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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Modesty Blaise Comic Challenge drawing to a close, deadline extended
Today is intended to be the last day for our Modesty Blaise Comic Challenge – but we’ve decided to extend it until Monday 25th March, 12 noon GMT, just in case there any more entries artists had almost completed between… Read More ›
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World War One Layman’s Guide and App released
Is it possible that a 20-year-old, internationally successful Greek footballer doesn’t know what a Nazi salute looks like? Is it time to ‘just move on’ and teach young people about more recent historical events such as the advent of… Read More ›
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Prisoners of Time: An Interview with artist Mike Collins
British comic creators are heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations for their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which launched in January with a First Doctor story drawn by Simon Fraser and continued with a Second… Read More ›
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BCExpo eXclusive charity prints by Ian Gibson
The Bristol Comic Expo – back on 11-12th May 2013 at Brunels Old Station, Bristol – is publishing a series of “Expo eXclusive” charity prints and the latest is by the long running comic festival’s special guest Ian Gibson, who… Read More ›
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Showmasters plan ‘Independents Day’ events to promote British indie press
Showmasters, who run the London Comic Marts at the Royal National Hotel, have announced a number of ‘Independents Day’ events through 2013. The aim is that there will provide a platform for the independent press and celebrate their work. The… Read More ›
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War Drama ‘The Trench’ Digs Deep
As the centenary of World War One looms, the true story of a miner trapped in a tunnel during the conflict is being be told at theatres across the UK. The Trench is an award-winning play which achieved a… Read More ›
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Lou Scannon becomes a Fad Deity!
The latest issue of Eagle Award nominated sci-fi/comedy comic Lou Scannon is now available. ‘Fad Deity’, by Jim Bampfield, Dan Harris and Kris Carter, shows the adventures of a lone office lackey, who (due to bizarre circumstances) comes to worship… Read More ›
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Zarjaz Postcards released
Judge Dredd by Alex Ronald New from FutureQuake Press and only available in a limited quantity are the first set of high quality art cards from ZARJAZ, the 2000AD-inspired comic created by fans of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. Featuring Judge… Read More ›
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Call for Papers: Contemporary Uses of Fairy Tales
Melissa Leons – hunting fairies incontemporary culture Doctor Melissa Lenos, an Assistant Professor of English at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, is inviting submissions for an edited collection of essays on contemporary uses of fairy tales in popular culture…. Read More ›
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In Review: Hit-Girl
By Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.Publisher: Titan BooksOut: NowWarning: Contains swearing and extreme violence. Not for younger readers The Book: Hit-Girl spins off into her own blood-soaked saga in this prelude to the Kick-Ass 2 film. Mindy McCready tries… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons ‘Whaat’ art challenges Lichtenstein’s dubious ‘legacy’
Watchmen artist and co-creator Dave Gibbons was interviewed on a recent BBC TV documentary about the Pop Art painting ‘WHAAM!’ by Roy Lichtenstein, which is currently on show in a major retrospective at Tate Modern, London. Gibbons was probably the… Read More ›
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2013 British Comic Awards Committee confirmed
Plans for the second annual British Comic Awards are well underway — so here’s a reminder that you can nominate titles for consideration by the BCA Committee via the Awards Nomination Form or on the BCA home page. The… Read More ›
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In Review: Dead Space – Liberation
By Ian Edginton and Christopher ShyPublisher: Titan BooksOut: NowWarning: Contains violence and swearing – not for younger readers The Book: Following the events of the video game Dead Space 2, we follow Earthgov Sergeant John Carver whose wife and son… Read More ›
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London’s Comiket is back – bigger and bolder than ever!
London’s Comiket is back on 20th April 2013 – and the Comica Festival-organised event has a new and much bigger venue. This year, they’ve teamed up with Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design to stage the biggest and… Read More ›
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Comic Classics in the Spotlight – 2000AD
By Matthew Charlton (re-published with permission from thefictionstroker.wordpress.com) 2000AD is one of the UK’s leading weekly comics. It has been publishing for 36 years now. The anthology approach and cast of colourful characters have been crucial to its longevity. Snarky… Read More ›
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Free Dundee Comics Expo on 30 March
The first Dundee Comics Expo will be opening its doors to the public in two week’s time at 11am on Saturday 30 March 2013 and entry to all its talks, workshops and sales rooms will be free. Held in the… Read More ›
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Robbie Morrison, Jim Murray’s ‘Drowntown’ saga launches in June
(with thanks to Simon Fraser): Jonathan Cape will publish the first volume of Drowntown by Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray in June. The creators describe the series as “an epic adventure set in a flooded futuristic London that hurls down-at-heel… Read More ›
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Dungeons, Air Aces and Phantoms – It’s your latest Commandos!
Four new Commando comics went on sale today in all good newsagents – and actually, their distributions seems to be improving, as we’ve spotted them in several new places recently. Here’s the low down on the stories… Commando No 4583:… Read More ›
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Harvey Awards nominations open
The Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con have just released the official Nomination Ballot for this year’s Harvey Awards, honouring work published in the 2012 calendar year. Named in honour of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one… Read More ›