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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Zenith Collection content details, 1st July release date
There’s less than a week to go before pre-orders open for the first ever complete reprint of Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s superhero 2000AD series Zenith. The limited edition hardback book will only be available from the 2000AD online shop… Read More ›
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Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins’ launch Kickstarter to complete “Jimmy’s End” film series
Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins have launched a Kickstarter campaign to make the final part of their Jimmy’s End film project. The pair have already produced four short films in the series and are now looking for funds to complete… Read More ›
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Digital Dandy 12 – On Sale Now
The latest Digital Dandy (Issue 12) is available now – stuffed full of Daft, Dramatic and Different comic strips. This issue features Bananaman and Appleman in a spectacular duel of fruity fencing, as well as nostril-numbing terror in Hyde and… Read More ›
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Charting the Oink-verse!
(With thanks to George Shiers over on Wacky Comics): A comic blog dedicated to the classic British humour comic Oink! was launched earlier in the year, covering each individual issue of the title to the day that it went on… Read More ›
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BeanoMAX bows out as 75th anniversary nears, new title on way
It’s all change over at The Beano, as the title’s monthly companion, BeanoMAX, bows out on Issue 79, on sale now in all good newsagents. The magazine will be replaced by a 32-page comic, the 100% Official Dennis the Menace… Read More ›
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Nick Spencer, Chris Ward at GOSH
What are you doing on Saturday? In London? How about getting along to Gosh Comics and getting a book signed by the people who made it weeks before it’s actually released? Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Bedlam) and Christian Ward (Olympus)… Read More ›
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You’re All Just Jealous Of My Jetpack!
Cartoonist Tom Gauld has followed up his widely praised graphic novel Goliath with a collection of cartoons made for The Guardian newspaper. Over the past eight years, Gauld has produced his weekly You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack cartoon… Read More ›
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Neil Gaiman documentary in the works from Sequart
The Sequart Research & Literacy Organization, in conjunction with Respect! Films, has announced that author Neil Gaiman will be the next subject in its expanding line of comics-centric documentaries. In the tradition of Sequart’s Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and… Read More ›
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McDaid, McCarthy and Maybury on Dark Horse ‘Catalyst Comics’
On sale 3rd July in comic shops from US publisher Dark Horse is Catalyst Comix #1, featuring the work of three British creators including the brilliant Doctor Who comic strip author and artist Dan McDaid.
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Egmont’s TOXIC Magazine launches new apps
Following up on the launch of a revamped website and its first interactive issue earlier this year, Egmont UK is extending the TOXIC Magazine brand into entertainment apps, aimed, I assume, and helping promote the title. (They're certainly good fun!)… Read More ›
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Eco Comics brings Green Knight back to comics
Digital publisher Eco Comics has announced that it is bringing the legendary Green Knight to its range of comic books and graphic novels. The Green Knight first appeared in the famous 14th-century medieval Arthurian tale, Sir Gawain and the Green… Read More ›
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Pop Art exhibition planned for London’s Barbican
Brash, colourful and playful, Pop Art was a movement that signaled a radical change of direction in the postwar period. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s Pop was characterised by an intense dialogue between the fields of design… Read More ›
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Classic Slaine stories released
Two of the most famous volumes of 2000AD’s Neolithic barbarian, Sláine, created by Pat Mills, are now available again in brand new editions for the UK.
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ArtYouGrewUpWith exhibition success
ArtYouGrewUpWith.com’s Superhero show launched on Saturday at their Radlett gallery and the venue was packed out with fans and collectors coming from all over the country
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Morris Heggie to celebrate The Beano at Lakes Festival
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has just announced that former Beano editor Morris Heggie will be one of their special guests in October, as part of a free event.
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Off Life Issue Five hits the streets
Issue Five of the UK's only street press comic, OFF LIFE, is out in print and online today. A free street press magazine, distributed in bars, galleries and universities across Bristol and London, it has gained it some 20,000 readers,… Read More ›
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Pop Art exhibition planned for London’s Barbican
Brash, colourful and playful, Pop Art was a movement that signaled a radical change of direction in the postwar period. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s Pop was characterised by an intense dialogue between the fields of design… Read More ›
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Win a copy of Drowntown by Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is offering fans of Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray the chance to win a copy of Drowntown by Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray (published Thursday 20 June 2013) – but hurry, you have to… Read More ›
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Rob Davis talks Quixote for ‘Spanish Day’
Publisher SelfMadeHero is taking part in this year’s El Dia E. (Spanish Day) celebrations at Instituto Cervantes in London on Saturday 22nd June. Writer and illustrator Rob Davis will be talking with broadcaster and journalist Alex Fitch about his much… Read More ›
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Bryan Talbot scoops another comics award
Congratulations to Bryan Talbot, who won the Francisco Solano Lopez Award for Best Writer / Artist at the Etna Comics Festival last weekend in Italy. Named after the late Argentinian comics creator who drew a number of British comics during… Read More ›