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.
-
Thunderbirds Are Go: The Tracy Brothers Revealed
ITV continue to carefully drip feed imagery from the upcoming Thunderbirds Are Go series, a reboot of the original “Classic” Thunderbirds created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, which sees its 50th anniversary this year. To date, we’ve only seen the… Read More ›
-
Thunderbirds Board Game At London Toy Fair
Modiphius Entertainment has released a promotional cover by Shigeru Komatsuzaki for its upcoming Thunderbirds Co-Operative Board Game by Matt Leacock. There will be a related Kickstarter launching in February relating to the game and the company says it will be announcing… Read More ›
-
Looking for Charlie Hebdo in the UK?
(Last updated 21st January 2015): If you’re looking for a copy of the new “survivors issue” of French magazine Charlie Hebdo, out today, we found this Reddit discussion offering some pointers to London stockists. The Guardian has also published a handy… Read More ›
-
Top Shelf announces new LOEG tale, “Nemo: River of Ghosts”
Hot on the heels of the news of the Top Shelf Productions merger with IDW Publishing comes the first announcement of new books for 2015 from the company: a new Nemo story from Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, which… Read More ›
-
Sky commissions new “Fungus the Bogeyman” adaptation
Sky 1 has commissioned a new four-part drama that will adapt Raymond Briggs‘ classic comic strip story, Fungus the Bogeyman, first published in 1977. The 4 x 60 series will be produced by Imaginarium Studios, in partnership with… Read More ›
-
British Comic Shop Releases (14th January 2015) – Calculus Cat AND Star Wars? Oh My!
Here’s this week’s list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops tomorrow, Wednesday 14th January 2015. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold below, or titles with a… Read More ›
-
“Death Duty”, first WarWorldz story, gets thumbs up from “A Place to Hang Your Cape”
We’ve had a pleasant start to the new year with a rather marvellous review of both Issues 6 and 7 of 100% Biodegradable from Patrick Smith over at A Place to Hang Your Cape. “100% Biodegradable #7 features the launch of a fresh serialisation, Death… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: Musical Monsters, Walruses and Snowmen
Continuing a month of shows looking at children’s comics on ace radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Roger Langridge about his work. Alex and Roger discuss the latter’s work on licensed comics such as Popeye and Rocky and Bullwinkle, his adaptation… Read More ›
-
Kendal Calling: To the Clock Tower, Comics Fans!
Booking for spaces in Kendal’s Comics Clock Tower venue for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (16th – 18th October 2015) has just opened. A huge line up of both British and globe-spanning international comics talent is being… Read More ›
-
Game of Thrones Season Five hits Sky 13th April, UK hosts behind the scenes exhibition in February
The new, fifth season of Sky Atlantic’s Game of Thrones will premiere on the channel – available exclusively to Sky TV customers and contract free on online TV streaming service NOW TV with the NOW TV Entertainment Month Pass –… Read More ›
-
Diamond Announces Top Comic Books & Graphic Novels of 2014
Marvel Comics’ Amazing Spider-Man #1 was the best-selling comic book published in 2014, based on total unit sales to comic book specialty retailers, including those in the UK, according to Diamond Comic Distributors. Written by Dan Slott and illustrated… Read More ›
-
The Beano again best-selling annual at Christmas
Christmas annuals may be being deep discounted across the UK in WH Smiths and supermarkets – some as little as £2 a copy. But sales in the run up to the festive period were strong again, with the Beano Annual… Read More ›
-
Titan Comics announced new Spy Thriller From Doctor Who Cover Artist Des Taylor
April 29th 2015 sees Titan Comics bring you a brand-new fiour-issue creator-owned series, Scarlett Couture – a new spy thriller by Doctor Who cover artist, Des Taylor, an artist who has gained much praise from fellow creators such as Mark Millar and… Read More ›
-
Thelwell Gallops into Spreadshirt Licensing Stable
Thelwell, the unofficial artist of the British countryside, has made its cartoons of little girls and their fat, often out-of-control, ponies personalisable using Spreadshirt’s merchandising platform. The instantly recognisable drawings are now available internationally through the Thelwell online shops,… Read More ›
-
Trevor von Eeden illustrates and writes for “Boxiana”, a pugilistic anthology
Veteran US comics artist Trevor von Eeden – best known for his groundbreaking work on Batman and Green Arrow an as the co-creator of Black Lightning for DC Comics – has provided the cover and illustrations for a British anthology of never before published… Read More ›
-
Marvel’s Agent Carter launches to critical acclaim
The debut of Marvel’s Agent Carter gave US network ABC – which also screens Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – its best A18-49 regular programming rating (1.9/6) in the 8.00p-10.00pm Tuesday time slot since November 2013, according to preliminary Nielsens. At… Read More ›
-
BFI announces Blade Runner re-release and more 2015 film highlights
The BFI has revealed a selection of film highlights to look forward to in 2015 which include a number of films that will appeal to downthetubes readers, including a re-release of Ridley Scott‘s Blade Runner: The Final Cut and the… Read More ›
-
Rian Hughes releases 112 Hours, New Font Collection
Out now from artist and font designer Rian Hughes self-publishes a number of books and he’s recently released the well-received 112 Hours, his fifteenth collection of fonts. Rian is best known in the comics industry at present for his work for US… Read More ›
-
Je Suis Charlie
As a comic creator, I offer my thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of all those murdered in Paris earlier today in a barbaric attack by persons as yet unknown, on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie… Read More ›
-
Gigantic Beard That Was Evil: Production Photos Released
Bristol Old Vic Young Company has released production photographs from the dress rehearsal of their stage version of Stephen Collins‘ best-selling graphic novel The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil which opens today, 7th January. “Beneath the skin of everything is something nobody can… Read More ›