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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Panel Borders: On the Brink of a Brass Sun with 2000AD’s I.N.J. Culbard
Concluding a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’ on the smashing podcast (and radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to artist I.N.J. Culbard about his work for 2000AD on strips such as ‘clock-punk fantasy’ serial “Brass Sun”… Read More ›
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Show and tell: Airfix illustration at the House of Illustration
Join Matt Curtis, Art Director of the Sunday Times Magazine next Saturday (5th September), for an informal drop-in show and tell session at London’s House of Illustration examining the breadth of vintage Airfix illustration. Curtis will share pieces from the… Read More ›
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Crucible Episode 40: Strike Back!
The Chrell strikes back… Crucible is an ongoing creator-owned strip which started in STRIP: The Adventures Comics Magazine, created by myself and 2000AD artist Smuzz (perhaps best known for his work on ABC Warriors) and lettered by Jim Campbell. We’re hoping we can attract a print publisher…. Read More ›
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Crucible Episode 39: Chrell Attack!
With Beloc’s help, the battle against the Chrell seems to have taken a turn in the party’s favour… or has it? Crucible is an ongoing creator-owned strip which started in STRIP: The Adventures Comics Magazine, created by myself and 2000AD artist Smuzz (perhaps best known for… Read More ›
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Saltire Goes To (Scottish) Schools!
Struggling to get children to pick up a book? Comic books and graphic novels might be the key to boosting literacy in youngsters, particularly boys, say researchers – and now Scotland’s newest superhero, Saltire, is joining efforts to encourage reading…. Read More ›
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Sun’s “Striker” comic finally heads to animation?
Striker, the long-running newspaper strip published by The Sun, may finally be heading for a new life as an animated tale – a long cherished ambition of its creator, Pete Nash. In a post to the StrikerWorld forum, Pete has announced some “exciting… Read More ›
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Eagles of Battle back in latest Commando titles
Here’s the low down on the latest issues of Commando on sale now in all good newsagents and available digitally in various formats. If you enjoy Commando, do check out our exclusive discounted subscription offer! Commando No 4839 – Eagles… Read More ›
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Hibernia Comics uncovers “Lost Stories” for new Comic Archive
Hibernia Comics, publishers of the terrific collections of classic British strips such as The House of Daemon and Doomlord have a new project in the works that has turned up some interesting “lost” gems from Britain’s rich comics history –… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend: British Comic Shop Releases (26th August 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. Comic artist and writer Mike Collins picked up on this regular feature’s tweaked… Read More ›
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“Wot? No Fish!!”, a theatre show inspired by shoemaker’s doodles, back on tour
(With thanks to Glenn Dakin for the spot): Wot? No Fish!!, a theatre play inspired by a shoemaker’s doodles on his wage packets, is currently touring the UK, most recently playing the London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank,… Read More ›
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Nightmarish Dark Judges “origin story” coming to 2000AD
It started with an artist’s dream – but now, the nightmare of the Dark Judges’ early days is coming to 2000AD. Artist Dave Kendall was inspired by a haunting dream to create his own versions of John Wagner and Brian Bolland’s… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival confirms Canadian comic guest line-up, announces “Canada Lodge” venue
The full line-up of Canadian creators at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October) is now confirmed and includes Kate Beaton, Darwyn Cooke and Kathryn and Stuart Immonen – who will be joining many others in the dedicated Canadian Comics Lodge at The Shakespeare… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2015: An Interview with Canadian Comic Creator Seth
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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Latest Compalcomics auction offers rare Beanos, Number Ones with free gifts… and more Dalek Swapits!
The Compalcomics August/September auction catalogue has just launched on the-saleroom.com and includes a number of early Beanos and plenty of Number One issues of various comics complete with with free gifts, including The Hornet from 1963, the girls comic Romeo,… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast probes Shaun Dobes, offers Nottingham Comic Convention ticket competition
Episode 8 of the Awesome Comics Podcast is ready to creep into your frontal lobe today. Hosted by Vince Hunt (Red Mask From Mars) , Dan Butcher (Vanguard) and Tony (the hairy and really annoying one) Esmond, this episode has as… Read More ›
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Dan Abnett and Ian Culbard’s “Wild’s End” returns with “The Enemy Within” next month
Last Year, US publisher BOOM! Studios invited readers to the sleepy village of Lower Crowchurch at the cusp of a violent, otherworldly invasion in the critically acclaimed Wild’s End, an anthropomorphic mashup of Wind in the Willows and War of… Read More ›
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Something for the Weekend: British Comic Shop Releases (20th August 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. You know, thinking about the headline I’ve given this item, wouldn’t it be… Read More ›
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Marvel Curiosities: Night Raven’s first major US appearance, alongside Nick Fury and Black Widow
(With thanks to Tony Ingram): As folk know, we try to document Marvel UK curiosities and the graphic novel Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty, published by Marvel US in February 1995, certainly qualifies. Given the publication date, I did wonder if it was one… Read More ›
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Artist Liam Sharp turns to prose for “Andrew Wilmingot’s Paradise Rex, Press Inc.”
Comics artist and co-founder of the digital publising house Madefire Liam Sharp has turned his hand to a new novella, recently released by PS Publishing that even his publisher, Peter Crowther, describes as “off the wall” and has had staff at… Read More ›
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Comic Creator Spotlight: Big Punch Studios
Independent publishers Big Punch Studios will be featuring on a number of panels at the upcoming Melksham Comic Con soon (Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st August). Big Punch Studios are Nich Angell, Lucy Brown, Jon Lock and Alice White: four friends with… Read More ›