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.
-
Tharg the Mighty meets Dragons’ Den!
2000AD has just announced its first official convention portfolio session in years – culminating in a Dragons’ Den-style show off! 2000AD has teamed up with the annual Thought Bubble convention , which takes place in Leeds in November, to create… Read More ›
-
Commando Classics out this week – by Special Request of loyal readers
Four new Commandos go on sale tomorrow (Thursday) – a quartet chosen by readers as their best-remembered stories. “There were more than these ‘By Special Request’ suggested (far more!),” editor Calum Laird tells us, “but these came up again and… Read More ›
-
Forbidden Planet lines up comic signings for October
Paul Cornell is part of a triplesigning at FP Bristolon Friday 21st October Forbidden Planet London has lined up a month of great signings for October that includes a number of comic creators. Here’s the gen. All the events below… Read More ›
-
Classical Comics goes Chinese!
(with thanks to Clive Bryant and Jon Haward): Classical Comics adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, is to be re-published in China by its Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, along with a number of other titles from the successful range…. Read More ›
-
Will the new Moshi Monsters online channel give magazine further sales boost?
Moshi Monsters Magazine – produced by Britain’s Skyjack Publishing for the brand’s owners, Mind Candy – will get a further boost to its already-phenomenal sales with the arrival of Moshi TV, a new online channel. Describing the new channel as… Read More ›
-
Adult comic Poot back on the stands
If you want a magazine that comes out with clockwork regularity but doesn’t have many jokes, buy The Economist. If you want an irregularly-appearing magazine with jokes about flatulence, genitalia, going to the lavatory and other “grown-up” topics, buy Poot! … Read More ›
-
Web FInds: Someone Old, Some New
Art by Cliff Robinson (with thanks to Matt Badham): Many British comic characters may not be getting the exposure these days – who wouldn’t want to see new adventures of Steel Claw or Adam Eterno? – but thanks to the… Read More ›
-
SICBA Awards Exhibition In Glasgow
The successful first Glasgow Comic Convention, held at the Mackintosh Church Arts And Heritage Centre in Maryhill, Glasgow in June 2011, featured the presentation of the first Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards (SICBA) during its evening party. Winners included the… Read More ›
-
Rian Hughes brings British science fiction comics to Image
US publisher Image Comics will present Tales from Beyond Science, an outrageously pulpy collection of science fiction short stories in December in one hardcover volume, all drawn by Rian Hughes and written by some of Britain’s finest comic writers, including… Read More ›
-
STRIP Magazine Issue 1 Sneak Preview Online
Read Strip MagazineIssue 1 – Sneak Preview I’m delighted to let downthetubes readers know that a special sampler of STRIP Magazine Issue 1, Print Media Productions new British comics anthology, on sale from 20th October 2011 in all good UK… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: War – The Human Cost
Continuing radio show Panel Borders month about War Comics, they will broadcast a final panel discussion recorded at the ‘Comics and Conflicts’ conference at the Imperial War Museum in August tonight. Alex Fitch chairs a discussion on ‘The personal and… Read More ›
-
Sci-Fi and Superheroes at next month’s London Comic Con
A record number of artists and writers will be flocking to MCM Expo London Comic Con’s Comic Village next month – and the organisers have just announced that acclaimed American comic book writer Gail Simone and best-selling British science fiction… Read More ›
-
British comics on the UK news stand – where next?
Last week, I was contacted by two newspapers, the Sunday Times and the Independent on Sunday, to offer my views on the state of the British comic industry. Specifically, comics on sale in UK newsagents. The requests were prompted by… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: Three-panel Comics, Interviews, Reviews, Birthday Greetings and Fan Art!
(Above: a piece of fan art for Garen Ewing’s Rainbow Orchid by Sarah McIntyre.) Tube surf time again… • The Forbidden Planet International blog has really gone to town with their reviews of the DC Comics ‘52‘ re-boot (re-launch?) Here’s… Read More ›
-
Commando Webbing: Comics History, Interviews & Downloads
DC Thomson’s official Commando website has recently added a lot of content inspired by the Draw Your Weapons exhibition of Commando artwork at the National Army Museum in Chelsea. The entire section of the website is indexed here and, while… Read More ›
-
MCM Expo Expands Comic Village as Tables Sell Out In Record Time
MCM Expo London Comic Con is expanding its Comic Village area after tables for the 28-30 October show sold out in record time. Due to the massive demand, the Comic Village will now be enlarged by 50 per cent to… Read More ›
-
Rainey launches ‘Thunder Brother; Soap Division"
Some of you might have been wondering what talented comic creator Paul B. Rainey has been up to since finishing his highly-acclaimed There’s No Time Like The Present last year. Well now we know: its successor, Thunder Brother; Soap Division…. Read More ›
-
British Comics in the spotlight at 26th Helsinki Comics Festival
(With thanks to Paul Gravett): Britain is the guest country at this year’s Helsinki Comics Festival , which takes place this coming weekend. As part of this, Comica Festival is originating an exhibition ‘Great British Comics Nows’ spotlighting the festival’s… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: Midnight Openings, Shocking Twists and Some Ace New Comics
(Above: Sarah McIntyre doodling for charity.) Time for another tube surf… Richard Bruton of the Forbidden Planet International blog has posted a preview of Will Kirkby’s magnificent looking Tuk Tuk comic. See it here. Also at that blog, there’s the… Read More ›