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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Garth, Roy of the Rovers – “The Best of British”
The latest issue of Best of British magazine – on sale in newsagents until 29th November – includes features on two top UK comic characters, Garth and Roy of the Rovers. Written by Ant Jones, the Garth feature, devoted to… Read More ›
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Doctor Whoah heads to GOSH
If you’re in London tomorrow, why not swing by GOSH and meet artist Jamie Lenman, aka Baxter, and the team from MIWK Publishing, to celebrate the launch of Whoah! Gathered from the pages of Panini’s Doctor Who Magazine comes a… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Titan Comics New Penguins Of Madagascar Comic
Next Wednesday – 26th November – sees the release of Penguins of Madagascar #1 from Titan Comics, which ties-in with the new Penguins of Madagascar movie release from DreamWorks Animation – and we have a sneak peek for you! Here’s… Read More ›
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Limited Edition Electricomics Booklet signed by Alan Moore goes on sale
Limited to a run of only 500 copies, a small number of the special Electricomics booklet, originally produced for the team’s appearance at Thought Bubble Festival 2014 in Leeds, are now on sale online, along with a set of seven Electricomics… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women
Continuing a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and media in their art on Britain’s only comics-focused radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to gallery owners Jo David and… Read More ›
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Dan Dare: The Lost 2000AD Story
Earlier this month we reported that Rebellion, the publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, had announced collections of the “Dan Dare” stories published in early editions of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with the first of a two-volume series set to be published in autumn 2015. We also… Read More ›
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In Review: The Gerry Anderson Comic Collection
Creators: Various, including writers Alan Fennell and Tod Sullivan and artists Frank Bellamy, Jon Davis, Eric Eden, Ron Embleton, Rob Hamilton, and Mike Noble Publisher: Egmont UK Price: £25.00 Out: Now ISBN: 978 1 4052 7266 7 Binding: Hardback,… Read More ›
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Web comics platform Tapastic acquires Webtoon Live
Digital web comics platform Tapastic – which hosts web comics by some British comic creators, including myself, as well as many more from around the globe – has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Webtoon Live, a grassroots… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Royal Blood from Titan Comics
Warning: Some Gruesome Panels Below! Titan Comics releases a cracking graphic novel, Royal Blood this week – and it’s on sale from comic shops and bookshops, physical and digital. They’ve kindly sent us a sneak peek, and here are the… Read More ›
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Ian Kennedy joins Birmingham Comic Festival line up
Legendary British comic artist Ian Kennedy – best known today for his covers for Commando but whose credits a huge range of comic titles from Eagle and 2000AD to girls comic Emma – is to make a rare comic… Read More ›
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Paragon Annual announced, new indie Christmas treat
The team behind the brilliant action adventure anthology Paragon have announced the impending publication of a Paragon Annual for 2015, something of a homage to their love of British Christmas annuals of yesteryear. Due to be released next month, the… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: Doctor Who – Twelfth Doctor Who #2
The second issue of Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor goes on sale on Wednesday in all good comic shops from Titan Comics and we have a sneak peek at the issue below. Here’s all the details all Scary Eyebrow… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Comic Releases (19th November 2014) – Love and War and Fables, Too!
Here’s a list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops tomorrow, Wednesday 19th November 2014, courtesy of First Age Comics, Lancaster. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold below,… Read More ›
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Bear Alley Books announces Bullet strip “Frontline UK” as next collection
Steve Holland at Bear Alley Books has announced that his next collection of classic comics is another DC Thomson-published story, “Frontline UK”, reprinting the complete series from Bullet where it appeared back in 1976. The original artist was Ian… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons, Mark Buckingham art included in Lakes International Comic Art Festival auction
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just launched a fund-raising auction on eBay that will help raise finds for its 2015 outreach and Festival activities which includes artwork by Dave Gibbons, French artist Boulet, Jeff Smith and artists from… Read More ›
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Tonight’s Gotham on Channel 5: “Spirit of the Goat”
When a killer begins targeting the first born of Gotham’s elite, Detective Harvey Bullock is forced to confront traumatic memories from a nearly identical case he worked in the past. Later, Gordon is confronted by past decisions in Gotham… Read More ›
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Space:1999 Season Two to get 2015 Blu-Ray and DVD Release
Network is to release the second season of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Space:1999 in autumn 2015 – but will release the two part story “The Bringers of Wonder” in advance of this, on 8th December 2014. “Stunningly restored in a brand-new… Read More ›
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British Comic Awards 2014 Winners Announced
The Third Annual British Comic Awards took place in Leeds this weekend as part of this year’s Thought Bubble Festival and the winners of five categories were announced. Congratulations again to all the nominees for making the final Shortlist. The organising committee… Read More ›
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Remix, reboot, be inspired! New competition for young creators launched
Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2013-2015 Malorie Blackman is inviting young creators – including comic artists and writers, who will win prizes donated by The Phoenix – to take part in Project Remix – a competition to find the UK’s best young writers… Read More ›
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First ever British comic and original ‘Tornado’ logo in new Compalcomics auction
The latest Compalcomics comic auction has just begun, offering its usual cracking offerings of British comics and artwork from days gone by – a wonderful selection of high grade and rare comics, artwork and merchandise. … Read More ›