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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Peter Pan Crowdfunding Project Announced
Artist and writer Stephen White, also known as Stref’, has announced a crowd funding initiative to get his latest project, a full colour 96 page graphic novel of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, off the ground. “To me, Peter Pan is… Read More ›
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BD and Comics Passion Festival returns to London in May
I don’t know, you don’t have a comics gathering to go to and then three come along at once. In addition to the long-announced Bristol International Comic Expo (12th-13th May) and Kapow (19th-20th) in London next month, we’ve just had… Read More ›
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Killer Zombies set to storm London’s South Bank to promote comic launch
(via Mark Beer): Illustrator and comic artist Mark Beer has dropped us a line to tell us he’s collaborating on a digital zombie comic that will be promoted with a ‘Zombie Walk’ at the end of this month. Written… Read More ›
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Amanda Swan: The Hellfire Legacy From Rough Cut Comics
Glasgow based Rough Cut Comics have impressed before with their vampiric Rose Black and Rose Black: Demon Seed graphic novels. As part of the publicity for Rose Black, the company used British model Amanda Swan to portray the character of… Read More ›
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Wired Issue 1 Available From Emancipation Studios
Wired, the first title from new small press publisher Emancipation Studios is now available from their website. Based in West Lothian near Edinburgh, Emancipation is the brainchild of writer James Lundy who describes himself as a “lifelong fanboy”. Wired is… Read More ›
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2000AD blows into the Windy City
2000AD is making its first appearance at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend. The comics publishers say they are delighted to be working with Super-Fly Comics & Games, who are the event’s official 2000AD retailer. The Galaxy’s Greatest… Read More ›
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ROK Comics releases first iPad audio comic, Team MOBILE
ROK Comics, Britain’s dedicated mobile comics publisher, has published its first originated audio comic title for the iPad – TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. Featuring a fully authored audio soundtrack and its own theme tune, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the exciting story of teenage… Read More ›
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New Comics Talent Competition Reaches Final Pair in Eagle Awards
It’s time to make your voice heard as the two finalists of the Huntsman’s Challenge new comics talent competition go head-to-head to win a prestigious Eagle Award. Inspired by upcoming Universal Pictures movie Snow White And The Huntsman, the competition… Read More ›
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Blank Slate pride at Eisner award nomination for ‘Nelson’
Comic-Con International have announced that Blank Slate’s Nelson has been nominated for the Best Anthology honour in the 2012 edition of the the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Created by a team of 54 of the UK’s most prominent comic… Read More ›
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30 Years of the New Eagle
Thirty years ago last month, a new incarnation of one of Britain’s most famous comics burst on to the news-stands (ok, we’re a bit slow off the mark with this one, but the down the tubes office is a busy… Read More ›
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The Really Heavy Greatcoat: Jubilee
The Really Heavy Greatcoat is a cartoon strip I created with Nick Miller which either both or one of us occasionally get chance to re-visit. This is one of those occasions. Thanks, Nick! • More Really Heavy Greatcoats on the… Read More ›
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LCD Publishing launches Pony World
Pony World, a new six-weekly title from Exeter-based LCD Publishing (also publishers of Action GTX), goes on sale 13th April, priced £2.75.“Most young girls love ponies, but for many of them, the dream of owning one themselves is not a… Read More ›
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Egmont launches Monster High monthly mag
Egmont Magazines has just launched a new monthly title in the UK, Monster High, based on Mattel’s doll range. Priced £2.99, the magazine will also be launched internationally in all major retailers. The new title, licensed by Mattel, is aimed… Read More ›
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Paragon team release new Jikan collection
Indie comic creator Davey Candlish has announced the release of a second volume of Jikan stories, a character featured in Paragon comic. “It looks even better than Book One (as if that’s possible!),” he enthuses. Featuring nearly 90 pages of… Read More ›
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In Review: How to Interview Doctor Who, Ozzy Osbourne and Everyone Else
I really don’t have a bad word to say about this e-book, so… Here are five Reasons why you should buy How to Interview Doctor Who, Ozzy Osbourne and Everyone Else: This isn’t one of those ‘how to’ books written… Read More ›
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Ross, Hitch signing at Forbidden Planet to launch ‘Powers’
Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch will be launching their new comic America’s Got Powers (published by Image Comics) at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 14th April from 1 – 2pm. Welcome to America’s Got Powers!It’s the biggest TV… Read More ›
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The Rainbow Orchid Volume 3 About To Bloom
The third and concluding volume of Garen Ewing’s The Rainbow Orchid will be published tomorrow, Monday 2 April 2012 by Egmont UK. Marking ten years since the European ligne claire style mystery began in black and white in the small… Read More ›
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Brett Ewins’ MP makes statement on imprisoned artist
As Brett Ewins’ MP Steve Pound was getting rather swamped by people raising concerns about Brett’s case following the report by Tony Wright, comic creator ‘The Emperor’ offered to act as a go-between and forward updates to concerned parties (via… Read More ›