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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Etherington Brothers announce new project and bargain book sale
Those wacky Etherington Brothers – whose work includes strips for Titan’s Transformers comic, The DFC and more – are offering a limited one week only 20% off deal on collections of their own creator-owned material, which are available via Print… Read More ›
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Celebrate the life of cartoonist Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar, who died earlier this month. Photo: DavidKPhoto, via Wikimedia Next month will see an event celebrating the life of American cartoonist Harvey Pekar, who died earlier on 12th July. A joint Birkbeck Contemporary Fiction Seminar and International London… Read More ›
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In Review: Classics from the Comics 172
There’s the usual great mix of strips from a variety of DC Thomson humour comics in the latest issue of Classics from the Comics, on sale in all good newsagents now. Favourites this time around have to be a 1977… Read More ›
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Warners nabs Dan Dare, Sam Worthington to star
Exciting Dan Dare film news!
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More Ways to Explode: An interview with Boo Cook
Boo Cook has been working in comics for just about a decade, drawing strips such as A.B.C. Warriors, Judge Dredd, Asylum, Damnation Station and Judge Anderson for 2000AD. He’s also worked in US comics as one of the many artists… Read More ›
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Comica Comiket: Independent Comics Summer Fair gathers pace
(with thanks to Paul Gravett): Independent publishers, small presses, zinesters and self-publishers are gathering under a marquee for the first ever summertime Comica Comiket Fair in Battersea Park, London as part of the Hypercomics Exhibition at the Pump House Gallery… Read More ›
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Build Your Own Miniature Hadron Collider!
Wacky comic creator Paul O’Connell is up to more zany antics, this time offering advice on how to join in with Europe’s Mega Science revolution… Can’t wait to find out what will happen when they finally get the Large Hadron… Read More ›
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Titan Books revamps web site – interviews, background features added
Titan Books has re-launched titanbooks.com, expanding coverage of their published and upcoming illustrated books, fiction and graphic novels. The revamped site has launched with exclusive video interviews with Kick-Ass’s Mark Millar and comics legend Joe Simon. Also added is a… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Chief Judges, Troll Bridge and 100 Days of Winter
Just spotted this ace ‘brief history’ of the various chief judges of Mega-City one over at the 2000AD Covers Uncovered blog. Well worth a read. Cartoonist Sean Azzopardi sent me his 100 Days of Winter collection. It’s great and reviewer… Read More ›
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Talent aplenty in Temple APA Issue 7
Zombies! Supervillains! Cowboys! Strange Creatures! Stick-Men! The seventh issue of the Temple APA digital comics showcase – featuring a range of British comic creators, all members of the Temple APA, a great forum for developing comics talent – is now… Read More ›
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Commando – New Issue Gen
Straight from Commando HQ comes the details of the latest batch of four Commando comics which go on sale today. Issue 4311: The BuglerStory: Ian Clark Art and cover: IbanezOriginally issue 2720 published in 1993The plaintive notes of the Last… Read More ›
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Ebay auction in aid of comics writer Jake Black
Friends of comic feature writer Jake Black (who is one of the main writers for Britain’s DC Figurine Collection magazine, and also wrote some features for me back in my Titan Magazine days) are running a charity auction on eBay… Read More ›
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Gaiman, Eddie Campbell at Sydney Opera House – no, really…
Above: One of the images from GRAPHIC’s Neil Gaiman competition, which ran on Facebook. (with thanks to Peter Stanbury): Neil Gaiman will appear at Australia’s Sydney Opera House in August, ‘performing’ in what can only be described as a unique… Read More ›
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Time for Paul Rainey’s graphic novel to come to a close…
The eagerly-awaited final episode of Paul Rainey’s acclaimed comic There’s No Time Like The Present is now available, bringing the acclaimed ‘sci-fi soap’ to a close, some six years after it began. “Part 13 is the super-sized,” says Paul, “Well,… Read More ›
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In Review: Tripwire Magazine #54
Published by: Joel Meadows The Magazine: The latest Tripwire annual includes interviews with Matt Groening and David X Cohen about plans for their new run of Futurama on Comedy Central, veteran movie poster artist Drew Struzan, the team at visual… Read More ›
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Comic fans rally to help Leeds-based OK Comics store from closure
Comic fans around the UK and beyond – including TV and Radio presenter Jonathan Ross – have rallied to try to stop a popular Leeds-based comic store, OK Comics, from going under after building work caused a huge drop off… Read More ›
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The Rainbow Orchid goes Dutch
Garen Ewing’s fab all-ages adventure comic The Rainbow Orchid is to be published in the Netherlands by Silvester Strips. Marking the first official European collection of the ligne-claire-styled saga, it will be released in three parts, with volume one at… Read More ›
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Rude Britannia on the road at Bestival and Big Chill festivals
(with thanks to French Kiss Vintage for the news tip): As well as the ‘static’ exhibition in London, Tate Britain’s Rude Britannia exhibition has been on tour this Summer, and there are workshops and other events planned at two more… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: George Low
Former Commando editor George Low (above right, with former Dandy editor Morris Heggie, left and Commando writer Ferg Handley, middle) was the surprise guest at the Oxfam Comics Event in Edinburgh on Saturday 17 July. There he joined an impressive… Read More ›
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Brits Invade ComicCon Again: Morrison, Mills, Abnett and many more
(Updated 20/7/10): If you’re a Grant Morrison fan and you’re lucky enough to be at the San Diego Comic Convention next week, you won’t want to miss the Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods panel. Sequart and Respect Films have produced… Read More ›