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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Simon Furman drums up support for Bewdley Book Week event
A quick shout out for ace comics writer Simon Furman, who tells us he should be at the Bewdley Book Week in (you guessed it) Bewdley, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire on Friday 13th September to give a talk and book signing,… Read More ›
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Bisley back in 2000AD with special Slaine episode
Industry legend Simon Bisley returns to 2000AD today, for a special one-off episode of the strip that catapulted him to international fame in the 1980s – Sláine. To celebrate the Celtic barbarian’s 30th anniversary, in Sláine: Book of Scars creator… Read More ›
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MCM To Launch Ireland Comic Con, Expand Scotland Comic Con in 2014
Do you live in Ireland? Are you a fan of science fiction, videogames, comics, cosplay or anime? Well, mark 12-13 April 2014 down in your diary, because that’s the date that the inaugural MCM Ireland Comic Con comes to Dublin…. Read More ›
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Beano charity painting sells for £3200
We’re delighted to report that artist Gordon Tait‘s Beano-inspired painting, auctioned via eBay on behalf of the Willow Foundation, raised £3200 for this great cause. Founded by former Scotland and Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson and his wife Megs in memory… Read More ›
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Best of Milligan and McCarthy – Preview Pages
Dark Horse Comics have very kindly sent us some preview pages from Best of Milligan and McCarthy – a deluxe collection of hard-to-find gems from Peter Milligan (Hellblazer, X-Statix) and Brendan McCarthy (Judge Dredd, The Zaucer of Zilk), due for… Read More ›
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Brendan McCarthy wraps Catalyst Comix #3
The third issue of Dark Horse Comics Catalyst Comix, on sale 4th September in UK comic shops and online, features a wrapround cover by Brendan McCarthy and more great art from artists Dan McDaid (Doctor Who) and Paul Maybury (Aqua… Read More ›
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Chronos Commandos #3 – Sneek Preview!
Next Wednesday (11th September) sees the release of Stuart Jennet’s Chronos Commandos #3 from Titan Comics – and we have a special preview for you below! In Chronos Commandos: Dawn Patrol #3 the time team are trapped in the past,… Read More ›
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Contemporary Artists’ Books and Book Designs exhibition at londonprintstudio
Londonprintstudio, which regularly includes comic art and supports new comic artists in its events program has just announced Unfold, an exhibition highlighting the quality and variety of contemporary artists' books and designs. The way that we see books is changing…. Read More ›
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Rob Jackson releases RhiZome sci-fi anthology comic
(via BugPowder): On sale now is the RhiZome Anthology, a weird but wonderful-looking 48-page black and white science-fiction and fantasy anthology, co-edited by Rob Jackson and Kyle Baddeley-Read. The anthology contains stories by Max Mose, Rob, Kyle Baddeley-Read, John Robbins… Read More ›
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Knockabout Comics announce “Best of Wonder Wart-Hog” collection
Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a blird! It’s a pane! It’s a blane! It’s a plird! It’s a bane! Oh… actually, it seems to be some sort of flying, anthropomorphic phacochoerus aethiopicus, wearing… Read More ›
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Rock warrior Jon Mikl Thor heads for Simon Williams’ “Retro Tales”
After the appearance of the original Knight Rider star David Hasslhoff in his fab comic Retro Tales, comic creator Simon Williams has announced his next guest star – the legendary king of muscle rock, Jon Mikl Thor. “The one and… Read More ›
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Planet Jimbot releases ‘Savant’
Planet Jimbot, the indie publishing house run by comic creators Jim Alexander and Jim Campbell, has just published the first issue of Savant, a stunning science fiction story originally conceived for STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine. Savant, by Jim Alexander,… Read More ›
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‘Striker’ football strip goes global with app launch
The terrific football strip Striker – which currently appears in print The Sun as a regular strip, probably making it one of the most-read strips in the UK – has just been launched as an App from Syon Publishing, offering… Read More ›
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Bear Alley Books releases Boys’ World: Ticket to Adventure
Bear Alley Books, run by ace comics archivist Steve Holland, is to publish a guide to the the seminal British comic Boys’ World on 9th September – and if you order before 2nd September you can get a 10 per… Read More ›
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Titan Comics releases digital “Lost Planet”
Titan Comics have just released the first digital issue of a comics-exclusive story set in the Capcom’s Lost Planet universe, linking with the launch of the Lost Planet 3 video game In the US and Europe this week. Written by… Read More ›
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A Missed Gem: The Legend of Tom Hickathrift
I’ve been very remiss in not giving this gorgeous children’s story, The Legend of Tom Hickathrift, a plug before – so hopefully I can make up for it now. Released in May by Mogzilla Books, it’s written with his usual… Read More ›
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Woodwork: The Complete Work of Wallace Wood released
While we’re well aware this is a British comics website, we also know that many British comic creators are incfluenced by many things – not least of them the work of the late, great American artist Wallace ‘Wally’ Wood, whose… Read More ›
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Luke Cooper’s “Hollow Girl” – video trailer released
Comic artist Luke Cooper , whose work includes GoodCopBadCop and Wolf Country for Planet Jimbot, has just posted a trailer for his upcoming graphic novel from US indie publisher Blackline Comics, Hollow Girl: I Am No One. “The comic is… Read More ›
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Numbercruncher Collection announced
Titan Comics are to publish a Numbercruncher collection in December, collecting the entire much-praised series so far. Mesmerisingly written by the superb Si Spurrier (X-Men: Legacy, Crossed: Wish You Where Here) with gorgeous art from PJ Holden (2000 AD) and colourist Jordie Bellaire (Captain Marvel, Rocketeers,… Read More ›
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Crumb’s Weirdo Years from Knockabout
Weirdo was a magazine-sized comics anthology created by Robert Crumb in 1981, which ran for 28 issues. It served as a “low art” counterpoint to its contemporary highbrow Raw. Early issues of Weirdo reflect Crumb’s interests at the time –… Read More ›