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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Bizarre Omen Bodes Well for Strip Magazine?
It’s a funny old world. This week, Print Media Productions launched their new comic magazine Strip, featuring reprints of the classic 1970s comic story Hookjaw, which features a shark with a hook stuck in its jaw as the main character…. Read More ›
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Angels – Immediate Launch!
Despite Captain Scarlet being over 40 years old, Spectrum remains green. Spectrum’s Angel aircraft, as featured in Gerry Anderson’s 1967 TV series Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons, remain popular enough to have two new merchandise releases before Christmas. Featuring in… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Jésus Blasco
The Illustration Art Gallery is spotlighting the work of the late Jésus Blasco this month, offering a 20 per cent discount on any orders of his original art, which includes pages of perhaps his best-known strip in the UK, The… Read More ›
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Cartoonist Steve English wins first ‘Tartan Bucket’ prize
Steve English with his‘Tartan Bucket’ Steve English has just been awarded the first Tartan Bucket Prize (named in honour of famous Scottish comics character Oor Wullie) organised by Dundee University in conjunction with D C Thomson. The aim of the… Read More ›
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Army photographer captures off duty moments of serving soldiers
In her forthcoming photographic exhibition, ‘Make Do and Mend’, award-winning Terriotorial Army Sergeant Alison Baskerville has captured images of many off duty moments for soldiers serving overseas in today’s combat zones. Sergeant Baskerville returned this summer from a tour… Read More ›
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Remembering Lis Sladen, aka Sarah Jane Smith
A bittersweet release
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Strip Magazine launches today in UK comic shops
Read Strip Magazine Issue 1 Sneak Preview by clicking here STRIP Magazine Issue One is available in British comics shops from today. The digital edition for iPad is also available and can be downloaded from the iTunes Store. The cost… Read More ›
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Dick Turpin returns to Time Bomb Comics
Time Bomb Comics has announced that their next release, Dick Turpin and the Crimson Plague, will be launched at the Leeds Thoughtbubble weekend of the 19th & 20th November, where the creative team will be conducting a mid-day signing session… Read More ›
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Email woes befall Northern Sequential Art Competition
If you have entered the Northern Sequential Art Competition the organisers have been in touch to say that they’ve had some email issues and may not of received your entry. They’re urging entrants to check their website on Wednesday 2nd… Read More ›
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Ladybird Art Exhibition At The Heritage Motor Centre
The Ladybird Big Book of Motor Cars Exhibition is currently on at the Heritage Motor Centre near Warwick. This exhibition includes over 120 Ladybird books plus more than 30 original pieces of Ladybird artwork alongside many of the vehicles which… Read More ›
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Titan releases Star Wars Comic digital sampler
Seeking to boost subscriptions to Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine, Titan Magazines is offering US fans a digital sampler of the title (but UK readers can view it, too). The title is packed full of incredible features about the… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine digital edition launches
STRIP Magazine Issue 1 may not be on sale in good UK comic shops until next week (Wednesday 2nd November) but the digital edition – which has the same cover price but obviously doesn’t include the giveaway Mirabilis poster –… Read More ›
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Keith Page steampunk creation ‘The Iron Moon’ goes digital
Britain’s dedicated mobile comics publisher ROK Comics, has just launched an iPad edition of the steampunk graphic novel The Iron Moon, a creator-owned comic story by acclaimed Commando comics artist Keith Page and film writer Stephen Walsh. Described as ‘Rorke’s… Read More ›
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Slow Toy Movement sets out challenge to Christmas shoppers
Is the ideal toy for your child this Christmas really a battery operated dog that poos?
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In Review: Commando 4439 – Big Mike
As Commando continues its 50th anniversary year, and its countdown to the reissue of number 1 in December, the current batch of Commandos reprints Big Mike, a story from 40 years ago and one of the earliest published comic strips… Read More ›
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Death Sentence for Dundee! (courtesy of Montynero and Mike Dowling)
Death Sentence is a five issue series by Montynero and Mike Dowling which debuts this weekend at Dundee Comics Day Described as “the best idea I’ve seen for a comic in years” and “Genuinely original,” by none other than Mark… Read More ›
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Commando: Two Exhibitions & Four New Issues
As the 50th anniversary year of the Eagle Award winning Commando continues apace, there are currently two different free Commando art exhibitions on in the UK. Dundee University has the Commando Battlelines exhibition while London’s National Army Museum has the… Read More ›
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In Review: The School Of The Damned Issue 1
Black Hearted Press is a new small press publisher in Glasgow run by names familiar to those who attended the Glasgow Comic Con during the summer. The School Of The Damned is their third comics title to be released. It… Read More ›