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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Sneak Peek: 2000AD Zenith “Apex” Edition
This week (Thursday) sees the release of the Zenith: Apex Edition – a gorgeous-looking full size reproduction from 2000AD publishers Rebellion of the original artwork from Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s seminal superhero story from the late 1980s – and we have a sneak peek at some pages for… Read More ›
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Exploring Shojo Manga, the World of Japanese Girls’ Comics
Coming up in October is a great exhibition that’s part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival – the first major exhibition of Japanese shojo (girls’) manga in the UK in association with Japan’s Kyoto International Manga Museum. The exhibition’s aim is to… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (12th August 2015) – Four Doctors and War Stories
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 may also be already thinking about Christmas (some people do, advertisers, mainly),… Read More ›
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“Eagles of Battle” saga resumes in new Commando release
Here’s the full briefing on this week’s releases of DC Thomson’s Commando, which includes a new issue of one of the title’s rare continuing stories, “Eagles of Battle”, written by Ferg Handley and drawn by Keith Page. These titles are on… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Brings Comic Art to the High Street
Kendal’s high street will again be taken over by comics in October in the run up the third Lakes International Comic Art Festival, complemented by exhibitions of art by Andy Poyiadgi and Mike Medaglia. The Lakes International Comic Art Festival… Read More ›
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“Filmish”, Edward Ross’ first graphic novel, set to debut in November
After working quietly on the project for the last two years, artist Edward Ross’ first graphic novel, Filmish – A Graphic Journey Through Film, will be released in November by SelfMadeHero. Expanding on his self-published Filmish series, the Edinburgh-based cartoonist uses comics… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: The Battle for the Backing of Online Readers
If you follow me on social media, you’ll know I’ve been regularly plugging my SF comic project, Crucible (co-created with Smuzz, lettered by Jim Campbell), which runs on the web comics platform Tapastic and is embedded here on downthetubes as… Read More ›
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New Awesome Comics Podcast probes “Afterlife” creator and publisher Jon Lock
Episode 6 of the new UK small press centric Awesome Comics Podcast is coming your way today. Hosted by Vince Hunt (creator of Red Mask From Mars), Dan Butcher (Vanguard) Butcher and our very own reviewer chap Tony Esmond, this episode… Read More ›
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What If Doctor Who had been… Brian Blessed?
Geoffrey Bayldon. Brian Blessed. Richard O’Brien. At one point or another, such actors have been considered for the iconic role of Doctor Who – and if they weren’t, they should have been. But how would they have looked on… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Panel to Panel: Talking Four Doctors with Paul Cornell and Neil Edwards
Episode 36 of Doctor Who: Panel to Panel is live and focuses on Titan Comics‘ mini-series Four Doctors, which launches this week – and Doctor Who Comics Day, a Titan Comics-sponsored event that takes place on Saturday. In this episode,… Read More ›
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Blasé Books celebrates British comics with new issue of “Scraps”
(Via Lew Stringer): Blasé Books, the company that sells British comic art from the IPC archives purchased by Peter Hansen some years back, have announced the imminent publication of Scraps, an irregular fanzine devoted to British comics. Available from the… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (5th August 2015) – Damned Bands and Peanuts
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 may also be already thinking about Christmas (some people do, advertisers,… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Miracleman #1 Volume 2 By Gaiman & Buckingham
Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham‘s take on Miracleman will finally see completion thanks to Marvel, starting next month. Their tale of Mick Anglo’s British superhero, originally known as Marvelman, began 25 years ago but was cut short, victim to company… Read More ›
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Moose Kids, the free humour e-comic for kids (of all ages) is back!
It’s live! Moose Kid Comics Issue 2, filled with yet more amazing all-ages comics, has just been launched on an unsuspecting internet by editor and publisher Jamie Smart – and it’s just as packed with great comic strips from a… Read More ›
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Exclusive: Dave Gibbons’ Dan Dare cover for new 2000AD collection
Thanks to Rebellion, publishers of 2000AD, we’re delighted to bring you this exclusive Dan Dare item! Featured here is Dave Gibbons specially commissioned and truly stunning cover for the first collection of the “Dan Dare” strips from 2000AD. This Dan Dare:… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Brian Gorman’s “Borderliners”
Manchester-based actor, comics writer and artist Brian Gorman has just launched a crowdfunding campaign to continue his creator-owned SF espionage story Borderliners: True Realities – a strip “starring” two characters based, with permission, on actors Ian McKellen and Roger Moore that has… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Tzvi Lebetkin talks “The Imperium” – Making Every Day 1968!
Comic creator Tzvi Lebetkin, perhaps best known for his indie project BIBLICAL and his Doctor Who-inspired, fan strip “Ice Warriors” (drawn by Stefano Cardoselli), has just launched a IndieGoGo crowd funding appeal for a new project, The Imperium – a… Read More ›
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Mike Collins creates first official BBC Sherlock colouring book
Out on 5th November 2015 is Sherlock: The Mind Palace: The Official Colouring Book – the first offical colouring book from the hit BBC series, filled with over 50 intricate scenes and cast images from the show. The art is… Read More ›
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This week’s Panel Borders: 2000AD alumni Colin Wilson and Jim Alexander interviewed
Starting a month of shows about ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’, Alex Fitch talks to a writer and an artist about their work in and after 2000AD. Colin Wilson discusses getting his first work on the periodical and drawing Judge Dredd… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Alejandro Jodorowksy’s “Showman Killer”
This November sees the release of Showman Killer: Heartless Hero from legendary Chilean filmmaker, playwright and writer of The Incal and Holy Mountain, Alejandro Jodorowksy – and Titan Comics have just released a Sneak Peek trailer for the book. Genetically modified… Read More ›