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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The Quest – First Colour Promotional Image
Smuzz has just delivered this terrific promotional image for The Quest, which will feature in STRIP Magazine later this year. There’s still a lot of work to be done – 12 pages are drawn so far, and I’m about… Read More ›
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War Comics On Tour In Scotland
On a day of protests to keep UK libraries open we are pleased to bring you a positive library story. In early December 2010 Carnoustie Library opened an exhibition of war comics that was due to run of the entire… Read More ›
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Great British Comics Reprinted – a quick round up
Despite the recent release of Johnny Red Volume 1 by Titan Books, it seems there are plenty of British comics fans who are totally unaware that attempts are being made to republish a lot of our classic comic material. Johnny… Read More ›
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Johnny Red Flies again
Titan Books has released the first volume Johnny Red featuring art by Charley’s War co-creator Joe Colquhoun. Johnny Red is just the latest British comics collection from Titan Books, whose other reprints include Charley’s War of course, James Bond, Modesty… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Trina Robbins’ Underground Comix
Starting a month of shows about female comic book creators, the Panel Borders radio show and podcast will present a talk recorded at ‘Laydeez do Comics’ in September 2010 this week. Edited and introduced by Alex Fitch, veteran ‘Underground Comix’… Read More ›
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Graphic novel celebrates the life of world’s first spaceman, Yuri Gagarin
Artist Andrew King and writer Piers Bizony have launched Yuri’s Day, a new comic graphic novel dedicated to the first man in space, celebrating both his story and the origin of the Soviet space program. Now, the Moscow Times, a… Read More ›
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Effects director Shaun Whittacker-Cook interviewed in new Andersonic
Issue 11 of the ace Gerry Anderson fanzine Andersonic is now available via the publication’s website and features a new interview with former Century 21 SFX director Shaun Whittacker-Cook in which he discusses his time working at Century 21 on… Read More ›
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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 ›