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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Scotch Corner @ Kingdom Of Adventure in July
The daily Scottish art blog Scotch Corner made up of professional artists Thomas Crielly, Gary Erskine, Simon Fraser, Andy Hepworth, Jon Hodgson, Graeme Neil Reid and Alex Ronald, is celebrating its second birthday in style by, er, taking a break…. Read More ›
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Comic Friends Reunited date announced
It may be months away, but the team behind Comic Friends Reunited have announced this year’s event will be Saturday 26th November 2011. Taking place at the Phoenix Pub, 14 Palace Street, Victoria, London SW1E 5JA from Noon till 11.00pm… Read More ›
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Brighton’s Kino Club premieres Jeff Lint documentary
Brighton’s Kino Club will be screening the world premiere of Steve Aylett’s much anticipated and soon-to-be-cult film Lint The Movie this week, based on his books Lint and And Your Point Is? and featuring some well-known comic creators, including Alan… Read More ›
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Commando’s Half Century
On 27 June 1961 DC Thomson published the first issue of Commando as a response to the combat picture libraries being published by their competitors. Today, some fifty years later, those titles like Battle Picture Library and War Picture Library… Read More ›
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The Mystery of Tharg’s 3rillers
(Above: The cover to Prog 1740 by Liam Sharp. Click on the image to see a larger version.) Prog 1740 of 2000 AD (released in shops next Wednesday, 29 June 2011) is designed as a potential ‘jumping-on point’ for readers…. Read More ›
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Major comics conference in Manchester in July
Manchester’s Metropolitan University will host a conference on graphic novels and comics early next month, featuring American artist Melinda Gebbie, Hunt Emerson, French artist Edmond Baudoin and Professor Pierre Fresnault-Deruelle from the Sorbonne University, Paris. A conference involving three comics… Read More ›
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War: The Human Cost anthology still on sale
A page from “A Tale of Two Faces” by Sean Duffield & Nelson Evergreen– a current story about nuclear weapons and the double-talk of politicians I didn’t get the chance to plug War: The Human Cost, a 260-page anthology and… Read More ›
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Oz does Alien
This stunning Alien painting is on sale now from Art You Grew Up With, the work of Paul Oz, who’s also known, perhaps bizarrely, for his Mr Men paintings! He’s also much in demand for his Formula 1 inspired art…. Read More ›
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Comics and more at the Lass!
(Above: They won! A rather natty promotional image for the Lass O’Gowrie pub in Manchester.) Word from Gareth Kavanagh of the award-winning Lass O’Gowrie pub in Manchester of various comics-related events that are likely to be of interest to downthetubes… Read More ›
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Major SF signing at Forbidden Planet London
Forbidden Planet London will host one of its trademark multi-author signings later this week, playing host to Ben Aaronovitch, James Barclay, Elspeth Cooper, Stephen Deas, Jaine Fenn, M D Lachlan, Tom Lloyd, John Meaney and Chris Wooding. The event marks… Read More ›
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Wyatt’s World
Megazine 311 – Cover by Brendan McCarthy The latest Judge Dredd Megazine (on sale now) contains an interview Matt Badham conducted with ace comics writer Arthur Wyatt. As is often the case with these things, there were unused quotes, so… Read More ›
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Grant Morrison in Glasgow in July
Glasgow’s Forbidden Planet International has secured something of an exclusive next month, with comics writer Grant Morrison in store on Thursday 14th July signing his new book, Supergods: Our World in the Age of the Superhero. Published by Jonathan Cape,… Read More ›
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Japan Charity Craft Fair 2 July 2011
Eiko Meredith, director of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival , is organizing a Japan Charity Craft Fair on 2 July 2011 at the Visit Caerphilly information centre in aid of The Japan Earthquake Tshunami Children in Emergency Fund. There will… Read More ›
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Treat yourself to some Shock Therapy
Illustrator and comics artist Howard Priestley has released a limited edition collection of horror tales called Shock Therapy, available from him direct and some select northern comic shops. Howard’s long term comics project, Soul Man, is still in development but… Read More ›
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Overload yourself at the Glasgow Comic Con
If you’re at the Glasgow ComicCon this Saturday, then look out for copies of Martin Conaghan’s new title, Overload, which comes wrapped in this ace cover by Roy Stewart. All work in the title is creator-owned, with Overload reserving some… Read More ›
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Comic Football launches as subscription-only comic
Hinckley-based publishers Comc Football Ltd. have just launched a subscription-only title – also called Comic Football – featuring strips by artists such as Karl Dixon, Nick Brennan and Duncan Scott. The 32-page title is the latest venture for Pete Wildrianne… Read More ›
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Desdaemona by Ben Macallan
There’s a new book out from Solaris books which should be of interest to dtb readers. Here’s the blurb: New town. New girl. New job. That’s good, right? Not really. Not when the girl can pretty much tear a vampire… Read More ›
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Boldy Go: Writing SF Workshop
Successful science fiction author Philip Palmer will lead a workshop on writing for the genre within the weird ambience of the MacRae Gallery at the Hunterian Museum, London on 9th July. Run in association with The Arthur C Clarke Award,… Read More ›
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2000AD – Weekly on both sides of the Black Atlantic!
Since it’s 2000 AD day (as it is every Wednesday), a quick note to celebrate a step change in the way it is distributed in the US, which we didn’t get chance to plug last week. From August, the legendary… Read More ›
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New British publisher Acrasia seeks comic creators
Acrasia Works, an independent British publishing house is looking for new talent. The Canterbury-based company says it is committed to producing beautiful graphic novels and one-shot comic books for international sale. They say they are currently accepting submissions from writers,… Read More ›