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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Something For the Weekend: Tank Girl Back, Debbie Drake of the SAS Debuts! (New Comics w/c 16/5/16)
Fresh off the back of their latest calamitous chapter comes a shiny new Tank Girl tale from Titan Comics this week, the work of series creator Alan Martin and artist extraordinaire, Brett Parson. Expect a healthy dose of delirium and plenty… Read More ›
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Convict Commandos battle Polar Bears! What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4915-4918) from DC Thomson, on sale now in all good newsagents and assorted digital platforms (detailed below) – and good news, the Convict Commandos are back, battling both polar bears and the… Read More ›
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Third Doctor Returns to comics in all-new Doctor Who story from Paul Cornell
BBC Worldwide North America and Titan Comics have announced the return of the Third Doctor this August, in comics! This brand-new five-part comic series, written by Paul Cornell (Doctor Who, Wolverine, Action Comics, The Severed Streets), stars the Third Doctor, as… Read More ›
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Looking Forward, Looking Back: ICv2 Interviews Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson on the Comics Business Past and Present
ICv2 – a web site geared more toward the business side of comic retailing – recently caught up with Dark Horse Comics founder and CEO Mike Richardson to get his reflections on 30 years in the comics industry. In Part… Read More ›
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2000AD Action Heroines Colouring Book Out Now
The 2000AD Action Heroines Colouring Book is now on sale, featuring the best female characters from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, featuring cover design artwork by Brett Ewins. It includes art by Massimo Belardinelli, Brian Bolland, Jason Brashill, Andy Clarke, Eoin Coveney, INJ Culbard,… Read More ›
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New puzzles celebrate 50 years of Star Trek, art book also on way from Titan Books
Jumbo Games, Britain’s leading manufacturer of adult puzzles, is producing a range of Star Trek jigsaw puzzles set to launch in in September, in time for the 50th Anniversary of the franchise. The puzzle range will include a 1,000- and… Read More ›
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Vice Press releases awesome Judge Dredd Block War screen print by Matt Ferguson
Vice Press, under license from Rebellion, has announced the next releases in their officially licensed line of limited edition 2000AD art prints. The new release is inspired by a classic “Judge Dredd” story, and has been lovingly produced by Vice… Read More ›
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Back for Second Helpings: Lancaster Comics Day Returns on Sunday 5th June
The second Lancaster Comics Day, organised by The Friends of Lancaster Library, will take place on Sunday 5th June 2016 in Lancaster’s Main Library. Drawing largely on local talent, the event will be celebrating a landmark for Doctor Who comics with several creators… Read More ›
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Mezolith Volume Two Cover Revealed
The cover for Mezolith Book Two, the long-awaited continuation of the much-praised, award-winning graphic adventure created by performance storyteller Ben Haggarty and storyboard artist Adam Brockbank. First published in The DFC comic, Mezolith got its US publication through Boom! Studios imprint Archaia with the… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Magazine Covers: Readers Top 50 Revealed
In the run-up to publication of the landmark Doctor Who Magazine Issue 500 (which is out next week and is a real bumper issue), the current editorial team are asking you to vote for your favourite DWM covers. With a… Read More ›
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First it was TV, then books – now, the Meerkats Take Over Comics!
Not content with making some episodes of Coronation Street more interesting than the soap itself, and appearances in a Batman Versus Superman-inspired ad campaign here in the UK, the CompareTheMarket Meerkats now have their own superhero (or should that be… Read More ›
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Rare Eagle, Beano and Commando comics on offer in latest ComPalComics auction
ComPalComics, the British comics auction house, has just launched its May/June catalogue, and there are some great items in it, including early, rare issues of DC Thomson’s Commando – including Issue One – Dan Dare comic art (and a ray gun!)… Read More ›
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New Tabletop Game Armoured Syndicate Gets Its Own Comic
Games company Megaton has just released the first page of a 10-page comic via Facebook to promote their forthcoming tabletop game, Armoured Syndicate, which will then run on the company web site (www.armouredsyndicate.com) Armoured Syndicate, created by Ben Jarvis, is… Read More ›
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New Cartoon Network Figures on their way from Titan Merchandise
Titan Merchandise has revealed to fans a first look at its new minifigures from its Cartoon Network TITANS: The Cartoon Network Collection, which includes Johnny Bravo, Rigby, Finn, Deedee, Dexter and Samurai Jack and more. 12 characters are included in… Read More ›
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Orbital Comics Hosts “Comics in the Kitchen” Exhibition in June
Comics. Food. Artists. Recipes. For Orbital Comics next thematic exhibition, the brilliant London comic store has gathered a bunch of food-loving cartoonists and illustrators and asked them what they really enjoy cooking these days. Their answers will be up on the… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Darwyn Cooke
I was very sad to learn yesterday of the sudden passing of the extraordinary Canadian comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator Darwyn Cooke, whose death to cancer was announced by his family this weekend. He was just 53. This short statement,… Read More ›
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Something For the Weekend: Penny Dreadful Monsters, Oh My! (New Comics w/c 9/5/16)
Alongside promoting this week’s 2000AD – and do check out Prog 1980, because there’s some great revelations, and it’s worth the cover price alone for the stunning art from Neil Googe on “Survival Geeks”, written by Gordon Rennie and Emma… Read More ›
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Shweta Taneja and Jason Quinn Talk Indian Comics at London’s Cartoon Museum
Shweta Taneja will be talking to Jason Quinn on the new wave in Indian comics and graphic novels, the industry, the readership surrounding it and her experience at the heart of it all, at London’s Cartoon Museum on Friday 27th May 2016. Shweta Taneja is… Read More ›
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Woodrow Phoenix at London Cartoon Museum Tonight
Woodrow Phoenix will be dropping in at London’s Cartoon Museum tonight (Thursday 12th May 2016) to talk about his giant graphic novel, She Lives, Dr Monica Walker will be giving spotlight talks on highlights from the Museum’s collection and co-curator Dr Paul Williams will be discussing… Read More ›
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Britain’s New Statesman magazine looking for a new cartoonist
Britain’s New Statesman – a political and cultural magazine founded in 1913 – has issued an an open call for submissions for the NS back page cartoon. Here’s the full details from their site: The back page of the New Statesman has a… Read More ›