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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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: The Blind Fortune Teller
The young Bruce Wayne calls a board meeting to express his concerns about the direction of Wayne Enterprises. Elsewhere, James Gordon and Leslie head to circus for a pleasant night out, but all hell breaks loose when a circus is… Read More ›
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One Beat Zines ambitious plans for UK indie comic distro, new titles
One Beat Zines is a new zine-making collective/distribution service run by Sarah Broadhurst and Julia Scheele aiming is to make cheap-and-cheerful zines that will publish regular anthology books featuring amazing artists and writers. Their first book, the crowd funded Double Dare Ya, an anthology with a cover… Read More ›
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Latest Comix Reader On Sale Now
The latest issue of Comix Reader (Issue 6) is on sale now in comic shops and other outlets, featuring a cover by Richard Cowdry and strips by a huge assortment of artists and writers, including Lord Hurk, Ralph Kidson, Paul O’Connell, Bernadette Bentley… Read More ›
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First Pics from Marvel’s Deadpool Released
One of the first official image from Marvel’s Deadpool, due for release in the UK on 12th February 2016, has been released. Directed by Tim Miller, the film stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who is… Read More ›
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Nerd Hutch Small Press Expo Hits Newcastle!
My abject apologues to the enthusiastic team behind Nerd Hutch, a day long event celebrating some of the UK’s hottest small press and DIY talent taking place tomorrow at the Travelling Man comic shop in Grainger Street, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Hosted on both floors… Read More ›
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Spicy Tea and Sympathy! New Brenda and Effie Mysteries episode coming soon
Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax, Dinnerladies) stars in Episode Three of The Brenda and Effie Mysteries, audio stories based on the characters created by author Paul Magrs, available soon from Bafflegab Productions, who also produce The Scarifyers. Brenda and… Read More ›
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“Jupiter’s Legacy” film news breaks as collection launches in comic shops
Mark Millar and Frank Quitely’s Image Comics-published series Jupiter’s Legacy is headed to the big screen, notes The Hollywood Reporter. The news comes as Jupiter’s Circle #1, also by Mark and set in 1959, featuring art by Wilfredo Torres,… Read More ›
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Going Euro: Titan Comics Ups its bande dessine-sourced titles
Titan Comics has revealed more details of its plans to expand its line of European-sourced albums for English-speaking audiences, with a new edition of Enki Bilal’s The Nikopol Trilogy in the works, among other titles. News of further releases follows Titan’s… Read More ›
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“Comics Uncovered” to offer aspiring creators tips on breaking Into the comics industry
If you or someone you know is interested in writing, drawing or publishing their own comics or in finding work in the comics industry as a professional freelancer you may want to sign up for Comics Uncovered in September –… Read More ›
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Flying Fools and Eagles of Eden – New Commandos On Sale Today!
Here’s the details on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4799 -4802) – on sale from tomorrow, Thursday 9th April 2015. Two leading Commando artists – Ian Kennedy and Keith Page – will both be making a rare appearance at… Read More ›
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Britain’s TPub Gets Global Comics Distribution Deal with Diamond
British comic book and graphic novel publisher TPub has just signed a new agreement with Diamond, expanding the distributor’s abilities to distribute TPub’s titles worldwide into comic book specialty markets, gaming and hobby markets, as well as book markets through Diamond Book… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Neal Adams’ Relevant Comics
Continuing a month of radio shows about creators whose passion for comics leads them to do more than just create strips for the medium, Alex Fitch talks to legendary creator Neal Adams this week on Panel Borders, one of the… Read More ›
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Is Anyone Reading Digital Comics? London Book Fair aims to find out…
In the UK, the impact of digital migration on the graphic novel market has been less pronounced than in other areas of the book industry. This is often attributed to graphic novel readers’ attachment to print: nothing, you’ll hear… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Releases (8th April 2015) – 2000AD’s “Spring Salvo” continues, aliens in BeanoTown?
Here’s our list of both British and US comics on sale this week in comic shops today (Wednesday 8th April 2015), complementing our monthly list of British graphic novel releases (April 2015 release list here). The ’Spring Salvo’ surges… Read More ›
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Sam Glanzman’s “A Sailor’s Story” gets deserved re-release this week
Fans of Charley’s War may be interested in this new edition of legendary comic book artist Sam J. Glanzman’s A Sailor’s Story, first published in hardback by Marvel Comics in 1987 and now being re-released by US publisher Dover Publications,… Read More ›
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Doing the Elephant Walk – Oliver East Steps Out for Lakes Festival Project
Comics artist Oliver East is getting set to retrace the steps of a legendary Victorian walk with an elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester this week, for “Take Me Back to Manchester” – a project commissioned by the Lakes International… Read More ›
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Swift Comic’s Junior Dan Dare
The original Dan Dare series, now called Voyage To Venus, began in the first issue of Eagle comic 65 years ago this month. The strip ran weekly in Eagle until 1967 after which it went to reprint. The character has… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: The Scarecrow
Gordon and Bullock set out to stop Gerald Crane, a biology teacher who has been harvesting the glands of his murder victims. Meanwhile, after finding herself in an unusual setting, Mooney continues plotting to gain power, and Falcone… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Quest Episode 26
If you’re going to explore an ancient Dwarf Mine, it might help to know what the Dwarves are… and whatever you do, don’t switch them on!
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Thunderbirds Are Go: Scott Tracy and Thunderbird 1 Profiled
Just one day to go! The promotions for Thunderbirds Are Go are coming in thick and fast now as the launch date nears, with the new show’s official Facebook page featuring a countdown of Tracy brothers character profiles, inviting fans to back their favourite…. Read More ›