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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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: Michael DeForge, the “Marvin Hagler” of North American “Art Comics”
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event – and we’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their… Read More ›
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Out Today: New Doctor Who Adventures (with free sonic screwdriver!)
It’s October and Something Wicked This Way Comes… in the form of the wickedest magazine in the universe – Issue 7 of Doctor Who Adventures, out today – and imagine our horror to discover the usual opening letter was not… Read More ›
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Dark Horse confirms Mœbius hard covers project, to delight of his many fans
US publisher Dark Horse has announced that the library of Mœbius, one of the most influential and respected artists in the history of comics and cartooning, will arrive on store shelves, in English, in a gorgeous series of hardcover volumes… Read More ›
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Posy Simmonds art features in Lakes Festival Auction,’lost’ BROADBAND comic illustrations also offered
Top Guardian cartoonist and graphic novelist Posy Simmonds has joined the ranks of artists who have kindly donated art to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Grand Auction of Original Comic Art, which already features works by the likes of Ian Churchill, Hunt… Read More ›
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Mike Megdalia’s Lakes Festival Poster set to promote Cumbria through comics
Here’s a wonderful poster by marvellous Mike Medaglia to promote the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival – taking place next weekend – which will be featured in one of the weekend long event’s exhibitions and posted around Kendal. Prints will… Read More ›
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Beyond Lovecraft: An Interview with Jasper Bark and Rob Moran about their new graphic novel
Comics writer Jasper Bark (who I’ve been privileged to work with in the past on a couple of projects) and artist Rob Moran have just launched a crowdfunding appeal to support their latest project, Beyond Lovecraft – a graphic novel… Read More ›
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Target Books Recalled for the Modern Doctor Who Era in spiffing fan project
Derby-based designer Andrew-Mark Thompson – one of the organisers of Whooverville, which takes place in Derby every year around September-ish – has created these wonderful homages to the Doctor Who Target books, continuing the range that was once the only… Read More ›
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Daring Escapes and World War One Air War feature in new Commando titles
Here’s the low down on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4851-4854). on sale today in all good newsagents, 8th October 2015, featuring two all-new stories written by Ferg Handley with interior art from Keith Page and Vila. Commando… Read More ›
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One Beat Zines announces third anthology, “Identity” will launch at Thought Bubble
One Beat Zines, thezine-making collective/distro run by Sarah Broadhurst and Julia Scheele has announced the impending release of their third anthology since they launched almost exactly one year ago. Identity – available for pre-order from the OBZ shop – is a book full of varied and diverse female… Read More ›
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Ten-shun! The new 100% Biodegradable is on sale now!
Offering its usual entertaining mix of action, visceral black humour and outright savagery and mayhem Issue 10 of the digital anthology 100% Biodegradable has just been released on Drivethru and Comicsy for a measly 69p (that’s 99 cents for our… Read More ›
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Dave Windett’s new web comic “Intergalactic Medical Doctor” launches
Dave Windett has a new web comic over at the Webcomic Factory – Intergalactic Medical Doctor, written by Christian Beranek and Tony DiGerolamo (who he worked on with another strip, Comic Book Mafia). “It’s been described as ‘kind of like… Read More ›
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Doctor Who writer Bob Baker and artist Paul Tams signing at Cardiff’s Comic Guru this weekend
Doctor Who writer Bob Baker will be signing copies of his new book The Essential Book Of K9, alongside the book’s editor and well-known Doctor Who artist artist Paul Tams at Cardiff’s Comic Guru store this Saturday (10th October). Bob is best… Read More ›
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Johnny Red #1: The Video Trailer
Here’s Titan Comics video trailer for Johnny Red #1, written by Garth Ennis with art by Keith Burns, on sale in November. JOHNNY RED #1 Writer: Garth Ennis Artist: Keith Burns Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once… Read More ›
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Plastichead unleashes Werewolf Press, new graphic novel company, announces “Realm of the Damned”
Independent entertainment distributor Plastichead has announced the launch of a new graphic novel company – Werewolf Press – and will launch its first title in its four book Realm of the Damned series in early 2016. Realm of the Damned – written… Read More ›
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Taschen launches “Bronze Age of DC Comics” book by Paul Levitz
Specialist publisher has just launched its sumptuous-looking title The Bronze Age of DC Comics, dedicated to some of the best-loved comics in US publisher DC Comics history, penned by the company’s former Publisher and President Paul Levitz. On 15th December 1978,… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast Episode 14: Comic Artist Brian Vander
The boys at the Awesome Comics Podcast get all transatlantic this week when Dan Butcher, Vince Hunt and Tony Esmond interview the titan of pencils Brian Vander. This particular Chicago creator is working on the long form webcomic The World of… Read More ›
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Despite the Odds, Child buys Beano in Supermarket Shock; the perils and pitfalls of UK news stand distribution
Here’s a couple of snapshots of a typical British supermarket display of teen and young children’s magazines taken yesterday, which I occasionally post for discussion and dissection on my Facebook Comic Con page as we ponder the state of our native… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Are Go comic cover unveiled
DC Thomson has revealed the cover of the first issue of its Thunderbirds Are Go title, which launches Wednesday 14th October in all good newsagents. Launchng just as the second set of first season episodes is due to start… Read More ›
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Captain Britain guests in fan homage to Herb Trimpe
Captain Britain fans should be thrilled by this Herb Trimpe homage by comic creators Robin Barnard and Martin Hand, which features on the back page of the next issue of Robin’s latest free comic entitled Your Lord, Master and Emperor… Read More ›
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21st Century Tank Girl book to launch at Lakes Festival, one month before book shop release
Writer Alan Martin and artists Warwick Johnson-Cadwell and Jonathan Edwards will be launching the 21st Century Tank Girl book at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October) in Kendal – well over a month before the collection is released in shops…. Read More ›