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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Lincoln Book Festival explores the World of Comics
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In Review: Kate & William – A Very Public Love Story
On the day of The Wedding it seems appropriate to review Markosia’s Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story, their take on the story that will climax in Westminster Abbey round Noon today. Written by Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston… Read More ›
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Tank Girl and Lenore head for iPad as part of new Titan Comics App
Titan Publishing has announced the launch of a brand new comics app, featuring Tank Girl and Lenore comics, available on iPhone and iPad for the first time ever. The new stand-alone app allows iPhone, iPod touch or iPad users to… Read More ›
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Comics@SciFiLondon Schedule Released
Comics @ Sci-Fi London takes place this weekend (30th April – 1st May) – a two day festival about the best of British Comics from the last 30 years in a lovely new space – The Blue Room – at… Read More ›
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Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards Closing Date Approaches
A reminder that the closing date for entries to the new Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards is Monday 2 May 2011. The awards, presented in association with the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, are due to be handed out at the… Read More ›
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Crucible Cover for STRIP Zero
An ace promotional image for the first DTT comic strip – now titled ‘Crucible’ – graces the cover of STRIP MAGAZINE Issue Zero, which will be given away free to Bristol International Comic Expo visitors next month. The sampler is… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine sampler prepped for Bristol Comic Expo
Here’s the cover of STRIP MAGAZINE Issue Zero – which will be given away free to Bristol International Comic Expo visitors next month. The sampler is the first print promotion for the monthly STRIP Magazine from Print Media Productions,… Read More ›
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Who Remembers The Mighty Thor?
(With thanks to various British comic fans): The launch of the new Thor movie today in the UK prompted memories form British comic fans of Marvel UK’s short-lived Thor-inspired reprint, The Mighty Thor. Published in 1983 (Issue 1 cover dated… Read More ›
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Absence comic offers insights on epilepsy
Writer Andy Luke and artist Stephen Downey have recently released Absence, a comic book based on Andy’s experiences over 30 years adapting to a life with epilepsies: puberty, first jobs, college and “sorting it out”. 10,000 copies of the booklet… Read More ›
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New Birmingham Comic Con announced
(via Paul Birch at Speech Balloons): Birmingham is to host 2011 B.C., an all-new comic convention on Saturday 27th August. Reporting for the Birmingham Mail’s Speech Balloons coulmn, Paul Birch reports the new day and-a-half event of 2011 B.C. is… Read More ›
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Tripwire back in Diamond Distributors Previews catalogue
(with thanks to Joel Meadows): After a gap of two years, ace comic and media magazine Tripwire will be available to order from Diamond US in Previews. If you go to page 351 of Previews May 2011, you can order… Read More ›
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Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it
Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it is the British Library’s first exhibition to explore science fiction through literature, film, illustration and sound and opens next month, running until September. The Library tells us “it… Read More ›
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Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it
Ray Bradbury’s ‘A Sound of Thunder’, first published in Collier’s Weekly, 28 June 1952, illustrated by Frederick Siebel. Copyright © The Estate of Frederick Siebel. One of the images featuring in the Out of this World exhibition at the British… Read More ›
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In Review: Dreams and Everyday Life
Dreams and Everyday Life by Aviv Ratzin Publisher: Tabella Publishing Out: Now The Book: Dreams and everyday life is about ‘the important things’ in life. Not careers, health, wealth, or social status, but rather the innumerable everyday, human situations and… Read More ›
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Doctor Who’s Elizabeth Sladen dies aged just 63
The Seventh Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith in the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip‘Train-Flight’, published in Issue 159 – 161. Elisabeth Sladen was paid the princely sum of £40 per issue as an ‘appearance fee’. Story by Andrew Donkin and… Read More ›
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Holy Mustard, Batman! It’s a competition
Batman Live Opening Put on your apron, dust off your mixing bowls: it’s competition time and National Family Week is looking for a cooking hero – who could win a VIP pass to the Batman Live Arena show when it… Read More ›
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Writing Commando: The Blank Page Always Kicks My Ass
Matt Badham wrote “Deserter!”, a story for DC Thomson’s Commando title back in 2008, which has just been published in Issue 4385 – giving you some idea how long some scripts can take to get into print. Here, Matt outlines… Read More ›
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Hellblazing! 25 Years of John Constantine
Hellblazer writer Jamie Delano will be making a rare public appearance in the UK this weekend at in London. For those who don’t already know, John Constantine: Hellblazer, published by DC Comics, centres on a magus who investigates occult crimes,… Read More ›
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Blank Slate to release complete ‘Hugo Tate’
(via Nick Abadzis and Forbidden Planet International): I missed this great news last week but make no apologies for plugging now. Comic creator Nick Abadzis has announced Blank Slate Books will be publishing a collection of his hugely popular strip… Read More ›
