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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Dandy relaunches – and returns to comics format
(Updated 27/10/10) The Dandy – the real, comic strip driven Dandy – is back this week with a vengeance, ditching the magazine-style, TOXIC-inspired magazine format of Dandy Xtreme in favour of a weekly title with a £1.50 cover price. As… Read More ›
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Commandos storm into the the High Street
Four new Commandos hit the decks of all good newsagents this week featuring art by John Ridgway, Vila, Macabich and Carlos Pino… Commando No 4335: Bad Blood Story: C G Walker Art: Vila Cover: Gordon LivingstoneFirst Published: 1993 as No… Read More ›
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Comical Hallowe’en Horror walks the streets of Lancaster!
Lancaster’s First Age Comics is making its annual Hallowe’en celebrations something of an event, offering prizes to anyone who turns up in costume to buy their favourite comics this weekend. We doubt few will sport this fabulous mask created by… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Vicky Stonebridge
Vicky Stonebridge at work Scottish Highlands-based Vicky Stonebridge describes herself as “an artist, firefighter, youth worker, convention organiser, and other things! “I think living in remote rural North West Scotland has caused this chaos,” she says. “It’s always been necessary… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Berislav Krzic
Kids at primary school were often amazed by the drawings and paintings of Slovenian artist Berislav Krzic as he grew up and he often received awards for his artwork. After his animation, cartooning and strip phases, he became obsessed with… Read More ›
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John Hicklenton’s ‘100 Months’ Goes on Sale
100 Months, the final work of the late, great 2000AD artist John Hicklenton is now available from publisher Cutting Edge Press. Pat Mills describes it as “magnificent” and hints that despite John’s passing earlier this year there is more work… Read More ›
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Life Begins at 40 for Who fans?
Life Begins at 40, a new book by authors Chris Newton and Mark Charlesworth, is the story of two 30-something fanatics sharing a flat in Blackpool, out of pocket, out of luck and clinging to the hope that Life Begins… Read More ›
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Burke and Hare comic web site live
The Burke & Hare graphic novel website is now live at www.burkeandharecomic.co.uk ahead of the new movie release, featuring a preview, some info about the book and links to purchase a copy. While writer Martin Conaghan tells us the new… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: John Royle
John Royle is a freelance British comic artist living in the UK. His personal favourite comic charatcers he’s worked on include Spider-Man, the X-Men, Wolverine, Ultra Force, Prime, Avengers and the Fantastic Four – samples of which can be found… Read More ›
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Dublin City Con downsizes, but back in style in 2011
The organisers of the popular Dublin City Comic Con have announced the event is to “downsize” for 2010, with a smaller festival replacing the planned larger event which has been hit by venue problems. However, the organisers say they’ll be… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Books of Magic and Spirits of the Earth
Continuing radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at horror and dark fantasy comics, in a pair of interviews recorded at this year’s British International Comics Show in Birmingham, Alex Fitch talks to artists Charles Vess and Peter Gross… Read More ›
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Preview: Markosia’s The Indifference Engine by Dethan, Carey
Cy Dethan and Robert Carey’s new project, The Indifference Engine, is set to be released soon by publishers Markosia. The team on the book have kindly sent us a review copy of this tightly-written multi-universe-spanning adventure tale — and it’s… Read More ›
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Sean Michael Wilson’s Hagakure manga debuts in Japan
British comics creator Sean Michael Wilson is clearly a happy man – and has every right to be after his new book, Hagakure: The Manga Edition, went on sale in Japanese bookshops this week. Written by Sean, art is by… Read More ›
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Moominvalley recreated in Bury Art Gallery
The magical world of the Moomins from Finland has delighted and captivated children and adults alike for the last 65 years. This week (Saturday 23rd October 2010), a new exhibition opens in Bury Art Gallery
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Sneek Peek: X-Men versus Dracula by John Royle
Here’s a sneek peek at an upcoming cover for Panini’s Marvel Heroes title by fab artist John Royle. John’s also penciled the upcoming X-Men and Dracula strip from what he tells us is a great script by Mitchel Scanlon, with… Read More ›
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Chris Claremont confirmed guest for MCM Expo
Comic book creator Chris Claremont at the November 2008 Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photo: Luigi Novi The London MCM Expo has announced that comics legend Chris Claremont is to be a special guest at the 29-31 October show’s Comic… Read More ›
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Hallowe’en Treats from artist Duncan Long
Illustrator Duncan Long – featured in SciFi Art Now – is giving friends and fans two free ebooks to celebrate the Hallowe’en season: Edgar Allan Poe’s Eleonora (for which Duncan did the cover and inner illustrations for as well as… Read More ›
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Matt Smith’s Doctor Who Covered in New Book
Books about Doctor Who aren’t exactly rare these days and downthetubes wouldn’t even begin to try to cover all of them. But every so often, a title of particular interest emerges which is worth looking out for. Often these are… Read More ›
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Academic Comics Forum registration opens
Registration for Comics Forum, a two-day academic event taking place as part of this year’s Thought Bubble Sequential Art Festival in Leeds, is now open. The Forum includes the Women in Comics II conference on 18th November and Theory and… Read More ›
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Neil Roberts creates Sarah Jane Adventures comic for the BBC
A panel from the BBC’s new online Sarah Jane Adventures comic The BBC have published a new online Sarah Jane Adventures comic, which is being drawn by Neil Roberts, one of the artists featured in SciFi Art Now. Sarah Jane… Read More ›