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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The Comic Electric: A Digital Comics Symposium
Led by renowned comic writers Leah Moore and Alan Moore, the Electricomics project launched in May 2014 with funding from The Digital R&D Fund for the Arts. Now, as the project nears the conclusion of its initial research and development… Read More ›
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In My View: Why The British Comics Industry is Far From Dead
It’s hard to credit but, strangely, there are some out there who claim the British comics industry is dead, ignoring the huge number of successful independent comics out there and a still-thriving news stand. Now, before anyone comments, I know… Read More ›
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Snowpiercer Volume 3 out in February from Titan Comics
Titan Comics will release the English edition of the third chapter of the French science-fiction Snowpiercer bande dessinee series written by Oliver Bocquet, with art by Jean-Marc Rochette on 17th February 2015. Snowpiercer: The Escape, written by Jacques Lob and Benjamin… Read More ›
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US comics publisher Dark Horse announces new Editor in Chief
US publisher Dark Horse – publishers of titles such as Resident Alien by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse and This Damned Band by Paul Cornell – announced new positions for key Editorial department staff earlier this month. Dave Marshall has taken on the… Read More ›
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Titan Comics snags rights to critically-acclaimed game and animation series Wakfu
Titan Comics is to launch a new licensed comic series based on the Wakfu multiplayer video game property created by Ankama Games on 11th November 2015. Titan’s eight-issue series re-publishes the French comics written by Kahel, with art by Mig… Read More ›
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Dept. of Monsterology returns with “Sabbaticals” graphic novel in November
Dept. of Monsterology is back! Renegade Arts Entertainment has just announced that Gordon Rennie, PJ Holden, Steven Denton and Jim Campbell return to campus with the next instalment of cryptozoological adventure – with a new graphic novel, Dept. of Monsterology: Sabbaticals, out… Read More ›
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Marvel UK Memories: X-Rated Doctor Who! (Well, almost…)
It’s very rare to have what some may see as a ‘raunchy’ story to tell about comics creation, especially one involving a Doctor Who comic strip – but I have one! Although Gary Russell took over from me as editor of… Read More ›
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Marvel UK artist Pino Rinaldi provides cover for “Dark Rock Chronicles”
London-based independent book and comics publisher Diego Comics Publishing‘s latest title is Dark Rock Chronicles, a horror novel by Marco Guadalupi, featuring an awesome cover art by renowned illustrator Pino Rinaldi, well known for his Marvel comics work. This new English edition of… Read More ›
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Greek comic artist seeks to highlight country’s personal stories as crisis continues
How is Greece being affected by the ongoing financial crisis and the ongoing instability of its recently-re-elected government, still without a clear majority? Greek cartoonist Spiros Derveniotis hopes to cast an informative light on a dificult subject, told through the lives of… Read More ›
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New Roy of the Rovers merchandise on its way?
Richard Pink, the Managing Director of Licensing Agent and Brand Licensing company Pink Key Consulting, now handling the licensing of numerous Egmont UK brands including their “Classic Comics”, has big plans for the publishing company’s best-known vintage brand – Roy… Read More ›
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Doctor Who artist Martin Geraghty mind probed
The latest episode of Jeremy Bement’s Doctor Who: Panel to Panel podcast features a chat with longtime Doctor Who Magazine comic artist Martin Geraghty about all the Doctors, his 20 plus years with DWM and much more. Martin began drawing… Read More ›
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The Art Of The Graphic Novel: Adapted and Inspired
There has long been a tradition of comics and graphic novels adapting, or drawing inspiration from, well-known stories, and “The Art Of The Graphic Novel: Adapted and Inspired“, an exhibition that’s part of the Guernsey Literary Festival (on now, running… Read More ›
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2000AD Expands New Publishing Program With “Scarlet Traces” Deal
In a move indicating further expansion beyond its own well-established and much-loved titles, 2000AD has announced it has acquired the rights to Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton and Matt “D’Israeli” Brooker. 2000AD has secured the global rights for the series,… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Beano artist Zoom Rockman
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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Peter Brookes Exhibition opens at Chris Beetles Gallery
An exhibition of over 150 cartons by The Times’ political cartoonist Peter Brookes has just opened today at London’s Chris Beetles Gallery. All of the satirical works are up for sale. Peter Brookes was born in Liverpool in 1943, the son of an RAF officer…. Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: Swedish comic artist and illustrator Mattias Adolfsson
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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Something For The Weekend: British Comic Shop Releases (16th September 2015)
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. The top spot goes this week to Jem & The Holograms #7 from IDW… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Comic Writer Kieron Gillen
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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New Charlotte Corday serial begins today by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page
Over on the official Charlotte Corday web site, author and comic strip writer Stephen Walsh and Commando and Dan Dare artist Keith Page have just kicked off another fiction strand – a serialised text story, “Warp Wizard” revealing the early… Read More ›
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Black Knight’s return stirs Hulk Weekly memories
I’ll readily confess to woeful ignorance of modern Marvel continuity, but I was delighted to hear the news that the Black Knight is to get his own book – launching in November. I couldn’t help but hope, however, that writer… Read More ›