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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The Guardian Makes Comics – 26 Pages of ’em in one edition!
British newspapers might call them “cartoon strips” (because, believe it or not, that’s what the public thinks of them as, not “comic strips” from my own experience of dealing with business people who want to use comics in their projects),… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly: Now We Are Ten
David Lloyd’s ambitious, award winning digital comics project, Aces Weekly, is now running its tenth volume – a milestone the team are extremely grateful to readers to have reached and an achievement that coincides with another important marker, the… Read More ›
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Elliot Baggott joins Great Beast project, Rachael Smith’s “House Party” out in June
Great Beast – a group of independent comic creators self publishing their work to a professional level – have announced that new talent Elliot Baggott will be joining the team to release his first graphic novel, Hundred Metre Garden, later this… Read More ›
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Leeds Laydeez Do Comics offer “Yorkshire Showcase” with Widdershins creator Kate Ashwin and more
The Leeds group of the international Laydeez Do Comics project are hosting a special showcase of comic creators on Monday 19th May, as part of the Yorkshire Festival 2014, the first ever Arts and Cultural Festival in the lead up the… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival Tickets Go On Sale Today
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced that tickets are now on sale for its massive weekend of comic events in Kendal, Cumbria in October (17th – 19th October 2014). In just its second year the Festival features an… Read More ›
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Stan Lee backs revived Eagle Awards
The Eagle Awards are back, and, hot on the heels of promoting next week’s Free Comic Book Day (3rd May) US legend Stan Lee has joined the team behind them to provide fans around the world with a fresh opportunity to honour… Read More ›
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Women in Comics, Warren Ellis’ ‘Supreme’ revival and more in May ‘Previews’
The May edition of Diamond Comic Distributors’ monthly Previews catalogue arrives in comic shops, hobby stores, and other specialty outlets on 30th April, with Women in Comics in the limelight along with plug for the relaunch of Rob Liefeld’s omnipotent character Supreme… Read More ›
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R.D. Ricci’s “Ligeia the Vampire” returns in all-new motion book
Rodrigo Diaz Ricci is back producing his wonderful Ligeia the Vampire character
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Wolverhampton auction house announces major vintage comics sale
Over 2,000 comics and examples of pulp literature from a vast single collection is set to come up for auction at a May Specialist Collectors’ Sale by Cuttlestones in Wolverhampton. With the majority of examples dating from the golden –… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, Overkill!
Overkill was a Marvel UK anthology published during the 1990s which ran for 52 issues, deliberately designed as a Marvel equivalent to 2000AD. Initially edited by myself, it was also edited by Alan Cowsill. The magazine was part of Editorial Director… Read More ›
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Beserker Viking stalks the in latest Commandos!
Here’s the rundown for DC Thomson’s Commando Issues 4699-4702 on sale from 24th April 2014 in all good newsagents and for iPad and iPhone. It;s a another fine mix for the war comic title, featuring stories from Eric Hebden and… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures tempt new readers with free sampler edition
This week you can access a special online sample edition of Doctor Who Adventures magazine by clicking on this link. You’ll find highlights from the latest issue published by Immediate Media (number 344), which includes an exciting interview with a Cyberman and the best… Read More ›
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Beano “Mail on Sunday” sampler nets 25% sales rise
There’s good news for The Beano this week, which has seen a sales uplift of around 25% after a free sampler was made available to The Mail on Sunday readers on 6th April 2014 and as a digital version to Mail… Read More ›
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Call for Papers: special Digital Comics issue of “Networking Knowledge” planned
A Call for Papers has just been announced for Digital Comics, a special-themed issue of Networking Knowledge, the journal of the MeCCSAPostGraduate Network. MeCCSA is the subject association that represents all who teach or research in Higher Education in media, communications and cultural studies,… Read More ›
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50 Years of Doctor Who comics to be celebrated at Lakes Festival in October
Grab your sonic screwdriver and set the time-space co-ordinates on your TARDIS for Kendal, 17th October 2014! The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just announced a number of events to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who in comics, the world’s longest-running science fiction TV-inspired… Read More ›
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Jinty Comic site launched
Inspired by the UK Girls Comics Index and by the Tammy Project, writer Jenni Scott has launched a dedicated reference site devoted to the girls comic Jinty, published by IPC/Fleetway. It’s good to see this area of British comics getting much deserved exposure… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: The Worldwide Comix of Jeffrey Lewis
Continuing a month of shows on the British comics radio show Panel Borders looking at the connections between comic books and music culture, guest presenter Conor O’Grady talks to American underground cartoonist Jeffrey Lewis about his comics such as Fuff and… Read More ›
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In Review: Sally Heathcote: Suffragette
By Mary Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Bryan Talbot Publisher: Jonathan Cape Out: 1st May 2014 The Book: Sally Heathcote: Suffragette is a gripping inside story of the campaign for votes for women. A tale of loyalty, love and courage, set against a vividly… Read More ›
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Stirling Comics Festival announced for September
Black Hearted Press has announced they we will be producing the Stirling Comics Festival, forming a comic book strand of the Stirling Fringe Festival (19 – 28th September 2014). BHP will produce a series of free events for the public over the… Read More ›
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British Pathe bring rare “Dan Dare” footage to YouTube
British Pathe have released some of their archive footage on YouTube, including a rare behind the scenes insight into the creation of the original Dan Dare strip for Eagle. The film is also available on British Pathe’s web site but… Read More ›