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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Panel Borders Pins down Chris Claremont on creating Captain Britain
Comic book creator Chris Claremont at the November 2008 Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photo: Luigi Novi Starting a new series of the UK’s only weekly radio show about comics, now under a new (old) name, Panel Borders has a… Read More ›
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STRIP Magazine publishers at British International Comic Show
Print Media Productions, publishers of the upcoming monthly STRIP Magazine, have confirmed they will be exhibiting at the British International Comic Show. Publisher Ivo Milicevic, whose Bosnian comic titles include Strip, Metal Hurlant and science fiction title Plavi, will be… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 2000 AD, Posy Simmonds, Radio 4 and comics events too!
To celebrate the release of Prog 1700 of 2000AD, fan Jason Garrattley is posting ‘…a week of rare bits and pieces from the archives (well, some old fanzines from the loft) from some of the cornerstone creators of the magazines’… Read More ›
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2010 proving a busy year for artist Duncan Long
SciFi Art Now artist Duncan Long reports that, despite the economic downturn he’s been keeping busy, with many self-publishing authors and small presses realizing that in order to compete with big presses, a quality cover illustration is key. Something other… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Nemons
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. We’re publishing interviews with creators… Read More ›
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In Review: Clint Issue 1 – does it "Kick Ass"?
(Updated 31/8/10, added other review links): After months of speculation about what Titan Magazines new British anthology title Clint might feature, the magazine itself is finally out in the wild, backed by an impressive promotional campaign on the web, which… Read More ›
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Competition Seeks Illustrator to Bring Cleveleys’ ‘Mythic Coastline’ to Life
Ever fancied seeing your artwork in a published book, or brought to life by a sculptor? Then grab your pens – or your computer mouse – because the hunt is on to find a talented illustrator for a brand new… Read More ›
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Competition Seeks Illustrator to Bring Cleveleys’ ‘Mythic Coastline’ to Life
Ever fancied seeing your artwork in a published book, or brought to life by a sculptor? Then grab your pens – or your computer mouse – because the hunt is on to find a talented illustrator for a brand new… Read More ›
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British Comics Sales Figures – a quick snapshot
How healthy is the UK comics market? With fierce debate raging among British fans about whether titles like Titan’s CLINT, the brainchild of Mark Millar, will be a success, here’s a rundown of some of Britain’s comic sales on the… Read More ›
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Spider-Man Total Mayhem game for iPhone out next week in UK
Gameloft’s Spider-Man: Total Mayhem game for iPhone and iPod touch will be available in the UK on the 1st September 2010.Sure to be promoted in Panini’s superhero comics, the new title offers ultra dynamic gameplay with more than 20 fighting… Read More ›
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Collected Elephantmen Return!
The sold out first volume of Richard Starkings ace comic Elephantmen is back in print. With a cover from ace 2000AD artist Boo Cook (who’s just been interviewed by downthetubes contributor Matt Badham here), it now includes the sold out… Read More ›
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Wiped! What Happened to Doctor Who’s Missing Episodes?
A new book from Telos Publishing – Wiped! Doctor Who’s Missing Episodes by Richard Molesworth – looks in detail at how the episodes came to be missing in the first place
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Draw the World Together Art Auction Begins Tonight
Spider-Man by Mike Collins Today sees the start of the first of three Draw the World Together auctions, organised by comic creators using comics to raise money for charity. The auction on eBay features sketches provided by some of DWTs… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Drinking, Drawing… and other stuff too!
• If you’re in the area this Sunday, you could do worse than pop along to Manchester Comic Collective’s (MCC) monthly Drink ‘n’ Draw. It kicks off at 4pm and is usually lots of fun (although I haven’t made it… Read More ›
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Working 9 to 5 – Superheroes for hire is Markosia’s latest adventure
British publisher Markosia’s new comic Hero 9-5, written by Ian Sharman with art from David Gray focuses on a world where being a super hero is just another job. A world where only the rich can afford the comprehensive hero… Read More ›
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Burke and Hare first editions on sale from creators
With the news that Insomnia Publications, the company behind graphic novel Burke & Hare, has ceased trading, its creators Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering can now offer out copies for sale of the first edition of the book. “Will and… Read More ›
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Setting the Scene: Page 2
The action moves indoors, as hopeful warriors seek work… This page introduces most of the central cast.
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Duncan Long
Crystal Dragon cover for Asimov’s – featured in SciFi Art Now 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… Read More ›
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Bellamy’s "Happy Warrior" Reprinted
(with thanks to Dave Wilson and Norman Boyd): Some web trawling by Eagle comic fans has thrown up the find of new collection of Frank Bellamy’s world-famous strip Winston Churchill: The Happy Warrior. The collection is only available from the… Read More ›
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In Review: Classics from the Comics Issue 173
The latest issue of DC Thomson’s ‘Retro’ title, Classics from the Comics is on sale now in all good newsagents, offering another fine medley of humour and adventure strips from a variety of the publishers’ current and past titles, including… Read More ›