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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WebFind: New official Gerry Anderson web site preps for Go
A new official website is in the works for the late, great Gerry Anderson, with a launch page in place inviting interested fans to sign up. The Gerry Anderson Legacy site is simply described as “GerryAnderson.co.uk is the new home… Read More ›
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Anthology Three to be released at Dundee Comics Expo
An anthology of work from aspiring comic and graphic artists from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) will be launched on Saturday the 30th of March at the Dundee Comics Expo, wrapped in an all-new cover by… Read More ›
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Self Publisher Magazine interviews Spandex creator Martin Eden
The latest free issue of Self Publisher! Magazine is out now – a US based title devoted to the creation of independent comics but one that regularly features British creators talking about their craft . “Issue 63 has a lot… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with postmodern webcomic creators, including Paul O’Connell
Panel Borders: Collage and reappropriation Continuing a month of shows looking at webcomics, Panel Borders examines the work of a quartet of creators whose online strips and cartoons reinvent retro images and iconic characters from film and TV to beguiling… Read More ›
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‘Marshal Law: The Deluxe Edition’ Signing at Gosh announced
Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill will be signing copies of Marshal Law: The Deluxe Edition at London’s Gosh! Comics in London on Saturday 20th April, 2-4pm. This whopping 480-page collection been a long time coming. Since it began in 1987… Read More ›
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downthetubes Forum Maintenance Next Week
We need to perform some simple but necessary maintenance on the downthetubes British Ciomics forum, which is powered by Ning, on Thursday 28th March 2013 between around 0500-0800 GMT. During this time, all Ning Networks will be offline and will… Read More ›
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Modesty Blaise Comic Challenge drawing to a close, deadline extended
Today is intended to be the last day for our Modesty Blaise Comic Challenge – but we’ve decided to extend it until Monday 25th March, 12 noon GMT, just in case there any more entries artists had almost completed between… Read More ›
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World War One Layman’s Guide and App released
Is it possible that a 20-year-old, internationally successful Greek footballer doesn’t know what a Nazi salute looks like? Is it time to ‘just move on’ and teach young people about more recent historical events such as the advent of… Read More ›
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Prisoners of Time: An Interview with artist Mike Collins
British comic creators are heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations for their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which launched in January with a First Doctor story drawn by Simon Fraser and continued with a Second… Read More ›
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BCExpo eXclusive charity prints by Ian Gibson
The Bristol Comic Expo – back on 11-12th May 2013 at Brunels Old Station, Bristol – is publishing a series of “Expo eXclusive” charity prints and the latest is by the long running comic festival’s special guest Ian Gibson, who… Read More ›
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Showmasters plan ‘Independents Day’ events to promote British indie press
Showmasters, who run the London Comic Marts at the Royal National Hotel, have announced a number of ‘Independents Day’ events through 2013. The aim is that there will provide a platform for the independent press and celebrate their work. The… Read More ›
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War Drama ‘The Trench’ Digs Deep
As the centenary of World War One looms, the true story of a miner trapped in a tunnel during the conflict is being be told at theatres across the UK. The Trench is an award-winning play which achieved a… Read More ›
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Lou Scannon becomes a Fad Deity!
The latest issue of Eagle Award nominated sci-fi/comedy comic Lou Scannon is now available. ‘Fad Deity’, by Jim Bampfield, Dan Harris and Kris Carter, shows the adventures of a lone office lackey, who (due to bizarre circumstances) comes to worship… Read More ›
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Zarjaz Postcards released
Judge Dredd by Alex Ronald New from FutureQuake Press and only available in a limited quantity are the first set of high quality art cards from ZARJAZ, the 2000AD-inspired comic created by fans of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. Featuring Judge… Read More ›
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Call for Papers: Contemporary Uses of Fairy Tales
Melissa Leons – hunting fairies incontemporary culture Doctor Melissa Lenos, an Assistant Professor of English at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, is inviting submissions for an edited collection of essays on contemporary uses of fairy tales in popular culture…. Read More ›
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In Review: Hit-Girl
By Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.Publisher: Titan BooksOut: NowWarning: Contains swearing and extreme violence. Not for younger readers The Book: Hit-Girl spins off into her own blood-soaked saga in this prelude to the Kick-Ass 2 film. Mindy McCready tries… Read More ›
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Dave Gibbons ‘Whaat’ art challenges Lichtenstein’s dubious ‘legacy’
Watchmen artist and co-creator Dave Gibbons was interviewed on a recent BBC TV documentary about the Pop Art painting ‘WHAAM!’ by Roy Lichtenstein, which is currently on show in a major retrospective at Tate Modern, London. Gibbons was probably the… Read More ›
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2013 British Comic Awards Committee confirmed
Plans for the second annual British Comic Awards are well underway — so here’s a reminder that you can nominate titles for consideration by the BCA Committee via the Awards Nomination Form or on the BCA home page. The… Read More ›
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In Review: Dead Space – Liberation
By Ian Edginton and Christopher ShyPublisher: Titan BooksOut: NowWarning: Contains violence and swearing – not for younger readers The Book: Following the events of the video game Dead Space 2, we follow Earthgov Sergeant John Carver whose wife and son… Read More ›