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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Andrew Skilleter’s Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet artwork in the spotlight
Illustrator and comic artist Andrew Skilleter has just launched an extensive new Facebook page based around the original art he created for the 1990s Gerry Anderson comics. Best known for his professional Doctor Who art, Andrew contributed many covers and… Read More ›
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Jonathan Cape, Observer and Comica Comics Competition launches
Publishers Jonathan Cape and the London-based comic event Comica have got together with The Observer newspaper to offer you the chance to see your work in print and win £1,000. Take this opportunity to get your work read by industry… Read More ›
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Mad May for Wallace and Gromit
VisitEngland, the UK’s national tourist board has recruited Wallace & Gromit as ‘Tourism Trailblazers’ to inspire Britons to take a holiday at home this year. (It’s a busy time for the duo – earlier this month, they notched up the… Read More ›
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Who Wants to be a Comics Letterer?
Richard Starkings, who persuaded Marvel UK to hire me in the first place way back when, offers some useful advice about breaking into comics in this interview, Like a Chained Elephant, plus comments on the advent of Computer Lettering and… Read More ›
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Quote Me: To Write is to Take Chances, says J. Michael Straczynski
“To write is to take chances. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t, because the measure of success is in the eyes of the reader. And a subjective opinion is always right for that reader, always true for that person.”J. Michael… Read More ›
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Never Stop Writing
Jeph Loeb was interviewd by the supermanhomepage in 2004, and offered this advice to writers when asked if he had any advice for breaking into the comic business, or into writing in general? ” Keep writing,” he advises. “Every day…. Read More ›
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Quote Me: Word Counts in Comics by Alan Moore
One thing that was drummed into my head (by more than one writer or editor) is that when you’re writing comics, let the pictures tell the story. You should never overwrite and be ruthless about dialogue — cut it, cut… Read More ›
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How to Get into Comics by Gerry Alanguilan
Philippines artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan has a useful guide on getting into comics today on his web site: alanguilan.com/sanpablo/2006/01/how-to-get-into-comics-today.html Known elsewhere as Doroteo Gerardo N. Alanguilan Jr., Gerry is a Filipino comic book writer, artist and publisher. He’s an… Read More ›
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Quote Me: On Going Freelance by Luc Belanger
“The first couple of years you don’t make enough to pay the bills. The next couple of years you barely make enough to cover the bills. And then a couple of years after that you make enough to pay the… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales Figures Creating Comics articles moved
(LINKS UPDATED since first posting): As regular readers know the main downthetubes web site is currently down due to excessive data charges. I’m in the process of securing a new ISP and we’ve had a very kind offer from a… Read More ›
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Thunder Brother: Soap Division Issue 5 is go, Go GO!
The fifth issue of Paul Rainey’s Thunder Brother: Soap Division is available to order from his online shop now. Just like the previous four issues, copies of which are still available to buy, it features a complete Thunder Brother: Soap… Read More ›
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Brave Intentions…
We spied a band wagon…
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Immediate Media readies new girls title, Blossom
Immediate Media Co, publishers of several BBC-related comics and magazines, has announced the launch of Blossom magazine, a new girls title, packed with educational content, aimed at 4 to 6 year-olds. On the newsstands from 29th May this four-weekly title,… Read More ›
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Be Pure, Be Vigilant… Be the first to get some great signed Nemesis prints from 2000AD
2000AD has announced that copies of the special ‘Termight’ edition of the forthcoming colour Nemesis the Warlock book will include two exclusive art prints signed by creators Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill. The hardback, with its two editions, is the… Read More ›
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VS Comics #3 preview now online
Mike Garley, TV and film’s James Moran edit a monthly digital comic called VS Comics, an all-genre, creator-owned, monthly digital comic. The team currently have a 1p preview issue on sale (vscomics.bigcartel.com) which features a bunch of cool comics including… Read More ›
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Bristol Comic Expo 2013: A Creator’s View
Peter Rogers offers his ‘creators view’ of last weekend’s Bristol Comic Expo, which we’re hearing many good things about, marking a return to form for Britain’s longest-running comics event… They say you always remember your first love, and when it… Read More ›
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New Venue and More Tickets for Jaime Hernandez Comica Conversation
We knew Jaime Hernandez was popular, the celebrated co-creator of Love & Rockets and author of some of the greatest graphic novels ever, but the response to his exclusive speaking engagement in London at the end of this month has… Read More ›
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Creating Comics – Pitching at Conventions
What is the best way to pitch scripts at conventions? This short guide is based on discussions on the Comics 2000 Yahoo group. Special thanks to those who threw in ideas for this and gave permission for their comments to… Read More ›
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Portfolio Advice: A View from the Editor’s Chair for Comics Artists
Here’s my guide on what a comics editor might like to see in your comic portfolio when you present it at a convention. You might also like to take a look at this guidance on what you should – and shouldn’t – include in… Read More ›