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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Early Beanos Galore, Fireball XL5 Rarities and More Offered in Latest ComPal Auction
If you’re a fan of The Beano or The Dandy, then the latest Compalcomics – now live – is definitely up your street, with a large number of early issues on offer, along with an assortment of comics art that… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 20: Starting Out and Breaking Into the Comics Industry
In a change to the usual format, the Awesome Comics Podcast gang sit down to talk about another topic – starting out making comics, how things have changed over the years – and their first returning guest pops in to talk… Read More ›
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Just One Week to the Lakes Festival’s Comic Art Auction in London!
Next week, on Tuesday 24th November, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be hitting London with their first ever auction of original comic art. It’s going to be a glittering affair, with celebrity auctioneers Jonathan Ross and Tim Farron MP, ridiculously delicious nosh… Read More ›
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Peter Hogan and Staz Johnson – Heading for the King’s Road
Peter Hogan (Resident Alien, Sandman Presents, The Dreaming) returns to fantasy to deliver a three-issue miniseries of King’s Road next February, continuing the tale that began in Dark Horse Presents #23 back in 2013. Artist Staz Johnson (Judge Dredd) and colourist Douglas… Read More ›
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Glide Into Danger With The Latest Commandos!
Here’s the lowdown on the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4863-4866) — on sale from publishers DC Thomson from tomorrow, Thursday 19th November 2015. Commando is available from all good newsagents, on subscription (and we have a special discount on… Read More ›
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Zarjaz! The 2000AD Advent Calendar is On Its Way – Contributions Wanted!
Ooh, it’s November… and David Broughton has dropped us a line to remind us it’s time to sign up for the annual 2000AD Messageboard Advent Calendar! Every year, these have been absolutely magical fun at the expense of 2000AD‘s heroes… Read More ›
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It’s A Hard Life: Colin Noble Counts his (Comics) Blessings…
When things are getting you down, it is always nice to count your blessings. And when it comes to comics, I have so many to count that I sometimes forget that not everyone is as fortunate as I. On a… Read More ›
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Great British Comic Characters Reinvented: Grimly Feendish
Artist Rob Moran has sent us a very different looking Grimly Feendish to the fun-filled would-be ruler of the world from 1960s comics for our Great British Comic Characters Reinvented competition. We hope you like it! Created by Leo Baxendale,… Read More ›
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Great British Comic Characters Reinvented: Nemesis the Warlock – and Night Raven!
Aces Weekly contributor Mal Earl simply couldn’t choose which of his favourite British comic characters he wanted to reinvent for our current competition – so we got three! Artist and writer Mal returned to producing comics three years ago, after a 15 year hiatus…. Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con’s Massive Guest List Just Gets Bigger, adding Erskine, Langley and many more
The star-studded guest list for this year’s Malta Comic Con has been accelerating so fast over the last couple of weeks we’re only now catching up with recent announcements. Although there’s some disappointing news that artist Jon Haward has had… Read More ›
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New “Mog the Cat” Book profits will be used for child literacy projects
You’ll just have to excuse this temporary aberration given my usual grumpy self, but I’m afraid I’ve been totally blown away by this year’s Sainsbury’s Christmas advert starring Mog the Cat, the creation of world renowned author and illustrator Judith Kerr,… Read More ›
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Matt Bucket Primes “The Weapon”, his debut graphic novel
The Weapon, a debut graphic novel from Devon-based artist and writer Matt Buckett, a 136 page graphic novel funded through Kickstarter. A fast paced action adventure dealing with imminent global catastrophe featuring fast cars, crazy technology and “the most tenacious female reporter on… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: US Comics On Sale 11th November 2015 – Anthologies, Mysteries and Bible Superheroes!
Our list of British creator-skewed new releases just has to headline with the release of the fifth Thought Bubble Anthology with the Festival itself taking place this weekend in Leeds. All the profits from this latest collection, which features a stack of great… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Recalled: Artist Jon Haward’s 1990s Designs
There’s plenty of interest in Dan Dare of late, with B7 Media‘s new audio series developing fast (I’m happy to report the pilot script from Bev Doyle and Richard Kurti is shaping up nicely) and the release of 2000AD‘s simply… Read More ›
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FutureQuake Press Invade Thought Bubble with all-new issues of Zarjaz, FutureQuake, Something Wicked
The hugely-talented team behind the excellent FutureQuake Press titles – including FutureQuake, Something Wicked and Zarjaz – will be at the Thought Bubble Festival convention this weekend and have some great titles on offer. First up: FutureQuake is back! The… Read More ›
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2000AD Creator Competitions, New Posters At Thought Bubble 2015
It’s the Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds this weekend, Earthlets – and what a feast for any 2000AD fan, with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic occupying tables #37-#38 in the Thought Bubble Marquee with the latest graphic novel releases, creator signings, exclusive… Read More ›
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Great British Comic Characters Reinvented: Professor Bernard Quatermass
Creator Jay Lowe has chosen a personal and truly British favourite for our challenge to reinvent great British Comic Characters (detail below), given that Nigel Kneale’s Professor Bernard Quatermass wasn’t created for comics – but he has appeared in print…. Read More ›
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Alternative Free Comics Day Announced After 2000AD dropped from 2016 Celebration
Following up on reports that the Free Comic Book Day Retailer Committee has rejected some publishers – including 2000AD – from offering their comics as part of the annual Free Comic Book Day promotion, the US-based semi-satirical comic book website TheOuthousers.com has announced plans to hold its own free… Read More ›
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Blistering Barnacles! New Tintin Exhibition opens at Somerset House
Just opened at London’s Somerset House is TINTIN: Herge’s Masterpiece, a new, free exhibition has just opened is well worth a visit that runs until January 2016. Stepping inside the wonderfully eccentric world of artist-author Hergé and Tintin, his intrepid young… Read More ›
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Top French Artist Barroux announced as guest of South Ken Kids Festival
As part of the South Ken Kids Festival the acclaimed French illustrator and cartoonist Barroux will orchestrate a special live drawing event around his graphic novel Alpha: Abidjan-Gare du Nord on 21st November 2015, about a man from the Ivory Coast… Read More ›