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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Safari Festival returns to London this weekend
The Safari Festival, organised by Breakdown Press, is back this weekend, taking place at Studio 2, the Shoreditch gallery space of London-based creative agency, Protein. The Festival is a one-day celebration of the new wave of alternative and art comics from the UK and beyond and… Read More ›
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Gosh! Comics gets set to host Safari Festival Pre-Party
This weekend sees the return of Safari Festival, courtesy of the fine folks at Breakdown Press. It’s a showcase from some of the most interesting and innovative comics work out there at the moment and we’ve got an event on Friday night to… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons guest at London’s SoundStage in September
Comics Laureate, artist and writer Dave Gibbons and costume designer Jane Petrie will share a stage at London’s Soundstage in September. Soundstage is a new and unique regular London-based arts event. Each month, there’ll be a line-up of two special… Read More ›
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In Review: OFF LIFE Issue 12
Issue 12 of OFF LIFE, the free print and digital comics anthology is out now, its hard-working team revitalised from running their Yellow “Comics For A Lost Generation” series – where 52 artists are illustrating 52 weeks of news, a project that will be released… Read More ›
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In Review: Dump Issue 3
Writer: David Robertson Artist: David Robertson, Damon Herd, Donna Law, Neil Paterson, Ludi Price, Keara Stewart and Pam Wye Publisher: Fred Egg Comics Format: 80 pages, black and white Continuing in what seems like some mission to offer the most eclectic… Read More ›
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British Museum to host Manga Now: Three Generations Exhibition
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Asahi Shimbun sponsorship, the British Museum’s Asahi Shimbun Gallery is to host Manga Now: Three Generations from September, an exhibition featuring newly commissioned and recent works by a trio of celebrated Japanese manga artists: Chiba Tetsuya, Hoshino… Read More ›
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Author Chris Lackey talks “Transreality” with the Awesome Comics Podcast crew
Episode 7 of the Awesome Comics Podcast is sliding up your alley today. Hosted by Vince Hunt (Red Mask From Mars) Hunt, Dan Butcher (Vanguard) Butcher and Tony Esmond (the hairy and annoying one) this episode has as its guest… Read More ›
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Spain’s FNAC-Salamandra International Graphic Novel Prize graphic novel competition open to all
Recently launched is the latest competition for Spain’s FNAC-Salamandra International Graphic Novel Prize, which will go to an original, totally new and completely unpublished graphic novel – and the winner will net a cool €10,000 euros. The competition, which launched… Read More ›
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Teesside University to launch new Comics degree course
Teesside University is to launch a new BA (honours) Degree course in Comics, Graphic Novels and Sequential Art. It’s a unique course, focused solely on comics, and is fully accredited, run through the Art and Design faculty of the University and will… Read More ›
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Forgotten Comic Characters: Pip, Squeak and Wilfred
A look back at a newspaper strip classic
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“Bright Young Things” wanted as Embassy of Japan launches Manga Jiman 2015 competition
The quest to find the best creators of comic short-stories is back as the Embassy of Japan has launched their comic-writing competition, Manga Jiman 2015. The competition has two categories; Yonkoma Manga, a comic strip of four panels on one page, for entrants… Read More ›
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In Review: Doctor Who Adventures Issue 5
Published by Panini Comic strip by Jason Quinn (script), Russ Leach (art) and coloured by John Burns Test story by Jason Quinn, illustrated by Russ Leach The Issue: Summer’s here and the time is right for reading the latest issue of Doctor… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales Figures: Winners and Losers (January – June 2015)
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) sales figures for titles registered with the organisation were published this week and overall, despite an overall decline in magazine circulation figures – down an average 5.5 per cent – comics and children’s magazines continue… Read More ›
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New Doctor Who Comic On Sale Now
The latest issue of Doctor Who Comic, Titan Comics 100-page collections of their Doctor Who stories initially published in US format, is now on sale in newsagents. Featured this issue are: The Twelfth Doctor – “The Fractures, Part Two”: When the… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: 2000AD Zenith “Apex” Edition
This week (Thursday) sees the release of the Zenith: Apex Edition – a gorgeous-looking full size reproduction from 2000AD publishers Rebellion of the original artwork from Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s seminal superhero story from the late 1980s – and we have a sneak peek at some pages for… Read More ›
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Exploring Shojo Manga, the World of Japanese Girls’ Comics
Coming up in October is a great exhibition that’s part of this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival – the first major exhibition of Japanese shojo (girls’) manga in the UK in association with Japan’s Kyoto International Manga Museum. The exhibition’s aim is to… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (12th August 2015) – Four Doctors and War Stories
Here’s this week’s list of comics on sale now in comic shops across the UK. As usual, our list highlights the work of British creators and publishers. You may also be already thinking about Christmas (some people do, advertisers, mainly),… Read More ›
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“Eagles of Battle” saga resumes in new Commando release
Here’s the full briefing on this week’s releases of DC Thomson’s Commando, which includes a new issue of one of the title’s rare continuing stories, “Eagles of Battle”, written by Ferg Handley and drawn by Keith Page. These titles are on… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Brings Comic Art to the High Street
Kendal’s high street will again be taken over by comics in October in the run up the third Lakes International Comic Art Festival, complemented by exhibitions of art by Andy Poyiadgi and Mike Medaglia. The Lakes International Comic Art Festival… Read More ›
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“Filmish”, Edward Ross’ first graphic novel, set to debut in November
After working quietly on the project for the last two years, artist Edward Ross’ first graphic novel, Filmish – A Graphic Journey Through Film, will be released in November by SelfMadeHero. Expanding on his self-published Filmish series, the Edinburgh-based cartoonist uses comics… Read More ›