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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Prisoners of Time: An Interview with artist Lee Sullivan
(Updated 25/2/13): British comic creators will be heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations for their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which launched last month with a First Doctor story drawn by Simon Fraser. ‘Prisoners of… Read More ›
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Comic Empire annexes London ABC Show
Fans of British comics will be delighted to learn that an event catering to their particular needs is returning to London on a regular basis. Such has been public demand following its successful restaging of the dormant ABC Show last… Read More ›
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Jeff Keen talk at Brighton Museum
Tim Pilcher, founder member of the Comic Book Alliance, will be giving a talk on Jeff Keen, how comics influenced his work and how he, in turn, influenced (or at least foresaw) the future of comix, this Saturday (23rd February)… Read More ›
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BD&Comics Passion Festival launches comics competition for young artists
Calling all comics devotees: the BD & Comics Passion Festival is back at London’s Institut Français 30th May 30th to 2nd June, with workshops, live drawing, concerts and movies galore are on the agenda, with some of the greatest writers… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly heads for the London SuperCon
Progenitor by Phil Hester & John McCrea, which featured in Aces Weekly Volume 1 Aces Weekly – www.acesweekly.co.uk – the exclusively digital weekly comic art magazine that’s packed with talent from around the globe – is just one of many… Read More ›
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Soldiers of Song
Readers of Charley’s War will recall writer Pat Mills often referenced songs from the period during the telling of the story. The seeds of irreverent humour that inspired the likes of Wayne and Shuster and Monty Python were sown… Read More ›
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Thought Bubble announces 2013 dates, first guests
Thought Bubble 2013 icon by Alice Duke Leeds-based Thought Bubble has just announced that this year’s festival will run from 17th – 24th November, in conjunction with the 27th Leeds International Film Festival, and the comics convention, a regular feature… Read More ›
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Comics and graphic novels in the Resonance FM charity auction
Resonance FM, the London based radio station which Panel Borders is broadcast from, is currently running a fundraiser that’s going on until 21st February. The Arts Council funding of the station only goes so far (and no programme makers, including… Read More ›
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Dan Abnett signing at Maidstone’s No Man’s Land
Comics writer, author and Primary Clone Dan Abnett will be at a signing to promote a move of premises for Maidstone games shop No Man’s Land next Saturday (23rd February). An independent gaming shop, No Man’s Land is, Dan tells… Read More ›
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Radio show with David Hine, Mark Stafford and Catherine Anyango
Panel Borders: Darkness and inhumanity in literature Continuing our month of shows about comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of graphic novelists about adapting classic 19th century novels as sequential art. In a panel discussion recorded at… Read More ›
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King Richard III goes manga
With the discovery of his body in Leicester last year, interest in the often-much maligned King Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England, is at something of a fever pitch. The latest temporary exhibition at the Bosworth Heritage Centre… Read More ›
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Tripwire seeks Kickstarter funding for 21st anniversary project
In 2013, Britain’s logest-running comics and genre magazine Tripwire celebrates its 21st birthday and, to commemorate, publisher and editor is planning to publish a must-buy book. Tripwire has been Britain’s only features-driven comics and genre magazine which has published since… Read More ›
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Elephantmen enjoy some Sleeping Partners
The latest issue of British comic creator Richard Starkings smashing science fiction strip Elephantmen (#46) features art by Bulletproof Coffin artist Shaky Kane in the fourth installment of the ‘Sleeping Partners’ storyline. Published by Image Comics. the issue tells the… Read More ›
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Heritage Auctions heads for London Super Con
Heritage Auctions, the US-based leading collectibles auctioneer, will once again be exhibiting at the London Super Comic Convention, with company staff on hand to talk with potential consigners, bidders and other interested parties. “Consignments of comics and comic art will… Read More ›
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Manga Jiman 2012 Competition Results
First prize winners, Sara Ferreira and Gisela Martins. Photo: Embassy of Japan The results of the Manga Jiman 2012 Competition were announced at a reception held at London’s Embassy of Japan on 8th February. The major manga-writing competition, now in… Read More ›
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More 2D Comics Festival Guests announced
Following up on our recent post about the 2013 2D Comics Festival, Northern Ireland’s largest ever comics event has just announced several guests set to appear when the long-running annual comic event returns from 30th May – 2nd June in… Read More ›
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Will Simpson art in focus at W5, Belfast
Will Simpson at the W5. Photo: W5 Centre The work of Will Simpson is the focus of an exhibition at Belfast’s W5 Centre until 28th April 2013, highlighting the work of this internationally-known artist, whose career began in comic strip… Read More ›
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Marc Jackson’s ‘Man from Space’ lands online
Marc Jackson, one of the team at Macclesfield-based design agency Creative Hero, has just launched his Man from Space web comic – an all-ages, all-awesome (hopefully) outer-space adventures of a intergalactic hobo and his smart-mouthed sidekick Michael… the Goldfish. “It’s… Read More ›
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2000AD announces 2013 graphic album range
2012 was a truly zarjaz year for 2000AD – and the next 12 months looks set to be even better with the announcement of their graphic novel collections schedule for the UK and Ireland. With 19 titles collecting stories of… Read More ›