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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Cardiff Independent Comic Expo headlines with artist John Higgins, again promotes indie comic creators
Cardiff’s independent comic show – the Cardiff Independent Comic Expo (CICE) – returns this weekend, on Saturday 25th June, 2016 at Cardiff Masonic Hall. The event will showcase the very best in independent comic artists, writers, publishers, retailers, illustrators, craftspeople and more,… Read More ›
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Dave McKean Talk at London’s House of Illustration
Join legendary illustrator, filmmaker and musician David McKean as he talks to the Observer’s Rachel Cooke and Imperial War Museum curator Richard Slocombe about his astonishing new graphic novel and performance, Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash at London’s… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: “Red Range” by Joe R. Lansdale & Sam Glanzman
If you haven’t already, then please do check out Drew Ford‘s to get the positively stunning Western comic Red Range by Joe R. Lansdale (By Bizarre Hands) and by Sam Glanzman (A Sailor’s Story) back into print. Combining an unusual… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: For the Love of God, Marie! by Jade Sarson
We don’t normally post the entire cover of a book here on downthetubes, but Jade Sarson‘s For the Love of God, Marie! – out from Myriad in July – is just so darn gorgeous, how could we not? Sex, religion, gender,… Read More ›
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New documentary set to put Soviet “Soyuzmultfilm” in the spotlight, team calls out to those who worked in it
London-based Bill Melendez Productions are currently in pre-production on a feature length documentary exploring animation for children and families in the USSR, in part, focusing on the studio Soyuzmultfilm, and the women in Soviet animation: from Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya, co-director of the… Read More ›
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More British Creators Announced for Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October
Just ahead of tickets going on sale on Friday 1st July, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced the upcoming appearances by a number of top British comic creators, all looking forward to a weekend of comics fun 14th – 16th October… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: New Comics On Sale (w/c 13th June 2016) – Mix With Some Bad Company!
Along with your usual fine mix of new comics on both sides of the Atlantic, how could we not direct you to the new Bad Company: First Casualties collection? It’s been a decade since the vicious war with the Krool… Read More ›
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Alien Air Aces in Commando? The Truth is Out at Your Newsagent!
Here’s the inside intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando – Issues 4923-4926 – on sale now in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. They’re a great mixed bag of tales this week, with even a… Read More ›
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Lancaster Comics Day 2017 Date Announced
The Friends of Lancaster Library have announced Lancaster Comics Day will return for a third year on Sunday 11th June 2017. Post the date in your diary now! Lancaster Comics Day 2016 raised over £600 for Library funds, which will be used to… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Comics Letterer and Designer Derek Pierson
We’re sorry to report the passing of Derek Pierson, who once self deprecatingly described his comics career as “from Hulton’s to IPC Magazines with Fleetway, taking a chunk of the middle”. Aged 77, he had been ill for some time. A… Read More ›
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VATMOSS Tax Problems will continue for indie comic creators, in or out of the EU
Anyone remember the VATMOSS debacle which is still costing small business time and money – including comic creators selling digital editions? The debacle that put some small electronic publishers out of business? We reported on it here last year –… Read More ›
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Jack Kirby Thor Comic Cover Art Pops Up in British Toy Figure Auction Catalogue
Nestling in an auction from Charterhouse Auctioneers, due to take place on Friday 24th June 2016, is the cover to an early issue of Marvel’s Thor, drawn by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta. The original artwork for the cover of The Mighty… Read More ›
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Tiger Crab Studios launches “Nevera Tales” Kickstarter, a new British comic book
Tiger Crab Studios has just launched a Kickstarter for Nevera Tales – described as The Shawshank Redemption meets Interview with a Vampire, a fantasy horror tale of mutual survival, written by the undead – although, actually, it’s a script by Daniel… Read More ›
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WebFind: A Foreigner’s Guide to Polish Comics
While the Polish comics industry may not be as internationally recognised as that of the US or the Francophone countries, it certainly has its own share of writers and artists creating world-class comics. From the most famous albums and books… Read More ›
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Writer Maureen Hartley reveals the Inside Story on Writing for DC Thomson’s Girls’ Comics
Over on the brilliant Girls Comics of Yesterday site, dedicated to girls comics published by DC Thomson, Maureen Hartley has written a fascinating piece about her experiences writing picture stories and working for the company. She first started writing picture script… Read More ›
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Something For the Weekend: Sherlock Shenanigians and Wonder Woman Reborn (New Comics w/c 6/6/16)
DC Comics “Rebirth” project continues this week, with two of the creators I had the pleasure of working with back in my Marvel UK days working on separate books. Aquaman #1 is written by Dan Abnett (with art by Oscar… Read More ›
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Batman: The Killing Joke to get limited US theatrical release
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Fathom Events are working together to give Batman: The Killing Joke a special, one-night big screen release on Monday 25th July in select cinemas across the US shortly after its world premiere as part of… Read More ›
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Doctor Who’s (brief) cameo in new LEGO Dimensions game trailer
Doctor Who‘s the Twelfth Doctor makes a quick appearance in the latest E3 trailer for the latest expansion of the LEGO Dimensions game, which introduces a host of new characters. The expansion of LEGO Dimensions , the LEGO toy and videogame… Read More ›
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London’s Cartoon Museum Gets Set for a Summer Makeover
Nothing is more boring than going to a gallery and seeing the same pieces over and over again. After a while, it’s time to shake it up, and that’s exactly what they’re doing at London’s Cartoon Museum. At the end… Read More ›
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NBM Publishing Announces February 2017 Release Date for Paco Roca’s new book, “The Lighthouse”
NBM Publishing’s upcoming releases of its new graphic novels include The Lighthouse by Paco Roca, one of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival‘s guests in October. Paco Roca is a Spanish artist best known for his graphic novel Wrinkles (reviewed… Read More ›