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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Phoenix Children’s Comic Festival back in May
The second Phoenix Children’s Comic Festival will take place at the Oxford’s Story Museum on Saturday 3rd May, featuring art and events from many familiar names to readers of the Phoenix and great comics in general, with confirmed events from Laura Ellen… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Andy Robertson, SF editor
We’re sorry to report the passing of SF editor and fan Andy Robertson who had been involved with Interzone, serving as Assistant Editor from an early stage and contributing many reviews and interviews. Andy also published a number of stories and edited two anthologies based on… Read More ›
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Jamie Smart’s “Fish Head Steve” heading to your TV screens?
ITV Studios America has entered into an exclusive production deal with Komixx Entertainment Inc., an entertainment rights owner and content production company based in the UK that represent a number of properties, including Jamie Smart‘s “Fish Head Steve” character,… Read More ›
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“Filmed in Supermarionation” documentary to get Andercon preview
Network DVD‘s upcoming major new feature film about the work of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Filmed in Supermarionation, is to get a sneak preview at the first Andercon convention this weekend. The clips already released suggest it’s going to be… Read More ›
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Arvon announces Graphic Novel Writing with Bryan Talbot and Leah Moore
The Arvon Foundation has just announced it will be running a residential creative writing course, Graphic Novel Writing with Bryan Talbot and Leah Moore, at the end of July (28th July – 2nd August). Running at The Hurst in Shropshire, the… Read More ›
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Luke Pearson, Isabel Greenberg and SelfMadeHero nominated for Will Eisner Awards
The nominations for this year’s Will Eisner Awards have just been announced. The awards will be given out in a gala ceremony on Friday, 25th July during Comic-Con International: San Diego. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to… Read More ›
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XIII series on Sky2: Episode Images
Sky have kindly sent us some images from the first two recently aired images of XIII, based on the graphic novel series of the same name Jeremy Briggs has enthusiastically reviewed here for some time. Episode 3 airs this week on… Read More ›
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Inkwell Awards ballot opens to find and honour favourite comic book inkers
The Inkwell Awards, a US non-profit organization devoted to educating and promoting the art of inking, is inviting the public worldwide to vote for the industry’s best of the past year. The official public ballot will be available on the… Read More ›
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In Review: Spaceship Away Issue 32
The latest issue of the Dan-Dare and Eagle comic-inspired magazine Spaceship Away has just shipped to subscribers and will be available soon from the title’s web site (http://spaceshipaway.org.uk). This issue, wrapped in a cover and back cover by Eagle and… Read More ›
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Panel Borders tackles the GHOSTS creative team as London exhibition looms
Continuing a month of radio shows about the depiction of musicians and music culture in comic books, this week’s episode of Britain’s Panel Borders coincides with our yearly look at the work of young graphic novelists whip will also be… Read More ›
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Alan Grant and Tony Luke reunited for top secret ‘Project X’
Word has reached us of an exciting new ‘Project X’, from the minds of UK creators Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, Batman et al), Tony Luke (Dominator, Hellkatt, 2000AD), Yasushi Nirasawa (Phantom Core, Godzilla, Guillotina) and Les Garner… Read More ›
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Athletics Weekly revives Alf Tupper, “Tough of the Track” for London Marathon
Athletics Weekly – the world’s only devoted weekly track and field magazine better known as AW – has revived DC Thomson’s famous fish and chips-eating runner Alf Tupper, “The Tough of the Track“, who featured in comics such as The… Read More ›
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Amazon buys Comixology, what now for independent comic creators?
I’ve just seen the news that Amazon.com is acquiring comiXology, the US company that developed a cloud-based digital comics platform. In a statement, David Naggar, Amazon’s VP, content acquisition and independent publishing said “Amazon and comiXology share a passion for reinventing… Read More ›
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Nemesis the Warlock film images by Tony Luke uncovered
Brighton-based 2000AD comic creator Tony Luke – creator of a slew of amazing strips for a huge range of companies – has been digging into his archives and has started turning up some interesting stuff… including these images of a 12-minute stop-motion… Read More ›
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George Low and Keith Page continue World War One Commando series
Here’s the rundown of the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando, on sale from today in all good newsagents and for iPad and iPhone. Writer George Low’s epic World War One story – a loosely connected series that doesn’t require… Read More ›
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Eighth International Manga Award competition announced, win a trip to Japan
The entry period for the worldwide Eighth International Manga Award organised by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun. The winner will earn a trip to Japan to meet Japanese Manga creators if they win. The International Manga Award was… Read More ›
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Egmont’s “Ben 10 Magazine” named number one news stand title for boys
Egmont’s Ben 10 Magazine – available in print and in digital format – has topped the charts as the UK’s number one magazine in the primary boys sector and has now sold more than 5.2 million copies since its launch in… Read More ›
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Charlie Gillespie’s horror fantasy, “The Many”, primed for digital release
London-based comic creator Charlie Gillespie – a name longtime 2000AD and Judge Dredd Mgeazine readers are sure to recognise – is to launch his hard-hitting story The Many as a digital comic, distributed through Comixology from 25th April. He very kindly sent… Read More ›
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Award-winning creator Becky Cloonan joins Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced that the critically-acclaimed comic creator Becky Cloonan has joined the event’s line-up of guests. Born in Pisa, Italy, Becky Cloonan began her career self-publishing mini-comics in 1999. Since then she has gone on to… Read More ›
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Name A Character in Mark Millar’s Starlight
Ever fancied having a comic-book character named after you? Especially one in a book that’s been picked up as a big-budget movie by Fox? Well, via an eBay auction, Writer Mark Millar (Wanted and Kick-Ass) and Goran Parlov (The Punisher)… Read More ›