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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Infinity Issue 6 includes Hannah Berry interview, out today
Infinity #6 – the terrific, free, digital magazine of graphic novels and sequential art is out today. This issue from Panel Nine, makers of the SEQUENTIAL app within which Infinity appears, features long interview with Hannah Berry, reviews of Hip… Read More ›
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In Praise of… Comic Artist John Gillatt
Comics editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson kindly sent us this photograph of himself with veteran artist John Gillatt at his home in Peterborough this weekend. John’s credits in British comics span decades, including work on “Jet Ace Logan”, “Johnny Cougar”,… Read More ›
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WebFinds: The Firelight Isle by Paul Duffield
My fav online comic, THE FIRELIGHT ISLE: http://t.co/OLECFWeg2X @paul_duffield has put everything @scottmccloud proved into play and more. — Page 45 (@PageFortyFive) February 10, 2014 A chance discovery via Twitter this morning (well not that much of a… Read More ›
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DieGo Comic Publishing launches Kickstarter for next “Rourke” collection
London-based DieGo Comic Publishing has just launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the second volume of the company’s ongoing series Rourke the Hexbuster. The eagerly awaited Rourke the Hexbuster Volume II continues with a journey from Ireland to Africa, and… Read More ›
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Planet Jimbot’s “Wolf Country” returns with new artist
The second issue of Planet Jimbot’s Wolf Country series is on sale soon, written once more by Jim Alexander (Calhab Justice, Batman) and drawn by Will Pickering (GoodCopBadCop, Savant), who takes over from Luke Cooper on the book. The vampires-versus… Read More ›
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A Chat with a Homesick Truant: Comic Artist Oliver East
Manchester-based comic artist Oliver East has just launched his latest project, The Homesick Truant’s Cumbrian Yarn (ordering information for the first book below), a “walking comic” centred on the artist’s travels in the county dominated by the Lake District, commissioned… Read More ›
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Demand for ‘Snowpiercer’ graphic novel prompts immediate second printing
Originally released in January to widespread critical acclaim, Titan Comics Snowpiercer Volume 1: The Escape has gone to a second printing, just 48 hour after publication date, due to exceptionally high demand. Titan Comics says that fans eager to read… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Translating the Snowpiercer
Continuing a month of shows about French comics or bande dessinée, Alex Fitch talks to Virginie Sélavy this week on Britain’s only regular comics radio talk show, about her translation of Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette’s French graphic… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival 24 Hour Marathon creators revealed
Five of the six creators for the 2014 Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s 24 Hour Comic Challenge have now been revealed – with one more to find. On Thursday 16th October, as part of the Festival, six comic artists will… Read More ›
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Egmont’s Ben 10 Comic gets digital edition
Digital publishing technology company Picsean has partnered with Egmont to create the first digital Ben 10 magazine. One of the biggest media franchises in the world and a much-loved children’s brand, the print Ben 10 Magazine is the best-seller in… Read More ›
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Orang Utan ramp up two new titles for release at London Super Comic Con
The creative minds at Orang Utan Comics have teamed up with UK graphic novel publishing power house Markosia to bring you two thrilling new books in time for the London Super Comic Con. In Hero: 9 to 5 – Quietus… Read More ›
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Future launches weekly digital “Comic Review” as part of “Comic Heroes” app
Future Publishing, the company behind SFX and Comic Heroes magazines ahs just launched Comic Review, a new, weekly 28-page digital magazine. With news, reviews and interviews every Friday, the company describes it as “the new way to keep up with everything… Read More ›
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Scott McCloud announced as first major guest for 2014 Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Innovative and multi-award comic creator Scott McCloud has been announced as the first official overseas guest for the 2014 Lakes International Comic Art Festival. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the event’s launch of its 24 Hour Comic… Read More ›
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Marvel UK revival title, Revolutionary War – #4 Preview Released
Marvel has just released a preview of Revolutionary War: Death’s Head #1, the fourth issue in its limited series reviving the Marvel UK characters. This issue is written by series creators Alan Cowsill and Andy Lanning and there’s a smashing… Read More ›
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Anderson Entertainment releases new Thunderbirds badges
There’s still no news on whether the new Thunderbirds Are Go TV project has secured a comic deal. We’ve still got our fingers crossed! As we’ve previously reported, we do know there’s other merchandise in the works to celebrate the… Read More ›
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Dambusters comic released for Kindle
Ace comic artist and illustrator Nick Spender has been beavering away on The Story of the Dambusters, a comics project telling the story of “Operation Chastise” for a long time, occasionally mailing me pages of work in progress. At last,… Read More ›
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Fumio Obata launches debut graphic novel at Gosh London
Japanese-born, UK-based comics creator, comics educator and animator Fumio Obata is at Gosh London tomorrow night (7th February), signing copies of his debut novel, It Just So Happens, published by Jonathan Cape. The team at Gosh! are huge fans of… Read More ›
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“To End All Wars” World War One anthology final cover revealed
This slipped through our radar last month – our apologies to the editorial team. It’s the finished cover for the upcoming World War One anthology To End All Wars, which will be released later this year by Soaring Penguin Press,… Read More ›
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“Celeste” sneak peek, new SelfMadeHero title from INJ Culbard
Creator INJ Culbard has published a tantalising sneak peek of his graphic novel Celeste, out this April from SelfMadeHero. In London, the moment two commuters, Aaron and Lilly, lay eyes on each another on a packed Monday morning tube train,… Read More ›
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Soaring Penguin to publish “Mengelmoes” by Willem Samuel
British independent publisher Soaring Penguin Press launches a new series this month: Mengelmoes, by South African-born creator Willem Samuel, a comic diary that takes you into the most life-changing period of South Africa. Soaring Penguin have kindly sent us a… Read More ›