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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Happy Birthday, Junior Express Weekly!
Junior Express Number 1 is cover dated 4th September 1954, but changed its title to Junior Express Weekly with No.39 (cover dated 18th June 1955), then simplified itself to Express Weekly with No.74, before finally settled upon being called TV Express from No.286 (Phew!). Strips included “Wulf the… Read More ›
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Si Spurrier, Rob Williams join Titan’s Doctor Who team
Titan Comics has announced Year Two of its Doctor Who comics – and the addition of top writers Si Spurrier and Rob Williams to the creative team. Coming September 2015, following this summer’s epic Doctor Who comic crossover event, the Tenth and… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Kickstarting the Riven Seal
Continuing a month of shows about comic book creators who have used online fundraising to launch various titles, Alex Fitch talks to Amanda Gomes and Julie Wright about their webcomic Riven Seal – Ars Ianua, which is hopefully being collected as a… Read More ›
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David Roach pens new book on Vampirella artist Jose González
David Roach, who in addition to be a terrific artist on strips such as Doctor Who and “Judge Dredd” has also written several books, including Aarrgghh!! It’s War: The Best War Comic Cover Art, has penned a new art book focusing on… Read More ›
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Orion announces Sven Hassel graphic novel, “Wheels of Terror”
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, an imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, has acquired world rights to publish a graphic novel version of Sven Hassel’s iconic war novel, Wheels of Terror. Wheels of Terror: The Graphic Novel , featuring art by Catalan comic artist… Read More ›
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The Blacklist #1 Comic Debuts at San Diego Comic Con With Exclusive Cover
This year’s San Diego Comic Con (July 9-12, 2015) sees Titan Comics debut The Blacklist comic series with a special SDCC themed cover. Drawn by Vancouver-based artist and occasional animation writer Colin Lorimer, whose comics credits include UXB, Harvest and The X-Files, among… Read More ›
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Unexpected Delights from a British Comics Meme
So on Monday morning, Christopher Muscat, one of the team who run the highly-regarded Malta Comic Convention, involved me in a comics meme… Which led to some great artists drawing new versions of some wonderful, if obscure, British comic characters. As… Read More ›
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New Eagle editor Barrie Tomlinson on the mend
We’re pleased to report that former British comics editor Barrie Tomlinson, whose credits include Tiger and New Eagle, is on the mend after his stroke in February and, touched by comments he received via social media, has asked downthetubes to publisher this quick… Read More ›
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Family Zone Fun for All promised at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Children (of all ages) will find the amazing world of comics to discover and explore at the Family Zone, part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th October 2015). Special events and workshops will offer a… Read More ›
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Birmingham Comics Festival – back by popular demand in 2016
Debuting earlier this year, the Birmingham Comics Festival made good on its promise: to put the second city fairly and squarely back on the UK comic convention map, placing comics and their fans at the absolute heart of all its events…. Read More ›
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It’s Lancaster Comics Day!
Typically, of course, it’s raining cats and dogs, but Britain’s finest weather casters inform us things will improve later – and everything is now indoors. The fun starts at 1100 at Lancaster Library with a “Breaking Into Comics” panel with… Read More ›
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Lancaster Comics Day: A Really Heavy Greatcoat Special
With Lancaster Comics Day tomorrow, what better way to celebrate than with a special Really Heavy Greatcoat special, which will also feature in a special “Jam” comic, Frankenzine, on sale on the day? The strip sees current Greatcoat owner Kevin… Read More ›
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Doctor Who hits San Diego Comic Con – Literally, in Titan Comics Special
Cavan Scott and George Mann are among the creators involved in a special issue of Titan Comics Twelfth Doctor Doctor Who comic, which will be on sale at San Diego Comic-Con next month. Drawn by Rachael Stott and coloured by Ivan Nunes,… Read More ›
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Glenn Fabry Sketch Book in the works after successful Kickstarter campaign, other projects hinted at
Top comics artist Glenn Fabry has easily secured funding for his planned Sketchbook 3 book project, which will feature over 40 full colour pages of never seen before exciting images by the artist perhaps best known for his work… Read More ›
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Toronto Comic Art Festival confirms Lakes Festival guests, adds Estelle Bachelard and Samuel LeBlanc
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival has announced the outline of its 2015 trips to England and Japan, to exhibit at festivals in both countries and fulfil their mandate of promoting Canadian comics culture on the world stage. As we previously reported, TCAF have partnered… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons Copyist Protest Art up for auction in aid of Hero Initiative
![Up for auction with proceeds being paid to Hero Initiative - a unique, one off bespoke piece of art, split into two large format framed panels [ dimensions - 41” x 94” (104 x 238 cm) ] Bid here for a good cause - http://tinyurl.com/pldfw3h](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dave-gibbons-whaaat.jpg)
Up for auction with proceeds being paid to Hero Initiative now is Dave Gibbons one off diptych artwork entitled ‘Whaat??’, commissioned for the Image Duplicator exhibition in 2013 in London to coincide with the Roy Lichtenstein exhibition at the Tate Modern… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: The Blacklist #1
Out next month from Titan Comics is the brand-new original official comic series to the critically acclaimed NBC crime drama The Blacklist, starring James Spader. When the FBI is framed for the public killing of a political activitist at an… Read More ›
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James Bond, Thunderbirds and other rarities offered in latest Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia Sale
Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia Sale, taking place on 24 June at Bonhams Knightsbridge, features a varied selection of lots with interesting connections to the silver screen and television, including James Bond and Doctor Who items, as well as some Gerry Anderson-related… Read More ›
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Titan Comics set to publish “Heroes Reborn” tie-in comics
Titan Comics has announced that the company has been granted rights to publish comics based on US TV network NBC’s upcoming event series Heroes Reborn, which launches in the autumn. The licensing agreement awarded by Universal Partnerships & Licensing begins with… Read More ›
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ASHCAN Awards: Writer nominations include Tom Ward, Jasper Bark
Hearty congratulations to Tom Ward, creator of the excellent indie comic Merrick: The Elephantman, a title we’ve been enthusing about on downthetubes for quite a while now. Along with others that include the equally talented Jasper Bark (whose new book, Bloodfellas,… Read More ›