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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Doctor Who Magazine Flashback: Comic Strip Submission Guidelines, May 1990
I’ve been digging around in the cupboards for things to show folk at EdenCon tomorrow in Carlisle for things to show folk besides the audio comics I edit for ROK Comics on my iPhone, and came across these comic… Read More ›
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Doctor Who: Panel to Panel Interviews Andrew James, Clayton Hickman
Episode 27 of Doctor Who: Panel to Panel – a fantastic podcast from US comics fan Jeremy Bement devoted to the world of Doctor Who comics – has just been released online for your listening pleasure. “In my opinion this is one of the best… Read More ›
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“The BFG” – More Casting News, 2016 Release Date Set
As production gets underway in Vancouver, Walt Disney Studios has announced it will co-produce and co-finance Steven Spielberg‘s production of Roald Dahl‘s story The BFG, marking the three-time Academy Award winner’s first time directing a Disney-branded movie. Due for release in the… Read More ›
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Dirty Rotten Comics Launch Event This Friday
The team behind Dirty Rotten Comics are having a launch event for Dirty Rotten Comics Issue 4 on Friday 17th April at the Horse and Stables pub opposite Lambeth North tube station. This bumper Spring 2015 anthology clocks in at just under a staggering hundred pages and features… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Herb Trimpe, co-creator of Captain Britain
Fans of legendary comics artist Herb Trimpe, the co-creator of Captain Britain and one of the first artists to draw Wolverine, have rushed to pay tribute to him. Herb Trimpe, whose death was announced yesterday by his cousin… Read More ›
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“Dennis and Gnasher Blast in Beanotown”, the latest Beano-inspired game from DC Thomson
Recently launched by DC Thomson is Dennis and Gnasher Blast in Beanotown, a gaming app for mobile devices in which Beanotown’s mayor has banned all fun and grumpy adults patrol the streets. Players join Dennis and Gnasher in a battle… Read More ›
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IS SHE AVAILABLE? project from Igor Goldkind combines comics, art and jazz
A ground-breaking new collection of Poetry, Illustration, Music and Movement by acclaimed comics and SF author Igor Goldkind featuring work by creators such as Bill Sienkiewicz, Rian Hughes, David Lloyd, Liam Sharp and Glenn Fabry is being published by Chameleon Publishing in both electronic form and… Read More ›
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Osprey and Commando join forces for New British War Comic Collaboration
Osprey Publishing and DC Thomson have joined forces to create eight new Commando Comics graphic war novels. The new books – to be sold globally through the Osprey/Bloomsbury distribution network – will consist of an original, fictional, full colour… Read More ›
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Daredevil “Man Without Fear” Costume Available Now in Marvel Heroes 2015
If like us, you tuned into Netflix this weekend watching all 13 episodes of Marvel’s Daredevil… then how about playing lots of Marvel Heroes 2015… as Daredevil, in this new costume inspired by Matt Murdock’s first costume, as depicted… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: The Blind Fortune Teller
The young Bruce Wayne calls a board meeting to express his concerns about the direction of Wayne Enterprises. Elsewhere, James Gordon and Leslie head to circus for a pleasant night out, but all hell breaks loose when a circus is… Read More ›
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One Beat Zines ambitious plans for UK indie comic distro, new titles
One Beat Zines is a new zine-making collective/distribution service run by Sarah Broadhurst and Julia Scheele aiming is to make cheap-and-cheerful zines that will publish regular anthology books featuring amazing artists and writers. Their first book, the crowd funded Double Dare Ya, an anthology with a cover… Read More ›
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Latest Comix Reader On Sale Now
The latest issue of Comix Reader (Issue 6) is on sale now in comic shops and other outlets, featuring a cover by Richard Cowdry and strips by a huge assortment of artists and writers, including Lord Hurk, Ralph Kidson, Paul O’Connell, Bernadette Bentley… Read More ›
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First Pics from Marvel’s Deadpool Released
One of the first official image from Marvel’s Deadpool, due for release in the UK on 12th February 2016, has been released. Directed by Tim Miller, the film stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who is… Read More ›
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Nerd Hutch Small Press Expo Hits Newcastle!
My abject apologues to the enthusiastic team behind Nerd Hutch, a day long event celebrating some of the UK’s hottest small press and DIY talent taking place tomorrow at the Travelling Man comic shop in Grainger Street, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Hosted on both floors… Read More ›
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Spicy Tea and Sympathy! New Brenda and Effie Mysteries episode coming soon
Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax, Dinnerladies) stars in Episode Three of The Brenda and Effie Mysteries, audio stories based on the characters created by author Paul Magrs, available soon from Bafflegab Productions, who also produce The Scarifyers. Brenda and… Read More ›
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“Jupiter’s Legacy” film news breaks as collection launches in comic shops
Mark Millar and Frank Quitely’s Image Comics-published series Jupiter’s Legacy is headed to the big screen, notes The Hollywood Reporter. The news comes as Jupiter’s Circle #1, also by Mark and set in 1959, featuring art by Wilfredo Torres,… Read More ›
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Going Euro: Titan Comics Ups its bande dessine-sourced titles
Titan Comics has revealed more details of its plans to expand its line of European-sourced albums for English-speaking audiences, with a new edition of Enki Bilal’s The Nikopol Trilogy in the works, among other titles. News of further releases follows Titan’s… Read More ›
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“Comics Uncovered” to offer aspiring creators tips on breaking Into the comics industry
If you or someone you know is interested in writing, drawing or publishing their own comics or in finding work in the comics industry as a professional freelancer you may want to sign up for Comics Uncovered in September –… Read More ›
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Flying Fools and Eagles of Eden – New Commandos On Sale Today!
Here’s the details on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4799 -4802) – on sale from tomorrow, Thursday 9th April 2015. Two leading Commando artists – Ian Kennedy and Keith Page – will both be making a rare appearance at… Read More ›
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Britain’s TPub Gets Global Comics Distribution Deal with Diamond
British comic book and graphic novel publisher TPub has just signed a new agreement with Diamond, expanding the distributor’s abilities to distribute TPub’s titles worldwide into comic book specialty markets, gaming and hobby markets, as well as book markets through Diamond Book… Read More ›