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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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Shaqui le Vesconte
This week, a scant eighth of the way into the 21st century that had already been mapped out for many children – and adults – we lost a true icon of British television and film. The hallmark of Gerry Anderson’s… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures arrives on iPad, iPhone
(Updated, #300 info corrected): Immediate Media has just released Doctor Who Adventures for iPad and iPhone, bringing the junior Who comic magazine to digital devices. The title reaches its landmark 300th issue this week. Described as “the ultimate magazine for… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Peter Greenwood
When we lose a personality of any kind, there is always a outcry for this loss, but in this case the loss is so much more personal to an entire generation of adults and children alike. Gerry Anderson, who passed… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Marcus Hearn
My sorrow at the passing of Gerry Anderson has been eased a little by the glowing tributes that appeared across the British media. The television and newspaper obituaries presented a warm, if understandably reductive, view of his remarkable career. However,… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Gerry Anderson
Everybody has heroes. Some people create them. One man who created them for me as I grew up as a kid in the 1960s was Gerry Anderson, aided by his not inconsiderable team behind the Supermarionation shows such as Captain… Read More ›
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Comicbook Creators Interpret ‘Magic Mike’ in Male Stripper App
Comicbook artist Stephen Downey (Torchwood, Jennifer Wilde) draws hunky muscly men, and this time they’re not superheroes, but males strippers. Together with comic podcaster Scott Grandison (Comicbook Outsiders), they designed, developed and published Magic Mike: The Moves app through their… Read More ›
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from downthetubes!
Have a great holiday, folks!
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Kapow convention cancelled, but back in 2014
A busy workload for Millarworld Productions that included the upcoming ‘Pavillion of Dreams’ for BBC Scotland has led to the cancellation of Kapow next year Bad news for fans of the Mark Millar-initiated Kapow Comic convention, which has been held… Read More ›
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Spotlight: Patrick James Woodroffe
Not to be confused with the amazing lighting designer of the same name, Patrick James Woodroffe is an English artist, etcher and drawer, who specialises in fantasy science-fiction artwork, with images that border on the surreal. His achievements include several… Read More ›
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Horizon: The Falling on sale now
Signed copies of Andrew Wildman’s amazing looking HORIZON – the falling are now available from his online shop – go on, gift yourself a copy. For those who don’t already know, HORIZON – which we’re told now looks like being… Read More ›
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UK Comics Creative launches indie comic catalogue
Print services folk UK Comics Creative has announced the completion and launch of UK On Display, their new catalogue available to purchase from www.ukondisplay.com. Featuring the publications of many British comics creators, the Catalogue will be making its way into… Read More ›
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WebFind: Original War of the Worlds illustrations revealed
Exploring War of the Worlds art by Warwick Goble…
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Eco Comics wins Green Apple Award
British digital comics publisher Eco Comics, whose titles include Mr T, Green Man and Dick Turpin, is a winner of a 2012 Green Apple Award. The award was presented to the comic book and graphic novel publisher during a carbon-neutral… Read More ›
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Adventures in Comics competition returns for 2013
Celebrating illustration, writing, making, sequential narrative, and all that is Comics, Margate-based Marine Studios has just announced the launch of its 2013 Adventures in Comics comic competition. AIC3 is inviting UK-based creators to respond to their annual two-page-comic challenge. Simply… Read More ›
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Jim Stewart, Mychailo Kazybrid feature in new, free Self Publisher Magazine
Self Publisher! Magazine #60 is available now free as a PDF download and introduces “a whole new look” to the magazine, offering lots of articles and features any indy creator or fan of such would enjoy, its editorial team at… Read More ›
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Strip #7 on sale today in UK comic shops
The print edition of Strip Magazine #7 is on sale from today in UK comic shops, a Christmas Special that takes a slightly different form to the usual magazine. It will also mark the final issue of the comic shop… Read More ›
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Christmas Gift? What about a Commando subscription?
Looking for a British comics-related Christmas present? downthetubes is pleased to offer an exclusive discount on a subscription to DC Thomson’s Commando comic, entitling readers to save 50% by ordering using our special discount code! Follow this link to DC… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with Glyn Dillon and Joff Winterhart
Panel Borders: Brown, Nao / Bagnold Summer In the third of a trilogy of shows about depictions of lives on the comic book page, Alex Fitch talks to the authors of two of 2012’s most acclaimed graphic novels. Glyn Dillon… Read More ›