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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French Creators Set to Storm Kendal again for 2015 Comic Festival
Following up on the popularity of several Continental guests in 2014, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just announced the appearance of its first four French artists coming to this year’s weekend-long event in Kendal, backed by support from the Institut Francais the Wallonie Brussels… Read More ›
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Time Bomb Comics announces release date for Viking adventure, “Defiant: The Legend of Brithnoth”
Time Bomb Comics will release a new graphic novel, Defiant: The Legend of Brithnoth, a hard-hitting historical adventure from writer Andy Winter (Hero Killers), artist Daniel Bell (Psircus) and colourist Aljosa Tomic (Veil) at London Super Comic Con. On 10th August 991AD, a… Read More ›
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British Interplanetary Society to celebrate the Eagle comic and the launch of the career of Dan Dare
On the 14th April 1950, a generation of spotty kids, some of which would become major players in British aerospace business, picked up an imposing colourful and authoritative weekly magazine (masquerading as a comic) which had been especially designed… Read More ›
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Get Well Soon, Barrie Tomlinson!
David McDonald from Hibernia Comics has Informed us that one time IPC Group Editor, Barrie Tomlinson has had a few health scares in the past few weeks. Barrie’s name will be very familiar to some but to others it maybe… Read More ›
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A Blast from the Past: Journey back in time to Doctor Who Magazine, 1989…
A blast from the past! Back in 1989, Reeltime Pictures (now Time Travel TV), best known for interviewing Doctor Who actors, writers and producers, took the bizarre step of interviewing me (and others) on how Doctor Who Magazine was put… Read More ›
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New SPECTRE image released, but no news on James Bond comics yet…
A new teaser image from the next James Bond film, SPECTRE, was released this week featuring Dave Bautista as the villain Mr Hinks, apparently a new foe for Bond. The film, due for release, 6th November 2015, will focus on his… Read More ›
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Royal Mail Launches Alice In Wonderland Stamps
The Royal Mail has just launched its Alice In Wonderland Stamps, the work of artist Grahame Baker-Smith, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Classic Tale – and, for the first time ever the company has… Read More ›
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A Few of My Favourite Things: An Interview with “Skeleton Key” and “Gum Girl” creator Andi Watson
Andi Watson is the author of the wonderful graphic novel Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula, which is in on sale this week from US publishers First Second, who have very kindly given us permission to re-present their recent interview with this… Read More ›
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Remembering Leonard Nimoy: The Day Spock Died
Fans of Star Trek and Leonard Nimoy‘s other work – photography, music and film – are in mourning across the globe with news of his death yesterday. WIRED Magazine has an affectionate round up of just some of the… Read More ›
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Titan Unveils its Best of British Month – Death Sentence, Johnny Nemo and more!
Titan Comics launches its Best Of British Comics month in May, celebrating cutting edge talent and supporting bold new visions – and has just released this trailer for their campaign. The promotion firmly promotes many of the great creator-owned… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: Lettering Comics Before the Digital Age with David Lloyd
Back in the days before computers (and Richard Starkings), comics were hand lettered – and it was something of an arcane art that only a trusted few were employed to do at Marvel UK, where I worked in the 1990s. It… Read More ›
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Revealed: The Menace that Mashed Madonna!
The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace was the cause of Madonna‘s fall from the stage at the Brit Awards, DC Thomson has revealed, joining in with the fun at the expense of a shell-shocked Madge, after her swift decent down the… Read More ›
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Steve Bell and Posy Simmonds on guest list for “Wonderlands” Graphic Novel Expo in Sunderland
Inspired by Bryan Talbot‘s classic graphic novel Alice in Sunderland, Sunderland University is to host a major event for all fans of graphic novels on Saturday 30th May. 2015 is the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland, one… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 21
As the Taskers prepare to explore Deep Stone, Sylvana and Ardahl ponder what lies ahead — and the motives of their employer…
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Looking Back: Marvel UK’s Pencilling Do’s and Don’ts
I’ve got my grumpy head on this morning. Bear with me while I grumble. Back in the 1990s, many young artists would show up at the few British comic conventions there were back then and present their portfolios to… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (25th February 2015) – 2000AD Anniversary Celebrations!
Our apologies for the delayed publication of this week’s list of both British and US comics on sale this week US (released in comic shops 25th February 2015) – it’s been a busy week on other fronts, not least… Read More ›
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Giant Killers and Combat Stress! New Commando titles on sale today
Here’s the lowdown on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4787-4790), on sale from today in all good newsagents and in various digital formats. While we were researching the latest British comic sales figures, we were impressed… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Celebrating Will Eisner’s “The Spirit”
Concluding a month of shows about ‘Masters of American Comics’, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of comics experts and historians about the 75th anniversary of Will Eisner’s seminal crime comic The Spirit. Will Eisner created the The Spirit in 1940. For twelve… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: John Cooper
We’re sorry to report the passing of British comics artist John Cooper, who died after a short illness on Sunday 22nd February. His huge and influential list of credits include work for numerous titles, including TV Century 21,… Read More ›
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Creator Profile: John Cooper
Perhaps best known as the artist on “Johnny Red” for Battle Picture Weekly, John Cooper, who died on 22nd February 2015, is regarded by some as the British “Gil Kane”. John first drew comic strip for TV21, drawing “Secret Agent… Read More ›