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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American Illustration, Comics, and Animation Conference announced
What is the future of illustration studies? What can comics scholars learn from animation studies and vice versa? Do illustrated books or graphic novels resist the supposed obsolescence of the book? What do pictures want (now)? These and related questions… Read More ›
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Cam Kennedy sketchbook on sale from Atomik
Open publication – Free publishing – More Cam kennedy 2000AD artist Cam Kennedy‘s eyesight is fading and means, sadly, it is unlikely we’ll see many more new comics from him, so it is important to treasure whatever art from him… Read More ›
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The Dark Newt Rises – in The Dandy!
Watch out, folks – there’s a new superhero in town… well in The Dandy, anyway, as Lew Stringer brings the Dark Newt to the weekly comic next week. “This is the first time I’ve solely created a character for The… Read More ›
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Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide digital edition released
Since 1970, only one comic book price guide has been dubbed “the Bible” for casual and die-hard collectors alike of US comic books. While others have come and gone, the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has maintained its stature as… Read More ›
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Former Radio 1 DJ Recalls Time with Roy of the Rovers
On the day Chris Moyles has announced he is finally leaving Radio 1, another BBC DJ has recalled his time as a comic characters in Roy of the Rovers in 1990. Den of Geek have interviewed Simon Mayo about his… Read More ›
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Stan Lee Excelsior Award 2012 Winners announced
The full results of the Stan Lee Excelsior Award 2012 can now be revealed! This award for graphic novels is fully endorsed by The Stan Lee Foundation and the School Library Association. Seventy seven UK schools took part this year… Read More ›
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Artist seeking artists for charity comic
Brain aneurysm survivor Siike Donnelly is aiming to share his love for comic books, and his writing ability, to recruit artists for a very personal project that he hopes will save more lives like his. 30-year-old Siike (Seek) Donnelly, an… Read More ›
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Fanfare, Knockabout Comics and K9 team up for San Diego!
The annual pilgrimage that is San Diego Comic-Con has begun anew for many creators and British-Spanish publisher Ponent Mon/Fanfare has dropped us a line to tell us about lots of interesting products they’ll have at the show from a host… Read More ›
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Team Girl Comic Issue 5 Kicks Off
Back in May, Glasgow’s Team Girl Comic collective began a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money to publish issue 5 of their title. Their target was $1000 (Kickstarter being a US site) and, remarkably, they reached it in five days… Read More ›
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London Film and Comic Con 2012
Crowds gathered at Olympia, London from 6-8th July for another hugely successful London Film and Comic Con. High-profile TV and movie guests included Bernard Cribbins, Freema Agyeman and John Simms from Doctor Who, Gillian Anderson from The X-Files, Gates McFadden and… Read More ›
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Comic Creators voice protest to proposed UK copyright law changes
(Updated 9/7/12 with comments from various creators about the plans) Comic creators are raising concerns about changes afoot to copyright law in the UK, effectively stripping away long held rights and potentially handing the handling of your copyrighted creations to… Read More ›
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Com.X promotes Monster Myths at San Diego
Publishers Com.X will be promoting a number of their innovative and eye catching projects at San Diego, including the recently-released Monster Myths written by John Lupo Avanti and Chester Westward, drawn by Avanti. Alfredo, a recovering felon turned working stiff,… Read More ›
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Rogue Trooper history for sale
“The Emperor” came across some cracking early Rogue Trooper art and concepts by Dave Gibbons on eBay
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New British Small Press Community launched
Comic creator Trystan Mitchell just dropped us a note to mention an excellent new Small Press Comics Community Forum has just been birthed in the UK, dedicated to small press comics and self publishing. Some excellent discussions and experience sharing… Read More ›
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Commando: Spot The Difference
Twenty-five years ago Commando published an issue entitled “Roll Of Honour” featuring a cover by artist Ian Kennedy. To celebrate the 65th anniversary of D-Day in 2009, Carlton Books released the then latest of their Commando reprint books entitled D-Day:… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Scott Snyder and Jock – The Black Mirror
In the first of a series of shows about comic book creators who collaborate together, Alex Fitch of radio show Panel Borders talks to writer Scott Snyder and artist Jock about their 2010 / 2011 collaboration on Detective Comics, collected… Read More ›
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Print Express launch Comic Printing Competition
The folk at British online printers Print Express love designers, writers, artists and anything creative and they’ve been running a number of competitions to help support interesting, creative people. Now they’ve decided to do something a little bit special – and… Read More ›
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Glasgow Comic Con 2012: More Pictures
Following up on our review of Glasgow Comic Con, here are some more pictures from the event, courtesy of the organisers. Photography by by Alasdair Watson © Alasdair Watson & Glasgow Comic Con Queueing around the block Newly-signed creators for… Read More ›
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Steadfast! Commando Art Exhibition in Aberdeen
For the third time in less than twelve months the Commando archive has been opened to allow artwork to be used in a public exhibition. After the Draw Your Weapons exhibition in London’s National Army Museum and the Battlelines exhibition… Read More ›