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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London SuperCon announces fourth wave of guests
The London Super Comic Convention, running 23rd – 24th February 2013, has just announced a fourth wave of guests at the event, joining names such as Neal Adams, J Scott Campbell and Brian Bolland previously announced. The latest comic creators… Read More ›
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Lion: King of Picture Story Papers From Bear Alley Books
Steve Holland of the Bear Alley blog is just about to release Lion: King Of Picture Story Papers, the second of his updated comics indexes available from Bear Alley Books. Lion was a weekly boys adventure comic published by… Read More ›
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Titan launches creator-owned comics line
Titan Comics goes big in 2013 – with original, creator-owned series by new and world-renowned talent. Titan Comics is the bold new imprint from the London-based world-leading publisher – offering the best original creator-owned comics alongside new and classic graphic… Read More ›
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How will you support International Book Giving Day?
14th February 2013 offers not only the opportunity to line the pockets of card companies with absolutely no capacity for commissioning good romantic verse – it’s also International Book Giving Day. This year, the organisers – determined to promote books… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures at 300: An interview with artist John Ross
downthetubes catches up with an exceptional comic artist
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Paragon back with twelfth jam-packed issue
Issue 12 of the long running indie British anthology comic Paragon is on sale now from lulu.com and sees the return of Jikan the time-travelling, demon-hunting Japanese warrior Dirk Van Dom and El Chivo, along with Li’l Ganesh and his… Read More ›
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Dandy Events At The National Library Of Scotland
To tie-in with their free Treasures exhibition on The Art And History Of The Dandy which runs until 3 February 2013, the National Library Of Scotland (NLS) are holding two free Dandy related events. The first, on Wednesday 9… Read More ›
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Bringing V for Vendetta to the stage: an interview with Dean Thackeray
Daniel Thackeray as V. Photo: Laura Evans V for Vendetta is writer Alan Moore and artist David Lloyd’s seminal comic series from the 1980s. The story depicts a near-future police state in which a Fascist party called Norsefire hold power…. Read More ›
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Phoenix launches digital edition on first birthday
If you haven’t sampled The Phoenix – the lively weekly childrens comic aimed at 8-12 year olds that sprang from the ashes of The DFC – then those of you who have or were given shiny iPads for Christmas are… Read More ›
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World War One comics anthology plan mooted
British comics fan Jonathan Clode has launched an appeal for contributions to an anthology to mark the outbreak of World War One next year – and has already got creators on board willing to contribute. In a posting to… Read More ›
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Strontium Dog and Sweeney Todd nominated for Stan Lee-backed award
The shortlist for the 2013 Stan Lee Excelsior Awards has been announced and includes two British titles – Strontium Dog : The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha and Classical Comics’ Sweeney Todd – alongside several overeseas projects. Created by… Read More ›
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Talbots scoop Costa Award for “Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes”
Mary Talbot‘s Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes has won the biography section in the 2012 Costa Book Awards. Drawn by husband Bryan Talbot, the award has delighted the couple, who The Guardian reports have known about their win for some… Read More ›
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IDW celebrates 50 years of Who with ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series
British comic creators look set to be heavily involved in US publisher IDW’s Doctor Who at 50 celebrations with Simon Fraser and Lee Sullivan among the artists involved in their ‘Prisoners of Time’ maxi series, which launches this month. ‘Prisoners… Read More ›
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Sun drops “Shadows”, “Striker” return rumoured
(Updated 9th January) In a story that echoes the final days of Pete Nash’s Striker comic strip, The Sun newspaper has decided to drop its vampire-inspired Shadows saga on Friday, leaving creator Kevin Richter little time to wrap the current… Read More ›
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Eagle Times reaches 100th issue (Volume 25, Number Four)
The 100th issue of Eagle Times, the journal of the Eagle Society, is available now. In the issue: PC49 and the Case of the Christmas Ornament – a seasonal short-story featuring radios (and Eagle‘s) police hero, from the radio stories by Alan… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Shaqui le Vesconte
This week, a scant eighth of the way into the 21st century that had already been mapped out for many children – and adults – we lost a true icon of British television and film. The hallmark of Gerry Anderson’s… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Adventures arrives on iPad, iPhone
(Updated, #300 info corrected): Immediate Media has just released Doctor Who Adventures for iPad and iPhone, bringing the junior Who comic magazine to digital devices. The title reaches its landmark 300th issue this week. Described as “the ultimate magazine for… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Peter Greenwood
When we lose a personality of any kind, there is always a outcry for this loss, but in this case the loss is so much more personal to an entire generation of adults and children alike. Gerry Anderson, who passed… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Marcus Hearn
My sorrow at the passing of Gerry Anderson has been eased a little by the glowing tributes that appeared across the British media. The television and newspaper obituaries presented a warm, if understandably reductive, view of his remarkable career. However,… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Gerry Anderson
Everybody has heroes. Some people create them. One man who created them for me as I grew up as a kid in the 1960s was Gerry Anderson, aided by his not inconsiderable team behind the Supermarionation shows such as Captain… Read More ›