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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Self Publisher Magazine spotlights artist Adam Grose
While the latest issue of Self Publisher Magazine – a free e-publication devoted to indie comics – is dominated this time out by US creators, it does include an extensive interview with British illustrator, writer and comic artist Adam Grose,… Read More ›
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Lee Sullivan continues work on ‘Minister of Chance’
Lee Sullivan’s “The Horseman” poster for The Minister of Chance. © Minister of Chance Comic artist Lee Sullivan, whose latest published comics work is Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #2 from IDW (read our interview), has dropped us a line… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Dalek Designer Raymond Cusick
We’re sorry to report the passing of Raymond Cusick, designer of Doctor Who‘s Daleks, and we thank Nick Abadzis for giving us permission to reproduce his visual tribute, posted on his blog earlier today. While editing Doctor Who Magazine some… Read More ›
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Marshal Law: Twilight’s Last Gleaming
Top talent Pat Mills has just sent us this ‘trailer’ for the upcoming DC Comics Marshal Law collection, on sale in April… BEHIND THE MASK… Secrets. Secret identities. Secret lusts. Secret hates. The dark and sordid world of Superheroes. Pull… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with Martin Rowson and Mike Carey
Panel Borders: Updating the classics Concluding a month of shows looking at the connections between comics and books, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of authors who have used graphic novels and comics to update classic literature. Mike Carey discusses his… Read More ›
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New Blake and Mortimer game released
Fans of Blake and Mortimer, the bande dessinees adventure saga published in the UK by Cinebook, may be interested to know a new PC game based on their adventures is now on sale. Explore, enjoy and think is the key… Read More ›
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Prisoners of Time: An Interview with artist Lee Sullivan
(Updated 25/2/13): British comic creators will be heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations for their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which launched last month with a First Doctor story drawn by Simon Fraser. ‘Prisoners of… Read More ›
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Comic Empire annexes London ABC Show
Fans of British comics will be delighted to learn that an event catering to their particular needs is returning to London on a regular basis. Such has been public demand following its successful restaging of the dormant ABC Show last… Read More ›
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Jeff Keen talk at Brighton Museum
Tim Pilcher, founder member of the Comic Book Alliance, will be giving a talk on Jeff Keen, how comics influenced his work and how he, in turn, influenced (or at least foresaw) the future of comix, this Saturday (23rd February)… Read More ›
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BD&Comics Passion Festival launches comics competition for young artists
Calling all comics devotees: the BD & Comics Passion Festival is back at London’s Institut Français 30th May 30th to 2nd June, with workshops, live drawing, concerts and movies galore are on the agenda, with some of the greatest writers… Read More ›
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Aces Weekly heads for the London SuperCon
Progenitor by Phil Hester & John McCrea, which featured in Aces Weekly Volume 1 Aces Weekly – www.acesweekly.co.uk – the exclusively digital weekly comic art magazine that’s packed with talent from around the globe – is just one of many… Read More ›
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Soldiers of Song
Readers of Charley’s War will recall writer Pat Mills often referenced songs from the period during the telling of the story. The seeds of irreverent humour that inspired the likes of Wayne and Shuster and Monty Python were sown… Read More ›
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Thought Bubble announces 2013 dates, first guests
Thought Bubble 2013 icon by Alice Duke Leeds-based Thought Bubble has just announced that this year’s festival will run from 17th – 24th November, in conjunction with the 27th Leeds International Film Festival, and the comics convention, a regular feature… Read More ›
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Comics and graphic novels in the Resonance FM charity auction
Resonance FM, the London based radio station which Panel Borders is broadcast from, is currently running a fundraiser that’s going on until 21st February. The Arts Council funding of the station only goes so far (and no programme makers, including… Read More ›
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Dan Abnett signing at Maidstone’s No Man’s Land
Comics writer, author and Primary Clone Dan Abnett will be at a signing to promote a move of premises for Maidstone games shop No Man’s Land next Saturday (23rd February). An independent gaming shop, No Man’s Land is, Dan tells… Read More ›
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Radio show with David Hine, Mark Stafford and Catherine Anyango
Panel Borders: Darkness and inhumanity in literature Continuing our month of shows about comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a trio of graphic novelists about adapting classic 19th century novels as sequential art. In a panel discussion recorded at… Read More ›
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King Richard III goes manga
With the discovery of his body in Leicester last year, interest in the often-much maligned King Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England, is at something of a fever pitch. The latest temporary exhibition at the Bosworth Heritage Centre… Read More ›
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Tripwire seeks Kickstarter funding for 21st anniversary project
In 2013, Britain’s logest-running comics and genre magazine Tripwire celebrates its 21st birthday and, to commemorate, publisher and editor is planning to publish a must-buy book. Tripwire has been Britain’s only features-driven comics and genre magazine which has published since… Read More ›
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Elephantmen enjoy some Sleeping Partners
The latest issue of British comic creator Richard Starkings smashing science fiction strip Elephantmen (#46) features art by Bulletproof Coffin artist Shaky Kane in the fourth installment of the ‘Sleeping Partners’ storyline. Published by Image Comics. the issue tells the… Read More ›
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Heritage Auctions heads for London Super Con
Heritage Auctions, the US-based leading collectibles auctioneer, will once again be exhibiting at the London Super Comic Convention, with company staff on hand to talk with potential consigners, bidders and other interested parties. “Consignments of comics and comic art will… Read More ›