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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Sneek Peek – Marvel’s Revolutionary War, reviving Marvel UK characters
(Updated 14/12/13 to include all issue details): Marvel Comics has just released three tantalising pages, below, from their upcoming Revolutionary War limited series, which re-introduces the Marvel UK characters first created back in the 1990s to the wider Marvel universe…. Read More ›
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Egmont announces “Disney Infinity” title for 2014
Egmont UK will launch a monthly magazine based on Disney Infinity in February 2014 – another title tying in with a games brand which is part of the company’s strategy to get boys reading. Launched in August, Disney Infinity is… Read More ›
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London Super Comic Convention adds Max Brooks, Andy Lanning, JK Woodward to guest line up
The London Super Comic Convention has announced Max Brooks, Jacen Burrows, Neil Edwards, Lee Garbett, Andy Lanning, Yanick Paquette, Jamie Tyndall, John Watson, JK Woodward, and Chrissie Zullo as the third wave of guests for the their 2014 event (15th –… Read More ›
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Haiyan Anthology – crowdfunding appeal launches
We’re pleased to report that the crowd funding appeal to produce a Haiyan Benefit Anthology to raise funds for victims of the natural disasters in the Philippines is now live. The brainchild of comic creator Phil Woodward and the team… Read More ›
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A Victorian Mystery – Ally Sloper “Funeral Cards” discovered
The Featherstone Rovers Heritage Project celebrates the history and traditions of a proud northern Rugby League Club and its association with the heritage of coal mining in the West Yorkshire town of Featherstone. The project provides public, quarterly events and… Read More ›
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Check out our Commando Comic Subscription Offer!
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a British comics fan, downthetubes has an EXCLUSIVE discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, simply by ordering through the DC Thomson Online Shop using our special discount code. •… Read More ›
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WebFind: An Interview with TV21 and Look-In artist Mike Noble
Back in 2011, artist Chris Thompson interviewed veteran comics artist Mike Noble , best known for his work on TV Century 21 and Look-In (on strips such as Fireball XL5, Zero X, Follyfoot and Timeslip, to name but a few)… Read More ›
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Redan Publishing delivers digital Peppa Pig title
Redan Publishing – run by former Marvel UK CEO Robert Sutherland – has extended its partnership with Entertainment One to launch its first digital Peppa Pig magazine. The new digital format – based on the company’s top-selling Fun To Learn… Read More ›
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downthetubes Popular Posts – November 2013
Apart from landings on our home page, here’s a run down of the ten most popular posts on downthetubes over the past 30 days… • The Beano gets a Top Gear makeover thanks to guest editor Richard Hammond This has,… Read More ›
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Convict Commandos take on a U-Boat crew in latest Commando
Here’s the lowdown on the new issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando, on sale from tomorrow in all good newsagents and as digital editions – a batch that includes a new Convict Commando story written by Alan Hebden. Commando… Read More ›
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Gary Spencer Millidge’s Strangehaven to return in new ‘Meanwhile…’ anthology
No, it’s not a dream! Not a hoax! Not an Imaginary story! Gary Spencer Millidge’s acclaimed comic book series Strangehaven will return in May 2014 – after an eight year hiatus. New episodes, written and drawn by Millidge will appear… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Re-Visited: creators re-imagine Britain’s favourite space hero
How would Eagle‘s Dan Dare‘s universe look if the series was re-launched today? Taking inspiration from the wonderful Project Rooftop, which often challenges artists to re-design well-known US superheroes, and the success of our “Twelfth Doctor Challenge” (unaware at the… Read More ›
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New Space:1999 Eagle Kits on their way from MPC
Space:1999, which originally aired in 1975, featured the crew of Moon Base Alpha as they found themselves stranded on our moon as a nuclear disaster knocked it from Earth’s atmosphere. Gerry Anderson fans remember the outstanding special effects and production values of… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero to publish Pixies frontman’s illustrated book, art by Steven Appleby
SelfMadeHero has just announced it has acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights to The Good Inn, a book penned by Black Francis from the alternative rock band Pixies and Josh Frank, with art by Steven Appleby. SelfMadeHero’s Managing Director Emma… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Drawing and Painting Comics
Starting a month of shows about creators who use fine art in their work, guest presenter Richard Reynolds (FRSA) discusses art techniques used in strips and graphic novels with artists Al Davison, Hannah Eaton, James E Snelling and Vicky Stonebridge… Read More ›
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In Review: Marada the She-Wolf
by Chris Claremont and John Bolton Publisher: Titan Comics Out: Now The Book: From Chris Claremont, writer of The Uncanny X-Men, Excalibur, and Fantastic Four, and John Bolton, artist of Man-Bat, Shame: Conception and Books of Magic, comes a fantasy… Read More ›
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Adventure Time Signing at Forbidden Planet London announced
Actor Jeremy Shada will be at Forbidden Planet London for a special Adventure Time signing featuring the Adventure Time Encyclopaedia on Monday 30th December from 3 – 4pm. The voice of young adventurer Finn from Cartoon Network’s hugely popular, BAFTA-winning… Read More ›
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Cinebook’s November Titles: The Scorpion, Valerian and more
Mystery and adventure have been the bywords for Cinebook releases this month, with four titles on sale now, including the long-awaited conclusion to the epic tale of Long John Silver. Here’s a run down of the releases. The Scorpion Volume… Read More ›
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Dennis the Menace joins T-Shirt Booth “Digital Giving” project
Regular downthetubes readers will recall how we reported that Digital Giving, an organisation which develops engaging and innovative projects for the benefit of national and international causes, launched a unique way of raising funds through a free mobile and web… Read More ›
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Avengers UK Assemble! (Sort of…)
Avengers UK Assemble! Well, a fan version of the Avengers UK, anyway. The Avengers UK fan project is a not for profit, web-only comic from Darren Wilson, with a snappy script and enthusiastic artwork, now in its second volume and… Read More ›