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.
-
Rian Hughes brings British science fiction comics to Image
US publisher Image Comics will present Tales from Beyond Science, an outrageously pulpy collection of science fiction short stories in December in one hardcover volume, all drawn by Rian Hughes and written by some of Britain’s finest comic writers, including… Read More ›
-
STRIP Magazine Issue 1 Sneak Preview Online
Read Strip MagazineIssue 1 – Sneak Preview I’m delighted to let downthetubes readers know that a special sampler of STRIP Magazine Issue 1, Print Media Productions new British comics anthology, on sale from 20th October 2011 in all good UK… Read More ›
-
Panel Borders: War – The Human Cost
Continuing radio show Panel Borders month about War Comics, they will broadcast a final panel discussion recorded at the ‘Comics and Conflicts’ conference at the Imperial War Museum in August tonight. Alex Fitch chairs a discussion on ‘The personal and… Read More ›
-
Sci-Fi and Superheroes at next month’s London Comic Con
A record number of artists and writers will be flocking to MCM Expo London Comic Con’s Comic Village next month – and the organisers have just announced that acclaimed American comic book writer Gail Simone and best-selling British science fiction… Read More ›
-
British comics on the UK news stand – where next?
Last week, I was contacted by two newspapers, the Sunday Times and the Independent on Sunday, to offer my views on the state of the British comic industry. Specifically, comics on sale in UK newsagents. The requests were prompted by… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: Three-panel Comics, Interviews, Reviews, Birthday Greetings and Fan Art!
(Above: a piece of fan art for Garen Ewing’s Rainbow Orchid by Sarah McIntyre.) Tube surf time again… • The Forbidden Planet International blog has really gone to town with their reviews of the DC Comics ‘52‘ re-boot (re-launch?) Here’s… Read More ›
-
Commando Webbing: Comics History, Interviews & Downloads
DC Thomson’s official Commando website has recently added a lot of content inspired by the Draw Your Weapons exhibition of Commando artwork at the National Army Museum in Chelsea. The entire section of the website is indexed here and, while… Read More ›
-
MCM Expo Expands Comic Village as Tables Sell Out In Record Time
MCM Expo London Comic Con is expanding its Comic Village area after tables for the 28-30 October show sold out in record time. Due to the massive demand, the Comic Village will now be enlarged by 50 per cent to… Read More ›
-
Rainey launches ‘Thunder Brother; Soap Division"
Some of you might have been wondering what talented comic creator Paul B. Rainey has been up to since finishing his highly-acclaimed There’s No Time Like The Present last year. Well now we know: its successor, Thunder Brother; Soap Division…. Read More ›
-
British Comics in the spotlight at 26th Helsinki Comics Festival
(With thanks to Paul Gravett): Britain is the guest country at this year’s Helsinki Comics Festival , which takes place this coming weekend. As part of this, Comica Festival is originating an exhibition ‘Great British Comics Nows’ spotlighting the festival’s… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: Midnight Openings, Shocking Twists and Some Ace New Comics
(Above: Sarah McIntyre doodling for charity.) Time for another tube surf… Richard Bruton of the Forbidden Planet International blog has posted a preview of Will Kirkby’s magnificent looking Tuk Tuk comic. See it here. Also at that blog, there’s the… Read More ›
-
Exhibitions Of Original Comic Art At Dundee University
This year the comic art exhibition at Dundee University, in conjunction with the Dundee Comics Day, will be Commando Battlelines which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Britain’s last war comic. Since the event that is now called the Dundee Comics… Read More ›
-
New Merlin magazine out today in the UK
Newly launched, a new Merlin magazine from Attic Media
-
Script And Art Droids Converge On Dundee
The latest guest list for the Dundee Comics Day, that runs as part of the Dundee Literary Festival at Dundee University, maintains the event’s reputation for inviting an impressive array of speakers. This year’s theme is “Wot Comics Taught Me…”… Read More ›
-
Free Crucible t-shirt? Yes, please…
When a British-based company tshirtprinting.net offered us something for free in return for a spot of publicity for their wares, we took them at their word and asked them to make up a ‘Crucible’ t-shirt. We’re happy to report… Read More ›
-
Have Team TOXIC met their match?
The latest issue of Egmont’s TOXIC is in the shops now and it’s packed with comics strips and comes with no less than three free gifts — secret spy glasses, a water squirter and “Deadly 60 Trading Cards”. One of… Read More ›
-
Turf Sequel in the works?
Bleeding Cool reports that Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards are considring a sequel to Turf, which was published in CLiNT in the UK and has just been releasd in a smashing hardcover edition by Titan Books. Jonathan Ross announced… Read More ›
-
Combat Stress goes undiagnosed, even today
More than half of Britain’s GPs are unaware of how to spot Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans – despite official guidelines being available,. defencemanagement reports that a ComRes poll commissioned by forces charity Combat Stress found that just 42… Read More ›