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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Warren Pleece signing new book 25 years in the making
This coming Saturday, the 8th of December, British comics dude Warren Pleece (one half of the Pleece brothers) will be at Gosh! Comics in London, signing copies of his new book The Great Unwashed – a hardcover anthology 25 years… Read More ›
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Bonhams to auction off Sarah Jane’s ‘Figaro’ car
Bonhams upcoming Entertainment Memorabilia sale, to be held next week on Wednesday 12th December, will include an array of props, posters, costumes and related memorabilia from legendary science fiction movies and television shows including Alien, Superman, Star Wars, Blake’s 7,… Read More ›
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The Rainbow Orchid Supplement Now Available
The Rainbow Orchid Supplement, the latest publication in Garen Ewing’s world of The Rainbow Orchid, is now available from his webstore. This is a ‘DVD extras’ style publication acting as a bonus for Rainbow Orchid fans that Garen has published… Read More ›
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Dandy Exhibition and Talks at Dundee University
This Saturday coming, 8th December 2012, the University of Dundee University will be holding an opening event for their latest comics exhibition which will celebrate the 75th birthday of DC Thomson’s Dandy. The exhibition will look back over the Dandy’s… Read More ›
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Out of the Blue: "Thunderbirds" Shane Rimmer features on new solo album
If you have a Transformers, music and Gerry Anderson fan in your circle who you’re seeking a Christmas present for, then you might be tempted by Rob Cottingham’s solo album Captain Blue, which is not only a great sounding album… Read More ›
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New One-Eyed Jack / Valiant Fanzine Available
Hibernia Books, who have previously published licensed reprints of 1980s IPC strips Doomlord from new Eagle and The 13th Floor from Scream, are back with a fanzine about the IPC comic Valiant entitled One-Eyed Jack And The Death of Valiant…. Read More ›
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WebFind: The Eagle Annual Information Site
Eagle fan Ian Hartas has created an in-depth guide to the long-running Eagle annual over at www.EagleAnnual.info. The Eagle Annual Number 1 was launched in 1951 for the year 1952, building on the success of the comic which had been… Read More ›
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Hudnall, Mayverik deliver ‘Blue Cat’ for Aces Weekly
This stunning promo piece by Val Mayerik is for a new strip, Blue Cat by James Hudnall, appearing in the next issue of the digital comic Aces Weekly (acesweekly.co.uk) this month (December). In the story, Cindy Sparks is a 16… Read More ›
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Costa Award Nomination For Dave Shelton
When the shortlists for the Costa Book Awards (formerly the Whitbread Book Awards) were announced complete with their two graphic novels, Dotter Of Her Father’s Eyes by Bryan and Mary Talbot and Days of the Bagnold Summer by Joff Winterhart,… Read More ›
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Belfast Comics Fayre (Updated)
The “family fun day” event is run by Avalon Arts, a collective organising workshops, alternative and craft fairs and music performances. The site is a good one: Haymarket Arcade is located at the bottom of the central Royal Avenue, about… Read More ›
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Opinion: Women in Comics (Again)
Sugar Glider by Sarah Dunkerton Comics writer and editor Richmond Clements is fed up with people saying there aren’t enough women working in comics. Here’s why… Yet again, at this year’s Thought Bubble comic festival, we had another Women in… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away 28 Available In Time For Christmas
Spaceship Away, the A4, full colour glossy magazine that covers original Dan Dare as well as a selection of other classic strips, has released issue 28 in time for Christmas. Priced at £7.95, including UK postage, the 44 page issue… Read More ›
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Call for Papers: Comic Empires: The Imperialism of Cartoons, Caricature, and Satirical Art
The Rhodes Colossus: a caricature in Punch, published in December 1892, by Linley Sambourne of Cecil John Rhodes, after he announced plans for a telegraph line and railroad from Cape Town to Cairo. A group of academics has put out… Read More ›
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On the trail of Erin Starfox
Writer-Artist Will Jarvis has just launched his new sci-fi novel Erin Starfox on Kickstarter, illustrated science fiction that’s just a little different. “It’s not a comic or graphic novel exactly, but it shares some elements of that form,” Will told… Read More ›
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Titan Magazines readies Matt Hatter Chronicles title for New Year
There’s been good news for fans of TV show The Matt Hatter Chronicles in the past couple of weeks, as the show’s success continues to grow. New Zealand’s TVNZ recently picked up the CGI HD animated boy-targeted series for its… Read More ›
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On the trail of Erin Starfox
Writer-Artist Will Jarvis has just launched his new sci-fi novel Erin Starfox on Kickstarter, illustrated science fiction that’s just a little different. “It’s not a comic or graphic novel exactly, but it shares some elements of that form,” Will told… Read More ›
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Dog delight from comic creator Smuzz
Check out this wonderful picture book for kids, by 2000AD and Crucible artist Smuzz
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Plaything Of Sutekh Issue 2 Now Available
The new issue of Doctor Who fanzine Plaything of Sutekh, edited by Richard Farrell and John Connors, is now available to order. Featured in the 40-page, colour covered A5 fanzine are: Five Star! A look at 2012’s new episodes, which… Read More ›
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In Review: Charley’s War Volume Nine
By Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun Publisher: Titan Books Out: Now The Book: In this explosive new ninth volume of never-before-collected comic strip, including for the first time reproductions of original artwork from artist Joe Colquhoun’s archive, things are looking… Read More ›