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.
-
Slaine storms social media as “Book of Scars” nears release
To celebrate 30 years of the Celtic barbarian and the release of Sláine: Book of Scars on 7th November, the 2000AD team are posting some of Sláine’s greatest covers from the past three decades on their social media feeds, such… Read More ›
-
Pass me a chain gun, Lou Scannon is back
The wait is over – Lou Scannon #6: Loose Cannons is now available from www.louscannon.co.uk! Uniting plot threads and characters from the first five stand-alone issues, Loose Cannons is Lou’s most explosive, action-packed small-press comic entry yet! And it still… Read More ›
-
“Best of Britain’s Political Cartoons 2013” on sale soon
Australian publisher Scribed launched its first UK catalogue earlier this year. Rubbing shoulders with new books such as High Sobriety: my year without booze, by Scottish-born Melbourne-based journalist Jill Stark and Viennese Romance, the first-ever English edition of the previously… Read More ›
-
Si Spurrier’s new web comic, “Disenchanted”, launches from Avatar
US publisher Avatar Press has just launched Disenchanted, a new weekly webcomic by 2000AD and X-Men: Legacy writer Si Spurrier and Night of the Living Dead artist German Erramouspe that takes the fantasy genre in new directions. Once upon a time,… Read More ›
-
Celebrate Christmas Past with special Beano and Dandy Covers Book
Under licence from DC Thomson, auction site Phil’s Comics is offering a limited edition full colour hardback book, The Dandy and The Beano – Classic Christmas Comic Covers 1937-1969. The nook – limited to a 1000 print run – will be… Read More ›
-
Ellen Lindner’s ‘Black Feather Falls’ joins SEQUENTIAL digital line-up
SEQUENTIAL, the digital comics app created by Panel Nine, has just added The Black Feather Falls, the first of a range of books by Britain’s Soaring Penguin Press. The Black Feather Falls is by Ellen Lindner, the American author of… Read More ›
-
Oscar Zarate, ILYA on Living and Loving in London
Oscar Zarate and ILYA are both London-based graphic novelists who record and reflect their individual relationships with urban life. Both creators are in conversation with Paul Gravett as part of this year’s Comica Festival, revealing how London has helped shape… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: Eagle editor Bob Bartholomew
Steve Holland has reported on the passing of Bob Bartholomew, best known to the comics’ world as the editor of Eagle and Boys’ World in the 1960s, who died on Wednesday, 9th October, at the age of 90. “Bob had… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: Great British Horror Comics
Today’s Panel Borders radio show concludes a month of episodes looking at horror comics, and includes interviews with a quartet of British creators who work in that genre. Alex Fitch talks to David Hine, author of Strange Embrace and writer… Read More ›
-
Emily Haworth-Booth wins 2013 Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize with ‘Colonic’
33-year-old Emily Haworth-Booth has been announced as the winner of this year’s Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize, for her story ‘Colonic’ – and Michael Parkin as runner up, for his story ‘Lines’. On of this year’s judges, Stephen Collins, author… Read More ›
-
“Comica Conversations” kick off with UK exclusive preview of Dave McKean’s “Nine Lives”
Comica 2013, the London International Comics Festival, kicks off its season of Comica Conversations with the UK exclusive preview of Dave McKean‘s latest storytelling experiment, which premiered earlier in October at the Graphic festival in Sydney Opera House, entitled Nine… Read More ›
-
Spandex Special launches this weekend at MCM Expo
After seven issues of gay superhero shenanigans, Spandex series creator Martin Eden is bringing his comic saga to and end in a Spandex Special! To celebrate, the comic will be a whopping 52 pages and will feature five ‘variant covers’,… Read More ›
-
Artist Nigel Dobbyn ‘invades’ Redcar!
Catch 2000AD, Sonic The Hedgehog and The Beano artist Nigel Dobbyn at the Invasion exhibition at Kirkleatham Museum near Redcar this Sunday and the next. Aside from hearing first-hand how comic strips are developed, you might even pick yourselves… Read More ›
-
Zakk Ridley from Orang Utan Press set to stun
Those darn fine indie publishers Orang Utan Comics are offering something special for visitors to next month’s Thought Bubble comic art festival in Leeds – a limited edition convention exclusive copy of the totally stunning-looking The Intergalactic Adventures of Zakk… Read More ›
-
My Singing Monsters magazine on way from Egmont UK
Big Blue Bubble, creators of the best-selling gaming app My Singing Monsters, have signed the master publishing house Egmont UK as its new strategic licensing partner. The agreement between Egmont and the Canadian video game creators will see the My… Read More ›
-
Coming in 2014: Captain America – The Winter Soldier (UK Trailer)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier comes to the UK on 28th March 2014 and stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Robert Redford, Frank Grillo. The film is directed by Anthony… Read More ›
-
Marvel rolls out new Thor, Captain America merchandise
Marvel Entertainment have announced the merchandising plans for upcoming blockbusters Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the former’s tie-ins to include toys such as the hilarious Thor Potato Head from Hasbro, collectables, apparel, accessories, stationery and… Read More ›
-
Metal Horns and Red Wire Dreadlocks: The Rise of Death’s Head II
Or – Making it When you Least Expect it First posted on deviantart by Liam Sharp, the co-founder of the digital comics company Madefire has kindly given us permission to cross post his memories (with some editorial annotations) of Marvel… Read More ›
-
Underwater terror stalks the new Commandos
Here’s the lowdown on this week’s Commando comic releases from DC Thomson on sale from today (Thursday 24th October)… Commando No 4647 – Dead Shot Story: Dominic Teague Art: Vila Cover: Janek Matysiak Preview: www.commandocomics.com/latest-issues/24th-october-2013-collection Young Jason Stringer was an… Read More ›
-
In Review: Thunderbirds – The Comic Collection
Creators: Various, including artists Frank Bellamy, Frank Hampson, Eric Eden, John Cooper and Graham Bleathman Publisher: Egmont Classic Comics Out: Now The Book: Blast off on a thrilling adventure through Thunderbirds comic history! Discover the iconic comic strips that captured… Read More ›