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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STRIP #6 Digital Edition on sale on iTunes, print #5 reaches UK
The digital STRIP #6 is now on sale for iPad on the iTunes store, comprising some strips from the print edition of STRIP #5 and some bonus digital only extras, for just £1.99. Mike Conroy – who is Print Media’s… Read More ›
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BioShock Infinite art book in the works
Dark Horse Comics has announced plans to publish a comprehensive art book for BioShock Infinite early next year, tying in with the game’s planned release. BioShock Infinite, developed by Irrational Games, won over 75 editorial awards at E3 2011, including… Read More ›
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Comica Conversation: Visions of India
The Comica Festival, in association with the South Asian Literature Festival, is to host an event with Indian artist Amruta Patil in London at the end of September. A writer and painter with an MFA from the School of the… Read More ›
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DREDD 3D Behind the Scenes: Bringing Judge Dredd to Life
With DREDD 3D now in UK cinemas, downthetubes goes behind the scenes to discover the secrets behind the creation of the screen character of Judge Dredd for the well-received film… New Zealand born, Karl Urban is a huge Judge Dredd… Read More ›
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CBeebies Mag Goes Digital, complementing print edition
BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment & Games, in collaboration with Immediate Media, has launched a digital version of their best-selling weekly pre-school title, CBeebies Magazine, on the Apple Newsstand on iPhone and iPad, priced at £2.99. A free five-page sample is… Read More ›
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Create your own Cyborg!
Art © Oliver Wetter Sci-Fi Art Now contributor Oliver Wetter has created a Cyborg Tutorial for the new Advanced Photoshop Magazine. “This image of a cyborg that matches the style of my Android Legacy piece, is a workshop I’ve done… Read More ›
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IlluXCon Symposium returns in November
The Fifth Annual IlluXCon Symposium – the only US convention exclusively dedicated to fantastic art – wil take place on 8th-11th November 2012 at the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center – 1421 12th Ave Altoona, PA 100601. As ever, IlluXCon will… Read More ›
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Artist Paul McCaffrey takes on TMNT’ ‘Fugitoid’
Sci-Fi Art Now contributor and British comics comic creator Paul McCaffrey is the artist on the latest issue of IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Microseries: Fugitoid. Also available digitally as well as in comic shops, the story centres on Fugitoid,… Read More ›
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DREDD 3D Behind the Scenes – Getting the Story right
Karl Urban as Judge Dredd. Image copyright Reliance Entertainment With DREDD 3D now in UK cinemas, downthetubes goes behind the scenes to discover the secrets behind the creation of the well-received film… The future world of Judge Dredd created by… Read More ›
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Soulful Creative Bigs up Judge Dredd!
A five metre high strutting Judge Dredd pointing his ‘Lawgiver’ (gun) towards the sky, has been greeting world travellers as they approach London Heathrow Airport for the past week. The massive 60 square metre graffiti art mural has been created… Read More ›
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DREDD is Number One!
DREDD 3D has stormed its way to the top of the UK film charts, taking over a million pounds on its opening weekend and trouncing competition that includes the new Total Recall remake – the first 18 certificate film to… Read More ›
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Dez Skinn and Chris J Thompson head to Malta Con
Writer, editor and publisher Dez Skinn – perhaps best known to comic fans for creating Warrior and Comics International and now working on a new international comic magazine – and Pop Culture King Journalist Chris J Thompson, who join the… Read More ›
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SciFi Postcard Book to be released in January 2013
Just through my door this weekend: an advance copy of the Sci-Fi Art Now postcard book ILEX asked me to compile earlier this year, which features illustrations by a number of British comic artists, including Rian Hughes, Smuzz and… Read More ›
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Artist Paul McCaffrey takes on TMNT’s ‘Fugitoid’
British comics comic creator Paul McCaffrey is the artist on the latest issue of IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Microseries: Fugitoid. Also available digitally as well as in comic shops, the story centres on Fugitoid, a Mirage Studios character co-created… Read More ›
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In Review: Alien – The Illustrated Story
by Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson Publisher: Titan Books Out: Now The Book: Two of comics greatest talents joined forces in 1979 to bring Ridley Scott’s epic Alien motion picture to comics. Out of print for over thirty years,… Read More ›
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Latest Andersonic reveals lost UFO story
Issue 14 of the excellent Gerry Anderson series-inspired Andersonic is now available via their website (and eBay for a short period in the Collectibles>SF>Thunderbirds section). With a cover image by Keith McNeill, the issue features the following: Robert Easton interview… Read More ›
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Win a trip to New York Comic Con with Curicon
Curicon, the new social network for collectors of nerd and pop culture, is offering its users the chance to win a trip to New York Comic Con this October – a prize that includes flights, accommodation and tickets to one… Read More ›
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Dredd on Horseback?
Actor Karl Urban may be the new Judge Joseph Dredd now — but in the past he has been associated with another British originated comic strip. Wendy has been called Britain’s last girls adventure comic and the reason that most… Read More ›