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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Mouse to Minx’s “Bunty” comic-inspired product line grows in time for Christmas
Retro girls comics merchandise!
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British Marvel anti-hero Outlaw to oust Punisher?
(Updated 1430): US comic news sites Newsarama and Comic Book Resources have higlighted the return of Outlaw, a Punisher-inspired British vigilante created by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Doug Braithwaite, in the first issue of Contest of Champions, on sale 7th October. Al Ewing is writing Contest… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend: British Comic Shop Releases (2nd September 2015)
It’s a busy weekend for comic fans across the UK, with many in Birmingham for the ace International Comic Expo, offering a whole host of comic creators to meet and greet – and until next week, it’s the only place where… Read More ›
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Asterix goes from strength to strength, with new “Missing Scroll” album out next month
Since 1959, when Asterix was created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, he has gone from success to success – continuously attracting fans from all ages and from all around the world. In the publishing field, it is a very… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: “A Restless Night”, a Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman spin-off
Tom Ward and Luke Parker, the talented team behind the brilliant Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman (the latest issue reviewed here), have just launched their latest Kickstarter for a one-shot prestige horror comic from the world of their hit comic, based… Read More ›
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Game designers joins comic creators, explore “Parallel Worlds” for Lakes Festival in October
Comics and games have long held shared interests, so it’s no surprise that many of this year’s guests for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October) include creators with credits for both, including Bach, Kieron Gillen and Antony Johnston. Comic… Read More ›
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Electricomics app launches for Apple devices, featuring strips by Ennis, Moore, Reppion, Hogan – and Moore
Electricomics, the new digital comics reader app developed by a team including Alan Moore, has just been launched for iPad – with an Android version planned at a future date. Over two years in the making, the app gives you… Read More ›
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Beano celebrates record-breaking run as a weekly comic, and Toytopia aims for another!
‘ Thanks to Guinness World Records, this week’s Beano (Issue 3800), on sale now in all good newsagents and sporting a new logo, confirms the comic’s status as the longest-running comic published weekly. The Beano is officially a record breaker! We’re the longest-running… Read More ›
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Beano artist Steve Beckett goes to War! (Punic War, that is…)
The latest issue of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy (Issue 80) features a Punic Wars diorama on the front cover created by Beano and HOME comic artist Steve Beckett – his model making work just another of his many talents. Featuring… Read More ›
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Esquire gets Bond exclusive – new interview with Daniel Craig
Men’s magazine Esquire has landed the first UK interview and photo shoot exclusive with actor Daniel Craig ahead of the release of SPECTRE, the new James Bond film. It’s is the second time Esquire has scooped its competitors to the UK… Read More ›
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“Annotated Alice” project celebrates 150 years of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland
As we’ve previously noted, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is 150 years old this year and to celebrate the Public Domain Review, which archives and promotes out of copyright art and writings has teamed up with Medium to create… Read More ›
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First Ever ComicCity Festival heads to Derry next weekend
Some of the UK and Ireland’s leading comic artists and writers – including PJ Holden, John McCrea and Declan Shalvey – will touch down in Derry next weekend for the first ever ComicCity Festival. The two-day festival, which is being run… Read More ›
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Is Time Inc UK hoping to revive its British Comic Characters for new films?
Admittedly reading between the lines a little, Time Inc UK – formerly IPC, owners of many pre-1970 comic characters ranging from The Spider and the Steel Claw to Faceache – announced the formation of a dedicated advertising film division at… Read More ›
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Licensing.biz announces month of Thunderbirds exclusives and features
If you’re a fan of the original Thunderbirds or the re-imagined Thunderbirds Are Go, then bookmark the trade site Licensing.biz, because they’ve just announced a month of features, interviews and exclusive news will celebrate 50 years of the Gerry and Sylvia… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Karrie Fransman, creator of “Death of the Artist”
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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Comics Forum web site seeks editors
The Comics Forum is seeking to appoint three or more individuals to the roles of Articles Editors, News Editors, and Reviews Editors on the Comics Forum website. Comics Forum was established in 2009 as part of Leeds’ annual sequential art festival Thought Bubble, which takes… Read More ›
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Give Me 50! War Machine joins Marvel Heroes game
Game makers Gazillion have released the Fiftieth fully unique playable character Marvel Heroes 2015 – War Machine – and announced another new developments in the game, including the chance to team up with super villain Carnage and the arrival of the… Read More ›
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Remember, Remember: Warren Ellis’ “James Bond” debuts 4th November
The first issue of the Warren Ellis-scribed James Bond debuts on 4th November 2015 in comic shops across the world, published by Dynamite Entertainment – just ten days after SPECTRE launches in cinemas in the US and UK. Featuring art by… Read More ›
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Call For Papers: Fourth Global Forum of Critical Studies in Italy
A call has gone out for paper on the broad subject “The Sequential Art: Comics as a Cultural Nexus“, for a panel at the Fourth Global Forum of Critical Studies, organized by Vienna-based Euroacademia in Lucca, Italy, which will take place… Read More ›
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Comic Stars head for Birmingham for this year’s International Comics Expo
Some of the biggest names from the world of comic book art and publishing will be descending onto the Studio Venue in Birmingham city centre this coming weekend for this year’s International Comics Expo. The International Comic Expo, or ICE as… Read More ›