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 Magazine still in the works, out later in year
(Updated): As the countdown to the launch of Thunderbirds Are Go on ITV and CITV on Saturday draws ever nearer and ITV rolls out numerous story tie-ins for fans young and old, including missions for agents signing up at Thunderbirds.com… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Panini UK’s first “Doctor Who Adventures” comic strip
With news that Panini UK, already publishers of Doctor Who Magazine, take over the publication of Doctor Who Adventures from Immediate Media later next month, we have a treat for you – a first look at the first new strip for… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Spies Versus Satan! Markosia debuts debuts “DIS”, a digital thriller
With a release date set for All Fools Day, 1st April 21015, Markosia Enterprises have announced the digital publication of DIS, a five-issue satanic conspiracy thriller set in the 1970s London created by UK-based writer Kevin Gunstone and featuring stylish,… Read More ›
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Final Immediate Media “Doctor Who Adventures” still on sale
The final issue of BBC Doctor Who Adventures to be published by Immediate Media is on sale now – and offers readers the chance to win copies of the latest Doctor Who DVD. The title will continue to be… Read More ›
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Lost Worlds of Gerry Anderson DVD released, more merchandise on way
Anderson Entertainment has lined up a host of new products and content inspired by the work of the late British producer Gerry Anderson which will hit shelves and screens in the coming months, and more guests for this year’s Andercon… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: The Fearsome Dr. Crane
Fish Mooney reveals a secret of Oswald Cobblepot’s, prompting his crime lord boss, Maroni, to take him on a trip to test his loyalty in tonight’s episode of Gotham on Channel 5. Meanwhile, Gordon and Bullock hunt down a… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Are Go: Virgil Tracy and Thunderbird 2 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 Virgil Tracy, in command… Read More ›
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London Book Fair Celebrates Graphic Novels with Dedicated Showcase
Graphic novels are one of the fastest growing areas of book publishing and the London Book Fair, the world’s second largest publishing show with over 25,000 visitors, held April 14~16, 2015, is celebrating the fact with a specially-designed pavilion to… Read More ›
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Bologna Children’s Book Fair spurs new comic-related book news
With the Bologna Children’s Book Fair taking place next week (30th March – 2nd April) and the London Book Fair hot on its heels (14th – 16th April) it’s inevitable that there will be plenty of new book projects… Read More ›
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More Thunderbirds Are Go Licenses Announced, show launch just one week away
With the first episode of the new Thunderbirds Are Go set to debut with next Saturday (4th April) a special one hour episode on ITV and CITV, ITV Studios Global Entertainment have announced more tie-in licensing deals for the show…. Read More ›
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Lethal Attraction: Will You Be Drawn to Buy the New Commandos?
Here’s a rundown of the latest issues of Commando (Issues 4795-4798) from DC Thomson, on sale now in all good newsagents and through various digital platforms… Commando No 4795 – Lethal Attraction Story: Alan Hebden Art: Manuel Benet Cover: Manuel Benet… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (25th March 2015) – World War X, Elric and Nemo, too!
Here’s our list of both British and US comics on sale this week in comic shops (Wednesday 25th March 2015). It complements our monthly lost of new graphic novel releases which you can find here for March 2015. Everything wraps up on 2000AD this… Read More ›
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United Nations organises “Gender Equality: Picture It!” Comic Competition
UN Women, together with the European Commission, the Belgian Development Cooperation, and the United Nations Regional Information Centre have organised a comic and cartoon competition on Gender Equality, “Picture It”, which closes on 20th April 2015. Conducted by the UN Women Brussels… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away 35 Launched, featuring two “Dan Dare” tales and more
Notching up an impressive 35th issue, the latest 40-page issue of the Dan Dare-inpsired Spaceship Away is on sale now, available on subscription or as a single issue from the title’s official web site. This latest magazine – offering… Read More ›
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Crowdfunding Spotlight: A Tale of Shadows
British comic artist and illustrator Lyndon White recently launched his second Kickstarter campaign, for his new comic A Tale of Shadows, a fantasy comic set in a world ideologically split by the arrival of new technology. The comic is written by podcaster Paul Clark-Forse, who has… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: Welcome Back, Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon is back on the beat in Gotham tonight and investigates the death of a witness inside the station house – and quickly realizes that it’s an inside job. When no one on the force can help him, he… Read More ›
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Is Print Still King in a Digital World?
Across the globe, millions of us now read comics, newspapers, catch up on the latest bestselling novels, or research work or school assignments on digital devices. Reading onscreen has many virtues. It can be convenient, save money, and enable… Read More ›
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Big Finish to publish “The Avengers” from Diana comic
(With thanks to Jeremy Briggs and Shaqui le Vesconte): Big Finish, best known for its Doctor Who audio adventures, has announced it is to publish The Avengers: Steed and Mrs Peel, a collection of the adventures which appeared in… Read More ›
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Three Cheers for Professor Elemental – and his splendid comics anthology!
I recently stumbled across Professor Elemental Comics (no, I don’t know how I missed it, either) – a glorious comics anthology series filled with short, whimsical tales of adventure, centring around a mad Victorian scientist/explorer/inventor/drinker of tea named Professor Elemental and… Read More ›
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Titan Comics to publish “21st Century Tank Girl” as three-issue mini series
Titan Comics are to serialise the Kickstarter-funded Smash Hit 21st Century Tank Girl, starting in June 2015. After a break of more than 20 years, artist extraordinaire Jamie Hewlett has returned to the iconic character which made his name, which… Read More ›