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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Egmont launches new look Bob the Builder magazine
Egmont UK has just launched a new 32-page magazine reflecting the new-look Bob the Builder TV show which launches on Channel 5’s Milkshake slot in September. The new-look Bob the Builder magazine aimed at preschoolers aged 3-5 is packed with… Read More ›
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Preacher TV series launch date announced
AMC’s live-action adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Vertigo comics series Preacher will launch in May 2016, Seth Rogan, the show’s executive producer has announced. AMC announced it had ordered a pilot for a series based on the comic Preacher back… Read More ›
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Hurricane Aces and terror on the streets of Georgian Manchester in Commando
Here’s the intel on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando (Issues 4843-4846) on sale today, 10th September 2015, in all good newsagents and for various mobile devices. Commando 4843 – Peterloo! Story: Ferg Handley Art: Carlos Pino… Read More ›
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We Do Love to be Beside the Seaside: First Blackpool Comic Con on Saturday
A quick reminder that Blackpool Comic Con takes place this Saturday 12th September 2015, at the northern seaside town’s world famous Winter Gardens. The event is heavy on media guests, including Doctor Who‘s Jenna Coleman (who was born in Blackpool), Game of Thrones‘… Read More ›
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Madefire comics part of Apple TV revamp, gets launch slot in new App Store
International computer giant Apple – the makers of iPads, iPones and more – has just announced an App Store for its new Apple TV 4, and its launch partners not only include a lot of games, content readers and video viewers… Read More ›
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2000AD to publish Goldtiger, marking tentative step into comics publishing beyond own titles
It’s the secret history of the greatest comic of the 1960s that you’ve never heard of… and you’ll end up wondering if it’s a true story or gloriously put together hoax. But it’s also a Kickstarter success story, a time-capsule of… Read More ›
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Want to be in the comics industry? Lifting the Lid on Comics Uncovered 2015
Birmingham had barely caught its breath from all the excitement of the International Comic Expo (read our review here) the day before when more comic enthusiasts and professionals descended on The Studio venue for Comics Uncovered 2015. Jon Laight reports… The sister event… Read More ›
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Joe Sugg’s “Username: Evie”, drawn by Amrit Birdi, out this week
Regular readers will recall our report earlier this year that Hodder & Stoughton had acquired the rights to a graphic novel from Joe Sugg, best known for his channel ‘ThatcherJoe‘ on YouTube. Well, Username: Evie – featuring art by the hugely-talented Amrit Birdi, coloured by… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Simon Grennan, writer of Dispossession
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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“Doctor Who: The Complete History” launches today
Some British retailers may be getting Doctor Who exhaustion right now given the number of different titles based on the show now available – but that hasn’t stopped Panini from launching what is surely one of its most ambitious tie-ins yet… Read More ›
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Carlos Ezquerra delivers “Johnny Red” variant cover for new Titan Comics title by Garth Ennis
The new Johnny Red title from Titan Comics written by Garth Ennis – launching in November – looks like it will be terrific, simply based on what artist Keith Burns has already done in comics. That include ERKS for Volume 11… Read More ›
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Homes and the Homeless in the spotlight at Lakes Festival exhibition
Kendal’s YWCA will be transformed in October into an art installation that is part comic strip, part crossword puzzle, that examines our concepts of home, and homelessness. As part of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th -18th October) “Windows Trail”, local shops and… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures gears up for show’s return, Supergirl writer James Peaty pens strip
This is the best September ever! Not only does Doctor Who return to our TV screens on the nineteenth, but on 10th September you can feast your eyes upon Doctor Who Adventures #6… which the Doctor is happy to tell… Read More ›
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Classic Thunderbirds “Bookazine” out this week
Panini are to release a Thunderbirds “bookazine”, the work of the same team working on their excellent The Essential Doctor Who series, including Marcus Hearn, author of the new book Thunderbirds: The Vault (reviewed here), Fifty years after International Rescue’s first mission,… Read More ›
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It’s Electrifyin’! Awesome Comics Podcast features Leah Moore
Episode 10 of the Awesome Comics Podcast is slipping and sliding into your pyjamas today. Hosted by Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher and Tony Esmond, this episode has as its guest, writer and digital comics pioneer Leah Moore. The guys talk… Read More ›
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Sufferin’ satellites! Dan Dare to return as audio drama series
Spaceship Away! The science fiction action hero Dan Dare – Pilot of the Future, is set to return as an audio drama series. Independent production company B7 Media, in association with the Dan Dare Corporation, has announced that BAFTA nominees… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly sees debut of “Older Than the Hills”, return of Humph the Cat and Psycho Gran!
“Older Than the Hills”, the new graphic serial by Martin Hayes and Chris Askham launches as part of Volume 18 of David Lloyd’s digital magazine Aces Weekly today (7th September). High summer. The rolling English countryside. The birds and the butterflies… Read More ›
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Starlord’s “Planet of the Damned” collection on its way from 2000AD
The Bermuda Triangle-inspired science fiction comic “Planet of the Damned” that channelled elements of Mad Max straight to the pages of the short-lived 2000AD companion Starlord, is to be collected next year. Rebellion, the publishers of 2000AD are putting out… Read More ›
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In Review: Thunderbirds – The Vault
By Marcus Hearn Designed by Mike Jones Published by Virgin Books Out: 10th September 2015 The Book: On 30th September 1965, International Rescue successfully completed their first assignment, and the Tracy brothers imprinted themselves on a generation of captivated children. Thirty-two… Read More ›
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Kayo action figure most wanted Thunderbirds toy, say makers Vivid
Kayo, the Thunderbirds Are Go character who serves as International Rescue’s security chief, looks like she’ll be a runaway success – as an action figure. Vivid, who currently hold the master toy licence for ITV’s Thunderbirds Are Go animated TV series,… Read More ›