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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European Literature Night 2016 Date Set
European Literature Night (ELN), the British annual literary showcase which brings the best of the continent’s writers to the British Library, has announced its Call for Participation for 2016 is now open with the Night itself set to 11th May 2016. A EUNIC… Read More ›
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Sunderland Literature Festival features Liz Million, Bryan and Mary Talbot and Daniel Weatheritt
The Sunderland Literature Festival, the city’s annual celebration of the written word, has something for everyone and includes events with top children’s book illustrators Liz Million and Daniel Weatheritt, and award-winning comic creators Bryan and Mary M. Talbot. Liz Million appears at the Festival on Monday 26th… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Announces 2015 Windows Art Winners, chosen by public vote and creator judges
This year’s Windows on Comic Art Trail – organised by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, whose annual event took place last weekend – made an incredible impact across Kendal, involving local business, clubs and schools as well as local and national artists…. Read More ›
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Doctor Who and Iris Wildthyme Author Paul Magrs creates the “Lovely Levy Colouring Book”
With Christmas just around the corner, Levenshulme’s very own ‘Artist in Residence’ – Doctor Who, Brenda and Effie and Iris Widthyme author Paul Magrs – has turned his daily obsession of painting a different scene of village life into a… Read More ›
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Manchester Animation Festival line-up includes “Simon’s Cat” team and new “Danger Mouse” creators
The Manchester Animation Festival – a celebration of the animated art form – is taking place on 17, 18, 19th November 2015 and passes and tickets are on sale now. Animation is everywhere, from the smallest smart phone screen to the largest… Read More ›
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“Walking The Line” Exhibition Featuring Work of Oliver East Opens
The University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts, working with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, is hosting an exhibition of sequential illustration based around the theme of walking, which launched last week with a guest lecture for students from top… Read More ›
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Cine Excess Gets Graphic in Brighton with Pat Mills, Jim McCarthy and Martin Barker
The ninth annual Cine Excess international Festival turns its focus on the world of graphic novels for the first time this year, with a special panel discussion on violence in comics featuring Professor Martin Barker, comic book writer and editor Pat… Read More ›
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Lancaster to host Out of This World Fiction Fest next month
Lancaster’s Gregson Art and Community Centre is to be the venue for the Out of This World Fiction Fest – a free gathering of local authors and artists on Saturday 7th November, including comics writer Eddie Robson, comics artist Dan Charnley, SF author JS Collyer… Read More ›
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Will Overton’s ” Smart Bomb” Hits the Web, Print Edition in the Pipeline
Smart Bomb!! is a new 48-page, all-ages colour comic masterminded by Will Overton, which fellow Tuber Tony Esmond had sight of in print form at last weekend’s Leamington Comic Con. Set in an alternative gamingverse, one where TV games you’ve never… Read More ›
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2016 Lakes International Comic Art Festival Date Announced
The dates for next year’s annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival have been announced after its 2015 event proved a massive success once again at the weekend, attracting both comic creators and fans from around the globe – and some 14,000 visitors…. Read More ›
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Transformers rivals Robo Machines comic art by Mario Capaldi on show
Many years ago, while Group Editor at Marvel UK, I was nominally in charge of a project to clear the company’s Arundel House basement of old artwork, which Editorial Director Paul Neary wanted cleaned out for his artists’ bullpen, where the… Read More ›
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Who Remembers ‘Chippy’ Stark and a Killer Shark? Commando Readers!
Here’s the lowdown on this week’s Commando releases from DC Thomson (Issues 4855-4858), on sale from Thursday 22nd October in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms, all listed below. Commando No 4855 – Eagles Of Dunkirk Story: Ferg… Read More ›
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In Review: Leamington Comic Con 2015
Leamington Comic Convention on the 17th October was an absolute blast. Rumours were that there had been a massive amount of tickets sold and unlike rumours about my hair being made in China, these rumours turned out to be 100… Read More ›
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Redan extends “Bag-O-Fun” line with new BOj title
Redan Publishing has announced it will release a BOj Bag-O-Fun story and activity magazine early next year, based on the hit pre-school TV show shown on CBeebies that launched last year. Redan already licences Boj for its hit multi-character titles Fun To Lean… Read More ›
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“Red Virgin” Announced as new Graphic Novel project by Mary and Bryan Talbot
One book that caught a lot of people’s attention over the Lakes International Comic Art Festival weekend was Bryan and Mary M. Talbot’s new project, due out next year: The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia. Festival goers got… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con Announces More Guests, including Brits Boo Cook, Mike Krome and Tim Perkins
As the excitement leading to the 7th edition of the Malta Comic Con continues to build, organisers Wicked Comics have announced internationally renowned creators Tim Perkins (Worlds End: The Riders on the Storm), Boo Cook (Elephantmen) and Mike Krome (Shahrazad) as well… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, Judge Dredd Megazine – 25 Years Young This Week
2000AD’s sister comic, Judge Dredd Megazine, celebrates its 25th anniversary this Wednesday – with a special cover by artist Barry Kitson. The veteran artist on Judge Dredd, Anderson: Psi Division, Fantastic Four, and The Amazing Spider-Man has returned to the… Read More ›
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Awesome Comic Podcast Episode 16: Comics Artist Chris Imber Talks Small Press
The boys at the Awesome Comics Podcast aim for sophisticated and polished interviewers this week and end up crudely laughing at crossdressing cosplay. Once that childish gigglefest is done they sit down with the artist Chris Imber, who is currently killing it… Read More ›
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After A Splendid Lakes Festival, We’re Back In The Room!
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival proved a massive success once again this weekend, with a lot of happy memories of meeting so many talented energised comics creators – including some of the brilliant Phoenix comic crew at breakfast each morning at… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival kicks off with Steve Bell, Dave McKean
The 2015 Lakes International Comic Art Festival opened last night with a great talk from Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell, introduced by local MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron. Tim was demonstrably supportive of the Festival (he’s a long… Read More ›