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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Re-staging Halo Jones: the inside story
When the Forbidden Planet International blog heard that there was going to be a new stage version of Halo Jones produced at the Lass O’Gowrie pub in Manchester (a spot already well known to local science fiction and comics… Read More ›
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Chris Foss Comic Strip?
(with thanks to Bill Storie): Everyone knows veteran artist Chris Foss as the man who draws amazing spaceships – and whose art has inspired many an illustrator down the years. But did you also know one of his first commissions… Read More ›
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The Really Heavy Greatcoat Review of the Year 2011
The Really Heavy Greatcoat by myself and Lancaster-based artist Nick Miller most recently appeared in Comics International, after being published for many years in alternative Lancaster titles such as On The Beat and Off the Beat and online on virtual-lancaster.net…. Read More ›
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Devil’s Heritage joins STRIP Magazine line-up
Here’s the cover to Issue 3 of STRIP Magazine, on sale in UK comic shops next month. The Devil’s Heritage is a new strip to the title, by Jerome Felix and Paul Gastine and the comic magazine’s first ongoing story… Read More ›
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Halo Jones stage play poster
Here’s the poster for the new Ballad of Halo Jones play at the Lass O’Gowrie in Manchester which we plugged recently. The art is by Adrian Salmon, who’s been a regular contributor to Doctor Who Magazine for many years, and… Read More ›
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Merry Christmas – Don’t Eat Too Much!
As you sit down to your Christmas dinner, or alternatively are recovering from it, we couldn’t resist showing you this illustration of a Christmas meal in Tudor times taken from The Stories Of Our Christmas Customs which was first published… Read More ›
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The Best of the Season to all our Readers!
Unlike the talented comic artists whose work we promote here, I can’t draw for toffee, so I hope you don’t mind this adaptation of a piece of art by the great pulp magazine artist Virgil Finlay. Have a Merry Christmas… Read More ›
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Last Commandos of 2011 go on sale
The last four Commandos of the year are now on sale, and the veteran title sees off its 50th aniversary year with another batch of great stories old and new – and what a year it’s been for the title…. Read More ›
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Get The Phoenix for Christmas!
The cover of Issue 1 of The Phoenix If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas present for the youngr comic fans in your family, The Phoenix – the new weekly comic launching in January – would be an present… Read More ›
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"first fictions" Graphic Novel competition shortist announced
A Rat’s Tale by Adam Blackman & Dylan Shipley: one of the shortlisted entries. It’s based in modern Britan and aims to warn young people about the hazards of ‘drug use’ and ‘addiction’ Myriad Editions has announced its shortlist for… Read More ›
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Multiverse comic magazine heads for America
It’s the magazine I, Vampire writer Joshua Hale Fialkov hails as “beautifully designed, with a modern, smart sensibility about mainstream comics that’s been missing from print comics journalism for a long time” — and Multiverse will be available in the… Read More ›
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Dan Dare art up for sale on eBay
A page of Dan Dare artwork from the original Eagle is currently up for sale on eBay, on offer from American comics creator and editor Scott Dunbier. The art is a page from the story The Phantom Fleet, first published… Read More ›
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Put some dinosaurs in your Christmas!
Here’s something that might make for a great last minute stocking filler – Dinohistoria, a different, fun and entertaining, educational card game for all the family. Dinohistoria has 56 playing cards, each with an illustration licensed by the Picture Library… Read More ›
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Age of the Wolf set to return to 2000AD
The claws are out for the return of post-apocalyptic werewolves series, Age of the Wolf, to 2000AD early next year. Lycanthrope-hunting heroine Rowan Morrigan is to return to the weekly comic in February 2012 in Age of the Wolf: She… Read More ›
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2000AD lined up for London Super Comic Convention
2000AD is to attend the country’s newest comic book convention, the inaugural London Super Comic Convention will take place at the Excel Centre in London on 25th-26th February 2012. Many of the guests are some of the biggest names to… Read More ›
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Comics Forum 2011 interviews online
(with thanks to Norman Boyd): MP3s of some of the talks from Comics Forum 2011 are now available for download from the website at http://comicsforum.org. Nearly two hours of free audio content features creators such as Ian Williams (Graphic Medicine),… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine #2 on sale now in the UK
STRIP Magazine #2 is on sale now in all good UK comic shops, including many offering mail order. STRIP Magazine Issue Two, the first comics title from Print Media Productions, features a Hook Jaw cover by Rufus Dayglo, which has… Read More ›
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John Ryan exhibition in Rye
For anyone venturing to the south east corner of England there’s an exhibition of Captain Pugwash creator John Ryan‘s work at Rye Art Gallery until mid February 2012. John Ryan, the author, illustrator and animator, who died in 2009 in… Read More ›
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New Eagle Times released (Volume 24 Number Four)
The latest issue of Eagle Times – Volume 24 Number Four – is now available from the Eagle Society. Contents include: From Under the 1950s Christmas Tree, Pepys Card Games – a seasonal look at the numerous Pepys games, which… Read More ›
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British ‘My Favorite Martian’ strips to be reprinted
Martian madness on the way!