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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Doctor Who Classics: Planet of the Dead re-mastered
US publisher IDW is currently publishing early Doctor Who stories from the Seventh Doctor era and the latest issue, on sale now in the US, features a rather special anniversary story by none other than myself and the wonderfully talented… Read More ›
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In Review: Eagles Over The Western Front Volume 1
Forty years ago the weekly magazine Look and Learn was a parental purchase in many British households as parents saw its articles as educational while its younger readers saw its comic strips, including the now legendary Trigan Empire, as exciting…. Read More ›
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Read Strip Magazine Issue Zero
Print Media Production has published an online version of STRIP Magazine Issue Zero, which outlines some of the comic strips they plan to publish and the ‘Strip Spotlight’ Challenge for comic creators. Open publication – Free publishing – More comic… Read More ›
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V For Vendetta in G For Glasgow
As part of the events surrounding the new Glasgow Comic Con in June there will be a screening of V For Vendetta at the Glasgow Film Theatre. Taking place at 5:30pm on Friday 17 June, the evening before the convention,… Read More ›
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Raid yourself some new Commandos!
Keeping up the pressure on potential fans to subscribe to the war digest title, the Commando team are currently offering a copy of the latest collection to those who take up the offer. Selected by current Commando editor Calum Laird,… Read More ›
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Slaine stalks the States!
21 years ago, Pat Mills and Simon Bisley’s Sláine: The Horned God took the Celtic barbarian – a 2000AD regular – in a stunning new direction. Now, this magical, violent classic is blazing its way to the US in a… Read More ›
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Dalek creator Terry Nation celebrated in new book
Aurum Press release The Man Who Invented Daleks later this month (25th May), focusing on the life of script writer and author Terry Nation, and includes background on the creation of the Dalek comic strips for TV Century 21 and… Read More ›
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More comic talent joins London MCM Expo line-up
With the cream of comic book talent gathering at its famous Comic Village, the MCM Expo London Comic Con is the only place to be on 27-29 May if you’re a fan of comics, graphic novels and manga. Over 100… Read More ›
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Bristol Expo Line Up continues to grow as weekend nears
An exclusive Watchmen print by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins will be on saleat the Bristol International Comic Expo A quick reminder – as if you needed one – that the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo takes place… Read More ›
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David Attenborough inspires new horror web comic
London journalist Paul Slade has just posted an unusual and exclusive six-page comics story drawn by Hans Rickheit – inspired by a story recounted by world-renowned naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough. Paul, whose credits include The Daily Telegraph, Mojo, Fortean… Read More ›
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Glasgow comic talent cameo in All Star Superman
(With thanks to Adam Thewlis and the team at the Italian ‘All Star’ blog): Here’s a fun item for the weekend. There’s a long tradition of artists featuring friends in comic strips as an in joke: Bryan Talbot, for example,… Read More ›
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Cinebook Release Their Summer/Autumn 2011 Catalogue
The Canterbury based graphic novel publisher Cinebook have just released their catalogue for the second half of 2011 and it shows their continued dedication to bringing previously untranslated Franco-Belgian bandes dessinees albums to the English speaking world with an impressive… Read More ›
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Free Comic Book Day is here!
Saturday 7th May is Free Comic Book Day – the day many specialist comic shops across the UK join with stores across the world to promote our industry by offering a range of free comics to attract, potentially, many new… Read More ›
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Blank Slate announces ‘Nelson’ graphic novel, firms up 2011 schedule
Nelson, a new collaborative graphic novel from Blank Slate Books will be launching this November at the Thought Bubble convention in Leeds, and features an awesome line-up of British comics talent (detailed below). So, who is Nelson? Well, Nel Baker’s… Read More ›
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Peter Davison Doctor Who Comic Art for sale: The Moderator
I’m reluctantly selling, via eBay, an original page from Episode Three of the Peter Davison story ‘The Moderator’, published in Doctor Who Magazine Issue 87, cover dated April 1984, drawn by Steve Dillon. The story, written by Steve Parkhouse, sees… Read More ›
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In Review: Pinocchio by Winshluss
Pinocchio becomes a robot in this new telling of the classic story Publisher: Knockabout ComicsOut: Now The Book: Winshluss’ Pinocchio graphic novel is an adult noir movie that at times is both comedy and tragedy. The narrative begins with a… Read More ›
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Kev O’Neill 2000AD art for sale
Some of Kevin O’Neill’s art from 2000AD and other titles is on sale from his agents, The Illustration Cupboard near Green Park, London. The agents, who also offer art from a large number of artists, have lots of prime 2000AD… Read More ›
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Meet 2000AD’s new demon hunter: Absalom
Dying of cancer, combating demons and swigging from a bottle of laudanum – Inspector Harry Absalom ain’t exactly Inspector b***** Morse. Mixing The Sweeney with The X-Files, Absalom is the latest dark tale from Necronauts writer Gordon Rennie, brought to… Read More ›
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Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it
The Martians from H G Wells’s The War of the Worlds; as depicted by Alvim-Correa in the Belgian edition, La Guerre des mondes (Brussels, 1906). Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it is the British… Read More ›
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Artist Neil Roberts part of Lincoln Book Festival line up
Lincoln University is running an event titled The World of Comics later this month as part of the Lincoln Books Festival (11th – 15th May), featuring Sci-Fi Art Now contributor Neil (Sarah Jane Adventures, 2000AD) Roberts alongside Murky Depths editor… Read More ›