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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Croatian comics portal Stripovi launches Best of 2010 vote
The Eagle Awards aren’t the only people seeking comic fans votes this month: the fantastic-looking Croatian comics portal www.stripovi.com has just announced its annual poll for the best comics published in the past year. Unlike other comic awards, stripovi have… Read More ›
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Nominations Open for Eagle Awards 2011
What was your favourite comic of 2010? Which artists and writers really grabbed your attention? Wekl, nominations open on Friday 4 February and run until 7th March for the world-famous Eagle Awards, so head on over to www.eagleawards.co.uk to make… Read More ›
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John Higgins World War 2 artwork in charity auction
A painting of a famous World War 2 aircraft has been painted by top comics artist John Higgins to raise money for charity. John’s picture of a de Havilland Mosquito NF MkXIII, registration MM550, one of the RAF’s night fighters,… Read More ›
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Preview: Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht
VixenVert from Nicola Blackmore on Vimeo. Here’s Wasted magazine’s advert for the incredibly impressive Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht which will feature in Issue 7 of the magazine. The art is by Alex Ronald and written by the mysterious “Emperor“…. Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Charlie Adlard and the Walking Dead
Concluding UK comic radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at depictions of masculinity in America comics, Alex Fitch talks to British artist Charlie Adlard about his ongoing zombie comic The Walking Dead, recently turned into a TV series… Read More ›
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In Review: It Was The War Of The Trenches by Jacques Tardi
Jacques Tardi’s graphic novel of the Great War, It Was The War Of The Trenches, is one of those books that is critically lauded appearing in ‘Best Of’ lists as well as reviews of the year and with its complete… Read More ›
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Lew Stringer previews this week’s Dandy
(Info via Blimey! It’s another Blog about Comics, re-published here with the kind permission of Lew Stringer): Here’s a sneak peek at the cover of this week’s issue of The Dandy, on sale from Wednesday 26th January. Under a new… Read More ›
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Save our Forests: Follow Rupert to Retail
Nothing to do with the comic we’re working on, but here’s a smashing protest montage from Smuzz in support of England’s Save Our Forests campaign (http://saveourforests.co.uk) And now, back to that promo image for the strip…
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In Review: The Amulet of Samarkand
A marvellous adaptation of the novel
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Comics @ Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival
Hot on the heels of the Glasgow Film Festival with its impressive comics strand comes Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival with an equally impressive selection of comics names appearing over the course of the festival’s nine days. After his appearances… Read More ›
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More Jack Staff issues released for iPhone
A quick plug, courtesy of digital comics distributor Comixology, to remind folk here that Paul Grist’s wonderful Jack Staff is available on iPhone and more. Out now are Issue 9 and 10, with Issue 9 offering “Titanic team-up action as… Read More ›
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The original Death’s Head returns in Marvel Heroes
A page from the new Death’s Headversus Hulk story by Simons Furmsnand Williams. Via Simon’s blog (with thanks to Simon Williams): One of Marvel UK’s most popular characters, Death’s Head, is set to return in an all-new story for Panini… Read More ›
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Lee Moyer delivers Lovecraft art for new author documentary
Watch more free documentaries Sci-Fi Art Now contributor Lee Moyer has provided the art for a superb new documentary about the life of author HP Lovcraft, the forefather of modern horror fiction who has inspired such writers as Stephen King,… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: the deconstructed American Male
Continuing radio show and podcast Panel Borders’ month long look at depictions of Masculinity in American Comics, Alex Fitch talks to award winning graphic novelists Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes, who both publish their work first as chapters, in periodicals… Read More ›
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Commando at 50: Second Shots
Here’s the latest Commandos to hit newsagents, courtesy of DC Thomson, as the countdown to the comic digest’s 50th anniversary begins in earnest… Commando 4359: Johnny The Jinx Story: Eric Hebden Inside Art: Alonso Cover Art: Lopez Espi Originally No… Read More ›
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SFX Weekender line up includes comics guests Abnett, Mills, Talbot and Lee
This year’s SFX Weekender, organised by SFX Magazine takes places next month at Pontins in Camber Sands, and the event promises to have plenty of things to interest comics fans as well as exclusive screenings, tons of prizes giveaways and… Read More ›
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The Queen, a super villain!
Following up on our story about Markosia’s new Royal Wedding tie-in comic, Kate and William – A Very Public Love Story, we were reminded that the Royal family has made appearances in comics on many occasions, but perhaps only once… Read More ›
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Markosia publishes Royal Wedding tie-in comic by Johnston, Collins and Erskine
British graphic novel publisher Markosia Enterprises is proud to present to the nation a dramatic retelling of the lives of Prince William and Kate Middleton in their new graphic novel Kate & William – A Very Public Love Story. Written… Read More ›
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Moore and Reppion announce steampunk motion comic "The Thrill Electric"
“We are very pleased to say we are now officially allowed to talk about a very exciting new project we have coming up in 2011,” the writing team announced on their blog. “This project came about from a writing cliché,… Read More ›