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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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 ›
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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 ›