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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Madcap wrestling strip heads to The Dandy
Who’d have thought Birdsong and New British Comics artist Warwick Johnson-Cadwell would get a chance to appear in The Dandy? But he is – albeit as part, we think, of the revamped comic’s experimental line up of strips that are… Read More ›
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Banksy’s Jungle Book-inspired art sells for £78,000
Save or Delete by Banksy An original art work by the legendary street artist Banksy, created for a Greenpeace Save or Delete campaign photographic poster, sold for £78,000 last night at Bonhams, New Bond Street, as part of its Urban… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds are Go – Again!
A re-imagining of the classic 1960s TV series Thunderbirds is in the works from the man who originally co-created the show – Gerry Anderson. With the launch of a new set of Royal Mail stamps celebrating the work of Gerry… Read More ›
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Comic Creators Alliance launches 2011 Fund Raiser against Human Trafficking
We don’t often cover US-based comics events, but this campaign goes beyond borders. The US-based Comic Creators Alliance has announced that their second annual fund-raising drive to raise funds to fight against human trafficking goes live today, 11th January 2011… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Chris Askham
Space Ape by Chris Askham For as long as he can remember, British artist Chris Askham has had an obsessive desire to draw comic strips, beginning at an early age by copying characters out of The Dandy and then progressing… Read More ›
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Bob Monkhouse: Beano Artist?
It’s been a matter of debate for British comics fans for many years, but DC Thomson staff think they may have confirmed the late, great comedian Bob Monkhouse wrote and drew for The Beano. It’s well known Monkhouse, who had… Read More ›
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Pat Mills guest at Imperial War Museum Conference
London’s Imperial War Museum is organising a Comics & Conflicts Conference (curated by Panel Borders Alex Fitch) in August, aimed at comics scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts. Taking place on 19th-20th August 2011, conference speakers and guests will include Charley’s War… Read More ›
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Bristol Comic Expo tickets on sale now
Tickets for the Bristol International Comic Expo in May are now on sale – and in a special IN FIRST offer, if you buy now, before 30th January, you pay only the 2010 admission price. “As you recall, we sold… Read More ›
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Commando is 50! – Editor Calum Laird Speaks
Commando comic is fifty years old this year – in the UK only the Dandy and the Beano are older than it – and since there are eight Commandos a month it has by far the highest issue count of… Read More ›
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New Temple APA showcasing British creatives free online
The lightly seasoned Eighth Issue of the Temple APA digital comics showcase is now available to download as a completely free pdf file. Full of comicy goodness from such persons as Simon Mackie, (also responsible for the cover shown above),… Read More ›
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londonprintstudio offers Free Comic workshops for 16-20 year-olds
londonprintstudio is running free workshops in ‘Comics and Comic Production’ this year for 16-20 year olds on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5-7.00pm, led by industry professionals and comic interns. Part of the londonprintstudio comic collective project, artist Karrie Fransmen… Read More ›
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Wanted: Your Mechanical Elephants
As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art. Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from… Read More ›
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Wanted: Your Mechanical Elephants
As part of their ‘First Fridays’ events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art. Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from… Read More ›
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Wishing you a very Merry Midwinter and a Happy New Year
I’ll be back posting in the New Year with more interviews from the Sci-Fi Art Now contributors but in the mean time, Oliver Wetter (aka Fantasio) just sent me this cheeky Christmas card you might enjoy! Check out more of… Read More ›
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Wishing you all the best of the season!
The cover of Rainbow, 15th December 1917. The downthetubes team would like to wish all our readers the very best of the season. If you’re travelling, take care out there and enjoy some down time with family and friends. Normal… Read More ›
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Commando evades blizzards, heads for newsagents
Here are the latest issues of DC Thomson’s Commando to fight their way through the snowdrifts to the newsagents’ shelves. Just in time for Christmas, too. If anyone is having difficulty getting copies in the seasonal weather, Commando editor Calum… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Sample Issues Now Available
Eagle Times, Britain’s longest running comics fanzine, is making sample issues available to purchase without the need to join the Eagle Society. While the magazine concentrates on the original 1950s and 1960s Eagle, the current issue includes features on the… Read More ›
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Detective Comics #27 flies for £28,200 in British comics auction
Multiple bidding in the room from their live internet feed and three transatlantic telephones led to some impressive results from the Dominic Winter/ Comic Book Auctions on Thursday night, including the headline sale of a copy of Detective Comics #27… Read More ›