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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In Review: The Art and History of The Dandy
This book by Morris Heggie is an absolute treat for Dandy fans
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Panel Borders: Big Questions
Starting a month of shows about anthropomorphic comics on radio show Panel Borders – comics about animals with human attributes – Alex Fitch talks to American cartoonist Anders Nilsen about his epic 658 page graphic novel Big Questions. The book,… Read More ›
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Morris Heggie talks digital future for Beano, Dandy?
Phil Shrimpton, Beano and Dandy collector – as featured by BBC News Phil-Comics Auctions (www.phil-comics.com) is the brainchild of Brighton-based Phil Shrimpton who has a large collection of Beano and Dandy comics and started trading them through the website. The… Read More ›
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David Lloyd’s Aces Weekly, digital comic – details announced
(Updated 4th August): Bambos Georgiou, the editor of David Lloyd‘s new digital comic, has been in touch with more news about the project featuring an amazing line up of creator-owned strips. “The on-line magazine is called Aces Weekly,” he reveals…. Read More ›
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Quentin Blake to lead next ‘Comica Conversation’
The next Comica Conversation in London brings two giants of children’s books and graphic novels together for the first time ever for conversation and live drawing – Australian Oscar-winner Shaun Tan and Britain’s former Children’s Laureate Quentin Blake (and yes,… Read More ›
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Women in Comics project gets European face
A number of women comic creators have set up a European arm of the Women in Comics project, with a public page on Facebook and a private group for further discussion of the industry. Set up by comics journalist Laura… Read More ›
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Top Shelf and Knockabout announce Alan Moore’s ‘Unearthing’
Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout Comics have just announced a project several years in the making: a sumptuous new book from Alan Moore, serving as a biography of his close friend and mentor Steve Moore (no relation), a history of… Read More ›
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Second International Alternative Press Festival this weekend in London
The Second International Alternative Press Festival is upon us – and here’s a run down of all the events taking place this weekend in London… Thursday 2nd August 6pm – 9pm: Lamb’s Conduit Street Exhibitions: Private View 11 Shops, 13… Read More ›
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Get set for Dredd – the movie
Here’s the a new promotional poster for the new Judge Dredd movie starring Karl Urban, due in UK cinemas on Friday 17th September. The future. America is an irradiated wasteland. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC… Read More ›
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Caption 2012 – The Countdown Begins…
Limited Edition Caption T-Shirt available now, ordering details below This year’s Caption small press and comics festival in Oxford is only 17 days away! Guests include: Hannah Berry, Richy K. Chandler, Jade Sarson, David O’Connell, Al Davison, Hunt Emerson, Patrice… Read More ›
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Comix Reader event to open International Alternative Press Festival
This Friday (3rd August) sees the launch of The Comix Reader Issue #4 at Gosh! London. The free event, which starts at 7.00pm, includes an exhibition of original artwork from the issue and you can chat with some of the… Read More ›
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Timelord Talbot!
When artist Bryan Talbot, creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and Grandville was recently honoured Northumbria University with an Honorary Degree, friend and fellow creator Al Davison couldn’t resist a bit of fun at the expense of a new… Read More ›
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Planet of the Apes Zine Free Online
A new issue of the popular UK Planet of the Apes fanzine, Simian Scrolls, along with some of the previous issues, is available to download free online. Edited by John Roche, the summer 2012 issue (issue 17) is available here… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Resident Aliens / Caption podcast with Brown and Duffield
Panel Borders: Resident Aliens In this week’s episode of Panel Borders on Resonance 104.4 FM (London), the last of our series of shows about comic book creators who collaborate together, Alex Fitch talks to Steve Parkhouse and Peter Hogan about… Read More ›
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Alphablocks, new Phonics pre-school title launched
Immediate Media, the company now publishing many former BBC Magazines along with new titles such as Rastamouse, has just launched another pre-school title. Alphablocks magazine aims to help the growing number of parents who want to support their child’s reading… Read More ›
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Titan launches augmented Awesome Animals app for new magazine
Titan Magazines has partnered with Aurasma – the world’s leading augmented reality platform – to launch the first kids augmented reality app for its new magazine, How To Draw #1… Awesome Animals. How To Draw… Awesome Animalsmagazine explains to kids… Read More ›
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Digitally Infinity! Panel Nine releases iPad-based comics magazine
Digital graphic novel publisher Panel Nine has launched a free preview issue of INFINITY — a new magazine devoted to digital graphic novels and comics. The magazine contains a roundup of digital comics news, features and reviews delivered via Apple’s… Read More ›
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Photographer Rich Hendry’s ‘Legends’ exhibition superhero inspired
The latest London exhibition by top photographer Rich Hendry takes its inspiration from superheroes and Greek gods. Titled ‘Legends’ the exhibtion opens at The Great Eastern Bear gallery next month, the photographs included the result of an intense three week… Read More ›
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Craig Collins’ Forever Foes assembles wicked Scottish talent
Everyone seems to be getting in on the children’s book market these days… Madonna, Katie Price, Idi Amin and many more. And, just as they stretched their respective talents beyond pop music, brutal repression and other accomplishments Glasgow-based comic creator… Read More ›