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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2000AD artist backs Norm Breyfogle support fund by donating part of FCBD fee
An artist on this year’s 2000AD’s Free Comic Book Day comic has donated part of his fee to the fund supporting legendary Batman artist Norm Breyfogle, who was due to make his Judge Dredd debut in the title but suffered a stroke in December… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Are… Going Japanese!
Just like the original, Thunderbirds Are Go looks set to gain a cult following in Japan, after news broke that the Tokyo-based production and distribution company, the Tohokushinsha Film Corporation has acquired the Japanese television and licensing rights for… Read More ›
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Netflix Daredevil series renewed
Streaming network Netflix has ordered a second season of Daredevil, which will debut in 2016 along with a number of other Marvel dramas. The series debuted in the UK last month and has proved a critical success with fans of the… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (22nd April 2015) – Time for some Lovelace and Babbage!
Here’s our list of both British and US comics on sale this week in comic shops (from Wednesday 22nd April 2015), complementing our monthly list of British graphic novel releases (April 2015 release list here). Top pick this week has… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Captain Stone Issue 5 by Christina McCormack and Liam Sharp
On sale today in all good comic ships is Captain Stone #5 from Titan Comics, one of the latest titles springing from their partnership with digital publisher Madefire. Written by Christina McCormack and Liam Sharp with art and cover by… Read More ›
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Writing on the Wall: Marvel Mayhem in Liverpool in May
Former Marvel editor Tim Quinn and comic artists Charlie Adlard and Emma Vieceli are guests at the Writing on the Wall Festival in Liverpool next month. Writing on the Wall is a Liverpool-based community organisation that coordinates projects and events that celebrate… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular’s “Sgt Pepper’s” Homage: Who’s Who?
In advance of the forthcoming Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular which visits six cities across the UK during the May half term week from May 23rd, artwork has been released to capture the monsters and characters from Doctor Who, alongside the musicians taking… Read More ›
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“Jekyll And Hyde” Stars To Attend MCM London Comic Con
Jekyll And Hyde writer, star of The Fast Show and novelist Charlie Higson (Young Bond, The Enemy) and stars of the new ITV drama Jekyll and Hyde – Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons, The Tunnel), Richard E Grant (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey) and… Read More ›
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Talk Nerdy To Me… in Preston, Lancashire!
SF author J.S. Collyer and Lancaster-based fantasy author A. S. Chambers are guests at Talk Nerdy 2 Me in Preston on Friday 8th May 2015 at the Harris Library, Museum and Art Gallery from 4.00pm to 9.00pm. The event will feature stalls, a cosplay competition, an open… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: Arcadia #1 by Alex Paknadel and Eric Scott Pfeifer
When 99 per cent of humankind is wiped out by a pandemic, four billion people are “saved” by being digitized at the brink of death and uploaded into Arcadia, a utopian simulation in the cloud. But when Arcadia begins… Read More ›
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The New Doctor Who Adventures: An Interview with Editor Jason Quinn
When writer and editor Jason Quinn dropped me a line to let me know about Panini UK’s acquisition of the licence to publish Doctor Who Adventures, previously published by Immediate Media, I had little inkling just how much interest there would… Read More ›
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Alternative Press: Takeover 2015 Details
In the second event of their Takeover Series, the Alternative Press team will be taking over 47/49Tanner Street, London on Saturday 9th May 2015 with a day that champions all radical publishing – from its independent bookshops and publishers to its DIY-ers; the small press,… Read More ›
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New North West Comic Creator Groups Information
With Lancaster Comics Day on its way on Sunday 14th June, Blackpool Comic Con in September and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (to name but three events), here’s information on two groups that may be of… Read More ›
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Goldeneye – Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming In Jamaica
Queen Anne Press are to distribute the Pegasus Books hardcover edition of Goldeneye: Where James Bond Was Born from 11th May 2015. The book was first published in the UK by Hutchinson / Random House in August 2014, and explores the importance of Jamaica… Read More ›
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Marvel’s “Ant-Man” Heads to the UK in July
Heroes don’t get any bigger with the new trailer for Marvel’s Ant-Man, which debuts in the UK on Friday 17th July, the same weekend as the London Film and Comic Con. (I’ve been delaying posting this in the hope… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: Red Hood
A gang of serial bank robbers has made their new home in Gotham in tonight’s episode of Gotham, “Red Hood”, on Channel 5. Meanwhile, Selina Kyle bonds with Barbara Kean at her apartment, and Fish Mooney attempts to reclaim her position… Read More ›
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Backwards Burd Head To Belfast for May MCM Convention
London comics group Backwards Burd is heading to Belfast on the 2nd – 3rd of May, spreading their slothy goodness at the King’s Hall Complex MCM convention. The quartet of Sajan Rai, Daniel de Sosa, Siobhan Alcaide and ShaneMelisse… Read More ›
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Convention Report: North to Eden (EdenCon, that is)
While there have been comic events in Carlisle in the past, EdenCon is a new annual event – but that didn’t dissuade a good turnout of comic and film fans, cosplayers and gamers, despite the temptation to head elsewhere in Cumbria… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 28
While exploring a Dwarf Mine, our Taskers – assigned to recover a mysterious religious artefact – stumble into a world of metal… and some dangerous Dwarves. Dwarves that see them as an equally dangerous contagion!
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 27
Dwarves. Cute cuddly folk with beards, right? Wrong. So, very, very wrong… Chapter Four of “Crucible” draws to a close. Story by John Freeman, Art by Smuzz, Lettering by Jim Campbell.