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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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 ›
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Digital 2000AD catches up with print edition
2000AD have announced that digital editions of its comics are now available within 48 hours of them hitting newsstands in the UK. In a major digital leap forward for the seminal British comic book, digital editions of 2000AD and its… Read More ›
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Dee-Con 2012 – Dundee’s Free Manga and Anime Convention
With most Scottish comics fans decamping this weekend for the Hi-Ex comics convention in Inverness, the next major Scottish event in the comics calendar will be the manga, anime and games convention Dee-Con at the University of Dundee Students Union… Read More ›
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Drokk track offered in new Megazine
The latest issue of the Judge Dredd Megazine (322) is on sale now with an exclusive downloadable track from a brand new album by Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and Emmy-nominated composer Ben Salisbury. DROKK is the pair’s ‘soundtrack’ for Judge… Read More ›
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David Lloyd’s ‘Kickback’ graphic novel arrives on the iPad
It’s the mask protesting about corruption and greed around the world, and its creator David Lloyd, the artist behind V for Vendetta, has just released an interactive graphic novel for the iPad addressing those very issues. “V for Vendetta was… Read More ›
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Latest Commandos Have A Chilly Theme
Just to prove Commando is read around the world here are four members of the British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012 reading Commando in Antarctica. They are (left to right) Lt Col Pete Davis, Surg Lt Simon Hornby RN, Major Justin… Read More ›
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CD Comics ‘Meadowhell’ reveals the true horror of shopping
Meadowhall Shopping Centre is located between Sheffield and Rotherham and is just like every other shopping mall – but independent comic company CD Comics has published a humorous Surreal Murder Mystery Graphic Novel on CD-ROM that has sold triple figures… Read More ›
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In Review: Turning Tiger Special Edition
Written by an Ulster man living in Scotland, drawn by an English woman, published by a Canadian company and set in small town America, Turning Tiger is quite the international collaboration. Originally published as a two issue mini-series, it has… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine #4 on sale next week
Good news at last from Print Media Productions. STRIP Magazine #4 has finally arrived in the UK and will be on sale in British comic shops next week. In the latest edition of the all-ages adventure anthology comic, which features a cracking… Read More ›
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Latest Spaceship Away features new Don Harley paintings
Issue 26 of the Dan Dare-inspired Spaceship Away is now at the printers and will soon be winging its way to subscribers and stockists. Along with the regular strips the issue features three new Don Harley paintings, including a fabulous… Read More ›