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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2012 London International Creative Competition extends deadline for entries
The London International Creative Competition is inviting all visual artists to submit their creative work for inclusion in the London Creative Awards, which has a top prize of £2000. The artwork is juried by a board of internationally esteemed artists,… Read More ›
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London International Creative Competition extends deadline for entries
The London International Creative Competition is inviting all visual artists to submit their creative work for inclusion in the London Creative Awards, which has a top prize of £2000. The artwork is juried by a board of internationally esteemed artists,… Read More ›
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Doctor Who / The Dandy / Elephantmen in discussion on the radio
Squeezing in a trio of radio appearances on 104.4 FM and elsewhere before Resonance FM runs a three week repeat schedule while the studio is refurbished, Alex Fitch is covering a variety of subjects over the weekend… Clear Spot: Out… Read More ›
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The Dandy’s digital move: media reaction
The news of The Dandy‘s move to digital publication has prompted a huge flurry of news stories across various news media outlets. While most simply parrotted the official announcement made by DC Thomson about their plans (some playing up claims… Read More ›
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Mike Carey first announced major guest for Malta Comic Con 2012
Wicked Comics the organisers of the annual Malta Comic Convention and the promoters of comic culture world wide, has announced British comic creator Mike Carey as their first guest to the forthcoming Malta Comic Con which this year is going… Read More ›
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ROK Comics expands its audio comics range
ROK Comics has announced the expansion of its audio comics range, with Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Houdini now on sale for iPad, iPhone and Android devices – and many more titles in the works. All ROK Comics titles deliver great comic content,… Read More ›
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Dandy to go digital, says DC Thomson
DC Thomson have just tweeted their official statement regarding the fate of The Dandy – and as expected for weeks, it’s not good news for fans of the print edition, with the comic ending its physical existence (bar annuals)… Read More ›
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Mike the Knight – Immediate Media’s latest kids title
Immediate Media is to launch Mike the Knight magazine on 29th August 2012, an educational children’s title aimed at children aged 3-5 years, based on the hugely popular CBeebies TV programme of the same name. This new title – joining… Read More ›
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‘Little Death’ gets London launch
In case you haven’t heard, Soaring Penguin Press is holding a launch party for its latest book, Little Death, the creation of Thomas Kriebaum. Originally published in Germany and Austria as kleiner Tod, the book has sold well and is… Read More ›
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Cancertown creeps back to scare readers again
We can no longer protect you…
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STRIP Digital Issue 5 available for iPad
The digital edition of STRIP Magazine #5, published digitally by ROK Comics on behalf of Print Media, is now on sale from iTunes for £1.99. This digital edition of the anthology comic features many of the stories that appear… Read More ›
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Ultimate Spider-Man huge UK ratings success for Disney XD
While British comic publishers may be feeling the future is rather bleak, with rumours of The Dandy‘s impending closure providing a major news story for media outlets as diverse as Radio 4, ITN News and Al Jazera this week, comic… Read More ›
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Dundee Comics Prize competition returns with superhero theme
In 1944 The Dandy introduced a home-grown British superhero – The Amazing Mr X, who appeared in 14 instalments between 1944 and 1945. Drawn by DC Thomson staff artist Jack Glass, the The Amazing Mr X made a brief reappearance… Read More ›
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Asterix game in the works
A new browser-based game based on the hugely popular Asterix series created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny is in the works. Already one of the best-known comic series in the world with thousands of UK fans, the new browser-based… Read More ›
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Is it all over for The Dandy?
Desperate Dan by Jamie Smart, who comments on the title’s possible demise on his blog here National newspaper The Guardian has reported that DC Thomson may be considering an end to The Dandy, with its sales slipping away despite numerous… Read More ›
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Liquid Comics creates Guy Ritchie’s ‘Gamekeeper’ Motion Comic
Gamekeeper, an original, motion comic series launches exclusively today, 14th August on Yahoo! Screen, the ultimate video destination and produced by Liquid Comics, a digital media company that specializes in creating digital graphic novels. The motion comic is a motion… Read More ›
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Olympics don’t bring the gold for London’s Cartoon Museum
London’s Cartoon Museum has seen visitor numbers drop by 40 per cent over the past eight weeks. The Museum has now announced it’s extending its opening hours in the hopes of boosting visitor numbers. A combination of events have reduced… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Joe Kubert
A comics legend has, sadly, passed
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New Disney exhibition spans 90 years of company’s incredible history
Here’s a gem for California-based or California-bound Walt Disney fans: an exhibition of 500 artifacts from nearly nine decades of the company’s history – over 50 per cent of which have never been seen by the public – including models,… Read More ›