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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Print Express launch Comic Printing Competition
The folk at British online printers Print Express love designers, writers, artists and anything creative and they’ve been running a number of competitions to help support interesting, creative people. Now they’ve decided to do something a little bit special – and… Read More ›
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Glasgow Comic Con 2012: More Pictures
Following up on our review of Glasgow Comic Con, here are some more pictures from the event, courtesy of the organisers. Photography by by Alasdair Watson © Alasdair Watson & Glasgow Comic Con Queueing around the block Newly-signed creators for… Read More ›
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Steadfast! Commando Art Exhibition in Aberdeen
For the third time in less than twelve months the Commando archive has been opened to allow artwork to be used in a public exhibition. After the Draw Your Weapons exhibition in London’s National Army Museum and the Battlelines exhibition… Read More ›
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2000AD announces San Diego ComicCon schedule
Along with many British comic creators, 2000AD, the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic will be flying the flag for British comics and heading to the greatest show on Earth with a packed schedule of exclusive signings and panels. “San Diego Comic-Con 2012… Read More ›
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In Review: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – Century: 2009
Writer: Alan MooreArtist: Kevin O’NeillColourist: Ben DimagmaliwLetterer: Todd KleinEditor: Chris StarosPublisher: Top Shelf productions / Knockabout80 PAGES Paperback, 260 X 170mmISBN 9780861661633 The Book: The third chapter of the third volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen continues the adventures of… Read More ›
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Second Glasgow Comic Convention proves success
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely at Glasgow Comic Con 2012. Photo: Craig Hastie of Comics Anonymous David Robertson of Fred Egg Comics reports on a weekend offering a range of big name guests and upcoming comics revelations… Photos kindly provided… Read More ›
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No Heroes But One Award!
The “little comic that could” No More Heroes picked up the award for Best Comic at the SICBA (Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards) event held at Glasgow Comic Con over the weekend. The four-issue mini-series about the suspicious death of… Read More ›
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British Comic Awards launched
News today (via The Emperor and the Forbidden Planet Blog) of the launch of the British Comic Awards website. The British Comic Awards is described as a brand new initiative to annually celebrate the very best in British comics. The… Read More ›
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Scotch Corner Art Blog Celebrates Its 3rd Birthday
The Scotch Corner daily art blog is celebrating its third birthday and, like last year, has called on a number of guest artists to give a short holiday to the Scotch Corner regulars, artdroids Graeme Neil Reid, Gary Erskine, Simon… Read More ›
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New Futurequake, Zarjaz now on sale
The latest issues of the ace indie comic titles FutureQuake and the 2000AD-inspired Zarjaz are now on sale. Behind the cover of Futurequake Issue 21 by Gibson Quarter and Keiren Smith there are eight strips to astound you, including ‘Aclonement’,… Read More ›
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Girl Genius web comic creators Phil and Kaja Foglio head for Cambridge
Phil and Kaja Foglio, creators of the steampunk web comic Girl Genius (www.girlgeniusonline.com), are to be Guests of Hounour at the Congenial convention in Cambridge next month. Taking place over 10-12th August 2012, Congenial is an SF and role-playng convention… Read More ›
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UK Simpsons Comics reaches 200th issue
Next Thursday is something of a milestone for British Simpsons fans as the UK edition of Simpsons Comics reaches its milestone 200th issue. Based on the world’s favourite family, Simpsons Comics is the official magazine of the cartoon, published by… Read More ›
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Titan announces Walking Dead Magazine
Titan Magazines and Skybound have announced the launch of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine, based on Robert Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning comic book series, best-selling graphic novels and Emmy-winning AMC television series based upon them. The magazine will debut in… Read More ›
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Fourth Andrew Loomis facsimile art book in the works
Illustrator Andrew Loomis is revered amongst artists for his mastery of drawing technique and his clean, realist style and his hugely influential series of art instruction books have never been bettered. Long out of print, early editions of his books… Read More ›
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Recommended Reading: Andrew Loomis
Illustrator Andrew Loomis is revered amongst artists for his mastery of drawing technique and his clean, realist style and his hugely influential series of art instruction books have never been bettered. Long out of print, early editions of his books… Read More ›
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Are fantasy stories too scary for younger children?
Author Heather Flood has backed a warning given to parents not to read Harry Potter or other popular fantasy adventure books like her husnand’s recent book, The Secret Potion, to very young children. Quite honestly, this all sounds like a… Read More ›
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Project: Rooftop Announces "Fantastic Four: Fashion Forward" Redesign Contest
They’re the first family of comic superheroes, and the first truly nuclear family in history; they’re the Fantastic Four. Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee for Marvel Comics, the F.F. rang in their fiftieth year last year with Reed… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Pays Tribute to artist Bruce Cornwell (Volume 25, Number Two)
The latest issue of Eagle Times leads with a tribute to Dan Dare artist Bruce Cornwell, who died on 2nd March 2012. Summer 2012 Contents ‘The Hands of Gods’ – a look at how three talented artists, Frank Hampson, Ron Embleton… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Brockley (co)Max
Above: Sarah Gordon, Howard Hardiman, Simone Lia, Gary Northfield, Julia Scheele, Kieron Gillen, Woodrow Phoenix and Alex Fitch at Brockley Max In the last of Panel Borders series of shows about comic book communities around the UK, Alex Fitch talks… Read More ›