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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Art stolen from Suydam Studios
New York-based comic artist Arthur Suydam is seeking help in the recovery of two pieces of art which were recently stolen from his studio. The two artworks are Alien Genocide by Arthur Suydam (gouche painting, image above) and Little Devil… Read More ›
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Art stolen from Suydam Studios
New York-based comic artist Arthur Suydam is seeking help in the recovery of two pieces of art which were recently stolen from his studio. While we normally cover British comics news we’re sure our readers are aware art theft is… Read More ›
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Furman, Roche signing at Dublin City Comics
Simon (Transformers) Furman and Nick ((Maximum Dinobots, Last Stand of the Wreckers) Roche will delivering their popular script-to-page presentation at the Dublin City Comics on 27th October, as part of a whole day in-store event. The presentation takes a page… Read More ›
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Andrew Wildman draws Doctor Who "PS"
Tra [WARNING: SPOILERS if you have not seen Angels Take Manhattan] Comics artist Andrew Wildman has provided some poignant visuals to a special postscript to the latest Doctor Who TV episodes written by Chris Chibnall. Now live on YouTube, the… Read More ›
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Brunel University’s Screen Media Research Centre announces comics events
The Screen Media Research Centre at Brunel University has announced two upcoming seminars about comics Il giallo a fumetti: Diabolik, fumetti neri and the ‘Fantomas gene’Presented by Leon Hunt, Wednesday 24th October, 4.00pm The creation of Italian comic book character… Read More ›
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Comicsy, British small press marketplace launched
A brand new website designed to help UK small press creators sell their wares has just been launched by Tim West, co-editor and and writer for the horror anthology Hallowscream. Tim tells us Comicsy – already being used by creators… Read More ›
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Ghost Chef stalks the Sunday Times
Ace comic creator Sarah McIntyre reports that her character Ghost Chef features in today’s Sunday Times in one of their occasional Funday Tmes supplements. “The Funday Times supplement used to come out weekly, but now only comes out every so… Read More ›
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Creator Talk: 6 Questions For Artist Simon Fraser
The retro-futuristic Russian rogue Nikolai Dante began in 2000AD Prog 1035, dated 25 March 1997, and came to its conclusion 15 years later in Prog 1791. Created by the Scottish team of writer Robbie Morrison and artist Simon Fraser, who… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Nick Abadzis on Hugo Tate
Panel Borders: Hugo Tate Continuing Panel Borders’ month of shows about the depiction of travel in comic books, Alex Fitch talks to the award winning cartoonist Nick Abadzis about the recent Blank Slate Books collection of his much loved strip… Read More ›
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Charley’s War used to promote UK Tank Museum
(via Jeremy Briggs): Britain’s Tank Museum in Bovington is using the seminal anti-war comic Charley’s War to promote activities at the centre this coming half term. The Museum has planned a week of art themed family activities for the October… Read More ›
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Off Life, free indie comic zine out now
While I was away last week in the wilds of Scotland, OFF LIFE – the new, free indie comic magazine, available in print and online – got under way with a sparkling first issue crammed with some great comics. My… Read More ›
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MCM Expo moves into magazine publishing
Movie, anime and games title MyM Magazine has been acquired by MCM Expo Group, organisers of the MCM London Comic Con as well as other events across the UK. MyM Magazine is currently available in WH Smith and all good… Read More ›
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Immediate Media get set to launch Horrible Histories magazine
Immediate Media is to launch Horrible Histories magazine on 18th October 2012, a humorous and fact-filled title aimed at curious 7 to 10 year olds. With art from Martin Brown for initial issues, the new monthly magazine is based… Read More ›
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Hunt Emerson invades the iPad as Only He Can
According to comics historian Paul Gravett’s 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die Hunt Emerson is “Britain’s greatest underground cartoonist”. According to the The Comics Journal his mind “works on a level untouched by most humans”. According to the… Read More ›
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Radio: Amruta Patil, Gary & Warren Pleece discuss exotic locales in their graphic novels / Michael Chabon, David Almond & Oliver Jeffers on magical realism
Panel Borders: Home and Away Starting a month of shows about the depiction of travel in comic books and representations of far flung lands, Alex Fitch talks to creators from Brighton and Delhi about their graphic novels which mix autobiography… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons Comics Workshop In Dundee
The fifth annual Dundee Comics Day will be taking place at the University of Dundee on Sunday 28th October 2012 and, as previous reported, will be dedicated to talks by writer Grant Morrison and his artistic collaborators Cameron Stewart (Batman),… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly digital comic gets underway
It’s here! Aces Weekly, the new digital comics anthology from David Lloyd and team
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Lou Scannon Issue 4 comes knocking at your door
Lou Scannon and his ragtag band of mercenaries have responded to a distress call from a trashed government research station. Now our anti-heroes find themselves trapped on the station with the very beast that destroyed it and killed its crew!… Read More ›
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British Zombie-guests galore at F.A.C.T.S. 2012
While the Mayan civilization has proclaimed 2012 to be the end of the world, F.A.C.T.S. – a Belgian convention organized once a year by Con-Fuse bvba, an organisation promoting Science Fiction, Comics, Fantasy and Japanese animation – found it appropriate… Read More ›