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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Fort William the location for Scotland’s newest comic event
Fort Con is to be the first Fort William Comic Con & Expo, set for the weekend of 22nd October 2016 and is set to draw pop culture fans and exhibitors from all over Scotland, the UK and beyond. Events and… Read More ›
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Dangerous Dilemmas in the new Doctor Who Adventures!
May Day! May Day! Spring is here and so is the new edition of Doctor Who Adventures, which comes with free monster kit. (The editor won’t tell us if this provides the means to make one or grow it in… Read More ›
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In Review: Star Trek: The Classic UK Comics Volume One
by Harry Lindfield, Jim Baikie, Mike Noble, et al Edited & Designed by Dean Mullaney. Introduction by Rich Handley Publisher: IDW (Library of American Comics imprint) 8.5″ x 11 hardcover-with-dustjacket, 244 pages Out: 28th April 2016 The Book: In 1969,… Read More ›
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New Wolfblood Motion Comic Continues CBBC saga
Fans of CBBC’s Wolfblood will be pleased to hear that a second motion comic based on the series is on the way, written by Rik Hoskin and illustrated by Tom Waterhouse. Set after the dramatic events of the show’s fourth season,… Read More ›
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Oh, Please, Please Let Shane Oakley draw Doomlord!
Many downthetubes readers will remember Doomlord, Servitor of Nox, who first appeared in a photo strip in the 1980s Eagle. But we’re betting you haven’t seen him recently, unless you lucky enough to pick up a copy of the recently-released… Read More ›
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Answers in Blood: An Interview with “Vikings” comic writer Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott counts himself lucky to work in the worlds that first sparked his imagination as a kid. He writes the Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor comic for Titan, is one of the writers of the Star Wars: Adventures in… Read More ›
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“Supremacy of the Cybermen” Doctor Who comic crossover launches in July
This summer’s special Doctor Who event comic from Titan Comics will feature the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors from Titan’s four ongoing Who series – a spectacular five-part, bi-weekly adventure featuring one of the Doctor’s most iconic foes – the Cybermen. Penned… Read More ›
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Daredevil Cast Head For Wizard World Chicago in August
Wizard World Inc., producer of Comic Cons across North America, has announced that the cast of Netflix’s breakout hit series Marvel’s Daredevil will be on the scene at Wizard World Chicago (18th – 21st August), at the Donald E. Stephens… Read More ›
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Telos Publishing Re-Releases Doctor Who “The Target Book”
Chronicling the range of Doctor Who novelisations published by a variety of publishers, but always under the ‘Target’ brand, The Target Book by David J Howe, first published in 2007, was one of the most popular titles ever published by Telos Publishing,… Read More ›
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Roobarb and Custard Bounce Back With Complete Series Release (Roobarb & Custard, Too!)
De ner dener de ner dener de ner de ner de nere… More than 40 years after making their debut on British TV screens, and over a decade since their return, green dog and pink cat Roobarb & Custard are bounding… Read More ›
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Titan Comics “Vikings” by Cavan Scott and Staz Johnson – Sneak Peek at #1!
Titan Comics launches Vikings next week (Wednesday 27th April), based on the sensational MGM show which launched in 2013, and was recently renewed by the History channel for a fifth season of 20 episodes. An Irish-Canadian co-production, the hit Vikings TV… Read More ›
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Birmingham Bound: An Interview with Marvel Comics artist Luca Pizzari
Italian born artist Luca Pizzari has recently been producing a number of comics for Marvel USA, notably The Black Knight, a character that holds a special place in British fans hearts. Prior to him attending the convention for this year’s… Read More ›
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Cats Go Geek with CacaoFurniture’s Cat Houses
We all know cats love a cardboard box, right? Well, Bulgarian company CacaoFurniture has run with that in a big way and created a range of cardboard cat houses – some inspired by well known SF icons, including Doctor Who‘s… Read More ›
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New Comics Out Now – Shocks Galore in 2000AD and Cosplaying Canines! (w/c 18th April 2016)
As British talent invades the US (again – and yes, we’re aware only older readers might get this reference*), here’s our quick list of new comics on sale in newsagents and comic shops this week, skewed toward creators from the UK… Read More ›
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POWs and Cricket Bats! New Commandos Have them Both…
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4907-4910) from DC Thomson, on sale now in all good newsagents and assorted digital platforms (detailed below). This release includes two smashing covers from Ian Kennedy, who returns to the Birmingham Comics… Read More ›
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Great British Graphic Novel Exhibition opens at London’s Cartoon Museum
An exhibition at London’s Cartoon Museum looking at the rise of the British Graphic novel has just opened, featuring works by Kate Charlesworth, Rob Davis, Dave Gibbons, William Hogarth, Gary Spencer Millidge, the Pleece Brothers, Martin Rowson, Posy Simmonds, Bryan and Mary Talbot… Read More ›
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Delight For Brits nominated for Eisner Awards
The list of nominees for this year’s Eisner Awards has been announced and includes a number of British creators – and a nomination for the anthology 24 By 7, edited by Dan Berry and published by Fanfare, featuring strips created during… Read More ›
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Bad Company: First Casualties Signing at Gosh! in June
London’s Gosh! will be hosting a signing with the stellar line-up of Peter Milligan, Rufus Dayglo and Jim McCarthy for the latest installment in the Bad Company series. The signing will be from 1-2.00pm on Saturday 4th June 2016. Bad Company was originally created by Peter Milligan, Brett Ewins and… Read More ›
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ELCAF 2016 Tickets Go On Sale, This Year’s Artist-in-Residence Announced
Ace publishers Nobrow have just announced their plans for ELCAF 2016 in June, the East London Comics & Arts Festival, now in its fifth year and it includes some terrific international artists as well as additional events in the run… Read More ›
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Dennis the Menace, Celebrated at 65 with New Official Screenprints of First Ever Strip
To celebrate The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace‘s 65th birthday, print maker John Patrick Reynolds has produced an edition of officially-licensed screenprints featuring the very first strip, published in the issue dated 17th March, 1951. Dennis doesn’t yet have his trademark red and… Read More ›