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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Zombies, SF action adventure and more in latest 100% Biodegradable
The latest issue of the digital anthology comic 100% Biodegradable (Issue 14) is on sale now, wrapped in an awesome cover by Brett Burbridge. Here’s the full rundown, and yes, I’ll admit to some bias for this marvellous title, given… Read More ›
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DC Thomson advertises “Heritage Brands” editor, could classic collections be in the works?
Dundee-based comics publisher, whose current titles include The Beano but has a massive comics archive encompassing boys and girls comics dating back to the 1920s, has re-advertised the role of a “Heritage Brands” editor, which includes editing Commando, a post has… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 64 – Shaky Kane, Chris Baker and Last Driver
The Awesome Comics Podcast gang go apocalyptic and off the rails this week, as they talk Last Driver with Chris Baker and Brit comics legend Shaky Kane. There’s chat about the inspiration for Frank Sudden and his road trip adventure,… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Titan Comics Hook Jaw #1 by Si Spurrier and Conor Boyle
Titan Comics have revealed the final covers for Hook Jaw #1, which include work by series artist Conor Boyle, John McCrea and Marc Laming. Hitting stores in December, the five issue mini-series is written by comics fire-cracker Si Spurrier (Cry Havoc,… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: British web comic “The Putto” gets print publication – in Czech!
Given the unfortunate lack of outlets when it comes to original comics on the news stand here in the UK, it’s hardly surprising to hear that many comic creators are enjoying publishing success outside this country. Creators such as Pat… Read More ›
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Craig Thompson, Bryan Talbot, Emma Vieceli and other top creators to draw OCD Action charity comic at Lakes Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced this year’s special 24 Hour Marathon Comic project as part of this year’s weekend-long event in October, featuring a stellar line up of talent that aims to raise awareness of the medical condition OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Written… Read More ›
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Coming Soon from Telos Publishing: The Art of Reginald Heade
On its way from Telos Publishing in October (and available to pre-order now) is The Art of Reginald Heade, written by Stephen James Walker. Reginald Heade is renowned amongst vintage paperback fans and collectors as the pre-eminent British pulp fiction… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend (w/c 19th September 2016): New Aces Weekly, 2000AD 1999!
Just one week to go before 2000AD Prog 2000! (And oh, it is worth the wait… but don’t miss this week’s stonking Prog 1999 in all the excitement. Beating a path to the door of WHSmith stores for it on… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Behind the Scenes on “The Marionette Unit” with James Boyle, Azhur Saleem and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Recently released, The Marionette Unit is a stunning, creepy and thoroughly enjoyable new Victorian mystery story, a graphic novel created by filmmakers Azhur Saleem and James Boyle, and illustrated by ace comic artist Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Tank Girl, Gungle, Nelson, 24×7, Off-Life). We haven’t had opportunity… Read More ›
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Creating The Chimeran: An exclusive look at a new comics project from Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz
Recently in the spotlight at the ICE convention in Birmingham was a new project involving some stellar talent, The Chimeran – a creative team that includes Ben Oliver and Simon Furman, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back producer Gary Kurtz, Richard Bazley and Paul Goodenough. Hot on the heels of that, we caught up… Read More ›
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Ape Judge Harry Heston storms the Megazine, the co-creation of late 2000AD “super fan” Stewart Perkins
Regular downthetubes readers will recall Richmond Clements tribute back in May for one of 2000AD‘s greatest fans, army veteran Stewart Perkins, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Well, there’s some good news: Harry Heston, the ape Judge character he… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Titan and Forbidden Planet’s Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung talk to ICV2
Comics site ICV2 has just published a two-part interview with Titan Entertainment Group Managing Director Nick Landau and Executive Director Vivian Cheung, the duo behind UK-based Titan Entertainment, which has a long history and broad business portfolio that’s invisible to many people… Read More ›
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A Broons Birthday Bash, Ian Kennedy Art Masterclasses and more at Dundee Literary Festival
Although the Dundee Comics Day has been completely subsumed into the Dundee Literary Festival, there’s still a number of events of plenty of interest to comics fans this year when the event returns in October. The highlight for many will be not one… Read More ›
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Martin Baines draws new Thunderbirds Are Go strip for official comic
The latest issue of DC Thomson’s Thunderbirds Are Go comic – on sale in all good newsagents and supermarkets – features the first issue to include all-new comic strip from artist Martin Baines, a departure from the previous “photo story”… Read More ›
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Hachette road testing Transformers: The Definitive Collection part work
Hachette already publish a number of comics-related partworks, but downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf has come across a new one, which looks like being essential reading to any Transformers fans out there, collecting every comics appearance of the Hasbro creations. The… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend (w/c 12th September 2016): Dredd Endings and Doctor Who (Three!)
It’s getting close – 2000AD Prog 2000 is just two weeks away, and the excitement is pretty much uncontainable – but the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic is building to it with some stonking, fully thrill-powered issues and Prog 1998 is no exception…. Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Exhibitions include Kendal floods tribute, Fringe events revealed
With just four weeks to go to the event, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has revealed its full Exhibitions plans around this year’s three day-long weekend (14th – 16th October) in Kendal, alongside its ever-popular Fringe events, which include Guardian political cartoonist… Read More ›
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High School Zombies and Time Sharks! It’s happening in the latest all-new Doctor Who Adventures!
The summer’s over but the fun is far from done! Get ready for the thrill of a zillion lifetimes with the latest issue of Doctor Who Adventures (Issue 19), on sale in all good newsagents from tomorrow! (15th September). FEAR… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 63: Fraser Campbell
Fraser Campbell, the writer of Sleeping Dogs and Alex Automatic, joins the Awesome Pod crew to talk about the new 1970s tv inspired book, his work process, influences and more. Alex Automatic – currently the focus of Fraser’s latest crowdfunding… Read More ›
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Dublin Comic Con’s 80th Anniversary Phantom Comic Gets Special Limited Edition Release
Earlier this year, the Dublin Comic Con was granted a special license by King Features Syndicate via AllSorts Media to produce a special comic celebrating The Phantom‘s 80th Anniversary. All proceeds from sales of the comic produced are being donated… Read More ›