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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Striker dropped from The Sun’s print edition, goes online only
The Sun has unexpectedly dropped the print version of its popular football comic, Striker, moving the strip online – much to the disappointment of its many fans – and the surprise of its creator, Pete Nash. “I was told on… Read More ›
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Tonight on Gotham on Channel 5: By Fire
In “By Fire”, tonight’s episode of Gotham airing on Channel 5 in the UK, while Penguin and Galavan battle for control of the Gotham underworld, another new villain is the focus of the police. Here’s some teaser pics… Gotham stars Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, David… Read More ›
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Laura Howell on the comic guest line up for MCM Midlands Comic Con
MCM Midlands Comic Con is back in Telford tomorrow, Saturday 13th February, with, as you’d expect, some comic creators on board for the day, including Beano contributor Laura Howell. Laura is a Birmingham-based comic artist, writer and occasional educator who turned pro in 2006 after eight years working… Read More ›
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SEQUENTIAL offers new, expanded digital edition of Posy Simmonds’ “True Love” in time for Valentine’s Day
There’s a special Valentine’s Day treat for fans of Posy Simmonds this weekend with the news that the previously-announced digital edition of her story True Love is being released on SEQUENTIAL, the iPad app for digital graphic novels. Announced last year, this is… Read More ›
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Betty Boop returns to the small screen, new fine art prints by Naja Conrad-Hansen released
Betty Boop – whose early comic adventures were re-published last year by Titan Comics – is coming back to the small screen, some 30 years after her last show. A new 26-episode series aimed at “tweens and teens” recounting the adventures… Read More ›
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Joe Kelly Announced as first US guest for Lakes International Comic Art Festival 2016
Just as Marvel’s latest blockbuster superhero movie Deadpool hits UK cinemas, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announce its first major US guest for the 2016 is Joe Kelly, who will be making an exclusive UK appearance at the Festival weekend… Read More ›
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New Tales from the TARDIS rounds off “Pyramids of Mars” sequel story
The latest issue of Titan Comics second UK Doctor Who title, Tales from the TARDIS, is on sale now, and sees the finale to “The Spiral Staircase” a comic sequel to the classic TV story Pyramids of Mars. Re-presenting Doctor… Read More ›
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New Comics On Sale This Week in the UK – On the King’s Road, with Judge Dredd and Doctor Who in tow
Right. I’ve just been down to Lancaster’s First Age Comics to have a look at the new comics, only to be told that while Titan’s Johnny Red is selling well there, more people would have bought if “they had only… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales Figures: Winners and Losers (July – December 2015)
Updated 16th February to add comment from Generation Media The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) sales figures for titles registered with the organisation have just been published this week and while many comics or young children’s magazines have taken a hit for the reporting… Read More ›
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Pat Mills to talk Charley’s War at Birmingham Creative Networks event, strip to get “reloaded” treatment
Pat Mills is to give a talk for Birmingham’s Creative Networks next week (Thursday 25th February). Pat is a UK comic legend – described by some as the ‘Godfather of British comics’, he was an integral part of the UK comics… Read More ›
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Knockabout announces Alan Moore’s novel “Jerusalem” for September 2016
Knockabout has announced Alan Moore’s second novel, Jerusalem, will now be published in September 2016. Described as a fantastical exploration of his hometown of Northampton which runs to more than a million words in draft form, publisher Tony Bennett described… Read More ›
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Saga’s Lying Cat talking toy launched
Fans of Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan best selling Saga comic book attending the US Emerald City Comicon will probably fighting for this talking plush variant of the title’s “Lying Cat”. The release should go some way to assuaging… Read More ›
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Unpopular Tales to launch adult Red Riding Hood title at London Super Comic Con
The first new adult fairy tale from Spanish publisher Unpopular Tales will be launched at London Super Comic Con. The publisher successfully raised over $2500 in a crowdfunding campaign last year to produce and release a new series of comics for… Read More ›
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New Commando tale offers “Operation Torch”-inspired World War Two story
Here’s the lowdown on the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4887-4890), on sale this coming Thursday. These new issues are announced just as publisher DC Thomson also advertises for a new editor for the title, who “will play a pivotal role… Read More ›
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DC Thomson launches Twirlywoos magazine
DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano and Thunderbirds Are Go, has just launched Twirlywoos magazine, the magazine behind the hit CBeebies show that follows Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy and Chick seeking adventure wherever they go. Twirlywoos magazine is a 28-page… Read More ›
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Salisbury Council Backs Pratchett Statue Plan
A campaign for a statue of Discworld creator the late Sir Terry Pratchett to be erected in Salisbury, close to where he lived, got a significant boost this week when councillors unanimously approved the idea. As we reported earlier, an online… Read More ›
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Acclaimed Web Comic BREAKS Celebrates Second Anniversary, but still battles for readers
Comic creators Malin Ryden and Emma Vieceli should be celebrating this week, after their much-praised web comic, BREAKS, reached its milestone second anniversary – but despite all their hard work promoting the comic, we’re sorry to report they’re still battling… Read More ›
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Garage art and fashion magazine goes Marvel with supermodels as superheroes covers
Garage – a biannual print publication that brings to life the most original and ambitious collaborative projects across contemporary art and fashion – has teamed with Marvel to create five special edition covers for its tenth issue, celebrating the brand’s powerful… Read More ›
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Planet 55’s new animated series “Prisoner Zero” gets debut at Gallifrey One
The big Gallifrey One Doctor Who convention takes place in Los Angeles this weekend, and there are several comics guest on the line-up as well as stars such as Fifth Doctor Peter Davison, War Doctor Sir John Hurt, Sixth Doctor Colin Baker… Read More ›
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In Review: The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming
By Jacky Fleming Publisher: Square Peg Out: 18th February 2016 Format: Hardback, 128 Pages ISBN: 978-1910931097 The Book: CAN WOMEN BE GENIUSES? OR ARE THEIR ARMS TOO SHORT? WHY DID WE ONLY LEARN ABOUT THREE WOMEN AT SCHOOL? WHAT WERE ALL… Read More ›