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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Everyone’s Not A Critic: comics writer Fiona Avery on Constructive Criticism
We recently published an item by comic creator and digital publisher Liam Sharp on his concerns about the manner of some online criticism of comic creators, making an erudite appeal for calm – and common sense. His appeal reminded me… Read More ›
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Adventures in Comics 4 – competition deadline extended
(With thanks to Paul Gravett) Great news! Adventures in Comics returns for its fourth fantastic year, inviting comics creators worldwide to submit their two-page comics for an exhibition at Marine Studios, Margate, Kent from April 1st 2014 and other venues… Read More ›
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Lakes International Comic Art Festival opens Marketplace applications for 2014 weekend
Important news about the next Lakes International Comic Art Festival: if you are a creator, publisher or retailer, the Comic Clock Tower, their version of a comics marketplace and artists’ alley, is now open for applications. From this year, entry… Read More ›
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The Badger is back – new Grandville story out in November
Comic creator Bryan Talbot has announced a new Grandville title in his ongoing Eisner and Hugo Award-nominated series is in the works – and will be published in November. The first critically-acclaimed steampunk detective thriller graphic novel Grandville was published in… Read More ›
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ABC Warriors back in 2000AD
Mecha madness hits Prog 1864 this week, as the ABC Warriors return to 2000AD – and there’s a sneak peek on the comic’s official tumblr blog now. Wrapped in a cover by Clint Langley, who also draws the strip written… Read More ›
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Oor Wullie joins T-Shirt Booth charity app offering
Digital Giving’s charity fund raising app T-Shirt Booth has confirmed its 20th licensed character, DC Thomson’s “Oor Wullie” has now joined the initiative. His planned inclusion announced last year, fans and T-Shirt Booth customers can now customise their own t-shirts… Read More ›
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Tripwire Digital interviews Ian Rankin, Maria Paz Cabardo
The comics, film and TV magazine Tripwire , published by Joel Meadows, has moved from print into digital with the launch new app edition. Until 2011, Tripwire ran as a once a year print title costing £9.99 – and following… Read More ›
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Bryan Talbot DVD documentary to be released in May
A new DVD – The Graphic Novel Man: the Comics of Bryan Talbot – is to be released in May, offering a unique insight into the life and work of one of Britain’s pioneering comic creators. Internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning… Read More ›
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Unicorn Press to publish Eagle’s “Happy Warrior” biography of Winston Churchill
Unicorn Press is to release anew collection of The Happy Warrior: The Life Story of Sir Winston Churchill, written by Clifford Makins and drawn by Frank Bellamy, in March. The strip was last re-published in the United States only in… Read More ›
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Garry Leach heads to Orbital for Marvel Man… Miracle Man signing
London’s Orbital Comics is to host a signing by the original Marvel Man – sorry, Miracle Man – artist Garry Leach on Wednesday 15th January from 5.00pm. KIMOTA! With one magic word, a long-forgotten legend lives again! Freelance reporter Michael… Read More ›
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New online project explores the impact of comics on everyday life
MediaCommons’ The New Everyday has announced the publication of a cluster on The Multimodality of Comics in Everyday Life, curated by Ernesto Priego of City University London and David N. Wright of Douglas College. The cluster includes Harriet Kennedy’s article,… Read More ›
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Rough Cut Comics collect Jim Alexander’s GoodCopBadCop
Regular readers will recall our past news items for Jim Alexander‘s horror comic GoodCopBadCop, but now the entire series to date has been repackaged by Rough Cut with all-new material ready to be unleashed end of January onto an unsuspecting… Read More ›
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The Last Ever Alan Moore Interview?
Pádraig Ó Méalóid has published a wide-ranging and, possibly, the last ever comics-related interview Alan Moore will ever give, in which he responds to recent criticism of his work online and reveals some forthright views on some members of the… Read More ›
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Comic Criticism: A Call for Calm – and Common Sense
Whether it’s the bad weather on both sides of the Atlantic, or simply a case of rising bile reaching a point at which those who appear to be bearing the brunt of it have decided to say “Enough!”, the past… Read More ›
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RM Guera’s new Judge Dredd story – sneek peek!
The artist on the critically-acclaimed Scalped crime series for Vertigo, RM Guera, comes to the Judge Dredd Megazine next week with a one-short Judge Dredd story written by Rob Williams (Cla$$war, Daken) – and Tharg has kindly provided this sneek… Read More ›
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Win a copy of Titan Books’ “Battle Classics”
Thanks to those fine folk at Titan Books, we have TWO copies of their new British comic collection, Garth Ennis Presents Battle Classics, to give away! All you need to do is answer the question below and tell us in… Read More ›
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ITV Studios hints at new Thunderbirds merchandise as 50th anniversary approaches
ITV Studios has begun preparing in earnest for its new Thunderbirds are Go! series in 2015, having already announced the launch of its Classic Thunderbirds 50th anniversary plans and commenced the countdown to the new TV series, both set to… Read More ›
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Dark Souls II tie-in comic by Rob Williams, Andi Ewington and Simon Coleby launches
Namco Bandai has just launched a free digital comic – Dark Souls II: Into the Light – created by three leading British comic creators to promote the upcoming release of it Dark Souls II game. The new comic, set in… Read More ›
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New Temple APA showcase for aspiring comic creators released
The Temple APA Issue Fifteen is now available to download as a totally free PDF file, containing contributions from the likes of Dave Hailwood, Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri, Malcolm Kirk, (who also provides the cover), and newcomer to the project, Ben… Read More ›
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J. Michael Straczynski signing at GOSH, London tomorrow
Babylon 5 creator and Academy-Award-nominated author J. Michael Straczynski will be at GOSH London tomorrow (8th January) signing and chatting to fans from 5.00 – 7.00pm. Famously known in comics for his superb and successful run on the Amazing Spider-Man,… Read More ›