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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Bryan Talbot signing Grandville Mon Amour
Ace artist Bryan Talbot will be signing his latest graphic novel Grandville, Mon Amour at Forbidden Planet, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JR on Thursday 2nd December (6 – 7.00pm). This follow up to his earlier steampunk tale, Grandville, is… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: John Malcolm
A cover for Markets Media Magazineby John Malcolm The format of SciFi Art Now – out this October – is such that it promotes the art of the creators, but there’s not much room to tell you more about them… Read More ›
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Action comic strip Hookjaw to return in Strip Magazine
PJ Holden’s cover for Strip Magazine #1 Hookjaw, a Jaws-inspired strip that first appeared in the controversial 1970s British weekly comic Action, will feature in the new Strip Magazine, which will launch in early 2011. Lancaster-based Print Media Productions has… Read More ›
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BBC3 seeking comic fans for new show
New downthetubes forum member Bee Smith works for Renegade Pictures, a TV Production company based in London whose productions include The Lion Ranger and Cherry Goes…. They are currently looking for people to take part in a new four-part factual… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Tony Lee on writing, Richard Starkings on Elephantmen and Pete Ashton on comics (what’s not to like, you lucky, lucky people!?!)
Links, link, links. Links, links, links. Links, links, links, links…links, links, links (sung to the tune of Postman Pat): Tony Lee shares his comics-writing process over at his blog… ‘So recently on my Twitter page,’ he writes, ‘I spoke about… Read More ›
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Art agency Pickled Ink’s hunt for new comic artists
Art illustration agency Pickled Ink has launched a new award in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade. Working with Jenny, the creator/writer of the TV series… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Mo Ali
Wind Farm by Mo Ali The format of SciFi Art Now – out this October – is such that it promotes the art of the creators, but there’s not much room to tell you more about them and their work…. Read More ›
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Andy Diggle, Ian Rankin line up for prestigious LitFest appearance
Marvel writer Andy Diggle The Losers and Daredevil writer Andy Diggle will be wowing his hometown fans alongside author Ian Rankin next month as part of the Lancaster Literature Festival – Britain’s oldest annual literature event. Ian Rankin is Britain’s… Read More ›
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Will The Beano go digital?
Nestling among recent trade reports about Beano and Commando publishers DC Thomson is news that more changes are in the offing for its comics output, including, perhaps, digital editions. DC Thomson is one of hundreds of companies that will be… Read More ›
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In Review: Classics from the Comics 174
The latest issue of Classics from the Comics offers the usual fine selection of both humour and adventure comics from the DC Thomson archive, this month spotlighting longtime Minnie the Minx artist Jim Petrie and bringing fans an episode of… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK (Part 2)
Continuing radio show and podcast Panel Borders month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics, (in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival) Alex Fitch concludes his… Read More ›
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Dougie’s War – revealing the hidden costs of conflict
Dougie’s War, a new graphic novel about a Scottish soldier’s return from Afghanistan, explores the little-discussed but important issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The book gets its launch tomorrow (Thursday 16th September 2010) with a signing by author Rodge… Read More ›
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Charity comics project hopes to count the cost of war
“Caging the Snow Lion” by Sean Duffield and Lawrence Elwick, just one of many comics in the War: The Human Cost book. It tells the remarkable true story of Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan Monk imprisoned and tortured for 33 years… Read More ›
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Hypercomics Exhibition wows Time Out critic, talk tonight
(with thanks to Paul Gravett): The Hypercomics Exhibition in Pump House Gallery in London’s Battersea Park has just been picked as exhibition of the week and given five stars by Time Out London. For innovative comics creator Daniel Merlin Goodbrey… Read More ›
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Never In The Field of Human Conflict…
The 15th of September is Battle Of Britain Day commemorating the victory of the Royal Air Force seventy years ago in defending the United Kingdom from the up to then undefeated forces of Nazi Germany. Yet things could easily have… Read More ›
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Striker on the Subs Bench Again…
Long-running football strip Striker’s run in Nuts magazine will come to an end next month, creator Pete Nash reports. Sadly for Striker fans who have followed the strip from The Sun to its weekly own comic, then back to the… Read More ›
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UK Annuals deep discounted, exclusive extras at some retailers
It’s the season for UK annuals – another sign that retailers are warming up for Christmas that is as regular as Sky screening festive movies in July and UK Gold airing Victoria Wood Christmas Specials this week. For comics fans,… Read More ›
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Zarjaz Special focuses on Dredd’s Dark Judges
Conor Boyle’s cover art for‘Dark Judgement’ Comic writer Richard McAuliffe and artist Conor Boyle have put together an ace but very creepy Zarjaz Special focusing on Judge Dredd’s ‘Dark Judges’, which will be on sale at the British International Comic… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Yigit Koroglu
Aircraft by Yigit Koroglu. More info here The format of SciFi Art Now – out this October – is such that it promotes the art of the creators, but there’s not much room to tell you more about them and… Read More ›