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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Comics Are for Kids! A Quick Chat with “Funny Monsters Comic” publisher Joe Matthews
Fed up with the lack of new British humour comics being published by the major publishers, Rochdale-based comics creator Joe Matthews decided to publish his own. As we previously reported, Issue Three of his wonderful Funny Monsters Comic is… Read More ›
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Rare Beanos, Dalek Swapits, Dan Dare and Adam Eterno art in latest ComPal Comics Auction
The catalogue for the latest ComPal Comics auction is online, which ends on 14th June 2015. The company now works with the-saleroom.com to provide real time bidding, viewable online, as bids are placed by the company’s customers who have registered their details…. Read More ›
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Is it A Bird? Is it A Plane? No, it’s… Action Man?
Palitoy’s Action Man doll – a licensed version of Hasbro’s G.I. Joe which was launched in 1966 – went through a lot of permutations down the years, most of them armed services related. But in the late 1970s, the range added… Read More ›
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David Hine: Why You should Back the Broken Frontier Anthology
With less than two days to go before the Broken Frontier Kickstarter campaign for its proposed comics anthology to reach its target of $58,000, comics writer and artist David Hine, one of the creators involved in the project, reveals why he feels it could be… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: TorsoBear, Cogs & Claws
Continuing a month of shows about creators whose work sits in the middle ground between ‘mainstream’ and independent comics on Britain’s only over the air regular show about comics, Alex Fitch talks to creator Brett Uren about his graphic novel series TorsoBear, a… Read More ›
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Joe Matthews “Funny Monsters Comic” for kids continues
Fed up with the lack of new British humour comics being published by the major publishers, Joe Matthews decided to publish his own. Issue Three of Funny Monsters Comic is on sale now, featuring the “Zackster – Kid Zombie” (this… Read More ›
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In Review: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1
Writer: Chris Ryall Artist: Tony Atkins Inks: John Livesay Colour: Leonard O’Grady Letters: Robbie Robins & Shawn Lee Publisher: IDW Out: Wednesday 20th May 2015 The Book: After writing all the many and conflicting versions of the legendary Hitchhiker’s Guide… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (20th May 2015) – Resident Aliens and Holistic Detectives!
Here’s our guide to new comics and graphic on sale in British comic shops today (Wednesday 20th May 2015), complementing our monthly list of new British graphic novels and comic collections (May 2015 list here). Top of the list… Read More ›
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Twelfth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver competition in new Doctor Who Comic
There’s a chance to win a high quality facsimile of the Twelfth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver in the latest Doctor Who Comic UK (Issue 4), on sale Thursday 21st May 2015. Partnering with The Wand Company (also the makers of the… Read More ›
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British Paramount Theme Park plans – Latest News
London Resort Company Holdings, the developer behind the proposed multi-billion pound London Paramount Entertainment Resort in North Kent, which could see attractions devoted to Doctor Who as well as Star Trek as part of its offering, has just completed a round… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Madefire’s current alliance with Titan Comics concludes with Mono: Pacific
Out this week from Titan Comics are the concluding episodes of not one but two series – Cap Stone and Mono. These issues mark the end of the first epic collaboration between Titan Comics and digital publisher Madefire. Mono: Pacific #2 is written by Brian Wood with art… Read More ›
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1980s Flashback: Marvel UK’s Secret Wars “Secret Artist” Investigated – and the artists revealed!
With Marvel’s new Secret Wars on sale now in all good comic shops, we thought we’d take the opportunity you back to 1985 – and Marvel UK’s reprint of the original Secret Wars comic, which included an originated two-page comedy strip… Read More ›
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One Year On: How is Titan Comics Doctor Who range faring?
Almost one year on from launch, Titan’s Doctor Who comics range continues to perform strongly for the company, with estimated sales through comic shops continuing to be in the Top 300 comics, based on data gathered over on ICV2.com. Although… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: A new saga begins for Doctor Who
Wednesday 20th May sees the release of Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #12 – written by Rob Williams, with art by Warren Pleece , and begins a brand-new story arc with the Eleventh Doctor. DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR ISSUE #12 WRITER: Rob Williams… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Titan Comics Cap Stone Concludes with #6
Out this week from Titan Comics are the concluding episodes of not one but two astounding series – Cap Stone and Mono. These issues mark the end of the first epic collaboration between Titan Comics and Madefire. Cap Stone #6 is written by Liam Sharp and Christina… Read More ›
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Titan Comics releases “Rivers of London” trailer
Following up on its reveal of the first cover for its Rivers of London series, based on the best-selling novels by Ben Aaronovitch, Titan Comics has just released a special trailer to promote the project. The new comic was first revealed last October, and Titan… Read More ›
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Crouch End Cartoon Arts Festival Back on 6th June
The second Crouch End Cartoon Arts Art Festival (CECAF) will take place at the Earl Haig Hall, Crouch End, London on 6th June, 2015, hosting the best and brightest cartoonists and independent publishers currently active in the UK comic scene…. Read More ›
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Granite City Con line up includes Alan Grant, Monty Nero and Gary Erskine
It’s not long now until the Granite City Comic Con in Aberdeen on Saturday 30th May 2015 which, along with veteran film actor and original Thunderbirds voice artist Shane Rimmer and Star Wars actor Paul Blake, features a number of comic… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: The Anvil or the Hammer
In tonight’s episode of Gotham on Channel 5, the Ogre breaks down Barbara’s emotions, while Gordon and Bullock track him down. Meanwhile, Penguin leads a massacre, beginning an epic war, while Bruce learns the truth about Wayne Enterprises and Nygma deals… Read More ›
