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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Mezco Toys Judge Dredd and Lawmaster Bike Action Figure – New Pics
This month’s Diamond PREVIEWS “magalog” – available now in comic shops – includes information on the PX One:12 Collective Judge Dredd and Lawmaster Bike Action Figure Box Set from Mezco Toys – and we have some pics for those of you… Read More ›
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James Cameron’s Avatar comes to comics
During a special panel at New York Comic Con 2015, Dark Horse Comics in conjunction with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment announced that Avatar, the highest-grossing film in history, will expand into the world of… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Comic Creator and Educator, Dan Berry
Last year, in partnership with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, downthetubes brought you a number of interviews with creators attending the event. We’re delighted to be able to run a series in the run up to their eagerly anticipated 2015… Read More ›
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Who Loves, Ya Kendal? VIZ, Knockabout offer free events as the Magnificent Emporium returns for Lakes Festival
With just one week to go to this year’s annual Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October 2015), the organisation has unveiled a host of free events to entice Festival goers to Kendal with the return of the Magnificent Knockabout White Elephant Emporium!… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend: US Comics On Sale 7th October 2015 – Surface Tension bows out on a High!
Here’s this week’s run down of new comics on sale in comic shops across the UK. We’re running a bit behind, which is really annoying because there’s a wealth of great stuff now on sale. Top of my pull list… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Kate Beaton, creator of “Hark, A Vagrant”
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 eagerly… Read More ›
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Titan Comics set for Big Splash in Big Apple at New York Comic Con this weekend
If you’ve headed to New York for this weekend for New York Comic Con like our lucky correspondent at large Tony Esmond, here’s the line up of signings and events Titan Comics has in store. This year’s New York Comic Con… Read More ›
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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 ›