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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“Living Graphic Novel” project announced for Lakes Festival weekend
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced that comic artist Dave Crane, working with Kendal Community Theatre, will be inviting both locals and comics fans to become part of a “living graphic novel” during its fast-approaching Festival weekend (17th – 19th October 2014)…. Read More ›
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Cult Empire has a horror hit with “Vietnam Zombie Holocaust”
Airdrie-based comic retailer Cult Empire recently launched their own comic line with the first issue of Vietnam Zombie Holocaust, available from their website or via one of several convention appearances, including the Lakes International Comic Art Festival next month. The… Read More ›
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Doctor Strange to be shot in the UK?
Numerous web sites are reporting that the upcoming Marvel Studios Doctor Strange film, based on one of US comics longest-running magical characters, could be shot at Pinewood, for release on 8th July 2016. Screen Daily led with the news, picked up elsewhere, that Marvel… Read More ›
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Death’s Head versus Hulk? Excellent, yes?
It’s annual time in UK newsagents and bookshops and one we think downthetubes readers will want to track down is Panini UK’s Marvel Heroes (2015), because in amongst reprints of the Marvel stories the company was once able to… Read More ›
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Abnett and Culbard’s Wild’s End earns critical acclaim
Released last week by US publisher BOOM! Studios, Wild’s End #1, written by Dan Abnett with art and lettering by INJ Culbard, is gathering plenty of critical acclaim, and I hope it’s resulting in strong sales for this enjoyable anthropomorphic… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2014: Comic Creator Nick Abadzis
In the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October), we’re aiming to run a number of interviews spotlighting at least a few of the huge number of guests and comic creators who will be at the… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Seconds
Opening a new season of radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to Canadian cartoonist Bryan Lee O’Malley in the first of a two part interview about his work. This week Fitch and O’Malley discuss his new graphic novel… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival exhibition line-up includes art by Doug Braithwaite, Oliver East, Metaphrog
With just a month to go before this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October 2014), Kendal is already abuzz about comics as local galleries and businesses host a number of free comic-related exhibitions. While art by Festival… Read More ›
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British Comic Shop Comic Releases (17th September 2014) – Cry freeeeeeedom!!
Here’s a list of comics – both US and UK releases – on sale in specialist UK comic shops from tomorrow, Wednesday 17th September 2014, courtesy of First Age Comics, Lancaster. We’ve picked out the titles published by British publishers in bold… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2014: Comics writer Jörg Tittel
In the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October), we’re aiming to run a number of interviews spotlighting at least a few of the huge number of guests and comic creators who will be at the… Read More ›
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Award-winning cartoonist Steve English “Football Earth” calendar released
If you’ve been in any branch of WH Smiths or a local supermarket of late it can’t have escaped your attention that retailers have launched their first forays in the 2014 Christmas Offensive – and that includes offerings of… Read More ›
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Mauri Kunnas “Beatles with an ‘A'” from Knockabout is a cartoon delight
Knockabout Comics recently released Beatles With An ‘A’ by Mauri Kunnas, which is a wonderful re-telling the first beats of the Beatles’ career as only this legendary Finnish rock cartoonist could tell them. The book is filled with hilarious… Read More ›
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At-TEN-Shun! Free indie street comic OFFLIFE reaches landmark issue
The British indie street mag OFFLIFE has reached something of a landmark with the publication of its tenth issue this week, available in print from the usual stockists in London and Bristol, and digitally from their web site. Here’s the… Read More ›
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Star Trek fans urged to back campaign to collect British Star Trek comics
Star Trek comic fans are being urged to support a campaign to get all the rare British Star Trek comics – with all their wonderful idiosyncracies, such as Captain Kirk teaching gorilla men how to play football – collected. In recent years, IDW‘s Library of American Comics imprint… Read More ›
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Lakes Festival Focus 2014: An Interview with Comic Artist Doug Braithwaite
In the run up to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (17th – 19th October), we’re planning to run a number of interviews spotlighting at least a few of the huge number of guests and comic creators who will… Read More ›
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IPC Media re-branded as Time Inc. UK
It was the end of an era last week as Time Inc. announced that it is rebranding its wholly-owned UK publishing arm IPC Media – which owns a huge back list of comic characters and comics – to Time Inc…. Read More ›
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Art Heroes announces comic book launch for Endangered and Other Stories
North East-based comic publisher Art Heroes , the creation of Daniel Clifford and Lee Robinson, a writer and artist team publishing comic books and offering a range of creative workshops, is hosting a comic book launch for its new book… Read More ›
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Nottingham Comic Con guest list expands, huge exhibitor line-up planned
The second ever Nottingham Comic Con (previously known as Nerd Fest) on Saturday 4th October will be double the size of last year’s event, hosting 13 guests, over 150 exhibitor tables and live music. The event will also have the… Read More ›
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ITV Studios talks up Thunderbirds Are Go!, Making of documentary in the works
Rubbing shoulders with a host of previews for new and continuing drama for a wide range of companies, the latest MIPCOM Preview from World Screen includes a number of comments on the new Thunderbirds Are Go! series, launching next… Read More ›
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Arabs at War and a Royal kidnap? Commando adventures continue
Here’s the details for DC Thomson’s Commando Issues 4739-4742, on sale from Thursday (11th September 2014) through newsagents, by subscription and for digital devices. Along with the usual full-length comic stories, Issue 4739 offers the chance to win a copy of… Read More ›