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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Star Trek fans urged to back campaign to collect British Star Trek comics
Star Trek comic fans are being urged to support a campaign to get all the rare British Star Trek comics – with all their wonderful idiosyncracies, such as Captain Kirk teaching gorilla men how to play football – collected. In recent years, IDW‘s Library of American Comics imprint… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2014: An Interview with Comic Artist Doug Braithwaite
In the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October), we’re planning to run a number of interviews spotlighting at least a few of the huge number of guests and comic creators who will… Read More ›
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IPC Media re-branded as Time Inc. UK
It was the end of an era last week as Time Inc. announced that it is rebranding its wholly-owned UK publishing arm IPC Media – which owns a huge back list of comic characters and comics – to Time Inc…. Read More ›
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Art Heroes announces comic book launch for Endangered and Other Stories
North East-based comic publisher Art Heroes , the creation of Daniel Clifford and Lee Robinson, a writer and artist team publishing comic books and offering a range of creative workshops, is hosting a comic book launch for its new book… Read More ›
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Nottingham Comic Con guest list expands, huge exhibitor line-up planned
The second ever Nottingham Comic Con (previously known as Nerd Fest) on Saturday 4th October will be double the size of last year’s event, hosting 13 guests, over 150 exhibitor tables and live music. The event will also have the… Read More ›
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ITV Studios talks up Thunderbirds Are Go!, Making of documentary in the works
Rubbing shoulders with a host of previews for new and continuing drama for a wide range of companies, the latest MIPCOM Preview from World Screen includes a number of comments on the new Thunderbirds Are Go! series, launching next… Read More ›
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Arabs at War and a Royal kidnap? Commando adventures continue
Here’s the details for DC Thomson’s Commando Issues 4739-4742, on sale from Thursday (11th September 2014) through newsagents, by subscription and for digital devices. Along with the usual full-length comic stories, Issue 4739 offers the chance to win a copy of… Read More ›
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New range of Anderson Collectibles in the works, Space:1999 posters announced
Anderson Entertainment, the company founded by Gerry Anderson, creator of TV hits including Thunderbirds and which now has a number of new projects in the works based on his ideas, including the Gemini Force One novels, has signed a licensing… Read More ›
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2014 Top Toy Brands announced, most have have tie-in comics in the UK
LIMA – the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association – has just revealed the nation’s favourite licensed toy brands among British children, with LEGO and Barbie taking the top spots on boys’ and girls’ lists of the most favoured toy… Read More ›
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World War One poems brought to life through comics in “Above the Dreamless Dead”
Above the Dreamless Dead, out on 23rd September, is a splendid World War One trench poem anthology edited by Chris Duffy (Nursery Rhyme Comics, Fairy Tale Comics), published by First Second, which includes work by Hunt Emerson, Luke Pearson, Pat Mills and… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Comic Releases (10th September 2014) – Beware of Springheeled Jack!
Here’s a list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops from tomorrow, Wednesday 10th September 2014, courtesy of First Age Comics, Lancaster. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold… Read More ›
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Michael Palin to narrate “The Clangers”
Award-winning actor, writer, presenter and comedian Michael Palin has been confirmed as narrator for the much-anticipated new Clangers series, a contemporary version of the British classic animated television show being co-produced by CBeebies, Coolabi Group, Smallfilms and Sprout, which will… Read More ›
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The Beano launches mischievous new app
The Beano has launched the first in a series of new apps for fans of its characters, following in the fottsteps of Egmont’s TOXIC to reach its computer and device-savvy readership. The Dennis & Gnasher’s Prank Sticker app, available now for iPhone and… Read More ›
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DC Thomson has high hopes of success for new “110% Gaming” Magazine
Beano publisher DC Thomson announced the launch of a new monthly children’s magazine last week, and it looks as though they’re pretty confident the title will be a success. The title, 110% Gaming, is aimed at eight to 12 year-old kids… Read More ›
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DC Thomson’s “Invisible Dick” revived (no tittering at the back!)
Two of Scotland’s top comic creators have revived DC Thomson’s classic character “Invisible Dick” whose adventures, when a name like that was more innocent and not, perhaps, considered hilarious, appeared in a number of titles across several decades, including… Read More ›
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Titan collects Greg Broadmore’s steampunk adventure “Dr Grordbort: Onslaught”
This week sees the release of Titan Comics first collection of Dr Grordbort stories, the creation of master illustrator and yarn-spinner Greg Broadmore. In the Dr Grordbort: Onslaught anthology edition from the retro-sci-fi world of Dr Grordbort, Greg digs deeper into the… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Comic Releases (3rd September 2014) – Carpe Diem, The Void and more
Here’s a list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops from tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd September 2014, courtesy of First Age Comics, Lancaster. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con 2014 offers a world-spanning guest line up
Malta’s Wicked Comics are clearly pulling out all the stops this year for their 2014 Malta Comic Con at the end of November, with a growing line-up of internationally renowned creators now announced. Here’s a run down of the most… Read More ›
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Scotland’s biggest comic con back in Glasgow this weekend
Last year’s debut MCM Scotland Comic Con was the largest comic convention Scotland had ever seen – and this year’s show, this coming weekend (6-7th September 2014) is set to be even bigger according to its organisers with comic guests… Read More ›
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“Requiem Vampire Knight: Resurrection” is latest Millsverse digital title
Pat Mills, creator of 2000AD, writer of comic series such as “Charley’s War”, “Slaine”, “Marshal Law”, “Nemesis The Warlock” and “Accident Man”, launched his digital label, Millsverse, on Comixology in July with the one-off PsychoKiller from Toxic! magazine. Now… Read More ›