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.
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
“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 ›
-
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 ›
-
Sneak Peek: Doctor Who: Supremacy of the Cybermen #1, Out Next Week
Next Wednesday 6th July sees the release of Titan Comics‘ hotly anticipated special Doctor Who crossover event comic starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors, pitting them against the Cybermen. Written by Cavan Scott (Ninth Doctor, Vikings) and George… Read More ›
-
Battle of the Somme marked in new Commando comic
The latest editions of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4927-4930), on sale now in all good newsagents, include an issue marking the Battle of the Somme, which started one hundred years ago today and is being marked up and down the… Read More ›
-
Doctor Who artist Rachael Smith launches new Patreon campaign
Rachael Smith, artist behind The Rabbit, Artificial Flowers and the humour comics in Titan Comics’ Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor comic series, has just launched a Patreon campaign which will hopefully enable her to continue with her webcomic, Bess. Hebden Bridge-based Rachael’s debut graphic novel House… Read More ›
-
Future Launches “Your Comic Heroes” magazine alongside two other new kids titles
Future – owners of SFX magazine and Comic Heroes, – has just launched three brand new magazines for kids: Your Comic Heroes, Your Gaming Heroes and Minecraft Mayhem. “With the kids sector of the newsstand enjoying strong sales, and interest in gaming and superhero content… Read More ›
-
Immediate Media launches Go Jetters Magazine, To Fans Delight
Immediate Media has just launched its BBC Go Jetters Magazine, based on the popular CBeebies show – to the obvious delight of at least one parent, who has posted this enthusiastic review over on YouTube, on SuperToysUniverse, and the Jones Family, who managed… Read More ›
-
Talking Art and Comics To Lancashire!
For those of you who missed it, you can still tune into my interview about comics on BBC Radio Lancashire, recorded yesterday at Lancaster’s Robert Gillow public house, taken over for most of the day to promote local Lancaster voices,… Read More ›
-
ComiXology announced as another major sponsor for Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced a new sponsor for 2016 in comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform. ComiXology will be supporting several activities at this year’s Festival (14th-16th October). Festivalgoers will be treated to free digital comics downloads featuring the… Read More ›
-
Sneak Peek: 100% Biodegradable #13 on sale now, features work by 2000AD’s Kek-W and more
The latest issue of digital action adventure and SF anthology 100% Biodegradable – Issue 13 – is on sale now, and features some great strips from a 2000AD droid and many other great comic creators. (I’m not counting myself as one… Read More ›
-
Bryan Talbot’s “One Bad Rat” artwork on display as part of Beatrix Potter exhibition
Kendal Museum is hosting Beatrix Potter’s Inspiring Legacy, an exhibition of artwork which inspired Beatrix Potter and artwork which has been inspired by her, while also exploring her scientific legacy as a fungi expert and sheep breeder. It includes 12… Read More ›
-
Europe Comics heads to San Diego Comic-Con, with top creators in tow
Europe Comics has announced it will be making its official San Diego Comic-Con debut with its very own booth (#1220), panels, live drawing events and signing sessions. Europe Comics began as an idea of Franco-Belgian comics agent Mediatoon Licensing. Three years… Read More ›
-
Join UNIT, thanks to Doctor Who Adventures!
The latest issue of Doctor Who Adventures is on sale now and includes a smashing romp of a strip written by Rik Hoskin in which The Doctor heads off to Paris for a spot of art appreciation – and gets drawn into his… Read More ›
-
IDW announces new Star Trek anthology title, launches in September
To celebrate 50 years of Star Trek, US publisher IDW Publishing, under license by CBS Consumer Products, will launch a new series in September which honours the legacy of the various Starfleet crews which have inhabited the Star Trek universe over… Read More ›
-
Paragon pays tribute to artist Stephen Prestwood with 64-page collection
The latest issue of top British indie comic anthology Paragon – a glorious 64-page tribute to the late artist Stephen Prestwood, who died recently – is on sale now, direct from the title’s official site. Featuring 64 pages of fantastic… Read More ›
-
UK Small Press Day Coming Soon!
Britain’s Small Press Day is back on Saturday 9th July 2016 – a celebration of self-publishing, DIY culture, and grassroots comics across the UK. An idea born on Twitter led to a series of nationwide events in a matter of weeks…. Read More ›
-
Skank Magazine’s “Scotland Yardie” Returns in an all-new graphic novel
Out in August from Knockabout is a full length graphic novel, Scotland Yardie, by Bobby Joseph with art by Joseph Samuels, featuring the character who sprang to fame (or should that be infamy?) in the pages of the 1990s indie title Skank… Read More ›
-
2000AD Prog 2000 – Bolland, McMahon, Gibbons and O’Neill To Return!
Comic book superstars Brian Bolland, Mick McMahon, Dave Gibbons and Kevin O’Neill are set to return to the pages of the legendary 2000AD for its 2000th issue, out later in the year – along with both classic characters such as Nemesis… Read More ›