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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Teesside University to launch new Comics degree course
Teesside University is to launch a new BA (honours) Degree course in Comics, Graphic Novels and Sequential Art. It’s a unique course, focused solely on comics, and is fully accredited, run through the Art and Design faculty of the University and will… Read More ›
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Forgotten Comic Characters: Pip, Squeak and Wilfred
A look back at a newspaper strip classic
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“Bright Young Things” wanted as Embassy of Japan launches Manga Jiman 2015 competition
The quest to find the best creators of comic short-stories is back as the Embassy of Japan has launched their comic-writing competition, Manga Jiman 2015. The competition has two categories; Yonkoma Manga, a comic strip of four panels on one page, for entrants… Read More ›
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In Review: Doctor Who Adventures Issue 5
Published by Panini Comic strip by Jason Quinn (script), Russ Leach (art) and coloured by John Burns Test story by Jason Quinn, illustrated by Russ Leach The Issue: Summer’s here and the time is right for reading the latest issue of Doctor… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales Figures: Winners and Losers (January – June 2015)
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) sales figures for titles registered with the organisation were published this week and overall, despite an overall decline in magazine circulation figures – down an average 5.5 per cent – comics and children’s magazines continue… Read More ›
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New Doctor Who Comic On Sale Now
The latest issue of Doctor Who Comic, Titan Comics 100-page collections of their Doctor Who stories initially published in US format, is now on sale in newsagents. Featured this issue are: The Twelfth Doctor – “The Fractures, Part Two”: When the… Read More ›
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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 ›