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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Egmont to publish “Temple Run” title
Lisle International Licensing has announced it has signed a new deal with Egmont UK for a publishing programme for the addictive adventure game app Temple Run which will include new fiction, ebooks, activity books and a magazine. Within its first year… Read More ›
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It’s no secret: Dave Gibbons signing announced at Forbidden Planet
Join Dave Gibbons signing The Secret Service at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 22nd March. Two masters of the form, Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, came together to produce this remarkable new graphic novel from Millar and Hollywood director… Read More ›
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Nick Abadzis, Stephen Collins, Lizz Lunney and more join Lakes Festival line-up
Britain has a long tradition of humour comics such as The Beano, Dandy and VIZ – so it should come as no surprise that the cheeky gang at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival have lined up a number of… Read More ›
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GHOSTS set to haunt London’s Orbital Comics in April
A new British arts collective called GHOSTS has revealed plans to take over London this April, for a week-long underground comics exhibition. Featuring the work of seven writers and artists, the exhibition, called CULT, will be based on Orbital Comics… Read More ›
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Revolutionary Warheads!
Marvel has released a preview of Warheads #1, the penultimate episode of its eight-part Marvel UK-inspired series Revolutionary War. This issue features stunning art from Gary Erskine, the original artist on Warheads, whose designs for the characters had a huge… Read More ›
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Ward & Parker’s “Merrick: The Sensational Elephant Man” nears Kickstarter goal
If you’re looking for a terrific “mature readers” comic to read for free, then check out Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman a comic by Tom Ward and Luke Parker. The first issue is available now for free via Issuu and elsewhere,… Read More ›
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Jon Haward dares to draw the Mekon for new exhibition
Ace artist Jon Haward has been busy drawing Dan Dare and the Mekon for his “Childhood Icons” exhibition at the House Cafe in Saint Benedict Street, Norwich. Jon was one of the artists on Dan Dare for New Eagle but… Read More ›
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Peter David Signing tonight at Forbidden Planet London
Join author Peter David signing X-Factor: The Complete Collection Volume 1, at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore tonight (Monday 17th March) from 6 – 7.00pm. Relive the gripping, noir-esque launch of Peter David’s most memorable concept: X-Factor Investigations! Jamie Madrox… Read More ›
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New Biodegradable anthology plumbs new depths!
Deep sea divers, deadly supernatural hell hounds, horny loved up aliens, and lashings of wondrous carnage and mayhem! The new 100% Biodegradable Issue 3, a fantastic digital comic anthology edited by Dave Hailwood from a host of British creators is available now… Read More ›
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Indy publisher Broken Voice deliver more “Shades”
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re delighted to report that the print collection of the second volume of Shades, a quirky, well-received British superhero tale published by Broken Voice Comics, goes on sale in April. Both an exploration… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Oscar Zarate, exploring The Park
Continuing a month of shows about comics and graphic novels which present ‘slices of life’ on the page on Panel Borders, Britain’s only regular radio show about comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Oscar Zarate about his latest graphic novel The… Read More ›
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US titles by Paul Cornell, Sean Phillips top February comic shop charts
February was a good month for key British creators working for US publishers, with writer Paul Cornell and artist Sean Phillips both working on some of the top selling books on sale that month in comic shops on both sides… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero scoops Bryan O’Malley’s new graphic novel, “Seconds”
SelMadeHero has announced that they will be publishing Seconds, a brand new stand-alone graphic novel from Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley in August in the UK. One of the most hotly anticipated books of 2014, Seconds is O’Malley’s first graphic novel since the final instalment… Read More ›
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British Library reveals Jamie Hewlett designs for upcoming comics exhibition
The British Library has unveiled a brand new artwork by Tank Girl and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett to promote its upcoming Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK exhibition, featuring a sassy new female character. Comics Unmasked traces the history of the British comic… Read More ›
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Imagine launches new digital-only comics magazine, Uncanny Comics
Bournemouth-based Imagine Publishing , the publishers of SciFiNow, has launched Uncanny Comics, the a digital-only comics magazine designed specifically for the growing digital comics market. Available on Apple’s Newsstand from only £0.69/$0.99 and released 12 times a year, the company says Uncanny… Read More ›
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Northampton’s Borderline Press unveils ambitious publication plans for 2014
New comics publisher Borderline Press has announced a number of new books for 2014, following up on its first two titles, 556 Frames, the breakout Eastern European graphic novel by Dennis Wojda and ZOMBRE, an undead anthology, released last year. The company is… Read More ›
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Titan Comics to re-publish Glenat’s Elric series
Hot on the heels of the phenomenal runaway success of Snowpiercer, Titan Comics is continuing in its bold mission of presenting the highest quality European graphic novels to a brand-new audience, joining publishers Humanoides and Cinebook in bringing more bande… Read More ›
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Scottish comic creators gather to consider new National Comics Academy
Responding to the boom in comic book creators from Scotland making an impact on the world stage, the Scottish Independent Comic Book Alliance, along with Black Hearted Press and The Stirling Maxwell Centre at the University of Glasgow, will host a free… Read More ›
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Miracle Man spoofed in this week’s Beano
This week’s “Bananaman” story in The Beano is definitely one for the comics fans out there. “Miracle Banana” , written by Kev F. Sutherland and drawn by Wayne Thompson, is a lightly satirical strip in which Bananaman meets a character who… Read More ›
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In Review: Chronos Commandos
by Stuart Jennett Publisher: Titan Comics Out: Now The Book: When the Allies and Nazis develop time-diving technology that could see the course of the Second World War derailed by creatures from the Cretaceous, only the Sarge and his band of… Read More ›