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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Pondering the French delight of the "Ninth Art"
Publishers Berghahn Books have released a paperback edition of Comics in French by Laurence Grove, which offers an in depth study to the development of bande dessinée. Whereas in English-speaking countries comics are often considered, beyond the comics community, for… Read More ›
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Orang Utan announces Super Con specials
Orang Utan Comics has announced two big new releases at the London Super Comic Con on February 23rd – 24th, 2013, at the Excel in London. The first release is a 48 page, full colour, limited edition LSCC Preview Edition… Read More ›
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Rough Cut Comics gets ‘Utopian’ promotion
Scottish comic publisher Rough Cut Comics made its TV debut in the new Channel Four thriller, Utopia. Kudos TV, the company known for hit-series Life on Mars and Spooks, chose the company’s titles to be used in the drama which… Read More ›
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Atomic Diner prep lauch of ‘Noe the Savage Boy’
Atomic Diner will be hosting a launch of their new book Noe The Savage Boy #1 in Forbidden Planet Belfast on Saturday February 9th from 1.00 to 3.00pm. On hand will be the title’s creators – Rob Curley (plot) Malachy… Read More ›
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Diggle and Jock signing ‘Snapshot’ at Forbidden Planet London
Writer Andy Diggle and artist Jock will be signing copies of the Forbidden Planet variant edition of their new comic published by Image, Snapshot, at 4.00pm on Saturday 9th February at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore. Jake Dobson is your… Read More ›
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Creator Spotlight: Oliver Passingham and ‘Tobruk’
Over on Australian comics blog Pikitia Press, which occasionally diverges to cover British comics creators with some Antipodean connection, Matt Emery reports on an intriguing example of 1960s comics taking full advantage of popular mainstream media that might help boost… Read More ›
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First Edinburgh Toy and Comic Mart announced
The first ever Toy & Comic Mart in Edinburgh will take place on Saturday 20th April, organised by Hero Conventions and local retailer Heroes & Idols. Running from 11.00am – 4.00pm, the free event will take place at the RAF… Read More ›
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Radio interview with Steve Bissette
Panel Borders: Creating Constantine Continuing our month of shows about the 25th anniversary of John Constantine: Hellblazer, Alex Fitch discusses the first appearances of the character with co-creator Steve Bissette. Alex and Steve discuss the artist’s tenure as penciller on… Read More ›
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British Science Festival gets set to publish science comic
Science includes the study of epic themes. Themes so epic they go beyond research journals and textbooks. You know, the sort of epic themes that leap off the pages of comic books into the hearts and minds of children. The… Read More ›
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Brits invade BackIssue magazine
The April 2013 editin of TwoMorrow Publishing’s BACK ISSUE (#63) watches the USA’s and UK’s comics worlds cross over in our “British Invasion” issue. Featuring a history of Marvel UK by Rob Kirby, the Beatles in comics, DC’s British talent… Read More ›
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New Festival to celebrate comic art launched in Lake District
A new festival which aims to match the vibrancy of France’s annual Angouleme event was launched last night, to celebrate the very best comic art from across the world, from cartoon strips to superhero comics and manga to non-fiction graphic… Read More ›
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Hunt Emerson, Paul Rainey in latest Self Publisher Magazine
Self Publisher! Magazine #61 might be a US-based digital title but with the huge number of British creators doing their own thing it’s no wonder quite a few feature in the free downloadable magazine. British talents interviewed this issue are… Read More ›
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Hard Case Cunningham! (Darryl Cunningham, that is…)
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Manga Studies: From Architecture to Female Otaku
The London Asia Pacific Cultural Studies Forum is organizing a free session at London’s Birbeck College on 28th January 2013, devoted to Manga Studies with researchers and professionals visiting from Japan. The global circulation of manga has attracted increased attention… Read More ›
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It’s Tank Girl versus Tank Girl for new Titan mini series
Titan Comics has announced announce the launch of Solid State Tank Girl, a brand-new four-part series by creator Alan Martin and stellar new artist, Warwick Johnson Cadwell. Originally created by Martin and one half of the critically-acclaimed virtual band Gorillaz, Jamie… Read More ›
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Cartoonist Terry Bave remembers the crazy days of British humour comics
(with thanks to Lew Stringer): Terry Bave, artist of numerous comic strips in British humour comics from the late 1960s to the 2000s, has published his autobiography, Cartoons and Comic Strips. Terry was at the heart of English cartooning and had… Read More ›
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New Scientist’s Arc magazine publishes new Jack Womack story
The latest issue of Arc, Forever alone drone, is available to buy now. Arc is an exploration of the future from the makers of New Scientist – published every three months, it considers the possibilities of tomorrow’s technologies and societies,… Read More ›

