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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Grimalkin Press launches Kickstarter for Simon Moreton’s first full-length graphic novel
US publisher Grimalkin Press has launched a Kickstarter to fund Simon Moreton‘s first full length comic collection, Plans We Made – a hauntingly beautiful and poetic look at the cartography of youth. Based in Bristol, Simon is a zine maker… Read More ›
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Kev F Sutherland helps promote new Rubies Beano range at Spring Fair
Now where oh where is that @Rubies_UK stand? I’ve got faces to draw #springfair @BeanoComic pic.twitter.com/jkTfxgx5DS — Kev F Comic Artist (@KevFComicArtist) February 2, 2015 DC Thomson Consumer Products has announced several new products and partners in the gifting and homewares… Read More ›
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British Comic Creators join in the fun of Hourly Comics Day
Hourly Comics Day took place online yesterday, as it does annually on every the 1st February. You can view the strips created by following the social media hashtag on places like Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook using the hashtag #HourlyComicsDay. (I use WebSta to search… Read More ›
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Diego Comics launches “European Comics Journal” project
Diego Comics Publishing – the only publisher in the United Kingdom that focuses on some of the best-selling Italian authors for teenagers and adults – has launched a Kickstarter for its proposed European Comics Journal, aiming to rlease the first issue… Read More ›
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WarWorldz: Origins Team Announced
Film and Commando writer Stephen Walsh – perhaps best known for his work with Keith Page on Charlotte Corday – will script WarWorldz: Origins, a contemporary tale set in the WarWorldz Shared Universe, originally by conceived by John Freeman as… Read More ›
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Draw The Line Here: “Charlie Hebdo” fund raiser book available to pre-order
English PEN, the charity partner has released more information about Draw The Line Here, a crowdfunded book of cartoons in celebration of free speech. The world was shocked by the murders at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris earlier this month…. Read More ›
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Grey’s Anatomy’s Rachael Taylor joins Krysten Ritter and David Tennant on “Jessica Jones”
Marvel and Netflix have announced that Grey’s Anatomy actress Rachael Taylor will star as Patricia “Trish” Walker in Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones, an all-new 13-episode series premiering on Netflix in 2015 following Marvel’s Daredevil. Netflix recently added former Doctor Who… Read More ›
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New Classic Thunderbirds licenses announced
ITV Studios Global Entertainment has detailed new developments for its Classic Thunderbirds gifting category as it celebrates the brand’s 50th anniversary ahead of this year’s licensing Spring Fair in Birmingham next week. These include a special range of 50th anniversary products and… Read More ›
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Commando and Dan Dare artist Keith Page joins Birmingham Comics Festival guest list
The Birmingham Comics Festival claims another victory in its battle to ensure a great day out for all takes place by announcing Keith Page, veteran artist on over 200 issues of Commando, will be attending the show on Saturday… Read More ›
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Ant & Dec, Superheroes in Action!
TV’s Superheroes are Back! Ant & Dec unleash their super powers this weekend on ITV with their brand new on air promo for their new series, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, which airs live next month on ITV…. Read More ›
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Liverpool’s Everyman Playhouse show “Cartoonopolis” tackles autism issues
Young Everyman Playhouse graduate Lewis Bray will make his professional debut in the Playhouse Studio this spring in a one-man play. Cartoonopolis is about the imaginary cartoon world created by his autistic brother Jack and what happens when the real… Read More ›
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Upgrade today with a Cyberman-crammed Doctor Who Adventures!
The new issue of BBC Doctor Who Adventures, the magazine for all young Doctor Who fans, is out now – and it’s full of Cyber secrets. To find out why Cybermen are one of the ultimate monsters, the magazine… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: David Lloyd’s Doctor Who art auctioned, Bash Street dieters and comic event news
Here’s another round up of quick news items we’ve found on our travels of social media and other sources… • A Fundraising Art Auction for the Brighton Open Air Theatre includes some terrific artwork by the likes of Clint Langley,… Read More ›
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Brighton’s Graphic War project launched
Following the success and critical acclaim for Brighton: The Graphic Novel, the team behind that project have started a new project, this time with 15-25 year-olds. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, QueenSpark Books is working with young people across Brighton & Hove to… Read More ›
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In UK Cinemas Today: Kingsman: The Secret Service
The Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson and Michael Caine Directed by Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass) and starring Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America: The First Avenger), Taron Egerton… Read More ›
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The Big Glasgow Comic & Craft Fair back in February
The Big Glasgow Comic PageThe Big Glasgow Comic & Craft Fair is back at The Arches on Argyle Street, Glasgow on Saturday 14th February, with further dates through the year. The event brings fans a whole fantastic day of assorted geekery complete… Read More ›
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Convict Commandos – Back in Action in All Good Newsagents Today!
Here’s the lowdown on Commando Issues 4779-4782, on sale today (Thursday 29th January 2015) from DC Thomson in all good newsagents and digitally on a variety of devices. If you’re interested in the work that goes into putting Commando together,… Read More ›
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Fantastic Four Trailer debuts
Fox has launched the first trailer for its reboot of Marvel’s Fantastic Four, which debuts in the UK on 6th August 2015, directed by Chronicle‘s Josh Trank. Miles Teller stars as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Kate Mara as Sue Storm/Invisible… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Funny Monsters and Zoom Rockman
Concluding a month of shows looking at children’s comics on Britain’s only regularly broadcast radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of cartoonists who both publish ‘traditional’ style British anthology comics in the style of The Dandy and other weekly… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (28th January 2015) – XIII, Lady S and Brutania!
Here’s this week’s list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops today, Wednesday 28th January 2015. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold below, or titles with a… Read More ›