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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London’s Comiket is back – bigger and bolder than ever!
London’s Comiket is back on 20th April 2013 – and the Comica Festival-organised event has a new and much bigger venue. This year, they’ve teamed up with Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design to stage the biggest and… Read More ›
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Comic Classics in the Spotlight – 2000AD
By Matthew Charlton (re-published with permission from thefictionstroker.wordpress.com) 2000AD is one of the UK’s leading weekly comics. It has been publishing for 36 years now. The anthology approach and cast of colourful characters have been crucial to its longevity. Snarky… Read More ›
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Free Dundee Comics Expo on 30 March
The first Dundee Comics Expo will be opening its doors to the public in two week’s time at 11am on Saturday 30 March 2013 and entry to all its talks, workshops and sales rooms will be free. Held in the… Read More ›
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Robbie Morrison, Jim Murray’s ‘Drowntown’ saga launches in June
(with thanks to Simon Fraser): Jonathan Cape will publish the first volume of Drowntown by Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray in June. The creators describe the series as “an epic adventure set in a flooded futuristic London that hurls down-at-heel… Read More ›
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Dungeons, Air Aces and Phantoms – It’s your latest Commandos!
Four new Commando comics went on sale today in all good newsagents – and actually, their distributions seems to be improving, as we’ve spotted them in several new places recently. Here’s the low down on the stories… Commando No 4583:… Read More ›
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Harvey Awards nominations open
The Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con have just released the official Nomination Ballot for this year’s Harvey Awards, honouring work published in the 2012 calendar year. Named in honour of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with James Moran and VS Comics creators
Panel Borders: James Moran Vs Comics Continuing a month of shows about webcomics, Alex Fitch talks to screenwriter James Moran (Cockneys vs Zombies, Torchwood) about his new webcomic Day + Night, an urban vampire tale that casts the creatures of… Read More ›
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2000AD’s Greatest Covers under the spotlight
It’s been setting the newsstands ablaze with pulse-pounding covers for 36 years and now 2000AD is teaming up with one of its biggest fans to bring you the Galaxy’s Greatest Covers. Long-term fan Pete Wells of 2000AD Covers Uncovered and… Read More ›
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Comics Forum announces ‘Death and the Superhero’ event
Comics Forum has announced the second event in its ‘Comics Forum presents…’ series. José Alaniz, author of Komiks: Comic Art in Russia, guest author for the Comics Forum website and the current chair of the executive committee of the International… Read More ›
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10 Questions: Comics Writer Benjamin Read
Benjamin Read writes comics and makes films. He wrote the True Grit and Super 8 comic adaptations, and also wrote and produced the films Warhouse and 500 Miles North. He is also one of the founder members of the Improper… Read More ›
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72nd World Science Fiction Con to celebrate ‘Diversity in Speculative Fiction’
The academic programme at Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention which will be held in London next August at the Excel, is offering the opportunity for academics from across the globe to share their ideas – including their… Read More ›
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Standby For… Andersonic 15
The latest issue of the independent Gerry Anderson fanzine, Andersonic, is now out. Issue 15 includes – Tony Harding interview – a new interview with Century 21’s Effects Assistant on Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Secret Service and UFO. Tony talks… Read More ›
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Interview: Bringing Comics to the Classroom
Digital comics are pushing boundaries on many fronts, but one British company is pushing them into the classroom, aiming to harness the timeless appeal of comics to create a uniquely engaging learning tool. The first Comics in the Classroom projects… Read More ›
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London’s Orbital Comics to host Des Taylor exhibition
Orbital Comics has announced an exhibition of limited edition art prints and sketches by British illustrator DesTaylor will open at their Central London store later this month. Born and bred in Tottenham, London with a passion for comic book and… Read More ›
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Dennis the Menace, Daleks and Darth in Cover of the Century poll
Dennis the Menace, Daleks and Darth Vader rub shoulders with other memorable magazine covers in a new poll celebrating 100 years of the Professional Publishers Association – Britain’s trade organisation representing more than 200 publishing-related companies. The PPA Cover of… Read More ›
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Scar Comics bring back Roger Mason’s Mice
Now available from Scar Comics is the new sci-fi graphic novel from acclaimed bande dessinée and 2000AD artist Roger Mason. Featuring the giant alien factory Order Nine, The Mice graphic novels tell the story of the remnants of humanity who… Read More ›
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Panel Nine releases Terry Wiley’s VerityFair on iPad
Panel Nine, digital publishers of Eddie Campbell’s Dapper John and The Certified Hunt Emerson, and has just released their iPad edition of “unheralded star” Terry Wiley‘s VerityFair. A slightly twisted soap opera with the merest dash of X-Files, VerityFair tells… Read More ›
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Steampunk Radio with Panel Borders
Panel Borders: Steampunk Geniuses Continuing a month of shows looking at webcomics, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of a popular online steampunk strip that combines Victoriana, mad scientists, fantasy and strong female characters. Phil and Kaja Foglio discuss the… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero launches ‘Art Masters’ series with Rembrandt bio
SelfMadeHero are to release a graphical biography of the world’s greatest portrait painter, Rembrandt, in April, produced in association with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The biography from Dutch illustrator Typex presents an unique colourful account of the great artist’s life… Read More ›
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Artist Colin Andrew: A Tribute by Syd Jordan
As we reported earlier this week, veteran comic artist Colin Andrew recently passed. Here, Syd Jordan pays tribute to this unsung artisan of British comics (and much more)… An episode of Jeff Hawke: Overlord. Jeff Hawke © Daily Express ENVOI… Read More ›