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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Kate Evans’ “utterly brilliant” Red Rosa shortlisted for Bread and Roses Award
Red Rosa by Kate Evans has been shortlisted for the Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing 2016. Presented by the Alliance of Radical Booksellers for the fifth year, the prize celebrates excellence in radical political non-fiction. Previous winners include… Read More ›
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Arvon Announces Graphic Novel Writing Course for June
Arvon are running a five-day residential Graphic Novel course with Leah Moore (Sherlock Holmes), Kate Charlesworth (Sally Heathcote: Suffragettes) and Isabel Greenberg this June at The Hurst in Shropshire. All three creators are experienced graphic novelists who have a mass knowledge to share with aspiring Graphic Novel… Read More ›
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Comica Comiket Back in May
London’s Comica Comiket: The Independent Comics Market comes complete with a Cavalcade of Celebrity Cartoonists drawing live throughout the afternoon in The Fabulous Drawing Parade on Saturday 14th May 2016. Part of the Comica London Weekender at House of Illustration, this is an opportunity… Read More ›
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Do Your Duty: Buy 100% Biodegradable #12
Issue 12 of the digital anthology 100% Biodegradable is out now on Drivethru and Comicsy for just 69p. Wrapped in a cover from Bill Storie and Brett Burbridge, it includes some cracking strips from the likes of Chris Redfern, Dan Cornwell, Dave… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend? New Comics On Sale This Week (w/c 14th March 2016)
Something for the weekend? Here are the comics on sale in UK comic shops this week, list courtesy First Age Comics Lancaster. Our normal more detailed list will be back next week – hopefully… These titles are all on sale… Read More ›
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Halloween Man Creative Team Takes on Donald Trump!
In March 1941, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took a political stance against the rise of fascism in Europe with their famous creation, Captain America. Now in the 21st Century, say the creative team of the underground comic, Halloween Man, a US presidential… Read More ›
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Pittsburgh’s Toonseum Appeals for Captain America art for new exhibition
The Toonseum, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, is currently in the process of putting together this summer’s exhibit, Captain America: 75 Years of the Sentinel of Liberty. ComicArtFans reports that following the success of last year’s Avengers: 50… Read More ›
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Batman v Superman Movie Magazine On Sale Now in UK
Titan Magazines’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Official Movie Magazine is on sale now in all good newsagents across the UK, launched just ahead of the 25th March release of the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film. With 100 pages… Read More ›
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MCM Comic Con back in Brum this weekend
MCM Birmingham Comic Con returns to the NEC this weekend for another feast of geeky entertainment… and alongside all the exhibitors, comic artists, eSports tournaments and cosplay competitions, the show will be playing host to a great line-up of special… Read More ›
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Enniskillen Comic Fest guest list shapes up
May 2016 will see Enniskillen in County Fermanagh host its first festival of comics, illustration and storytelling. The Enniskillen Comic Fest will take place in the McArthur Hall in Darling Street on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th May, with a wide… Read More ›
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Through the Looking Glass: Inside the pages of the Oldest Comic in the World
Article first published 15th March 2016 By Laurence Grove, University of Glasgow Here’s a good pub quiz question: what was the world’s first comic? If you’ve no idea, don’t feel too foolish. It wasn’t even recognised by experts until a… Read More ›
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Eagle Flies Again, thanks to Hibernia Comics
The Eagle Flies Again. 34 years ago this month, classic British adventure comic the Eagle was relaunched under the stewardship of Barrie Tomlinson and David Hunt. It featured an enviable lineup of characters and creators and ran for nearly 12 years,… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 37: Bertie Bear creator Andy W. Clift
This week the Awesome Comics Podcast gang are joined by the creator of Bertie Bear, and super nice guy, Andy W.Clift to talk about his comics, his influences, his work as a flatter for Marvel and so much more! Not only… Read More ›
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WILD About Comics Opens Birmingham Comics Festival with a Big Bang
WILD ABOUT Comics returns to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park on Saturday 2nd April to get this year’s Birmingham Comics Festival off to a glorious start. A roaring success since it debuted last April, WILD About Comics was initially aimed at kids but… Read More ›
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Dirty Rotten Comics team go crazy and launch new publishing house, Throwaway Press
The team behind the brilliant Dirty Rotten Comics anthology, which we’ve raved about several times here on downthetubes, have clearly gone completely mad with power and launched their own publishing house – Throwaway Press. The brand new publishing house is headed up… Read More ›
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By Gum! Woking Comes Over Comical this Autumn
Woking’s award-winning museum and gallery, Lightbox, has announced it will host a British comics-themed exhibition later this year, titled The Story of British Comics So Far: Cor! By Gum! Zarjaz! What are your favourite comics? Do you know how they… Read More ›
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Tonight on Gotham on Channel 5: The Son of Gotham
In “The Son of Gotham”, tonight’s episode of Gotham airing on Channel 5 in the UK (14th March), Gordon confronts a suspect who is connected to Galavan, but falls short of obtaining any information. Meanwhile, Bruce gets one step closer to discovering the name… Read More ›
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Britain’s Small Press Day and Comic Shops That Sell Small Press Titles
Interest is growing rapidly in Small Press Day in the UK on 9th July 2016 – the brainchild of a group of comic creators including David Ziggy Greene, the team at Alternative Press and the smashing Andy Oliver over at… Read More ›
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Royal Academy Shines A Light on the work of William Heath Robinson
London’s Royal Academy is hosting an exhibition of the work of the singularly unique artist William Heath Robinson, which runs until 3rd June 2016. William Heath Robinson (1872-1944), immortalised as the “gadget man”, was an illustrator of enormous range and… Read More ›
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2000AD Script Book to reveal original work of comics giants
Some of the world’s greatest comic writers have cut their teeth at the world famous 2000AD – and now readers will get to see their creative power laid bare with The 2000AD Script Book. Published this October in the UK and North America, The… Read More ›