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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New Commandos scale the news stands
Here’s the info on the latest issues of DC Thomson’s last remaining war comic
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Aces Weekly Volume 4 now online
Aces Weekly, published by David Lloyd, stuffed with creator-owned strips is now running its first week of the fourth collection of their great, exclusively digital, online comic art series which is appropriately called – Aces Weekly Volume Four! “It’s our… Read More ›
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STRIP finally hits the high streets
Print Media’s STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine, an all-ages British adventure anthology comic, is now on sale in selected UK high street newsagents (and available to order from any newsagent). The title will be on sale in UK comic shops… Read More ›
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Noir web comic LIL jumps into print
Michael Young and Marc Crane, a creative team from Billericay in Essex, have just released a collection of their comic LIL, which they’ve been publishing online for quite a while. LIL is a gritty, noir-based comic series set in a… Read More ›
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Crucible finally available to read in print!
Here are two pages of the the first episode of CRUCIBLE, which features in the relaunched STRIP Magazine #1, out this week. Written by me, art by Smuzz, colour by Kris Carter, lettered by the wonderful Jim Campbell. As… Read More ›
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Photographer Steve Cook announces "Sophie’s World" exhibition, seeks missing negatives
Brilliant photographer Steve Cook, whose design credits include Doctor Who Magazine and 2000AD as well as projects such as Alternity with Shaky Kane and whose 2009 Secret Origins exhibition of many British comic creators remains a superb snapshot of the… Read More ›
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Knockabout to publish “Hartlepool Monkey” story
Knockabout will be publishing an English language edition of Wilfrid Lupano and Jérémie Moreau‘s Le Singe de Hartlepool in September, telling the story of the legendary Hartlepool monkey, allegedly hung by townsfolk fearing it was a French spy during the… Read More ›
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Vanguard Issue 3 unleashed
Dirk van Dom has dropped us a line to tell us that the latest issue of action adventure indie anthology Vanguard is now on sale. “It’s been a bit of a wait as myself and my fellow creators fended off… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with Accent UK and Sloth Comics creators
Panel Borders: Small Press Publishers Starting a month of shows in a new time slot, Panel Borders is looking at small press and self published comics, including the titles produced by two British independent publishing companies in interviews recorded at… Read More ›
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Dundee Comic Expo: A Creator’s View by MontyNero
Comics writer and artist MontyNero was one of many at the Dundee Comic Expo last weekend, and, complementing Jeremy Briggs’ Photo Report on the event, offers his take on the event… For some reason I don’t often take tables at… Read More ›
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Ron Smith joins other 2000AD for Free Comic Book day signing
Legendary 2000AD artist Ron Smith is to appear at a signing in London to mark Free Comic Book Day – his first signing for well over a decade. Revered by Judge Dredd fans for his satirical and, at times, bizarre… Read More ›
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London’s Rich Mix to host "DIY Cultures Fair’
London’s Rich Mix arts venue is hosting the first DIY Cultures Fair this Sunday (7th April). It will be a day long festival of zines, artist books, comics and distros with films, animation and video art as well as art… Read More ›
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ROK Comics teams with escape artist ‘Master Merlini’ for latest audio title
Lancaster-based ROK Comics, publisher of audio comics for a range of mobile devices, have announced the release of Master Merlini, its latest interactive title featuring an all-new incarnation of the real-life, world famous escape artist David Merlini.Escape artist, crime fighter,… Read More ›
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Dandy App promo video released… and here it is!
Britain’s longest-running comic has been dishing up anarchic fun since 1937 but went solely digital eaerlier this year. The Dandy app for iPad and other devices is now being relaunched and includes a regular Dandy digital comic you collect on… Read More ›
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David Hine, Mark Stafford create graphic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s “The Man Who Laughs”
The Man Who Laughs, Victor Hugo’s scathing indictment of the injustice and inequality within Britain’s political system, is the latest graphic adaptation from publishers SelfMadeHero, released in paperback this month. David Hine and Mark Stafford have produced a gripping adaptation… Read More ›
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Comic Book Babylon project announced, probing "British Vertigo"
Author Tim Pilcher has announced a Kickstarter campaign to publish Comic Book Babylon: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs & Comics, probing a bizarre period when, to outsiders, British creators looked set to take over American comics. Tim Pilcher’s shocking,… Read More ›
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John Royle draws more Danger Girl for IDW
Recently released by US publisher IDW is a hardback collection of Danger Girl/GI Joe, with art from top British creator John Royle, inked by Philip Moy and colour from Romulo Fajardo – and he’s now working on a new Danger… Read More ›
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Madefire and deviantART To Launch "Motion Books" to Worldwide Audience
Digital comics makers Madefire and the art-focused social network deviantART have announced they have formed a strategic partnership to provide unprecedented access through deviantART’s creators and audience to the making and distribution of digital Motion Books ™ published with Madefire’s… Read More ›
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Strip Magazine #1: WH Smiths Store List
Here’s a list of WH Smiths across the UK that will be stocking Strip #1.2 when it goes on sale on 8th April 2013. Once the issue goes on sale Print Media tell us that their distributors, Warners, will be… Read More ›