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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Thunderbirds Are Go: Gordon Tracy and Thunderbird 4 Profiled
The promotions for Thunderbirds Are Go are coming in thick and fast now as the launch date nears, with the new show’s official Facebook page featuring a countdown of Tracy brothers character profiles, inviting fans to back their favourite. Here’s Gordon Tracy, in command of… Read More ›
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Zoom Rockman heads to Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Talented 14-year-old comic creator Zoom Rockman, the award-winning teenager who has been publishing his own humour title – The Zoom – since the age of nine, with 10 biannual issues under his belt, is to be another guest at the Lakes International Comic… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival guest on board for Marvel’s Star Wars
US publisher Marvel has announced that artist Stuart Immonen, one of the guests at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, will replace John Cassaday on Marvel’s flagship Star Wars title starting with #8, which ships in July. Stuart began his comics career in… Read More ›
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“Celebration of Life: A Cancer Anthology” comic project announced by Matt Crehan Comics
(Updated, added Kickstarter link): Writer, letterer and professional athlete Matthew Crehan is the man behind the Kickstarter-funded The Art of Running graphic novel, a biography of Steve Prefontain, drawn by Indonesian artist Sigit Nugroho which will will be launched on 30th May 2015 to tie… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 23
And down the rabbit hole we go, dear readers. What, you were expecting cuddly dwarves? A dragon? We hope you aren’t disappointed. We do hope you’re at least a little taken aback…
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 22
And so, into the Deep Stone mine, where unexpected mysteries await… be prepared for some mind-benidng surprizes that will make you go back and look at previous pages in a new light!
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WarWorldz: Origins – Episode Five
A crash landing – but where? And just what is waiting to greet Daniel in a mysterious city? Story by John Freeman and Stephen Walsh, Script by Stephen Walsh, Art by Giancarlo Carazuzzo
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Who Remembers Letratone?
… Because if you do, then there’s a special clearance offer for the Letraset-produced screen tone paper being sold on ebay – over £1360 worth of screen tone paper, starting bid 99p. No reserve! Letratone, produced by Letraset from 1966 onwards… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (18th March 2015) – Doctor Who, Transformers and Ichabod Azrael!
Here’s our list of both British and US comics on sale this week in comic shops (Wednesday 18th March 2015). It complements our monthly lost of new graphic novel releases which you can find here for March 2015. Titan Comics has a new issue… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Are Go: John Tracy and Thunderbird 5 Profiled
The promotions for Thunderbirds Are Go are coming in thick and fast now as the launch date nears, with the new show’s official Facebook page featuring a countdown of Tracy brothers character profiles, inviting fans to back their favourite…. Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Doctor Who – The Twelfth Doctor #6 (Titan Comics)
Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Issue #6 from Titan Comics, written by Robbie Morrison with art by Brian Williamson, is out on Wednesday in all good comic shops (and some run by undercover Sontarans). The issue features a cover by… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Cap Stone #4 (Titan Comics)
The Cap Stone mini series from Titan Comics, re-publishing the digital title from Madefire by wife and husband team Christina McCormack and Liam Sharp, concludes this week with the release of Issue 4 in comic shops – and we… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Third Testament Volume Three (Titan Comics)
The Third Testament Volume 3: The Might Of The Ox, written by Alex Alice & Xavier Dorison with art by Alex Alice goes on sale from Titan Comics on Wednesday 18th March in all good comic shops – and… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: “Pablo” by Julie Birmant and Clément Oubrerie from SelfMadeHero
Picasso. For over a century, one name has dominated the art world, and few have matched his prolific output. But what were his formative years like? Writer Julie Birmant and artist Clément Oubrerie recreate his early years as an… Read More ›
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BBC Worldwide’s April DVD, Blu-Ray releases include “Orphan Black”, “Da Vinci’s Demons”
BBC Worldwide has just released more details of its DVD and Blu-Ray releases, some of which may apeal to DownTheTubes readers, including The Musketeers Season Two, a show surely crying out for a comic book spin-off, and Orphan Black, which is already a comic… Read More ›
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Fund Raiser in memory of Sir Terry Pratchett raises over £35,000 so far
Over £35,000 has been donated so far for the Bath-based registered charity The Research Institute for the Care of Older People in memory of the Sir Terry Pratchett, who died last week. Terry Pratchett’s publicist, Lynsey Dalladay set… Read More ›
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Web Comic Spotlight: Crucible
I’ve had this idea to spotlight British web comics, and I’m starting with some of the projects I’m working on, since I know the teams aren’t going to object! If you’re a British web comic creator, please send us information in… Read More ›
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Web Comic Spotlight: WarWorldz – Origins
I’ve had this idea to spotlight British web comics, and I’m starting with some of the projects I’m working on, since I know the teams aren’t going to object! If you’re a British web comic creator, please send us information in… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Are Go – Full Trailer Released
The global YouTube reveal of the Thunderbirds Are Go trailer has just gone live, 24 hours before it’s aired on ITV and CITV. The show debuts in April in the UK and is also coming to TV2 in New Zealand and… Read More ›
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Laura Howell’s Bizarre Adventures of Gilbert & Sullivan: The Very Model of a Mirthful Graphic Novel!
Everyone knows Gilbert and Sullivan were peerless as composers of light opera. But fewer people are aware of their dual identities as super-powered, dapper defenders of the realm! How else could they have come up with the inspiration for The… Read More ›