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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Manga Jiman 2012 Competition Results
First prize winners, Sara Ferreira and Gisela Martins. Photo: Embassy of Japan The results of the Manga Jiman 2012 Competition were announced at a reception held at London’s Embassy of Japan on 8th February. The major manga-writing competition, now in… Read More ›
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More 2D Comics Festival Guests announced
Following up on our recent post about the 2013 2D Comics Festival, Northern Ireland’s largest ever comics event has just announced several guests set to appear when the long-running annual comic event returns from 30th May – 2nd June in… Read More ›
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Will Simpson art in focus at W5, Belfast
Will Simpson at the W5. Photo: W5 Centre The work of Will Simpson is the focus of an exhibition at Belfast’s W5 Centre until 28th April 2013, highlighting the work of this internationally-known artist, whose career began in comic strip… Read More ›
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Marc Jackson’s ‘Man from Space’ lands online
Marc Jackson, one of the team at Macclesfield-based design agency Creative Hero, has just launched his Man from Space web comic – an all-ages, all-awesome (hopefully) outer-space adventures of a intergalactic hobo and his smart-mouthed sidekick Michael… the Goldfish. “It’s… Read More ›
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2000AD announces 2013 graphic album range
2012 was a truly zarjaz year for 2000AD – and the next 12 months looks set to be even better with the announcement of their graphic novel collections schedule for the UK and Ireland. With 19 titles collecting stories of… Read More ›
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SelfMadeHero gets set and goes with ‘The Murder Mile’
Legendary athlete, Sir Roger Bannister runs for his life as a comic book hero in a new graphic novel from SelfMadeHero – The Murder Mile. In 1954, the world-class runner took part in a number of heats prior to his… Read More ›
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IDW offers limited edition Bolland Dredd collection
IDW Limited has announced the launch of Judge Dredd: The Complete Brian Bolland, the first of a series of deluxe hardcover editions as part of their of the Judge Dredd reprint program. Featuring signatures from top Judge Dredd talent and… Read More ›
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Titan Comics to publish Spurrier and Holden’s ‘Numbercruncher’ in colour
Titan Comics has announced it will publish Numbercrucher in July a creator-owned series by writer Si Spurrier and artist PJ Holden, first seen in Judge Dredd Megazine – but now being re-published in full colour. To be launched on 10th… Read More ›
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2D Festival to host William Simpson art exhibition
Game of Thrones storyboard art by William SimpsonRead an interview with Will about his work on Game of Thrones on the official production blog here (Updated 14th February): 2D, The Northern Ireland Comics Festival, returns in 2013 for a special… Read More ›
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Thunder, Thunder, Soap Division Ho!
The fourth issue of Paul Rainey‘s comic Thunder Brother: Soap Division is available to order from this fab creator now. Just like the previous three issues, copies of which are still available, it features a complete Thunder Brother: Soap Division… Read More ›
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Nominations open for 2013 British Comic Awards
The nomination process for the 2013 British Comic Awards is now open and you can suggest your favourite titles for consideration by the Awards Committee here on the BCA web site. The Committee welcomes input and suggestions from anyone and… Read More ›
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Dead lie Waiting for Midlands Comic Con!
From a metal band’s new comic to the galaxy’s most bad ass bounty hunter to two of the best new games to come out of Japan, this Saturday’s MCM Midlands Comic Con at Telford International Centre comes jam-packed with geeky… Read More ›
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Romance in Infinity: latest issue highlights Ilya’s classic strip
The latest issue of INFINITY, the free digital comics magazine from our sponsor Panel Nine, is out now. iPad and PDF versions available, although the PDF version has less functionality than the news stand app. This third issue includes the… Read More ›
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Radio interviews with Michael Chabon and Matt Fraction
Panel Borders: The amazing adventures of Fraction and Chabon Continuing a month of shows looking at the connections between sequential art and literature, Alex Fitch talks to writers Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon about their friendship, reading experiences outside of… Read More ›
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Judge Dredd seeks the Judge Child in new collection
2000AD continues its popular run of pocket-sized black-and-white reprints of Judge Dredd classics with The Judge Child – as the lawman leaves Earth on an intergalactic mission to save Mega-City One! When Justice Department’s oldest psychic has a terrifying vision… Read More ›
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Striker creator Pete Nash still hopes for TV series
Pete Nash, creator of the long-running football strip Striker for The Sun newspaper, still has hopes the strip will jump from the printed page to TV. Answering fans questions on the StrikerWorld forum (membership required to view), Pete, who successfully… Read More ›
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Creating Indian Comics: An interview with Campfire’s Jason Quinn
Jason Quinn may not be a name familiar to many of our readers, but trust us, you’ll be hearing more from him in the coming year. Progressing from comic writer to editor, to TV and back to comics, he’s a… Read More ›
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Graphic Novels! Melbourne! UK Premiere Screening!
Following its European premiere at the 40th Angoulême International Comics Festival, the brilliant new documentary movie Graphic Novels! Melbourne gets its UK premiere in London on Wednesday 13th February, at a special Comica Festival screening, supported by the Australian High… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine publisher announces March relaunch date
STRIP Magazine is heading for the UK news stand at last – with a launch date of 28th March 2013. While the move to get the magazine into WH Smiths and other stores has been delayed several times, Bosnian-based comics… Read More ›