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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Cardiff Comic Expo moves dates for 2013
Last month, the UK hosted two Comic Conventions, one in Cardiff and the new Super Con in London…. on the same weekend. The clash clearly had an impact on numbers and the range of creators attending each, and now it… Read More ›
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Comics Forum launches "scholar directory"
Today sees the launch of a new resource on the Comics Forum website. The scholar directory provides information on the biographies, research interests, conference papers and publications of scholars researching comics from around the world. The site runners tells us… Read More ›
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Something Old, Something New: Niche Comics, Huntingdon
At a time when high street retail is proving challenging – to say the least – it’s good to hear of a new British comic shop opening. Niche Comics is a shop selling the latest in Comics, Books and games… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Bruce Cornwell
It is with sadness that we have to report that artist Bruce Cornwell passed away on Friday 2nd March 2012. Bruce was best known to fans of British comics as one of the original Dan Dare artists in Eagle in… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Ralph McQuarrie
We’re sorry to report the passing of SF visionary Ralph McQuarrie, aged 82.Along with artists such as Chris Foss, Roger Dean, Frank Bellamy and Mike Noble, Ralph McQuarrie’s singular vision was another influence in my love of SF art that… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Ralph McQuarrie
We’re sorry to report the passing of SF visionary Ralph McQuarrie, aged 82. Along with artists such as Chris Foss, Roger Dean, Frank Bellamy and Mike Noble, Ralph McQuarrie’s singular vision was another influence in my love of SF art… Read More ›
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Paul Rainey’s Thunder Brother: Soap Division returns
Not a dream, not a hoax, not a shameless boast that creator Paul Rainey hopes if enough people believe will come true; his marvllous web strip Thunder Brother: Soap Division returns in a new story called The Two Ronnies this… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Laura and Mike Allred – Pop Art Comics
Starting a month of shows about iconoclastic American comic artists, Panel Borders Alex Fitch talks to husband and wife art team Mike and Laura Allred about their work together from their long running Madman comic, to X-Statics and I, Zombie…. Read More ›
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New Comical Animal released in the wild (web, that is)
Happy Kitty Spa Holistic Day Spa, by Gemma Correll (with thanks to Matt Badham): The latest online edition of Comical Animal is online now, a diverse compendium of animal-inspired comic strips and cartoons. Released quarterly, Issue 7 includes tributes to… Read More ›
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Horrible Stuff coming from Eddie Campbell!
Top Shelf and Knockabout are to co-publish Eddie Campbell’s new book The Lovely Horrible Stuff!, a delightful autobiographical voyage into the financial wilderness, ranging from the imaginary wealth of Ponzi schemes to the all-too-tangible stone currency of the Micronesian island… Read More ›
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New Scientist launches digital SF magazine
Arc, a new magazine about the future has just been launched by the publishers of New Scientist. Edited by Simon Ings, author of acclaimed genre-spanning novels The Weight of Numbers and Dead Water, Arc explores the endless vistas opened up… Read More ›
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2000AD, STRIP and CLiNT nominated for Eagle Award
Which comic rocked your world last year? Which writers and artists really stood out from the crowd? The final round of voting is now underway for the 2012 edition of the Eagle Awards, so now’s the time to head on… Read More ›
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Neil Gaiman short story part of World Book Day app line-up
A short story by comic creator Neil Gaiman is among the work by several authors being offered as part of a free World Book Day App, available now from iTunes for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The App features six… Read More ›
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Warren Ellis film makers plan Image Comics documentary
Publishers Sequart and Respect Films, makers of films about comic creators such as Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis, have launched Kickstarter campaign to help fund their next documentary project charting the history of Image Comics. Image was originally founded in… Read More ›
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Lee Townsend joins Middle East Comic Con guest list
2000AD artist Lee Townsend is to be one of the first guests announced for the first Middle East Film and Comic Con (20th & 21st April 2012) at the Dubai International Marine Club. The event, first mooted last year, has… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From Scripting and Art Droid David Baillie
Name: David Baillie Currently working on: I’ve actually just this second finished a new script for 2000AD, which was as much fun as it always is. (I still occasionally pinch myself to check that the last few years haven’t just… Read More ›
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London Super Comic Convention: Pros and Cons
Alan Woollcombe reports on the first London Super Comic Convention, held at the Excel Centre this weekend, which had a guest line-up that included Stan Lee (seen above, meeting and greeting, video from BleedingCool), George Perez and other comic creators… Read More ›
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Blackfriars set to chill
The year is 793 AD. Savage, heathen armies from the north invade Northumberland, for today is the day of the viking, but the night… The night belongs to something else. Now available as a free PDF download, Blackfriars is a… Read More ›