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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Boffins and Burglars infiltrate Commando!
The latest issues of Commando are on sale now, and it’s intrguing to see how cover artist Janek Matysiak on #4464 and one of this set’s reprint issues, 4466, has changed styles with a move to digital art. Commando No… Read More ›
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New Dennis the Menace shows – and a musical – on the way
Ahead of tomorrow’s London Toy Fair, DC Thomson has announced a renewal of its partnership with leading content producer Red Kite Animations to co-produce the new series of Dennis and Gnasher. As The Beano begins the countdown to its 75th… Read More ›
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Weird Western set for release from Print Media
On sale from Prnt Media Productons at the end of this month is the the much-praised graphic novel Frontier: Dealing with Demons, an all-ages ‘Weird Western’ by Jason Cobley and Andrew Wildman. The Wild West… and Daisy Adams is suddenly… Read More ›
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Duncan Fegredo provides cover to latest Dark Horse Presents
The ace art of Duncan Fegredo graces the cover of the next Dark Horse Presents (#8), on sale 1st February. Fegredo’s British credits are of course extensive, including work for titles such as Crisis for Fleetway back in the 1980s,… Read More ›
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Comics @ Glasgow Film Festival
Last year the Glasgow Film Festival at the Glasgow Film Theatre brought writer Mark Millar on board to curate a comics creators and movies strand which included amongst others a talk by artist/writer Dave Gibbons and screenings of Luc Besson’s… Read More ›
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Blasé Books releases Pictorial Guide to British 1950s Sci-Fi and Horror Comic Books
(via Lew Stringer): Redditch-based Blasé Books have just released The Pictorial Guide to British 1950s Sci-Fi & Horror Comic Books. Designed by comics creator Mike Higgs, the 288-page full colour softback by comic historian Mike Morley (one of the contributors… Read More ›
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Is It Just Media launches free Robob title for schools
Surrey based independent publisher, Is It Just Media?, have announced the arrival of The Adventures of ROBOB, a new interactive magazine and trading card game aimed at primary school children which includes an element of contributed comic strip. The magazine… Read More ›
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British Comedy Conference seeks papers on comedy and comics
The organisers of the Sixth International Comedy Conference, which will take place later at the University of Salford have issued a Call for Papers. The theme for this year’s two-day conference is ‘Drawing The Line’ and the academic event aims… Read More ›
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Comica Conversation: Craig Thompson and Marcel Theroux
Graphic novelist Craig Thompson.Image via Paul Gravett The first Comica Conversation of the year takes place in London next week: a chance to meet and chat with Craig Thompson, hailed for his graphic novels Blankets and Habibi, and novelist and… Read More ›
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Tim Perkins takes you to Worlds End
Before you read this story, let me first declare an interest: I have known the publisher and comic creator of this stunning new book,Tim Perkins, for many years, since my time at Marvel UK. I know how he and his… Read More ›
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Johnny Red: Red Devil Rising!
Continuing the adventures of Britain’s best-loved aerial combat pilot, Johnny Redburn, Titan Books releases Johnny Red – Red Devil Rising at the end of the month in the UK (27th January). This is the second hardback volume reprinting the classic… Read More ›
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Cardiff Comic Expo line-up revealed
Ticket sales for this year’s Cardiff Comic Expo next month (25th-26th February) are booming – and are expected to increase further with publication of the event’s schedule, outlined in full below. In addition to the event itself, show producer Mike… Read More ›
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Totally Merlin confuses some fans – and us!
A spell of confusion about the latest Merlin magazine works a treat on readers – and us!
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Breaking into Comics – some quick tips
The first unassuming cover by Matt Binghamfor the comics zine that helped meget into comics publishing. Subscribersincluded Alan Moore.Download a cbr of the issue Regular readers will be aware, we hope, that our main downthetubes site features some guides to… Read More ›
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Ronald Searle’s art collected – in Germany
Fans of Ronald Searle, the doyen of the cartoon, who died recently, might want to check out the German Museum of Caricature and Drawing
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In Review: The Phoenix Issue 1
It feels like a long time since the last issue of The DFC appeared – although The DFC Library books have been reminding us what that title was like and, with the Etherington Brother’s Baggage, what it might have continued… Read More ›
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Post Office celebrates British Comics
Britain’s Post Office is celebrating what it’s defined as “75 Years of British Comics” with a special issue of stamps featuring the covers of various much-loved comics, including 2000AD and The Beano. Set to be released on 20th March 2012,… Read More ›
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Happy New Commandos!
Here are the details of the first batch of Commandos for 2012. Invasion Watch, one of the new stories this tim around, is the first part of a three-instalment story featuring the men of Britain’s Home Guard, many of whom… Read More ›
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Eagle Awards nominations open
The nomination round for the Eagle Awards 2012 is now open. Introducec in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established awards. Acknowledged as the pre-eminent international prizes, they have been featured on the covers of leading US and… Read More ›