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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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 ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast spotlights Rob Jones and Madius Comics
The latest episode of the Awesome Comics Podcast features Rob Jones, one of the evil geniuses behind new small press publisher Madius Comics, who joins Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and Tony Esmond to talk about their current and upcoming titles, the amazing… Read More ›
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“Bomb Scares” comic anthology from Time Bomb Comics seeks backing
Time Bomb Comics publisher Steve Tanner has just launched a modest Kicstarter – just £500 – to raise funds to publish Bomb Scares, a new horror comic anthology showcasing a truly frightening array of artists and writers. Intended as an annual release… Read More ›
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British Comic Awards Shortlist announced, Beano artist Dudley D. Watkins enters “Hall of Fame”
After many, many months of planning, reading, more reading and even more reading the team behind the British Comic Awards have just revealed the nominees for 2014/15, selected from the Longlist of titles provided by the reading public, publishers and the creators themselves. The BCA… Read More ›
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Titan Comics’ Doctor Who: Four Doctors features in UK “Doctor Who Comic”
Titan Comics’s Doctor Who: Four Doctors saga, recently releaed in US format as a five-issue mini series in comic shops, is being re-presented in their UK news stand Doctor Who Comic, beginning in Volume 2 #1, on sale 8th October. What… Read More ›
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DC Thomson recovers Beano web domain from “internet squatter”
DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano, have taken control of the thebeano.co.uk domain name from a Norfolk businessman. The Dundee-based company, which has been publishing The Beano for decades, took action against Stephen Fisher from Ellingham, who had registered the domain name. Internet… Read More ›
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Miss out on “Yellow” at Your Peril! OFF LIFE book project launches on Kickstarter
Today the tease is over and – after a year of hard work and illustration – the team behind Britain’s only free street comic, OFF LIFE, have unveiled their plans for Yellow: the collected book and launched its Kickstarter campaign. Yellow is… Read More ›
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First issue of The Beano sells for £17,300 in latest Compalcomics auction
A rare copy of the first issue of The Beano, published in 1938, has sold for a whopping £17,300 in the latest Compalcomics auction – and other issues of the weekly humour comic also sold at good prices. “Bought for… Read More ›
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Caption, the small and indie press convention, goes to Coventry
Caption, the two day comics festival – now in its 23rd year – returns on 10th – 11th October. The popular event dedicated to British small press and indie publishing has moved from Oxford to Coventry as, we’re told, there aren’t… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Original Comic Art Auction in London announced, Jonathan Ross to be auctioneer
In June 2012 London hosted the Olympics. But in November 2015 there’s something even bigger coming to the capital. Yes, it’s the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Grand Auction of Original Comic Art, featuring works by the likes of Ian… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Adapting Sven Hassel’s “Wheels of Terror”
Today sees the release of the Wheels of Terror: The Graphic Novel by publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson, an imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, adapting Sven Hassel’s famous and chilling novel of the same name, largely set on the Eastern Front in… Read More ›
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British Children’s Shows dominate eBay TV property searches
While the impending return of The X-Files is prompting many searches of eBay by its users. British children’s TV – including Thunderbirds and The Clangers – are prompting a lot of interest on the online auction site, no doubt stirred… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Ian Kennedy’s Johnny Red #2 cover, #1 Preview Pages
Here’s a sneak peek at the covers of the second issue of their eight-issue limited series written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Keith Burns, which launches on 4th November (see news story). Titan also sneaked out some preview art… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend: US Comics On Sale 30th September 2015 – Jump On Board 2000AD!
Here’s this week’s list of comics on sale now in comic shops across the UK. As usual, our list highlights the work of British creators and publishers. 2000AD Prog 1950, on sale today, offers an ideal for new readers or… Read More ›