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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Alex Paknadel and Eric Scott Pfeiffer’s “Arcadia” goes to second printing
BOOM! Studios sci-fi thrillers Arcadia #2 and Broken World #1 have both sold out at the distributor level and the publisher has rushed to second printings to fill demand. Arcadia #2 – the debut work of Lancaster-based writer Alex Palnadel – second print ships… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Surface Tension #2 by Jay Gunn
This coming sees the release of Titan Comics Surface Tension #2 in comic shops by writer and artist Jay Gunn, and it’s a title I’m looking forward to reading after an impressive debut last month. Jay Gunn’s magnificent eco-horror fable continues in… Read More ›
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Strontium Dog Fan Film: First Look
The first pictures from the Strontium Dog fan film starring Matthew Simpson as Johnny Alpha have been released. The film also stars Kevin Horsham as companion Wulf Sternhammer. The film is directed by Steven Sterlacchini & Steve Green, is based on… Read More ›
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Marvel strikes new digital distribution deal with Comixology, Kindle editions announced
Marvel, comiXology and Amazon have announced an expanded and renewed exclusive relationship to distribute and sell Marvel’s digital comic books across the comiXology, Amazon and Marvel Comics platforms. This newly expanded relationship will continue Marvel’s single issue digital comic books… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 35
For those who came in late (new readers start here!): deep below the surface of Shaarn, our adventurers confront a terror of legend that has already killed… and threatens to do so again in its own quest! Crucible is an ongoing… Read More ›
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SEQUENTIAL re-offer free TCAF digital anthology featuring Hunt Emerson, Kristyna Baczynski and more
Digital comics publisher SEQUENTIAL are making this year’s Toronto Comic Art Festival anthology free again for a limited time, featuring great British comic creators like Hunt Emerson and Kristyna Baczynski. Earlier this year, the SEQUENTIAL digital graphic novel app for iPad and The Toronto… Read More ›
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DC Thomson Sponsors CITV In Run Up To Thunderbirds Magazine Launch
In a first for DC Thomson Publishing, the magazine business today announced it will become a new sponsor of the UK’s most watched commercial children’s channel, CITV. The deal, which includes broadcast, online, mobile and licensing elements, will see separate… Read More ›
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San Diego Comic Con Doctor Who Comics Panel details announced
Titan Comics has revealed details about its year’s Doctor Who Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con. Taking place on Saturday July 11th (3.30pm, Room 5AB), the panel, entitled ‘Doctor Who Comics Panel: Year Two, Cross-Over Event And New Mini-Series’, is part… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (17th June 2015) – All-New Judge Dredd Megazine, Bryan Hitch on JLA
Here’s our guide to new comics and graphic on sale in British comic shops this week, complementing our monthly list of new British graphic novels and comic collections (June 2015 list here). All-new stories start this month in Judge Dredd Megazine,… Read More ›
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Scottish Independent Comic Book Alliance 2015 Awards – Shortlist Announced
The Scottish Independent Comic Book Alliance (SICBA) 2015 Shortlist has been announced and quite a few of the titles we’ve highlighted on downthetubes are in the running, including Planet Jimbot’s Amongst the Stars, Cult Empire Comics Vietnam Zombie Holocaust and Robbie… Read More ›
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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 ›