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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Tickets for the 2011 Glasgow Comic Con Go On Sale
The organisers of the Glasgow Comic Con are now selling tickets to the event on their new website. The event will take place in the deconsecrated Mackintosh Church in Glasgow’s Queen’s Cross near Partick Thistle’s football ground on Saturday 18… Read More ›
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Commando goes fortnightly
Along with information on the latest issues of war comic Commando comes news from DC Thomson that the long-running title will be published fortnightly this year – giving 104 doses of action and adventure to the title’s fans worldwide. Commando… Read More ›
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downthetubes nominated for SFX Blog Award
We’re delighted to report that downthetubes has been nominated for an SFX ‘Blogger’ award in the category for ‘Best SF News Blog’ (Vote for us here!). Our nomination – pitting us against Big Dumb Object, the Doctor Who News Page… Read More ›
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Comic Book Alliance puts out charity comic appeal to help earthquake victims
Britain’s Comic Book Alliance is putting together a fundraising comic to help raise funds to help earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan and New Zealand – and has put out an appeal for contributions. “I’m sure, like me, you’ve been horrified… Read More ›
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Eagle Awards voting opens
Voting is now open for the Eagle Awards, the annual prize given to the best American and British comics as decided by comic readers. We’re pleased to report that as befits their British origins, the nominations include a substantial amount… Read More ›
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The Sunday Post Celebrates 75 Years Of Oor Wullie And The Broons
On Sunday 8 March 1936 the headline on DC Thomson’s newspaper The Sunday Post was “Europe Alarmed – France’s Retort to Hitler’s Move – All Army Leave Cancelled”. Inside however there was something a little more light hearted with the… Read More ›
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Sneek Peek: New Dan Dare for Spaceship Away
We’re pleased to report that the next issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on course to go to press very soon, featuring its regular thrice-yearly mix of comic strip and features. Now edited by Des Shaw,… Read More ›
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Hurricane and Champion: the Companion Papers to Valiant
Top British comics archivist Steve Holland has re-launched his Bear Alley Books imprint with Mean Streetmaps, a collection of essays on crime noir, and an all-new index to two classic British comics. Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant… Read More ›
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Do Covers Count when it comes to Awards?
The UK cover for Zoo City –strong on design, light on itsSF content? With the 2011 Arthur C Clarke Award Shortlist just announced, I thought it might be interesting to see what kind of covers the nominated books have. While… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: The Art of Karrie Fransman
Continuing podcast Panel Borders month of shows looking at newspaper comics, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Karrie Fransman about her work which has been serialised in The Guardian and The Times. Karrie started her comics career making self published autobiographical… Read More ›
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Take a Butcher’s at Slaughterman’s Creed
Markosia Enterprises have just announced their new graphic novel, Slaughterman’s Creed – a surreal London gangland thriller which combines the vicious intensity of British crime fiction with the structure and spirit of a Samurai revenge drama in a nightmarishly compelling… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi shapes modern design, inspired by TRON
Image oourtesy of DuPont How cool is this as an example of Sci-Fi design shaping the world of around us? The new TRON movie is to be the inspiration for an exhibition illustrating how creativity and innovation meet design at… Read More ›
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A Very British Appointment: Pat Mills becomes an honorary professor
The ‘Godfather of British Comics’ Pat Mills was presented an honorary professorship by Liverpool University this week for his contributions to popular culture and national literacy. The creator of 2000AD, Slaine, Marshal Law and hundreds of other characters will be… Read More ›
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Alternative Press Fair exhbitions and events announced
The International Alternative Press Fair has announced several exhibitions relating to its two-day event in London at the end of May (Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th). Creators interested in being part of the actual Fair at the Conway Hall, Holborn,… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Dan Dare, Death’s Head and World Book Night outrage
Some quick news items… • (via the Dan Dare Yahoo Group) A bust of Dan Dare is now sitting comfortably on a beautifully made plinth in a prominent position in the library of Southport College (where his creator, Frank Hampson… Read More ›
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The Tartan Bucket Prize Competition
The Dundee Comics Day has been running since 2007 and in 2008 became part of the Dundee Literary Festival at Dundee University. The fifth comics day is due to be held in October and the University has announced that this… Read More ›
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Phoenix: a new British comic rises from the ashes of The DFC
A new British comic is in the offing, edited by former The DFC editor Ben Sharpe. Contrary to earlier reports on Lew Stringer’s blog, bleedingcool.com and elsewhere, Ben says The Phoenix is not a revival of The DFC, although its… Read More ›
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A Comic Convention Returns to Glasgow
It has been some 15 years since Glasgow hosted a comics convention with the last of the GlasCACs, the Glasgow Comic Art Conventions. Since then, Scotland has had two Oxfam Comics Days in Edinburgh, three Hi-Exs in Inverness, four Dundee Comics Days as… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine editor at Lancaster comics event on 19th March
Lancaster’s Storey Creative Industries Centre will host a comic and science fiction fair on Saturday 19th March. A must for all collectors of Doctor Who, Marvel and DC Comics, film posters, trading cards and toys, along with an appearance by… Read More ›