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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Email woes befall Northern Sequential Art Competition
If you have entered the Northern Sequential Art Competition the organisers have been in touch to say that they’ve had some email issues and may not of received your entry. They’re urging entrants to check their website on Wednesday 2nd… Read More ›
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Ladybird Art Exhibition At The Heritage Motor Centre
The Ladybird Big Book of Motor Cars Exhibition is currently on at the Heritage Motor Centre near Warwick. This exhibition includes over 120 Ladybird books plus more than 30 original pieces of Ladybird artwork alongside many of the vehicles which… Read More ›
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Titan releases Star Wars Comic digital sampler
Seeking to boost subscriptions to Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine, Titan Magazines is offering US fans a digital sampler of the title (but UK readers can view it, too). The title is packed full of incredible features about the… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine digital edition launches
STRIP Magazine Issue 1 may not be on sale in good UK comic shops until next week (Wednesday 2nd November) but the digital edition – which has the same cover price but obviously doesn’t include the giveaway Mirabilis poster –… Read More ›
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Keith Page steampunk creation ‘The Iron Moon’ goes digital
Britain’s dedicated mobile comics publisher ROK Comics, has just launched an iPad edition of the steampunk graphic novel The Iron Moon, a creator-owned comic story by acclaimed Commando comics artist Keith Page and film writer Stephen Walsh. Described as ‘Rorke’s… Read More ›
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Slow Toy Movement sets out challenge to Christmas shoppers
Is the ideal toy for your child this Christmas really a battery operated dog that poos?
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In Review: Commando 4439 – Big Mike
As Commando continues its 50th anniversary year, and its countdown to the reissue of number 1 in December, the current batch of Commandos reprints Big Mike, a story from 40 years ago and one of the earliest published comic strips… Read More ›
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Death Sentence for Dundee! (courtesy of Montynero and Mike Dowling)
Death Sentence is a five issue series by Montynero and Mike Dowling which debuts this weekend at Dundee Comics Day Described as “the best idea I’ve seen for a comic in years” and “Genuinely original,” by none other than Mark… Read More ›
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Commando: Two Exhibitions & Four New Issues
As the 50th anniversary year of the Eagle Award winning Commando continues apace, there are currently two different free Commando art exhibitions on in the UK. Dundee University has the Commando Battlelines exhibition while London’s National Army Museum has the… Read More ›
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In Review: The School Of The Damned Issue 1
Black Hearted Press is a new small press publisher in Glasgow run by names familiar to those who attended the Glasgow Comic Con during the summer. The School Of The Damned is their third comics title to be released. It… Read More ›
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Channel 4 launched The Thrill Electric web and mobile comic
Channel 4 Education has announced details of its launch of The Thrill Electric – a 10-part enhanced comic series written by Leah Moore and John Reppion, designed by Emma Vieceli, illustrated by the all-female comic book studio Windflower and produced… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine launch set for 2nd November
Read Read Strip Magazine Issue Zero Read Strip Magazine Issue 1 – Sneak Preview STRIP Magazine Issue 1 will now be on sale in UK comic shops from 2nd November. Diamond Comics have confirmed delivery of the delayed shipment from… Read More ›
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Guest Post: Challenging Attitudes towards Comics
Paul Register Paul Register is a school librarian at Ecclesfield School, Sheffield and organiser of the Stan Lee Excelsior Award for graphic novels and manga aimed at 11-16 year olds created in partnership with the Stan Lee Foundation, dediciated to… Read More ›
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In Review: Eagles Over The Western Front Volume 3
Steve Holland’s Bear Alley Books brings the World War One story of Royal Flying Corps pilot Harry Hawkes to a conclusion in Eagles Over The Western Front Volume 3. It is 1917 and America has entered the war but for… Read More ›
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2000AD launches ‘Creator Interviews’ ebook
2000AD has launched its first ebook collection of interviews with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry. This first collection includes a three-part interview with the co-creator of Judge Dredd, Carlos Ezquerra, as well as pieces on… Read More ›
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Classics Illustrated on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 FM are broadcasting a 30 minute documentary looking at seventy years of the American comicbook series Classics Illustrated on Tuesday 25 October 2011 at 1130. As the first issue, The Three Musketeers, was originally published in October… Read More ›
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Dundee Commando exhibition open
A quick reminder about the Commando exhibition in Dundee Jeremy Briggs gave an advance plug for last month, which has now opened, in advance of Dundee Comics Day on 30th October. Marking the 50th anniversary of Commando, It’s in the… Read More ›