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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Festive fun galore in the new Doctor Who Adventures
Doctor Who Adventures’ Christmas issue is packed with festive fun – and the digital features include a look at regular artist John Ross at work. The latest edition of the junior Doctor Who title from Immediate Media includes a preview… Read More ›
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Paul Gravett’s “Comics Art” named “Book of the Year”
Two top critics have made Paul Gravett‘s Comics Art their top choices of 2013, leaving the acclaimed comic author “really chuffed”. In The Observer, Rachel Cooke has picked Comics Art as one of her Graphic Books of The Year: “Those… Read More ›
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Have some vampires over for Christmas!
Chapter 4 of DC Comics‘ digital first Vampire Diaries series goes on sale today and features “Through a Glass Darkly” by Leah Moore and John Reppion, drawn by the hugely talented George Kambadais, who has posted two unused covers for… Read More ›
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New Dennis the Menace books and other Beano merchandise announced
DC Thomson is celebrating a busy year for The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace and Gnasher property as Penguin joins a raft of licensees with a planned range of children’s books and Golden Bear announces new toys. The new range of… Read More ›
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Paragon Issue 15 delivered in time for Christmas – what a great present!
A new issue of Paragon, one of Britain’s terrific independently published anthologies is out now, just in time for Christmas – 44 pages of wonderful comic strips wrapped in a Mike Mignola-inspired cover by Davey Candlish and Jim Cameron. It’s… Read More ›
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Doctor Who annual art, rare props to go under the hammer at Bonhams
Bonhams next Entertainment Memorabilia auction (taking place on Wednesday 18th December) hosts an enticing line-up that includes some fantastic Doctor Who items such as art from some of the series annuals by Paul Crompton and a number of props from… Read More ›
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Lost in Action: Marvel UK’ s Warhide
(Updated, added Carles comments): Meet Warhide, the world’s first skinned communist super hero. A Russian captured by the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, skinned, then coated in a liquid carbon skin that’s as strong as diamond, he was the surreal brainchild of… Read More ›
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Happy 60th Birthday, “Minnie the Minx”!
The Beano has dedicated its Christmas cover to the mischievous Minnie the Minx this week, to celebrate 60 years of the world’s wildest tom boy. Her solo appearance is a first in the comic’s history. The bumper Christmas issue goes… Read More ›
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Egmont announces “Disney Infinity” title for 2014
Egmont UK will launch a monthly magazine based on Disney Infinity in February 2014 – another title tying in with a games brand which is part of the company’s strategy to get boys reading. Launched in August, Disney Infinity is… Read More ›
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London Super Comic Convention adds Max Brooks, Andy Lanning, JK Woodward to guest line up
The London Super Comic Convention has announced Max Brooks, Jacen Burrows, Neil Edwards, Lee Garbett, Andy Lanning, Yanick Paquette, Jamie Tyndall, John Watson, JK Woodward, and Chrissie Zullo as the third wave of guests for the their 2014 event (15th –… Read More ›
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Haiyan Anthology – crowdfunding appeal launches
We’re pleased to report that the crowd funding appeal to produce a Haiyan Benefit Anthology to raise funds for victims of the natural disasters in the Philippines is now live. The brainchild of comic creator Phil Woodward and the team… Read More ›
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A Victorian Mystery – Ally Sloper “Funeral Cards” discovered
The Featherstone Rovers Heritage Project celebrates the history and traditions of a proud northern Rugby League Club and its association with the heritage of coal mining in the West Yorkshire town of Featherstone. The project provides public, quarterly events and… Read More ›
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Check out our Commando Comic Subscription Offer!
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a British comics fan, downthetubes has an EXCLUSIVE discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, simply by ordering through the DC Thomson Online Shop using our special discount code. •… Read More ›
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WebFind: An Interview with TV21 and Look-In artist Mike Noble
Back in 2011, artist Chris Thompson interviewed veteran comics artist Mike Noble , best known for his work on TV Century 21 and Look-In (on strips such as Fireball XL5, Zero X, Follyfoot and Timeslip, to name but a few)… Read More ›
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Redan Publishing delivers digital Peppa Pig title
Redan Publishing – run by former Marvel UK CEO Robert Sutherland – has extended its partnership with Entertainment One to launch its first digital Peppa Pig magazine. The new digital format – based on the company’s top-selling Fun To Learn… Read More ›
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downthetubes Popular Posts – November 2013
Apart from landings on our home page, here’s a run down of the ten most popular posts on downthetubes over the past 30 days… • The Beano gets a Top Gear makeover thanks to guest editor Richard Hammond This has,… Read More ›
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Gary Spencer Millidge’s Strangehaven to return in new ‘Meanwhile…’ anthology
No, it’s not a dream! Not a hoax! Not an Imaginary story! Gary Spencer Millidge’s acclaimed comic book series Strangehaven will return in May 2014 – after an eight year hiatus. New episodes, written and drawn by Millidge will appear… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Re-Visited: creators re-imagine Britain’s favourite space hero
How would Eagle‘s Dan Dare‘s universe look if the series was re-launched today? Taking inspiration from the wonderful Project Rooftop, which often challenges artists to re-design well-known US superheroes, and the success of our “Twelfth Doctor Challenge” (unaware at the… Read More ›
