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.
-
STRIP Magazine Issue 2 – print edition still missing in action
Print Media, the Bosnian publishers of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine, have just released the following statement about the non appearance of the second issue. Issue 1 went on sale in UK newsagents in May, but the second issue has… Read More ›
-
David Hasselhoff returns to comics in Simon Williams ‘Retro Tales’
The newly-formed Retro Comics Group – the brainchild of Wales-based comic creator Simon Williams – has managed to snag the legendary TV/Hollywood star David Hasselhoff as a special guest star for the comic title Retro Tales. The Hoff will make… Read More ›
-
New comic to fight HIV/AIDS published
Cardiff University’s Centre for Language and Communication Research has been working with South African charity Whizzkids United to produce a comic book in which teenagers tell their own stories to support HIV/AIDS education. The charity’s main programme involves using football… Read More ›
-
Titan Comics get set for official launch at Comic Con
Titan Comics will officially launch its range of titles – which include A1, Carl Critchlow’s Thrud the Barbarian and Numbercruncher – at San Diego Comic Con with brand-new comics, brand-new collections and exciting panels and signings. Titan Comics, a new… Read More ›
-
Prisoners of Time: An Interview with John Ridgway
British comic creators are heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations for their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which will feature every incarnation of the Doctor, as well as a long list of villains, some new,… Read More ›
-
Call for Submissions: 100 Years of Krazy Kat
On October 13th 1913, George Herriman’s Krazy Kat – one of the most outstanding comic strips ever created – was first published in The New York Evening Journal. Krazy Kat initiated a whole new way of thinking about comics, and… Read More ›
-
Zenith Collection content details, 1st July release date
There’s less than a week to go before pre-orders open for the first ever complete reprint of Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s superhero 2000AD series Zenith. The limited edition hardback book will only be available from the 2000AD online shop… Read More ›
-
Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins’ launch Kickstarter to complete “Jimmy’s End” film series
Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins have launched a Kickstarter campaign to make the final part of their Jimmy’s End film project. The pair have already produced four short films in the series and are now looking for funds to complete… Read More ›
-
Digital Dandy 12 – On Sale Now
The latest Digital Dandy (Issue 12) is available now – stuffed full of Daft, Dramatic and Different comic strips. This issue features Bananaman and Appleman in a spectacular duel of fruity fencing, as well as nostril-numbing terror in Hyde and… Read More ›
-
Charting the Oink-verse!
(With thanks to George Shiers over on Wacky Comics): A comic blog dedicated to the classic British humour comic Oink! was launched earlier in the year, covering each individual issue of the title to the day that it went on… Read More ›
-
BeanoMAX bows out as 75th anniversary nears, new title on way
It’s all change over at The Beano, as the title’s monthly companion, BeanoMAX, bows out on Issue 79, on sale now in all good newsagents. The magazine will be replaced by a 32-page comic, the 100% Official Dennis the Menace… Read More ›
-
Nick Spencer, Chris Ward at GOSH
What are you doing on Saturday? In London? How about getting along to Gosh Comics and getting a book signed by the people who made it weeks before it’s actually released? Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Bedlam) and Christian Ward (Olympus)… Read More ›
-
You’re All Just Jealous Of My Jetpack!
Cartoonist Tom Gauld has followed up his widely praised graphic novel Goliath with a collection of cartoons made for The Guardian newspaper. Over the past eight years, Gauld has produced his weekly You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack cartoon… Read More ›
-
Neil Gaiman documentary in the works from Sequart
The Sequart Research & Literacy Organization, in conjunction with Respect! Films, has announced that author Neil Gaiman will be the next subject in its expanding line of comics-centric documentaries. In the tradition of Sequart’s Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and… Read More ›
-
McDaid, McCarthy and Maybury on Dark Horse ‘Catalyst Comics’
On sale 3rd July in comic shops from US publisher Dark Horse is Catalyst Comix #1, featuring the work of three British creators including the brilliant Doctor Who comic strip author and artist Dan McDaid.
-
Egmont’s TOXIC Magazine launches new apps
Following up on the launch of a revamped website and its first interactive issue earlier this year, Egmont UK is extending the TOXIC Magazine brand into entertainment apps, aimed, I assume, and helping promote the title. (They're certainly good fun!)… Read More ›
-
Eco Comics brings Green Knight back to comics
Digital publisher Eco Comics has announced that it is bringing the legendary Green Knight to its range of comic books and graphic novels. The Green Knight first appeared in the famous 14th-century medieval Arthurian tale, Sir Gawain and the Green… Read More ›
-
Pop Art exhibition planned for London’s Barbican
Brash, colourful and playful, Pop Art was a movement that signaled a radical change of direction in the postwar period. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s Pop was characterised by an intense dialogue between the fields of design… Read More ›
-
Classic Slaine stories released
Two of the most famous volumes of 2000AD’s Neolithic barbarian, Sláine, created by Pat Mills, are now available again in brand new editions for the UK.
-
ArtYouGrewUpWith exhibition success
ArtYouGrewUpWith.com’s Superhero show launched on Saturday at their Radlett gallery and the venue was packed out with fans and collectors coming from all over the country