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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Get Yourself some DogBreath!
No, we’re not talking about having an all-night session in some seedy bar with Middenface McNulty! Dogbreath is the brilliant comics fanzine inspired by Starlord/2000AD‘s Strontium Dog, published by Futurequake Press, who also publish Zarjaz (plugged yesterday). Featuring a… Read More ›
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Jam-packed Zarjaz 20 released, packed with great 2000AD-inspired strips
Lurking behind a simply stunning Bad Company cover by Mick Cassidy, Peeps the droid delivers some truly brilliant thrills lifted directly from the cortex of The Mighty One Himself in Zarjaz Issue 20 – the latest issue of the brilliant… Read More ›
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Starblazer Adventures Game reaches end of the line
Game publishers Cubicle 7 Entertainment are selling PDF downloads of their Starblazer Adventures and Legends of Anglerre games, after deciding not to renew their license for the FATE gaming system. Starblazer Adventures – originally announced back in 2007 and released in 2009 – is based… Read More ›
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Comixology hacked, urges users to re-set passwords
Major digital comics hub Comixology has announced its servers have been hacked and has begun the process of advising users to re-set their passwords. The company says that no financial information was accessed. Here’s the company’s statement: In the course… Read More ›
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Sarah McIntyre’s “Seawigs” pipped by Weird Wonders for Blue Peter Book Award
Comiserations this morning to fab comics creator Sarah McIntyre, whose Oliver and the Seawigs (co-created with Philip Reeve) was nominated for a Blue Peter Book Award this year, but has been pipped to the post by 26-year-old Katherine Rundell with Rooftoppers in… Read More ›
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2000AD’s marketing secrets in new Geek Syndicate magazine
The new issue of Geek Syndicate magazine is out – and it’s a cracker! Articles include an interview with comic creator Steve Grant on 2 Guns – how the comic series turned all action film starring Denzel Washington and Mark Walberg. The… Read More ›
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Lakes Comic Art Festival’s reveals new mascots, designed by Jonathan Edwards
Guardian and MAD Magazine cartoonist Jonathan Edwards has created “Poblin’s Gang” — a family of mascots for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, which returns to Kendal from 17th – 19th October. Poblin and family reflect the inclusive aims of the… Read More ›
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Titan Comics releases “Alien Legion: Uncivil War” preview
The classic series Alien Legion is back – and Titan Comics has it, blasting its way into an all-new battle-scared, laser-ravaged adventure previewed below… In Alien Legion: Uncivil War, a galaxy savaged by strife, torn by civil war, boiling… Read More ›
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Hulk: From the Marvel UK Vaults
(Updated 11/3/14 to add information on the SMASH! artist from David Roach): Last year, Marvel Comics put out Hulk: From the UK Vaults – and we completely missed the release! It’s only thanks to fan Robin Barnard that it’s now… Read More ›
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Creator Owned Day Return to promote indie comics
(with thanks to Stephen Downey): Creator Owned Day returns Wednesday 5th March 2014, this year’s event following two previous annual challenges that saw comic creators writing and drawing up new characters, readers celebrating their favourite creator-owned series and a trending topic on… Read More ›
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US publisher eyes Planet Jimbot title
Planet Jimbot reports some potentially good news this morning for the Scottish publisher, whose titles include Wolf Country, Savant, GoodCopBadCop and their new horror title, Food Chain, Publisher and writer Jim Alexander reports a top US publisher is looking to take on one of… Read More ›
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Cinebook releases new Thorgal in English, announces digital titles
Cinebook, publishers of a wide range of bande dessines in English, have had a bit of a Grzegorz Rosinski special in terms of their recent releases, with two different volumes drawn by the legendary Polish artist coming out at the… Read More ›
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Bash Street brought to life for real in Dundee
DC Thomson and Dundee City Council have finally brought ‘Bash Street’ to life, the official street unveiling coming in the same month that the Bash Street Kids celebrate their 60th anniversary. Named after the mischievous Bash Street Kids, the pedestrianised street – plans for… Read More ›
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Titan Comics releases details of its first Doctor Who comics
Titan Comics has announced the first of its three Doctor Who ongoing series will launch in July and gave US web site Comic Book Resources an exclusive first look at the covers (which they plastered with their own branding). Lucklily for us, the BBC’s… Read More ›
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Nottingham’s Page 45 shortlisted for Independent Bookshop of the Year award
Nottingham’s Page 45 comic shop is celebrating after being shortlisted for The Bookseller’s Independent Bookshop of the Year award. The renowned store, which was established in 1994 and will be celebrating its 20th anniversary “on the road” at the Lakes International Comic… Read More ›
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Green Berets, Secret Agents and Nazi Scientists – it’s all go in Commando!
Here’s the full run down on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando (Issues 4683 – 4686) on sale now in all good newsagents and for iPad and iPhone. Commando No 4683 – The Cold War Story: C.B…. Read More ›
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Calvin & Hobbes artist Bill Watterson’s film poster for “Stripped”
US artist Bill Watterson seems to be making forays back into the world of comic art, some 20 years after he ended his world-famous and much-loved newspaper strip Calvin & Hobbes about a boy and his talking tiger. Watterson has… Read More ›
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This Week’s Top Ten Posts on downthetubes
Here are the Top Ten most visited posts on downthetubes this week (not counting our home page): • “Does Your Dad Draw for Roy of the Rovers?” Antony Harding pays tribute to his father, the brilliant artist Tony Harding •… Read More ›
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Two days of comic goodness in Glasgow this weekend
The Big Glasgow Comic Page – described as “a hub of comic awesomeness run by comic fans for comic fans” – is holding its “Ultimate Comic Mart” at the Buff Club tomorrow, 1st March, and Sunday. The Big Glasgow Comic Page aims to bring… Read More ›
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Arts Council Touring funding could support comic creators
Applications for next round of funding from Britain’s Arts Council Strategic Touring Programme are now being accepted (deadline Friday 2 May 2014). Why is this relevant to comics? Well, comic festivals offering comic creation workshops should qualify for funds from this,… Read More ›