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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BBC.com Culture Takes on San Diego Comic Con with Axel Alonso, Paul Dini and more
BBC.com Culture will host its first ever San Diego Comic-Con panel, “How Comic Books Took Over Hollywood,” at this year’s annual gathering this month, featuring Marvel Comics’ Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, Batman: The Animated Series writer/producer Paul Dini, Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice actress Ashley Eckstein, and Fanboys director Kyle Newman,… Read More ›
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Awesome Comics Podcast launches this weekend, promoting British small press comics
Comics are awesome. It’s that simple. Nowhere is this more apparent than amongst the books, convention tables and creators within the small press and independent comics community in the UK. And what do you do when you find something thats… Read More ›
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B7 Media’s “Martian Chronicles” wins International Radio Award
B7 Media’s dramatisation of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles for BBC Radio 4, has won Silver in the prestigious 2015 New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards, in the Best Drama Special category. The Awards, honouring the World’s Best Radio… Read More ›
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Achi Baba, a new Graphic Novel, explores World War One Gallipoli Campaign
12th July 1915 will see the centenary of the final attempt by Allied Forces to take the ‘strategically important’ hill of Achi Baba, a critical cornerstone in the Gallipoli Campaign’s objective to advance into Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire. Like… Read More ›
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In UK Cinemas Today: Terminator Genisys
Terminator Genisys stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, J.K. Simmons, Byung-Hun Lee and Matt Smith. Connect with Skydance Productions online: WEBSITE: http://skydance.com FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/skydanceproductions TWITTER: http://twitter.com/skydance INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/skydance
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Mercy Thompson – Hopcross Jilly Collection on sale now
In comic book stores this month (and also available through Amazon and other online store) is Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly from Dynamite, a hardcover collection of the full six-issue mini series written by Rik Hoskin from a plot by New York Times best-selling… Read More ›
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William Shatner to promote new Titan Books “Captain Kirk” autobiography at San Diego Comic Con
Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, will be commanding Titan Books‘s enterprises at San Diego Comic Con 2015, on a panel to promote The Autobiography of James T. Kirk, a book due for full release in September, written by David A. Goodman. “From cadet… Read More ›
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Inspiring Colouring on offer with Mike Medaglia’s “One Year Wiser”
Need to calm down in this crazy world? Take some time out to practise mindfulness by colouring a weekly meditation with One Year Wiser: The Colouring Book from SelfMadeHero, out next week. In case it’s passed you by, colouring books for adults are… Read More ›
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Waterloo! Waterloo! It’s time for Commando to be there, too!
Here’s the run down on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4823-4826), on sale now in all good newsagents (and some run by Volgans), and a number of digital platforms. Our favourite cover this week has to be… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (1st July 2015) – The Spire, Uncanny and Asterix, too!
Here’s this week’s list of comics on sale in British comics shops, plus some news stand titles – our intent, as ever being to skew our coverage in favour of British creators. This week, in the world of 2000AD’s Rogue… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 36
Giant Monster? Check. Odds stacked against survival? Check? Let’s hope Sylvana doesn’t annoy the Chrell, hey? Oh dear… • Click the image below for full size view For those who came in late (new readers start here!): deep below the… Read More ›
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In Review: Vietnam Zombie Holocaust #2
Writer: George Lennox Art: James Devlin Lettering: Colin Bell Publisher: Cult Empire Out: Now The Book:After the US Government creates and releases zombie soldiers into the jungles of Vietnam in an attempt to bring the war to an end, things quickly… Read More ›
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Beano becomes first comic to join hotel-focused digital download service
Gold Key Media has announced the addition of their first children’s comic, The Beano, to their innovative Media Box, a digital download service offered in hotels across the globe – meaning fans of the weekly comic won’t miss out on… Read More ›
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More Ladybird Books Exhibitions celebrate 100 Years of Publishing
Following up on our coverage of the Ladybird Books exhibitions at the National Football Museum and London’s House of Illustration, here’s a round up of other Ladybird-related happenings around the UK, as the much-loved brand celebrates its 100th Anniversary. Ladybird books… Read More ›
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Ladybird By Design Exhibition Comes To London
London’s House of Illustration’s summer exhibition will feature over 120 original illustrations from classic Ladybird titles, in celebration of 100 years of Ladybird Books. Specially commissioned illustrations, clever format and compelling design, combined with the quality of the writing, were key… Read More ›
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Twang Your Thing with The Beano!
Suitable for menaces of all ages, JHS have added an Electric Guitar to their range of Beano-inspired instruments, featuring classic images from the worlds longest-running comic, plastered over its single cutaway full-sized body. The Beano Electric Guitar is the latest addition to the… Read More ›
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Roads Not Taken: Renga, DC Thomson’s Abandoned Rival to 2000AD
Nestling for over 20 years on a long-forgotten hard drive incompatible with modern computers, we’re delighted to be able to finally bring you some of the work that featured in a stunning ‘dummy’ comic, Renga, commissioned by DC Thomson…
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Specsavers backs Lakes International Comic Art Festival with welcome sponsorship
This year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival will start with a bang, not a whimper, thanks to welcome sponsorship from Specsavers – one of several local businesses in Kendal that are backing the event when it returns for a third spectacular year… Read More ›
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Alan Burrows covers 100% Biodegradable, the digital action comic anthology
Top artist Alan Burrows – best known for his work on Eagle and Red Dwarf – has provided a cover for the latest issue of the science fiction and fantasy digital comic 100% Biodegradable (Issue 9) – available now. The latest… Read More ›
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The Comics That Shook 1950s Britain discovered in the National Archives
Britain’s National Archives is a wonderful repository for many odd things, but you might be forgiven for wondering just what a number of horror comics might be doing lurking in its catalogue. It was certainly a surprise to researcher Emily… Read More ›