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.
-
Lakes Comic Festival twins with Toronto Comic Art Festival in Guest Exchange
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just released further details of its partnership with the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, which will see top cartoonist Hunt Emerson and others head to Canada in May – and a host of Canadian creators coming to Kendal in… Read More ›
-
ITV announces new Gerry Anderson merchandise plans based on Captain Scarlet, UFO, Stingray
ITV Studios Global Entertainment has announced it is to expand the licensing programme for its Gerry Anderson portfolio, introducing new merchandise based on almost all his shows such as Captain Scarlet, Stingray, Joe 90 and Space:1999. The plan is no doubt in… Read More ›
-
Hair Raising Escapes and Rogue Missions in new Commandos
Here’s the run down on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4791-4794), on sale from Thursday 12th March 2015 in all good newsagents and through various digital platforms. Commando No 4791 – The Eagles Strike! Story: Ferg… Read More ›
-
Indie project “Beast Wagon” gains huge Kickstarter backing
A stunning-looking comics project from British Comic Award nominated Owen Michael Johnson, Leed’s based illustrator John Pearson and Colin Bell is well on its way to securing backing on Kickstarter for not one but two editions of the eagerly-anticpated title –… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: Countryside Comics with Owen Michael Johnson
Continuing a month of shows about architecture and landscape in comics, guest presenter Lizzie Boyle from Disconnected Press talks to writer Owen Michael Johnson , one of the team behind Raygun Roads and the currently-seeking-funding, stunning looking Beast Wagon, about the experience of… Read More ›
-
Let Them Eat… Comic Cake!
Poland’s Ligatura Comics Festival (next taking place 3rd – 7th July 2015) has just launched an unusual competition – to find the best comics recipe! All you have to do to join in with a journey around the world… Read More ›
-
Hachette test drives new part work, “Draw the Marvel Way”
British comics commentator and creator Lew Stringer recently spotted the debut of a new title from Hachette Partworks, who are also putting out the impressive Judge Dredd Collection, although it’s not yet gained national distribution. Draw the Marvel Way is a fortnightly partwork… Read More ›
-
Thunderbirds Roleplaying project announced as Modiphius game Kickstarter smashes £155,000 stretch goal
The stunning success for Modiphius Entertainment‘s Thunderbirds Co-Operative Board Game Kickstarter – backed by fans to the tune of £158,955 so far, well in excess of its £20,000 goal – has resulted in a surprise announcement at the company’s £155,000 “stretchgoal”. Set in the… Read More ›
-
Bad Company – and Peter Milligan – return to 2000AD in September
Writer Peter Milligan has paid tribute to Brett Ewins, who died recently at the age of 59, and dedicated his return to 2000AD to his friend. Milligan is returning to the dark, war-torn world of Bad Company – the series he co-created with… Read More ›
-
Countdown continues to Electricomics Launch
(Updated): The countdown continues toward a full launch of Electricomics, a research and development project to create an open source app enabling digital comics to be made by anyone. Announced last May, Electricomics, which has the backing of Britain’s best known modern comic… Read More ›
-
The Beano celebrates Red Nose Day with special cover
The Beano will be celebrating Red Nose Day this week with a red and gold pop art inspired cover, which features Dennis the Menace’s many faces (and noses) to encourage readers to support Red Nose Day’s ‘make your face… Read More ›
-
Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson’s “The Beatles Story” re-published in Germany
Heres’ a quick follow up on our report at the weekend that Great Britain is the guest country at this year’s Munich Comic Festival, the second largest comic event of its kind in Germany, running 4th – 7th June 2015. We… Read More ›
-
Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s “Resident Alien” heading to TV?
Is Resident Alien, the intriguing series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, heading to TV? That’s the buzz from publisher Dark Horse Comics, according to a report from Bleeding Cool – but Hogan is keeping mum. According to Bleeding… Read More ›
-
Great Britain guest country at this year’s Munich Comic Festival
(With thanks to Paul Gravett): Great Britain is the guest country at this year’s Munich Comic Festival, the second largest comic event of its kind in Germany, alternating every other year with the Comic Salon in Erlangen, running 4th –… Read More ›
-
Free Celtic Comic from Daniel de Sosa, for limited time only…
There are only a few days left in a promotion from Backwards Burd cartoonist Daniel de Sosa to get your hands on an a Celtic Comic, downloadable from the Amazon’s Kindle store – a fantasy comic about a bard who… Read More ›
-
Are You Ready for Neroy?
Celebrating 10 years of publishing, FutureQuake Press, publishers of the terrific zines FutureQuake (Issue 26 on sale now) and Zarjaz (Issue 23 on sale now)has just released its first trade paperback – Neroy Sphinx – Back in the Game. This great-looking… Read More ›
-
Imaginings: How The Twelfth Doctor Got His Costume
The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Issue 484, is on sale now in the UK. Along with its usual mix of news and features – and a fun one part comic strip involving a hungry tentacled beast… Read More ›
-
Charlotte Corday heads into space in new 1950s-comic inspired adventure
Writer Stephen Walsh and Dan Dare and Commando artist Keith Page are beavering away on their next and perhaps most ambitious Charlotte Corday project yet – Cat Corday of the RSF. We have a sneak peek of just a… Read More ›
-
FutureQuake returns, bursting with talent and great stories
FutureQuake is back! Wrapped in a stunning cover by Matt Soffe, the finest talents in the British small press are here again to save you from the boredom of a miserable March as we wait for some sign of… Read More ›
-
Anderson Covers latest Zarjaz, the 2000AD-inspired comics zine
Psi Judge Anderson claims her first Zarjaz cover since the ‘Zero’ issue back in 2005 and brings Mark Harrison to the pages of the comic with its lastest release. His gorgeous work makes the comic worth the price of admission… Read More ›