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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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 ›
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DC Thomson hosts The Broons Awards to celebrate Scotland’s Families
Helping celebrate 80 years of the popular newspaper strip, The Broons Awards took place at a star-studded event at The Grand Central Hotel last night in Glasgow, hosted by Lorraine Kelly. The evening celebrated families and individuals who share and… Read More ›
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Atomic Comic Interviews Top British Comics Artist Tom Paterson
After many ups, downs and false starts The Atomic Comic – a smashing-looking ‘zine edited by New Zealand-based British humour comics aficionado George Shiers – is back, and includes a first-ever interview with Scottish comics artist Tom Paterson. Tom’s talent as a cartoonist… Read More ›
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Something For the Weekend – Bone China, Doctor Who and Unmentionables!
Here’s my pick of this week’s list of British creator and British publisher-skewed new comics, including new comics on sale in UK newsagents. This feature covers all titles released from Monday 7th March onwards with most new US comics released… Read More ›
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New Tales from the TARDIS (#4) On Sale Now in UK Newsagents
Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS #4 is on sale now in all good UK newsagents and some comic shops, re-presenting several stories first released in the US as separate titles by Titan Comics. As we previously reported stories from… Read More ›
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Enjoy a Great Escape With Latest Commandos, On Sale Today!
Here’s the lowdown on this week’s Commando releases (Issues 4895 – 4898) from DC Thomson, on sale today (10th March 2016) in all good newsagents and digitally from online outlets. Don’t forget downthetubes has an exclusive discount on a subscription to Commando comic, simply by ordering through… Read More ›
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Dave McKean’s Black Dog: Artwork Sneak Peek, Kendal premiere tickets selling fast
A selection of previously unseen artwork and the names of international musical collaborators have been announced in advance of the world premiere performance of Black Dog – the Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean in May. Co-commissioned by the… Read More ›
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Cam Kennedy helps launch new comic course at University of Dundee
Legendary Judge Dredd and Star Wars artist Cam Kennedy will help launch a new postgraduate programme for aspiring comics artists, writers and scholars at the University of Dundee later today. The new MLitt/MDes Comics and Graphic Novels course will be… Read More ›
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DC’s Super Hero High TV special air date announced, expanding new DC Super Hero Girls brand
Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have announced the air date for Super Hero High, a one hour tie-in TV special to launch its DC Super Hero Girls brand to a TV audience. Airing on 19th March 2016 on Boomerang, the show is… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Trans- States: The art of crossing over
A Call For Papers has gone out for a conference titled Trans- States: The art of crossing over, which will take place at the University of Northampton, 9 – 10th September, 2016 – and whose speakers will include Alan Moore…. Read More ›
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Fifth Beatle Graphic Novel Optioned for TV
Sonar Entertainment has optioned the rights to Vivek J. Tiwary novel The Fifth Beatle: The Story of Brian Epstein, to develop as a multi-part event series with Tiwary serving as executive producer. News site Deadline (among others) reports Sonar Entertainment has optioned the rights to the best-selling… Read More ›
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2000AD artist Mick McMahon announced as first UK guest for Lakes International Comic Art Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced its first major British guest for the 2016 Festival weekend is Mick McMahon, who, while perhaps best known for his work for the top weekly SF comic 2000AD, also drew The Last American and Batman Black and… Read More ›
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Cartoon Museum Doctor Who Target Book Cover Art Exhibition Announced
A selection of over 50 pieces of original artwork from the WH Allen / Target Books range from the 1970s and 80s goes on display for the first time together at the Cartoon Museum in London next month. The exhibition… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures Secrets Revealed on the Tellybox Today!
Have you ever wondered what the wacky folk behind Doctor Who Adventures magazine get up to when they are not busy baking cakes? Now the BBC cameras reveal all! Tune into CBBC today (Tuesday 8th March) morning at 10.45am to watch All… Read More ›
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Panel Borders delves into Action – The Story of a Violent Comic
Panel Borders, the only regular monthly look at comic books, graphic novels and sequential art steam* broadcast in the UK over the airwaves, delves into the story behind one of the country’s most controversial comics tonight. Guest presenter Professor Martin… Read More ›