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.
-
One Plastic Carrier Bag, One Careful Star Wars Owner – A Snip at 240 Pounds!
How many of us have had a grumble at the new 5p carrier bag charge – and that’s for a cheap one? Well, on Wednesday 29th November a vintage carrier bag from the once Palitoy Staff Shop in Coalville went… Read More ›
-
Splendid! Professor Elemental Has A New Home for his Steampunk-inpsired Comics
Chris Mole, official biographer to Professor Elemental and the organisational mastermind behind his comic misadventures, has just launched Splendid Comics and an associated a Patreon page, hoping to secure fan back for further stories. If you haven’t encountered the Professor before then… Read More ›
-
Judge Dredd unofficial animated short film poster by Alex Ronald revealed
Well, here’s an interesting item that just popped onto my feeds – the latest developments for a short, not for profit Judge Dredd animated film, DREDD, that’s had quite a long gestation process. The poster above is by top comic artist Alex… Read More ›
-
In Praise Of… Artist John Watkiss
“Painting and art for me is a means of showing the world a vision which I have seen with my mind not with my eyes – which I use merely as a means of perception. I call this ‘Mindsight’. –… Read More ›
-
Spies, Secrets and Spitfires! It’s all happening in the new Commando comics
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando (Issues 4975 – 4978), on sale Thursday 15th December 2016 from all good newsagents and available on various digital platforms. NEW Commando 4975 – Flying Blind Story: Alan… Read More ›
-
Embassy of Japan’s “Manga Jiman” 2016 Competition Winners Revealed
The winning entries for this year’s Manga Jiman and Yonkoma Manga competitions, run by the Embassy of Japan in London have just been announced. The winers of the competition, now in its tenth year, are listed below. The position of each… Read More ›
-
Creating Comics: a 2000AD Podcast with comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson
“It’s real Roy of the Rovers stuff!” has been a cry of football commentators for decades – and the latest episode of the award-winning 2000AD podcast features an interview with author, comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson, the man who helped… Read More ›
-
Fund Raising Online Art Auction for Lakes International Comic Art Festival Raises £2500
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce its an online fund-raising art auction raised £2500 toward future projects and events in 2017, including its weekend-long Festival (13th – 15th October) which includes a rare UK appearance by MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, who will be presenting the… Read More ›
-
Alex Paknadel to introduce new Doctor Who companion Bill to comics
The Free Comic Book Day 2017 Gold Titles have been revealed, and include a fantastic new Doctor Who comic from Titan Comics, featuring a new cover by Will Brooks, written by Alex Paknadel with art from Mariano Laclaustra. The free… Read More ›
-
Thought Bubble Festival move to September for annual comics gathering confirmed
The Thought Bubble Festival team have confirmed that, as rumoured among British comic fans for some time, next year’s week-long event will take place in September 2017 – and announced their first guest. “We’d like to say another massive thank you… Read More ›
-
Something For the Weekend: Christmas Dredd, but Hook Jaw Delayed! New Comics On Sale (w/c 12th December 2016)
How can we not lead our regular British creator and publisher-skewed new comics line-up without a heads up, once again, for the 2000AD Christmas Special? Colin Noble has already sang the Prog’s praises, but you’d have to be totally thrill-sucked… Read More ›
-
Comics Retailer Spotlight: A Big Hand For Market Place News, Garstang
We’ve sung the praises of many comic shops on downthetubes over the years, as well as slinging the occasional brickbat (more often than not, at a multiple like WHSmith, whose ideas for comic display have often left us gobsmacked). But… Read More ›
-
2000AD at 40: The Countdown continues with Chris Weston
Top 2000AD artist Chris Weston (who’s just one of many top talents in this year’s special Christmas Prog) has just posted this stunning promotional image for the 2000AD: 40 Years Of Thrill Power Festival. Taking place in London in February,… Read More ›
-
Beano Top Trumps Released, joins massive line of new merchandise in time for Christmas
Beano Studios, the business behind the relaunch of the Beano comic as a global kids’ entertainment network, has launched an awesome new range of products featuring refreshed Beano designs, just in time for Christmas, including a newly-launched Beano Top Trumps game…. Read More ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
“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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›