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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‘League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ exhibition invades Europe
An exclusive “selling exhibition” of art from Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen saga opens later this month in various continental locations. In close collaboration with Alan Moore, acclaimed writer of Watchmen, From Hell and V for… Read More ›
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Steampunk Magazine Collected
Fans of SciFi Art Now, which includes a chapter of steampunk art, might be interested in this colected edition of SteamPunk Magazine, comprising Issues #1-7. Bound in this 432-page, lovingly designed anthology released by the collectively-run publisher Combustion Books, the… Read More ›
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Doctor Who costunes, rare Dalek art for sale at Bonhams
Up for auction at Bonhams: The evening suitworn by Matt Smith in The Big Bang A collection of 37 costumes from recent episodes of Doctor Who are being offered by Angels The Costumiers in the Entertainment Memorabilia auction on Thursday… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine #2 digital edition now on sale
The iPad-only digital edition of STRIP Magazine #2 is now on sale from iTunes – again in advance of the print edition. Due to a small but unexpected delivery delay from Bosnia, the print edition will not be on sale… Read More ›
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Judge Dredd takes on Zombies in new App Game
Fuse Powered Inc. and Rebellion, the owners of 2000AD, have just released Judge Dredd vs. Zombies for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. In Judge Dredd vs. Zombies, players are the Law, taking on the role of one of the world’s… Read More ›
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Paragon Issue 9 now on sale
The enthusiastic creative team producing the indie title Paragon have a new issue on sale, available from lulu.com for only 99p. Paper copies are also available from there for those outside the UK, and for those within these shores, click… Read More ›
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Canny Comic Con comes to Newcastle
(with thanks to Bryan Talbot): Next Saturday, 10th December, Newcastle hosts its first comic convention for 16 years. The Canny Comic Con is an all day event at Newcastle City Library and entry is free. Comics, comic strips, comic books,… Read More ›
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Keith Page reveals sequel to "London Calling"
Ace artist Keith Page continues to tease his loyal fans with more of his work over on his blog, this time revealing a part scan of the cover for Squadron of the Screaming Damned, the sequel to one of his… Read More ›
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Hammer Films launches ‘Print on Demand’ site
Hammer Films has launched an official print-on-demand online store today, featuring iconic UK quad artwork from legendary horror titles including The Mummy, One Million Years B.C. and The Devil Rides Out. The store features high-quality reproductions of UK quads from… Read More ›
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Merlin magazine will return – but no date set
Who will take on the Merlin tie-in magazine?
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PJ Holden signing in Belfast this Saturday
PJ Holden – artist on Strip Magazine‘s Black Ops Extreme – will be doing a signing at Forbidden Planet International Belfast (facebook link) this coming Saturday 3rd December between 1.00 and 3.00pm. In addition to Black Ops Extreme, PJ’s credits… Read More ›
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Mohawk Media announces Dick Turpin project
Publisher Mohawk Media has announced the release of a preview issue of its upcoming project, starring history’s most notorious masked highwayman, Dick Turpin. Not to be confused with Time Bomb Comics similar-sounding title (see news story), the issue is available… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: The Danger of Romance
Concluding a months of shows about genre in comics, Panel Borders Alex Fitch talks to writer and manga translator Sean Michael Wilson and lecturer and author Ian Rakoff about romance comics this Sunday. Sean is the editor of AX Volume… Read More ›
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In Review: Thought Bubble 2011
Comics writer Cy Dethan was one of many creators at this year’s Thought Bubble event in Leeds earlier this month and has kindly agreed to let us post his thoughts on the vent on downthetubes, first published on his own… Read More ›
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Beano, Dandy go digital via Apple’s ‘Newsstand’
DC Thomson have announced The Dandy and The Beano have just gone digital through Apple’s recently-launched Newsstand service, with The Beano currently in the Top Ten in the service’s charts First published in 1937 and 1938 respectively, the two national… Read More ›
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Raising Amy Signing Event In Edinburgh
“She’s armed, she’s dangerous, and she’s a proper Scottish ginger nutcase! Just be thankful she’s not yours!” is how Markosia describe Stref’s child character Amy who is about to appear in her first book Raising Amy: Born To Be Wild!… Read More ›
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Comic Creators And Cake In Edinburgh
Graphic Scotland is launching the first of a series of events in Edinburgh to bring together comics writers and artists. Comic Creators And Cake will take place in the Pulp Fiction bookshop on the evening of Wednesday 30 November 2011,… Read More ›
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Planet Replicas extends 2000AD merchandise line with new keyrings
Can’t find your Lawmaster keys? Keys to your hab have gone missing? Well, these problems are no more! Feel the envy of all of Mega City One with the first of a range of new, high-quality 2000AD keyrings from Planet… Read More ›
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In Review: Memorabilia NEC 2011
Comics and sci-fi merchandise aplenty were on sale at the Memorabilia event at the NEC Birmingham over the weekend of 19th and 20th November. An impressive range of guests from sci-fi and other classic programmes and films included Arthur Darvill… Read More ›