s been on the small press-devoted Awesome Comics Podcast, although I did congratulate Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and Tony… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Comics Grid’s Next Special Issue will be dedicated to David Bowie
“You must draw David Bowie. Find David Bowie, or I’ll send you David Bowie. Because if it isn’t David Bowie, you’re going to have to re-do it until it is David Bowie.” – Kelley Jones, quoting Neil Gaiman, Hanging Out… Read More ›
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All Aboard for The Beano! Free DFDS Giveaway comic released
A special DFDS Seaways Beano is now available free on board DFDS ships. Ace writer Nigel Auchterlounie tells us he wrote the scripts the Dennis and Gnasher, Billy Whizz, Gnasher and Gnipper, Minnie the Minx,Calamity James, Bash Street Kids, Numskulls,… Read More ›
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Look Familiar? Fun Doctor Who variant cover homages Fantastic Four
After we posted Andrew Pepoy and Jason Millet‘s marvellous (sorry, couldn’t resist that!) Doctor Who Comics Day Doctor Who: Fourth Doctor #4 variant yesterday, numerous comics fans noted it’s a homage to a classic Fantastic Four cover (#49) credited to… Read More ›
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Titan Comics Full Doctor Who Comic Day 2016 Plans, Variant Covers Revealed
Now in its third year, Doctor Who Comics Day, – back next Saturday, 9th July 2016 – is set to be bigger and better than ever with the launch of a new crossover event comic – Doctor Who: Supremacy of… Read More ›
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Markings: A New Comics event from the University of the Arts London and House of Illustration
You can register now for free to attend Markings, a new Illustration and Performance Festival convened by Roger Sabin, with Pascal Lefevre as the keynote speaker. Taking place Friday 8th – 9th July 2016, Markings consists of a symposium… Read More ›
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Fancy a Day Out In Leighton Buzzard involving Railways and Superheroes?
How many superheroes can you fit on a train? On 23rd – 24th July a group of comics fans are running this event in the new community rooms at the Pages Park Station of the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway in… Read More ›
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“Charley’s War” co-creator Pat Mills condemns World War One apologists
Pat Mills, who co-created the seminal World War One-centred comic strip “Charley’s War” with artist Joe Colquhoun, has thanked fans still finding the strip first published in Battle, starting in 1979, in its collections – but has savaged those in… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: News Comics On Sale (w/c 27th June 2016): Mark Millar’s Jupiter’s Legacy Returns!
In terms of “event” comics out this week by British creators, the return of Jupiter’s Legacy by Mark Millar, published by Image, will be welcome news for many and comes in a variety of variant covers – including a smashing one… Read More ›