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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Are falling sales bad news for The Dandy?
The Dandy’s sales figures have taken a tumble
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Eagle comic author’s biography released by Fantom Films
Fantom Films has just published Auntie’s Charlie, the autobiography of BBC radio presenter, writer and producer Charles Chilton, creator and writer of Eagle‘s successful Riders of the Range strip as well as the classic science fiction radio series Journey into… Read More ›
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In Review: Commando Calendar 2012
I’ve got into something of a routine with Commando calendars enjoying using one for a year and then not having one available to me the next year. The first one(s) came out in 2006 for use in 2007. Bizarrely there… Read More ›
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New Crikey! special available
(Updated 27/8/11): The popular Crikey! fanzine (which takes a nostalgic look at classic British comics) may no longer be available as a print publication but the editors have just released a new special (comprising over 100 pages) which is available… Read More ›
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In Review: Wuthering Heights
By Emily BrontëAdapted by Sean Michael Wilson (script), John M. Burns (Art), Jim Campbell (Letters)Publisher: Classical ComicsOut: Now:The Book: Emily Brontë’s only novel is famous the world over and is the favourite classic of many readers. It is easy to… Read More ›
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Captain Clevedon: a local comic for local people!
Kev F. Sutherland is the latest creator to join a number of talents who are publishing what I can suppose can be described as ‘hyperlocal comics’ – titles with a strong connection to one part of the UK, available, for… Read More ›
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Draw Your Weapons! New Commandos are on sale now…
The latest issues of Britain’s only monthly war comic, Commando, are on sale now – and along with those comes details of the Draw Your Weapons exhibition at the National Army Museum, which includes a number of special events, listed… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: The Shop around the Corner
Continuing radio show Panel Borders month of shows looking at comic book shops, Alex Fitch talks to the former proprietors of comic shops that existed in the 1980s and 90s and have left lasting impression on their fans. Dark Horizons… Read More ›
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Thundercats UK TV Premiere date announced
Promotional art for the new ThunderCats animated series. © Warner Bros. ThunderCats, one of the most beloved cartoons of the 1980s, returns to UK TV next month on Cartoon Network UK – and, as we previously reported, a new comic… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine on course for October launch in the UK
Print Media Productions STRIP Magazine is on course for an October launch, with the strip line up now firmed up for the first issues. The company has also selected the first winners of its Strip Challenge – but the winners… Read More ›
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Broken Frontier celebrates British Comics
Comic book news site Broken Frontier (www.brokenfrontier.com) has rolled out Brits on Top!, a special week-long event celebrating the British comics scene – with coverage of 2000 AD, The Dandy, Commando and the upcoming STRIP Magazine. The event includes plenty… Read More ›
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Dan Dare in the spotlight of new Judge Dredd Megazine
As well as some great comic strip, the latest issue of Judge Dredd Megazine, on sale tomorrow (Wednesday 17th August) features two mammoth features by downthetubes occasional contributor Matthew Badham on the history of Dan Dare and the new Doctor… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Francisco Solano Lopez
Francisco Solano Lopez at the Lucca festival in 2007. Photo by Giacomo Bartalesi. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. (via Lew Stringer, The Comics Journal and lanaicon.com): We’re sorry to report the death of legendary Argentinian comics… Read More ›
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Other War Comics: ‘Vietnam Journal’
US publisher Transfuzion is re-publishing Vietnam Journal by Don Lomax – an epic re-telling of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a freelance reporter with the kind of gritty storytelling that might appeal to fans of Charley’s War and… Read More ›
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CDComics bring Salem to Sheffield
Following up on the success of their digital comics Meadowhell and The Attercliffe Prowler, Sheffield-based independent comic company CDComics has produced the third in their local horror series. “I’m sort of on a mission to make Sheffield into Britain’s Salem.”… Read More ›
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Comic Book Auctions celebrates 20th birthday with mammoth catalogue
The Autumn 2011 auction at British auction house Comic Book Auctions opened for bidding today (12th August) and closes on Tuesday 6th September and includes the original file copies of the first volume of Eagle and a copy of TV… Read More ›
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Vicky Stonebridge exhibition launches
An exhibition of paintings by SciFi Art Now contributor Vicky Stonebridge and John Mikietyn, and a ceramic sculpture by Allison Weightman, will open at the Scotland Russia Forum’s Edinburgh premises tonight at 6pm (Friday 12th August), attended by Sergei Krutikov,… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: TOXIC’s new strips, Mudman and STRIP Magazine news
Here’s a quick round up of British comics news courtesy of various sources… Bro vs. Bro by Laura Howell • Lew Stringer reports the website for Egmont’s popular TOXIC magazine for boys has recently had a revamp. Although some of… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Buying and Selling comics
Continuing their month long look at comic book shops, radio show Panel Borders has interviews with the proprietors of a couple of venues that are unlike your average comic shop. Veteran publisher Mike Lake and colleague Colin Strawbridge talk to… Read More ›
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The Return of Girls Comics? Pat Mills has plans…
Comic creator Pat Mills has hinted that he has plans to revive British girls comics with an all-new title he’s currently discussing with publishers. In an interview for the Bring Back Bunty website created by Jo Bevean, which she has… Read More ›