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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Mezolith writer Ben Hegarty visits Lancaster
Internationally renowned storyteller Ben Haggarty, writer of The DFC‘s Mezolith strip, returns to Lancaster on Thursday 10th May with the epic tale of Gilgamesh. Possibly the oldest story in the world, this ancient masterpiece will be presented by Ben in… Read More ›
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In Review: The Rainbow Orchid Volume 3
By Garen Ewing Publisher: Egmont Out: Now The Book: At the beginning of Volume Three, Julius Chancer and Lily Lawrence are recovering from the electrifying end of Volume Two. What does the future hold for Evelyn Crow and her gang… Read More ›
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Team Girl Comic Are Kickstarting Issue 5
The Glasgow-based Team Girl Comic collective have been active in Scotland for the last couple of years selling their main Team Girl Comic title, as well as the individual contributors own titles, around the various comic shops and events in… Read More ›
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Illustrators: A New Quarterly Journal About Brit and Euro Artists
In the last few years London’s Illustration Art Gallery have been releasing a series of books about, and reprinting older, British comics via their Book Palace Books imprint. These include The Modesty Blaise Companion reference book, a series of reprints… Read More ›
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Commando Comic Art – The Show Goes On!
The exhibition of Commando cover art at the National Army Museum in London may have just finished, but fear not if you missed it. The Commando team have just informed us they’re working with another museum to put on a… Read More ›
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Creator-owned Improper Books launches, two titles announced
Just launched in time for the impending British comic convention season is Improper Books, a small collective of comic creators formed by writer Benjamin Read and artists Laura Trinder and Chris Wildgoose. On offer at the Bristol Comic Expo will… Read More ›
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Dark Judges make their mark on 2000AD web site
Fear. Fire. Mortis. The Dark Judges have returned to 2000AD. The countdown, which has been running at www.2000adonline.com, came to an end earlier today and the site has closed (although you can still get to the site’s online shop –… Read More ›
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Time Bomb announces ‘Kronos City’ graphic novel launch
Time Bomb Comics has announced their latest graphic novel, Kronos City, will be launched at the Bristol Comics Expo. Written by Andrew Croskery, with artwork by Alex Willmore, coloured by Lauren Willmore and lettered by Jim Campbell, Kronos City is… Read More ›
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Unofficial ‘City of Dredd’ guide goes on sale
The critically-acclaimed unofficial guide to Judge Dredd’s Mega-City One, City of Dredd 2134, is now available from lulu.com. City of Dredd 2134, by John Caliber, collects all the locations to have featured in official Judge Dredd and Dreddworld literature (comics,… Read More ›
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Immediate Media grabs Rastamouse for new magazine
Rastamouse© The Rastamouse Company Ltd Immediate Media, the publishers of Doctor Who Adventures and more, is to launch Rastamouse magazine, a lively children’s title aimed at pre-schoolers, based on the popular CBeebies TV programme and books of the same name…. Read More ›
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Win Avengers Assemble merchandise
Marvel licensee Colantotte are giving UK comic fans the chance to win six of their limited edition Neo Legend wristbands, as featured in the new Avengers Assemble film. Colantotte created the exclusive limited edition MagTitan Neo Legend bracelet as worn… Read More ›
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Alan Grant pens War of 1812 for Renegade
Renegade Arts Entertainment has just announced another Alan Grant-scribed project – this time with a historical setting rather than, perhaps, the horror and futuristic themes he might be better known for. Due for release in June, The Loxley’s and the… Read More ›
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Forbidden Planet announces Free Comic Book Day plans
Want to discover comics and need a place to start? Then visit any branch of Forbidden Planet on 5th May – Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day is perfect for fans and newcomers alike – if you love… Read More ›
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Comic costume call for Kendal Calling Music Festival
Image via Happy Slap Boutique The massive music event Kendal Calling has just announced its the fancy dress theme for 2012 will be Fairy Tales and Comic Books, a magical all encompassing theme that will see the site transform on… Read More ›
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London’s Birbeck college announces new comic courses
(With thanks to Norman Boyd): New certificate level comics courses are starting at Birkbeck, University of London from this autumn.Comics, Comix and Graphic Novels: IntroductionThis module introduces you to a range of comics in a variety of forms and invites… Read More ›
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Comics documentary maker faces funding threat
The Invisible Artist from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo. (with thanks to Andrew Luke): Northern Visions TV (NVTV), Greater Belfast’s community TV station which backed the comics-related film The Invisible Artist last year, is under threat of closure because of… Read More ›
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Can you help support DownTheTubes?
It’s that time of year again when our domain provider seeks to extract a fair chunk of change from my wallet for hosting the main DTT site (www.downtetubes.net). Put together by volunteers to promote the British comic industy since 1999,… Read More ›
