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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McCrea, Ellerby among comic creator guest at first Manchester MCM Expo
The MCM Expo team have just released the first details of comics artists and writers who will be attending the inaugural MCM Expo Manchester Comic Con, held at Manchester Central on Saturday 30th July. MCM Expo’s Comic Village tour features… Read More ›
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Commando: Music From The Home Front
In this 50 anniversary year of the Eagle award winning Commando, there are a number of tie-ins scheduled to be published in addition to the standard 104 issues of the comic. As well as the latest of the big reprint… Read More ›
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Comedian Jimmy Carr writes debut comic strip in CLiNT
‘Beat My Score’ by Jimmy Carr, art by Ryusuke Hamamoto Jimmy Carr, famed stand-up comedian and co-host of Channel 4’s 10 O’Clock Live, has written an exclusive comic strip story in the latest issue of Titan Magazines’ CLiNT. Stepping out… Read More ›
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Air Pirate Press launches ‘The Art of Brett Ewins’
Recently released by Air Pirate Press is The Art of Brett Ewins, a new book shedding light on the life and times of on of Britain’s best-known comic artists. In a frank and revealing 11,000 word interview, the 80-page book,… Read More ›
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Comic Con Comes to Manchester – and kids will go free
Hold on to your seats – the MCM Expo Manchester Comic Con is ready for lift off! Next month sees the UK’s perhaps most famous comic con arrive in Manchester, bringing the best in pop culture entertainment to the city… Read More ›
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Warrior Remembered in Manchester
Legendary British comics editor Dez Skinn is back in Manchester again next weekend (he was there only a couple of weeks ago for the relaunch of Starburst). “There’s an all-day celebration of one of my old titles reaching its 30th… Read More ›
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Gene Colan Scholarship Launched
Following earlier discussions with the late Gene Colan, writer Clifford Meth has established a Gene Colan Scholarship at the Joe Kubert School. The much respected comic artist, passed away aged 84 on 23rd June. His work at Marvel, reprinted in… Read More ›
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Comics Creators At The Glasgow Comic Con
The inaugural Glasgow Comic Con took place on Saturday 25 June 2011 in the Mackintosh Church Arts and Heritage Centre in Maryhill, Glasgow. The downthetubes review of the event is here but with more photos available we have decided to… Read More ›
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In Review: Glasgow Comic Con 2011
Glasgow as a city has something of a reputation – and some so-called supporters of its two football teams haven’t exactly been helping matters recently. So, based on this, what were we expecting at the inaugural Glasgow Comic Con that… Read More ›
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Scotch Corner @ Kingdom Of Adventure in July
The daily Scottish art blog Scotch Corner made up of professional artists Thomas Crielly, Gary Erskine, Simon Fraser, Andy Hepworth, Jon Hodgson, Graeme Neil Reid and Alex Ronald, is celebrating its second birthday in style by, er, taking a break…. Read More ›
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Comic Friends Reunited date announced
It may be months away, but the team behind Comic Friends Reunited have announced this year’s event will be Saturday 26th November 2011. Taking place at the Phoenix Pub, 14 Palace Street, Victoria, London SW1E 5JA from Noon till 11.00pm… Read More ›
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Brighton’s Kino Club premieres Jeff Lint documentary
Brighton’s Kino Club will be screening the world premiere of Steve Aylett’s much anticipated and soon-to-be-cult film Lint The Movie this week, based on his books Lint and And Your Point Is? and featuring some well-known comic creators, including Alan… Read More ›
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Commando’s Half Century
On 27 June 1961 DC Thomson published the first issue of Commando as a response to the combat picture libraries being published by their competitors. Today, some fifty years later, those titles like Battle Picture Library and War Picture Library… Read More ›
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The Mystery of Tharg’s 3rillers
(Above: The cover to Prog 1740 by Liam Sharp. Click on the image to see a larger version.) Prog 1740 of 2000 AD (released in shops next Wednesday, 29 June 2011) is designed as a potential ‘jumping-on point’ for readers…. Read More ›
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Major comics conference in Manchester in July
Manchester’s Metropolitan University will host a conference on graphic novels and comics early next month, featuring American artist Melinda Gebbie, Hunt Emerson, French artist Edmond Baudoin and Professor Pierre Fresnault-Deruelle from the Sorbonne University, Paris. A conference involving three comics… Read More ›
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War: The Human Cost anthology still on sale
A page from “A Tale of Two Faces” by Sean Duffield & Nelson Evergreen– a current story about nuclear weapons and the double-talk of politicians I didn’t get the chance to plug War: The Human Cost, a 260-page anthology and… Read More ›
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Oz does Alien
This stunning Alien painting is on sale now from Art You Grew Up With, the work of Paul Oz, who’s also known, perhaps bizarrely, for his Mr Men paintings! He’s also much in demand for his Formula 1 inspired art…. Read More ›
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Comics and more at the Lass!
(Above: They won! A rather natty promotional image for the Lass O’Gowrie pub in Manchester.) Word from Gareth Kavanagh of the award-winning Lass O’Gowrie pub in Manchester of various comics-related events that are likely to be of interest to downthetubes… Read More ›
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Major SF signing at Forbidden Planet London
Forbidden Planet London will host one of its trademark multi-author signings later this week, playing host to Ben Aaronovitch, James Barclay, Elspeth Cooper, Stephen Deas, Jaine Fenn, M D Lachlan, Tom Lloyd, John Meaney and Chris Wooding. The event marks… Read More ›