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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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 ›
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Thought Bubble Gets Cross (the Disconnected Anthology, that is…)
This weekend will see the launch of the CROSS anthology from Disconnected Press at Thought Bubble, a glorious assemblage of political wit, satire and polite British rage! And we do mean glorious, because Conor Boyle, the co-conspirator in the project with partner… Read More ›
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150 and Definitely Not Out – The Phoenix reaches milestone issue!
The team at The Phoenix – the weekly subscription-based humour and adventure comic that sprang from the demise of The DFC back in 2012 – are, quite deservedly, celebrating this week as it reaches its 150th issue. It’s been nearly three… Read More ›
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Sneak Peek: The First Kingdom by Jack Katz from Titan Comics
Next Wednesday. 19th November, sees the release of the final, never-before-published volume of the epic saga, The First Kingdom by Jack Katz from Titan Comics – and we have some preview pages for you. Yes – over forty years in the telling, Jack Katz’s six-volume science fiction epic… Read More ›
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Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. heads to Netflix
Streaming service Netflix is adding the first season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to its servicE, but only for US subscribers at present. The show’s second season is screening on Channel 4 in the UK. The arrival of S.H.I.E.L.D. from 20th November in… Read More ›
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Lille Comic Festival features strong British line up in December
Aiming to promote US and British comics in France, this year’s Lille Comic Festival (6th – 7th December 2014) has an impressive line up of guests, with Greg Rucka headlining as Guest of Honour. British guests include Ian Gibson,… Read More ›
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Malta Comic Con 2014 announces final guests for a stellar show
Wicked Comics has just announced the final comic creators and comics industry professionals for the 2014 Malta Comic Con which will be held on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November at St. James Cavalier (all floors), Valletta. Joining an already incredible line up are pop… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Ricky Rouse has a Gun
Continuing a month of shows about the work of comic book creators who mix together different cultures and mediums in their work, on this week’s Panel Borders radio show Alex Fitch talks to playwright and film maker Jörg Tittel… Read More ›
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Sneak Preview: 13 Coins #2 by Simon Bisley, Martin Brennan & Michael B. Jackson
Next Wednesday (19th November) sees the release of second instalment to the supernatural series 13 Coins by Simon Bisley, Martin Brennan & Michael B. Jackson – and we have a little sneak peek of some of the fantastic interior art by… Read More ›
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Charley’s War exhibition continues at Musée de la Grande Guerre
The grand sounding Musée de la Grande Guerre (The Museum of the Great War) in Pays de Meaux, France is hosting an exhibition of art by Joe Colquhoun from the Battle story “Charley’s War” written by Pat Mills… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Comic Releases (12th November 2014) – Dogs Fighting and Kung-Fu Cheesecake!
Here’s a list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops today, Wednesday 12th November 2014, courtesy of First Age Comics, Lancaster. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold below, or… Read More ›
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Knockabout to release “The Magic Pen” by Dylan Horrocks
Sam Zabel a husband, father and a cartoonist once renowned for his series Pickle; in the last few years his career has come to a stand still suffering from a bad case of writer’s block and depression. He now spends his… Read More ›
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Sotheby’s to auction E.H. Shepard’s original Christopher Robin and Piglet on the ‘Poohsticks’ Bridge
London auction house Sotheby’s has announced the auction of arguably the most famous and evocative book illustration of the twentieth century: E.H. Shepard’s original ink drawing of Christopher Robin, Piglet and Pooh on the famous ‘poohsticks’ bridge, first published in A.A…. Read More ›