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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BBC4 celebrates Pop Art in August
This August, BBC Four leads a week-long celebration of Pop Art, with programmes across BBC Four, Radio and Online – and award-winning London-based comics artist and illustrator John Riordan has provided the promotional comic strip to mark the event. John, who likes… Read More ›
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“Alice in Cartoonland” exhibition opens at London’s Cartoon Museum
London’s Cartoon Museum‘s latest exhibition Alice in Cartoonland opens today, celebrating Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s many misadventures at the hands of cartoonists, caricaturists and satirists, animators and graphic artists through 150 years of parodies and pastiches, jibes, jokes and gags aimed… Read More ›
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Dan Abnett writing new Teen Titans “Convergence” follow up title
US publisher DC Comics has announced three new comics spinning out of their ‘Convergence’ event this summer – and one, Titans Hunt, is written by Dan Abnett, with art by Paulo Siqueira. “Sometimes you’re working on something exciting you can’t talk… Read More ›
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Know Your Enemy: Commando marks two 75th British military anniversaries
Here’s the intel on the new issues of DC Thomson’s long-running Commando (Issues 4827-4830) on sale tomorrow, 16th July 2015 in all good newsagents and via various digital platforms. Three of the four issues celebrate a couple of important British… Read More ›
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2014 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced
The 2015 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. The nominees include Wicked + Divine, written by Kieron Gillen, with art by Jamie… Read More ›
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British Comic Awards Call for Entries opens, partnership with Page 45 announced
The British Comic Awards team recently opened a Call for Entries – and has announced their partnership with Page 45, the award-winning and highly regarded Nottingham comic shop. “We’re thrilled to be working with them and look forward to the opportunities ahead,” said a team spokesperson. This… Read More ›
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Demons, Zombies and Mad Scientists, oh my! Demonic Advisory Centre has ’em all
Out now from the Cardiff-based small independent, WP Comics – publishers of titles such as Wasteland Paradise and The Night Hunters – is a fun new title mashing Ghostbusters with Hellboy, the Demonic Advisory Centre. The new title is set… Read More ›
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In Review: Do Yer Do Nudes, Sir?
The Book: A rollicking tale of how a ‘Jack-the-Lad’ art student in 1960s Liverpool is taught to be a teacher by the kids who confront him. Filled with a gallery of finely observed characters, the book is a hilarious roller coaster… Read More ›
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In Review: Rivers of London – Body Work #1
Script: Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel Art: Lee Sullivan Colour: Luis Guerroro Letters: Rona Simpson The Book: Peter Grant has come a long way since first entering the special branch of London’s Metropolitan Police. With his hard-earned powers and a flair for… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Rivers of London comic launches this week
This Wednesday (15th July) sees the release of Issue One of the eagerly-anticipated Rivers Of London: Body Work comic written by Ben Aaronovitch (creator of the eponymous fantastic crime fantasy novel series) and former Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel. I… Read More ›
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Titan announces Eighth Doctor Doctor Who mini series at San Diego Comic Con
Titan Comics has announced it will publish a brand-new Doctor Who mini series featuring the Eighth Doctor, as played by Paul McGann. The first issue of the new series will hit comic stores on 28th October 2015 and is being written… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds 1965 is Go, now aims for ‘Prequel’ Production!
The Thunderbirds 1965 Kickstarter to create new episodes of “Classic Thunderbirds” has reached its £75,000 base target in less than five days – and now the race is on to achieve a ‘stretch goal’ that will enable production of a Thunderbirds ‘prequel’…. Read More ›
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Awesome Comic Podcast probes Tom Ward, co-creator of Merrick the Sensational Elephantman
Join Vince Hunt, Tony Esmond and Dan butcher and the Awesome Comics Podcast‘s first ever special guest, writer Tom Ward (co-creator of Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman), to find out more about his critically acclaimed series. The team also talk about controversial… Read More ›
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Hiroshima anniversary prompts new comic study, London art exhibition “Paintings from Hiroshima”
Next month sees the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, one of the final, horrific closing acts of World War Two that has, of course, proven a rich vein of story inspiration for comic creators down the… Read More ›
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Boom! Studios teases Mike Carey, Mike Perkins mystery project
As part of its series of announcements leading up to San Diego Comic-Con, BOOM! Studios unveiled a new image to tease a new original project coming in October from creators Mike Carey (Suicide Risk, The Unwritten) and Mike Perkins… Read More ›
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Titan Comics gets Bloodthirsty!
Titan Comics has announced they will publish Bloodthirsty: One Nation Under Water, a visceral revenge thriller that merges the real-world hopes and horrors of a post-disaster community with an engaging thread of political corruption, class divide and blood-curdling terror… The… Read More ›
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Boom! announces Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? collection
There seems to be a welcome SF-inspired vibe to some of the announcements coming out of this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Hot on the heels of Humanoids announcement of its partnership with author Robert Silverberg to publish comic adaptations… Read More ›
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Sapphire and Steel Competition: First Entry, by Tony Luke
We recently launched a challenge to artists to draw a new Sapphire & Steel strip or send in art inspired by the show, which may be returning to our screens with Luther writer Neil Cross at the helm. Here’s our… Read More ›
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Dennis the Menace – as you’ve never seen him before!
Here’s a version of The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace and Gnasher you probably never expected to see – and it may leave some purists seething. But not us! Ace artist Mike Perkins – perhaps best known for his work on… Read More ›
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New Frank Hampson artwork site launched
Peter Hampson, the son of Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson, recently launched a new web site dedicated to the art and life of his late father. It’s a marvellous cornucopia of delights that’s now fully operational, offering several galleries of rarely… Read More ›