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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WH Smiths release Beano Summer Special Exclusive
Despite disappointing sales for past comics exclusives, it seems newsagents WH Smiths haven’t given up on the idea. Just released is this Beano Summer Special, produced in partnership with DC Thomson. Ignoring the misleading claim that this is the first… Read More ›
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Crucible: Beloc of Quelth – Colour Notes
Here’s another of Smuzz’ Colour Guides for one of the main ‘Crucible’ characters. The amount of work he’s putting into these is, frankly, a bit gob-smacking – and his colouring notes for pages of the strip are often so thought-provoking… Read More ›
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Mirabilis: Year of Wonders advance copies go on sale
Advance copies of Print Media Productions hardcover edition of Mirabilis: Year of Wonders – Winter Book 1 are now on sale exclusively from First Age Comics, Lancaster. A huge graphic novel project by Dave Morris and Leo Hartas, Mirabilis is… Read More ›
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X-Men First Class arrives in UK Cinemas
X-Men First Class, which was mostly shot in the UK, arrives in cinemas here next week (1st June) and here’s a trailer for the film, courtesy of the distributors. Set in the 1960s and focusing on the relationship between Professor… Read More ›
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Don’t be a mug – obey the law!
A top-quality mug lovingly wrapped in classic Judge Dredd artwork from one of the greats of 2000 AD – the latest merchandise from The House of Tharg is perfect for sitting back and sipping your synthi-caff! This limited edition Mega-City… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Small Press Soundtracks
Continuing radio show Panel Borders month of shows about the crossover between music and comics, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of a couple of small press publications which feature music in their stories and contain a soundtrack to listen… Read More ›
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Phoenix Comic post Submission Guidelines
The Phoenix Comic – the new weekly comic springing from the ashes of The DFC – has just updated its website and also published its submission guidelines, which we’re running here in full. Launching in January 2012, the team say… Read More ›
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Army Museum goes Commando
Scenes of action and adventure will fill the walls of the National Army Museum as ‘Draw Your Weapons: The Art of Commando Comics’, their newest exhibition, kicks off on Thursday 1st September 2011. This colourful and dynamic exhibition explores the… Read More ›
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Will you help bring back Captain Clevedon?
Comics artist and writer Kev F Sutherland, whose credits include The Beano, Doctor Who Adventures, Match and others, is looking for an artist, or artists, to help him finish a comic that’s been lying dormant for a number of years…. Read More ›
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Quitely does it – New X-Men artist latest Expo guest
Renowned comic book artist Frank Quitely will be joining the hundreds of top comic artists and writers assembling at MCM Expo’s famous Comic Village this weekend. Best known for his collaborations with Grant Morrison on titles such as New X-Men,… Read More ›
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Commando storms Stalingrad with latest issues
Here’s the latest Commando titles now on sale in all good newsagents, featuring the work of creators such as Alan Hebden, Ian Kennedy and Ferg Handley. Commando has a new Facebook page and they’re running a poll to find your… Read More ›
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2D Preps for Take-Off
The cream of the world’s comic talent will touch down in Derry/Londonderry next week for 2D, the Northern Ireland Comics Festival. The free event – hosted annually by the Verbal Arts Centre – runs from 2nd – 4th June and… Read More ›
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Read West, Young Man (and Woman)…
by Matthew Badham – cross-posted here and on the Forbidden Planet blog with full permission. Read the original version here West, by Andrew Cheverton and Tim Keable, is one of my favourite indie comics. It’s the story of Jerusalem West,… Read More ›
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Alan Moore, Storyteller
downthetubes has just received an advance copy of Alan Moore, Storyteller by Gary Spencer Millidge — and it’s simply stunning. We’ll be posting a review of this gorgeous-looking book nearer publication date, but the book, published by ILEX, is the… Read More ›
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Wasted ends print edition with Issue 8, going digital
A quick reminder that the latest issue of adult comic WASTED is out now featuring a stellar line up of talent including Kelly Jones, Mark Buckingham, Jason Brashill, Norm Breyfogle, John Wagner and Cam Kennedy. Sadly, the WASTED team tell… Read More ›
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Frank Hampson Dan Dare art in latest Compal Auction
Dan Dare original colour artwork by Frank Hampson for Eagle Vol. 7 No. 41 1956. Rogue Planet story. Like many Dan Dare cover artworks from the Hampson studio this board had some panels re-configurated to fit the format for publication… Read More ›
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Caption goes austere for 2011
Caption, the longest running comic convention in the UK is back for 2011, celebrating small press and indie press comics. This year’s theme is Austerity, as the organisers thought this might be appropriate to the current climate in the UK…. Read More ›
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Thundercats Returns to British Comics
Hot on the heels of news that Disney have issued an edict that Panini UK can no longer originate Marvel superhero comic strip comes word that the company has grabbed the rights to a title where new comics are almost… Read More ›
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I went to the Bristol Comic Expo and all I got was These Great Comics…
My ‘haul’ included The Only Good Dalek, an intriguing preview from Corvus Press, and FCBD books thanks to Diamond The Bristol International Comic Expo this year wasn’t the weekend I was expecting, largely because of woes caused by French strikers… Read More ›
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Opinion: British Marvel is Not American Enough for Disney
Mighty World of Marvel Issue 1published in 1972 by Tony Ingram For about forty years now, Marvel have had a close relationship with Britain and its comics industry, dating back originally to Odhams Press and their groundbreaking weekly comic Smash!,… Read More ›