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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Thought Bubble convention to publish charity anthology
(Spotted on Broken Frontier): This year sees the Leeds Thought Bubble Festival (14th-20th November) celebrate its 5th birthday, and to mark this momentous occasion they’ll be publishing the first ever Thought Bubble Comic Anthology. On sale in October, the comic… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Garth Ennis’ Battlefields
Starting a month of shows about war comics on radio show Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to award-winning writer Garth Ennis about his interest in the genre, from the backdrop of conflict in his debut strip Troubled Souls to his… Read More ›
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Fight to remember the fallen in Wirral
23-year-old Helen Dodd has started an online petition and a Facebook group to save a war memorial field dedicated to fallen World War One soldiers, including Birkenhead war poet Wilfred Owen. The field on Ingleborough Road in Birkenhead and thought… Read More ›
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Western Front Association launches First World War imprint
A new imprint to encourage the publication of First World War information has been established by The Western Front Association, in partnership with Tommies Guides. Reveille Press will enable Association members to have their work published rapidly, efficiently and cost-effectively,… Read More ›
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ROK Comics launches teen secret agent comic
ROK Comics, Britain’s dedicated mobile comics publisher, has just launched its first originated comic title – MISFITS FROM M.O.B.I.L.E.
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British comic creators unite for charity in "Nelson"
Time for another plug for Blank Slate’s Nelson project. The publishers have just announced announce the complete line-up for the book, which a graphic novel project that will see all profits going to Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity. Seeking… Read More ›
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Comic Art Module launches soon at Jordanstone
A module which looks at historical and contemporary comic art practices and will include visits by top British comic creators is due to commence at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design at the University of Dundee this month…. Read More ›
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Wild about Jennifer Wilde
On sale now from Irish independent publisher Atomic Diner is the first issue of a three-part series Jennifer Wilde, written by Maura McHugh (from a story by Rob Curley & Maura McHugh) with art, lettering and covers from Stephen Downey…. Read More ›
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New comic shop to open in Perth
Perth’s only comic book and collectables store, Venganza, will have its grand opening on Saturday 10th September and with loads of special offers on throughout the weekend and loads of freebies and prizes, owner Brendan Dalton promises it’s going be… Read More ›
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It’s Ace! Dalek comic art for sale
Rummaging through my loft I came across this page of art from Marvel UK’s 1993 Doctor Who Year Book by Lee Sullivan – a strip I edited while editor of Doctor Who Magazine. It really needs a better home than… Read More ›
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Al Davison seeks suport for new graphic novel project
Comic artist Al Davison (creator of critically-acclaimed The Spiral Cage and his new book, Hokusai: Demons) has dropped us a line about his campaign on the global funding platform Indiegogo to raise £4000 to print his new graphic novel, The… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Gosh! It’s Electric Man!
Concluding radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at comic book shops, later today Alex Fitch talks to Josh Palmano and Andrew Salmond, the proprietors of Gosh! Comics in London which, after 25 years, has relocated from Great Russell… Read More ›
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Flesh: The Dino Files on its way
Think the dinosaurs became extinct after an asteroid hit Earth 65 million years ago? You couldn’t be more wrong. Saddle up, check your six-shooters and prepare for life in the Cretaceous as Flesh: The Dino Files collects together 35 years… Read More ›
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Are falling sales bad news for The Dandy?
The Dandy’s sales figures have taken a tumble
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Eagle comic author’s biography released by Fantom Films
Fantom Films has just published Auntie’s Charlie, the autobiography of BBC radio presenter, writer and producer Charles Chilton, creator and writer of Eagle‘s successful Riders of the Range strip as well as the classic science fiction radio series Journey into… Read More ›
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In Review: Commando Calendar 2012
I’ve got into something of a routine with Commando calendars enjoying using one for a year and then not having one available to me the next year. The first one(s) came out in 2006 for use in 2007. Bizarrely there… Read More ›
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New Crikey! special available
(Updated 27/8/11): The popular Crikey! fanzine (which takes a nostalgic look at classic British comics) may no longer be available as a print publication but the editors have just released a new special (comprising over 100 pages) which is available… Read More ›
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In Review: Wuthering Heights
By Emily BrontëAdapted by Sean Michael Wilson (script), John M. Burns (Art), Jim Campbell (Letters)Publisher: Classical ComicsOut: Now:The Book: Emily Brontë’s only novel is famous the world over and is the favourite classic of many readers. It is easy to… Read More ›
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Captain Clevedon: a local comic for local people!
Kev F. Sutherland is the latest creator to join a number of talents who are publishing what I can suppose can be described as ‘hyperlocal comics’ – titles with a strong connection to one part of the UK, available, for… Read More ›
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Draw Your Weapons! New Commandos are on sale now…
The latest issues of Britain’s only monthly war comic, Commando, are on sale now – and along with those comes details of the Draw Your Weapons exhibition at the National Army Museum, which includes a number of special events, listed… Read More ›