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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Reader requests help shape the latest re-presented Commando stories
The latest editions of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4931-4934), on sale now in all good newsagents and through various digital platforms, features four classic stories from the long-running title, some chosen by readers themselves. Commando No 4931 – Mark Of The… Read More ›
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In Review: Spaceship Away Issue 39 – highlights Ian Kennedy, offers new Dan Dare adventures
The latest issue of Spaceship Away, the magazine devoted to Dan Dare, Eagle and its many creators is out now, offering a great line up of strips and features behind a cover by the late Frank Bellamy. Tim Booth continues… Read More ›
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Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth Uncensored sells out in just 24 hours
The uncensored edition of the legendary Judge Dredd epic, The Cursed Earth, has sold out in the UK – less than a day after going on sale. Unprecedented demand for The Cursed Earth Uncensored has resulted in distributors being cleared… Read More ›
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Film director Ben Wheatley’s success down to 2000AD, he says
He’s one of the most prominent independent directors of his generation, with a string of critically-acclaimed movies under his belt, but Ben Wheatley still pegs his success to reading 2000AD as a child. The director of Sightseers, Kill List, A… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Titan Comics New “Hard Case Crime” Imprint
Titan Comics is bringing titles from the hardboiled crime novel publisher Hard Case Crime to comics in the form of a new imprint edited by Tom Williams, which will include a slate of noir series from all-star creators. Award-inning imprint Hard… Read More ›
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Kettering hosts new comic exhibition featuring work by Frank Bellamy, Bill Sienkiewicz and Barry Windsor Smith
Kettering, Northamptonshire is currently the location of a free ‘Comics Unstripped!’ exhibition, examining the history of comics and graphic novels and featuring works by artist Frank Bellamy, who lived in the town and includes some examples from his work for the… Read More ›
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Gosh store offers Dark Judges Brian Bolland Print as Cursed Earth Uncensored debuts
London’s Gosh comic store is offering 2000AD fans an exclusive print of Brian Bolland’s cover for the classic Prog 225. The print will be released at the shop’s Cursed Earth Uncensored signing with Brian Bolland and Mick McMahon on Saturday… Read More ›
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Leeds Library partners with Thought Bubble for Young People’s Comic Award, Submissions Invited
Leeds Library and Information Service and Thought Bubble (returning 1st – 6th November 2016) is inviting submissions for the Young People’s Comic Award, the only category of the British Comic Awards that will be presented this year as the others are on… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 54: Shane Chebsey and Shrewsbury Comic Arts Festival
Comic conventions are an integral part of being a small press creator, and this week marks the first time the Awesome Comics Podcast team talk to one of the hard working folk behind the events. Shane Chebsey, the man behind the… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero’s Autumn 2016 Revealed: Motherless Oven follow up by Rob Davis out in November
A graphic history of Tetris, Rob Davis‘ eagerly-awaited follow up to his utterly brilliant The Motherless Oven and a superb-looking biography of Salvador Dalí by Edmond Baudoin are just some of the treats in store from SelfMadeHero this autumn. September… Read More ›
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In Review: I Drank Holy Water: A Visual Diary by Zen Bucko
By Zen Bucko Experimental comics can be a gamble, one that in my opinion more often than not does not pay off. Combine that with the often also overplayed hand of the autobiographical comic and you are betting something of… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Tickets On Sale Now
Tickets for the main events at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival are on sale now – and a special “Clash of the Toon Titans“, pitting Tintin against Asterix, will launch this year’s weekend-long celebrations in October. Guests at this year’s Festival (14th – 16th October… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Summer 2016 Issue Out Now
The latest issue of the Eagle Society’s Eagle Times is available now, featuring: The Adventures of Tintin: King Ottokar’s Sceptre – a comparison of three editions of Herge’s picture strip story: the 1947 book by Casterman of Paris, its first publication… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Comic Creator Alan Joseph Mitchell
The sudden passing of the inspiring comics creator Alan Mitchell, perhaps best known for co-writing “Third World War” with Pat Mills for Crisis, aged just 55, came as a tremendous shock to both family and friends. Although we met only a couple of… Read More ›
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Safari Festival Returns in August
Safari Festival returns to London next month (27th August). The brainchild of Breakdown Press, the event is a celebration of the new wave of alternative and art comics from the UK and beyond. The festival is an opportunity for a curated… Read More ›
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Comic Creators Metaphrog win Scottish Culture Award
Congratulations this morning to Metaphrog – the Franco-Scottish duo of John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs – who tell us they are “Completely stunned” after winning The Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards 2016 for Best Visual Artist. Metaphrog – who had… Read More ›
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Authors Rally for Tommy Donbavand with Obverse Books project
As we’ve previously reported on downthetubes, Scream Street creator, Beano writer, Doctor Who author and all round lovely guy, Tommy Donbavand, has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently recovering from a series of painful and unpleasant treatments as he… Read More ›
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Something For The Weekend: New Comics On Sale (w/c 4th July 2016): Cybermen and Small Press Day!
Alongside the latest issue of 2000AD – and if you’re a fan of Gerry Anderson’s UFO, you’ll love the opening episode of the new “Scarlet Traces” story – be sure to be ready to pick up the superb collection of… Read More ›
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Shrewsbury International Comic Art Festival Goes Free! (Free to enter, that is…)
The first ever Shrewsbury International Comic Art Festival, taking place 15th – 17th July, is now a free event – giving full access to an amazing guest list and exhibitors for the general public all three days. Guests lined up include creators Dan Berry,… Read More ›
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Egmont to launch Bing magazine
Egmont will launch a new children’s magazine, Bing, as a regular monthly frequency publication later this month. Regular downthetubes readers may recall the company previously published its first Bing magazine as part of their pre-school Play & Learn titles, back in 2014. Bing is a pre-school… Read More ›