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 Rainbow Orchid: Volume 3
The cover image for the third volume of Garen Ewing’s The Rainbow Orchid has just been released showing Evelyn and Julius fighting above lava. This does seems rather at odds with one of the teaser images that Garen has posted… Read More ›
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Battleships By L Ashwell Wood
Delving into the cutaway work of Leslie Ashwell Wood
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UK indie comics distributor Smallzone launches Print on Demand service
British independent comics distributor Smallzone – also the team behind Scar Comics – has just announced a UK-based Print on Demand service for all UK comic publishers. The service, arranged in partnership with BookVault, enables publishers to print books and… Read More ›
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Fay Dalton Scoops Pickled Award
British illustrator Fay Dalton has won the Pickled Ink agency’s Pickled Award, launched earlier this year in a bid to find an artist to draw a new graphic novel by Super Gran creator and writer Jenny McDade. The judges, who… Read More ›
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London Kapow comic event snags Judge Dredd exclusive
Visitors to the upcoming Kapow! Comic Con next April (9th – 10th) will be amongst the first in the world to get an exclusive sneak peek at various upcoming comics, movie blockbusters and hit TV shows from some of the… Read More ›
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Doctor Who-Inspired Cover for 2000AD
There’s a rather splendid Doctor Who-inspired cover on this week’s edition of 2000AD. Judge Dredd is depicted surveying a portaloo-style TARDIS with a Tom Baker-like scarf trailing out from under the door! Drawn by D’Israeli, it’s promoting Episode 2 of… Read More ›
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Comic Book Alliance charity offers Batman fans the chance to star in a comic alongside their hero
Last updated 10th December Yes, you read that correctly! Thanks to the Comic Book Alliance, this is a fund-raising auction where the highest bidder will get to star alongside the Dark Knight in his very own comic! Not only will… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Kapow Comic convention, War Comix and Mag, Scientist
Kapow! Comic Con Trailer on Vimeo • Mark Millar has announced a new London-based comics convention, Kapow (9-10th April 2011) which will host the first Stan Lee Awards ceremony (see Newsarama and Bleeding Cool for more news). The guest line… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Kevin Levell
Kevin ‘Kev’ Levell was introduced to British weekly science fiction comic 2000AD at the age of 11 or 12 and from that point on he knew he wanted to be a comic artist. “It’s only in the last couple of… Read More ›
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Talbot joins ‘Space Nite’ fund raising artists to help Bill Mantlo
A special fund-raiser show in aid of US comics writer Bill Mantlo includes this piece of art featuring 1980s fav ROM Spaceknight by Bryan Talbot along with more pieces from artists such as Mike Allred, Matt Timson, Jeffrey Brown, Michael… Read More ›
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Ultimate Harryhausen – Master of the Majicks
Master of the Majicks is a three volume illustrated history of the career of Oscar winning, stop-motion special effects master Ray Harryhausen, written by British journalist Mike Harkin and published by Archive Editions in the USA. The first book of… Read More ›
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CLiNT Issue 1 Goes to Reprint with comic-style cover
The first issue of Mark Millar’s brand new comic anthology, CLiNT, has sold out – and will now have a second printing with a spanking comics-styled cover featuring Kick-Ass. With its third issue now on sale in UK newsagents and… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Spandex!
Continuing British comics radio show and podcast Panel Borders’ month of shows looking at unusual depictions of superheroes, in an interview recorded at the Thought Bubble festival in Leeds, Alex Fitch talks to writer/artist Martin Eden about his small press… Read More ›
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ComICA Continues with Steve Bell, Gonzo and Much More…
Here are the exhibitions, events and conversations still to come in the 2010 Comica Festival, which this year teams up with the London Print Studio at 425 Harrow Road, London W10. The centre-piece of the festival is That’s Novel, an… Read More ›
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A chance to win a signed book by Neil Gaiman, courtesy of the Open Rights Group
Britain’s Open Rights Group – the UK’s leading voice defending freedom of expression, privacy, innovation, consumer rights and creativity on the internet – marks its fifth birthday today, and is offering anyone who joins by donating or than £5 between… Read More ›
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Giles Andreae and Sarah McIntyre win Sheffield Children’s Book Awards
Comics artist Sarah McIntyre has won this year’s Sheffield Children’s Book Award for her book Morris the Mankiest Monster, written by Giles Andreae. Celebrating its 22nd year, the awards were presented at Sheffield Town Hall this week. Commenting on the… Read More ›
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downthetubes offers Commando subscription discount
We regularly plug DC Thomson’s Commando title, published eight times a month (delivered in two packs of four for subscribers) and offering a range of war-inspired adventure stories. Now, downthetubes is pleased to offer an exclusive discount on a subscription… Read More ›
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Moore and Reppion back to Raise the Dead
US publisher Dynamite’s hit series Raise the Dead returns with an all-new tale of undead debauchery, plotted by British creators Leah Moore & John Reppion, scripted by Mike Raicht, and with art by Guiu Vilanova. Raise the Dead 2 #1,… Read More ›
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In Review: Grandville Mon Amour
by Bryan Talbot Published by: Jonathan Cape (UK) Dark Horse (US) Out: 2nd December 2010 (UK) 22 February 2011 (US) The Book: Set three weeks after the finale of Grandville, Grandville, Mon Amour pits Detective Inspector Archie LeBrock of Scotland… Read More ›