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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“Visual Language of Comics” earns high praise for Neil Cohn
Bloomsbury Publishing released Neil Cohn‘s The Visual Language of Comics, an academic work offering an introduction to the structure and cognition of Sequential Images last December, but it slipped under our radar in the inevitable pre-Christmas madness. Reviews for the… Read More ›
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John Jennings catches the eye with his cover for “Afrofuturism”
Wrapped in a cracking cover titled ‘Io Ashtara” by John Jennings, Afrofuturism: The World Of Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Culture by Ytasha L Womack is described as a “hip, accessible primer to the music, literature, and art of Afrofuturism.” Comprising… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero’s Spring Slate includes new titles from I.N.J. Culbard, Nick Abadzis and more
British publisher SelfMadeHero has confirmed its publishing plans for the first few months of 2014. They include a biography of painter Vincent van Gogh by Dutch artist Barbara Stok, a political satire set during the Iraq War by Abel Lanzac… Read More ›
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Batman-Judge Dredd Collection out at last
Finally, every Judge Dredd versus Batman story ever published, um.. republished, in over 300 Thrill-packed pages! The long-awaited Batman/Judge Dredd Collection, first announced for a November release last year, includes all four team-ups of the greatest crime-fighting duo – so… Read More ›
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Titan Comics bags Doctor Who rights
BBC Worldwide and Titan Comics have teamed up to publish all-new Doctor Who comic book adventures in the United States, taking over from US publisher IDW, and have just issued the following press release: In the universe of Doctor Who,… Read More ›
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More Dennis the Menace merchandise in the works, and other Beano characters, too
In a wide ranging interview with Start Licensing’s Ian Downes, Licensing.Biz reveals that more Dennis the Menace merchandise is in the works from DC Thomson after a great year for the character – and that DC Thomson looks keen to… Read More ›
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Doctor Who ‘zine, Plaything of Sutekh, Issue Three released
Issue 3 of the Doctor Who fanzine Plaything of Sutekh is now available. The new issue features: · Don’t Shoot – He’s British! – Matt Kilburn looks at the cultural influences on the Doctor’s identity. · Matt Finish… Read More ›
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MCM London Comic Con – back in May
MCM London Comic Con storms back to Excel on 23-25 May for another spectacular celebration of all that’s best and brightest in the worlds of movies, sci-fi, anime, videogames, comics, manga and cosplay. Alongside all the onstage panels, games zones… Read More ›
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Panel Borders talks to Kieron Gillen
Continuing a month of shows about Superhero Comics on the Panel Borders radio show, Alex Fitch talks to writer Kieron Gillen about his recent about published under the Marvel Now banner, including Iron Man and Young Avengers and his forays… Read More ›
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Midlands Comic Con flies into Telford in February
Is it a bird? Is it a ‘plane? No, it’s the MCM Midlands Comic Con, returning to The International Centre, Telford on 15th February with another succulent feast of sci-fi, film, comics, anime and videogame fun! The first show in… Read More ›
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Marvel celebrates 50 years of X-Men with new iPhone game
Marvel Entertainment has teamed up with developer Aeria Mobile to launch X-Men: Battle of the Atom for iPhone, celebrating 50 years of X-Men stories and characters and available now from the iTune store. Featuring gorgeous original art by Marvel artists… Read More ›
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Death’s Head II – Liam Sharp’s Revolutionary War variant cover revealed
Here’s the art for Liam Sharp‘s variant cover to Marvel Comics Revolutionary War limited series’ fourth issue, on sale next month, both inks and colour. The art has been coloured by the exceptional Ryan Brown. Liam was of course the… Read More ›
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Hero Conventions first weekend convention shapes up nicely
Continuing from their already successful Toy & Comic Marts, Hero Conventions are returning to Edinburgh with their first weekend convention on 12th – 13th April. Already-announced guests at Something Bloody Awesome include Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle, Yishan Li, Gary Erskine,… Read More ›
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Marvel UK revival continues: Revolutionary War #2 – Dark Angel Preview
Revolutionary War #2 – or rather, Dark Angel #1, since that’s how Marvel Comics is describing it – is on sale now in all good comic shops, and here are some preview pages from the issue. (Warning: if you haven’t… Read More ›
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3A to relaunch 2000AD figure range
3A Toys, the makers of some absolutely stunning model figures, have announced that they will be relaunching their 2000AD line in the 1/12 scale format – approximately 6″. Longtime readers will recall the company released an ABC Warriors Mongrol figure… Read More ›
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David Hine, Mark Stafford join Soaring Penguin’s “Meanwhile…” project
Soaring Penguin Press has announced that Mark Stafford (Cherubs, The Lovecraft Anthology) and David Hine (Storm Dogs, The Darkness, Marvel Noir) will be teaming up again, post The Man Who Laughs, their critically acclaimed adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel…. Read More ›
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100% Biodegradable Issue 2 offers 110% adventure!
Issue 2 of the bi-monthly digital sci-fi comic anthology 100% Biodegradeable is on sale now, featuring strips from Tony Suleri, Dave Hailwood, Paul Harrison-Davies, Dave Thomson, Stuart Giddings, Simon Mackie, Neil Alexander and Mike Parsons. Wise cracking one-eyed mutants, dissectable… Read More ›
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Commando launches year-long World War One story arc
Here’s details of the latest issues of DC Thomson’s war comic Commando, on sale now in all good newsagents and available for digital download. All issues feature an exclusive Commando postercard – free! This release see the start of a… Read More ›
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London Book Fair to move to Olympia In 2015, confirms comics pavillion for 2014
Reed Exhibitions has announced that The London Book Fair 2014 – which will again include a comics pavilion this year – will be the last to take place in its current location, Earls Court. From 2015, The London Book Fair… Read More ›
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Top 10 downthetubes Posts: 9th – 15th January 2014
Here’s a rundown of the Top Ten posts on downthetubes over the last seven days: • Comic Criticism: A Call for Calm – and Common Sense Liam Sharp calls for some better manners from the comics community. You may also… Read More ›