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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Questionable Elephantmen hits comic stores
The latest issue of Elephantmen, written by former Marvel UK staffer Richard Starkings (whose career has simply spiraled upwards ever since) is now on sale, with art by Marian Churchland, Axel Medellin, Moritat & André Szymanowicz. In Issue 26 –… Read More ›
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StripGenerator Revamped, now includes social network features
Slovenia-based ThirdFrameStudios has just released Stripgenerator 1.6, the latest version of its hugely popular online software that enables users to easily create comic strips, share them with friends, rate, comment them and more. The new Stripgenerator brings many useful new… Read More ›
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In Review: The Art of Pho
By Julian HanshawPublisher: Jonathan CapeISBN: 9780224089845Out: 1st July 2010 The Book: The noodle soup called pho is the national dish of Vietnam. When Little Blue – having been dropped by a mysterious man with a red car and being told… Read More ›
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Doctor Who: Silver Scream from Al Davison, Tony Lee, collected
Al Davison and Tony Lee with the new Doctor Who collection at this year’s MCM Expo. Photo: Jeremy Briggs (via Al Davison): A quick reminder that the first collection of IDW’s Doctor Who ongoing series, written by Tony Lee, is… Read More ›
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In Review: Classics from the Comics 171
… and it really is a classic of a comic, with a huge variety of strips from several decades – including some rarely seen examples of picture and text stories from the huge DC Thomson comics archive. The trumpeted ‘superhero’… Read More ›
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Frank Quitely Interview Podcast
As part of the West Port Book Festival on Friday 25th June 2010, David Bishop interviewed artist Frank Quitely at Edinburgh Books second hand bookshop in Edinburgh’s West Port. Since the event was always going to have a small audience… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Warren Ellis, the Bulletproof Coffin and the Galaxy’s Greatest Covers!
So, what’s happening down those tubes today… The trailer for the movie adaptation of Warren Ellis-scripted graphic novel Red (art by Cully Hamner) is online to view now. Ellis wrote some interesting notes about the adaptation back on his blog… Read More ›
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Rude Britannia Competition Winners
The lucky winners of our Rude Britannia book competition – marking the launch of the Rude Britannia Exhibition at Tate Britain in London – were Chris Williams from Liverpool; Paul B. Rainey, from Milton Keynes; and David Humphreys from Crawley…. Read More ›
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Spaceship Away Turns 21
The new issue of Spaceship Away, the science fiction comics magazine inspired by and featuring the original Dan Dare, includes some stunning exclusives sure to appeal to fans of the original version of the Eagle space hero created by Frank… Read More ›
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New Eagle Times Continues Celebrations for 60 Years of Eagle
The latest issue of Eagle Times, (Volume 23 Number Two, Summer 2010), is on sale now from the Eagle Society, with highlights that include a photo-illustrated report on the Society’s April 2010 gathering ‘to celebrate Eagle‘s 60th Anniversary in Southport and… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: Ian Kennedy
Earlier this year, to celebrate 40 years of artist Ian Kennedy working on the title, Commando reprinted four of the stories that he had illustrated for them. Despite being their top cover artist, having painted around one quarter of all… Read More ›
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Fans raise thousands for Frank Sidebottom creator’s "Fantastic Funeral"
The sad news came out this morning that Chris Sievey, aka Frank Sidebottom, who died on Monday aged just 54, would have a pauper’s funeral. The comedian’s financial affairs when he died mean that his family were struggling to do… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Web-comics special!
Righty-ho, what’s happening (in web-comics terms) out there… Talented cartoonist Tom Humberstone took a break from his Hundred Days project (hundred cartoons in hundred days). He’s back now, so go check out his stuff, which is rather cool… Have you… Read More ›
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Frank Quitely @ West Port Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival may be the largest literary festival in the UK but Edinburgh also has one of the smallest. The West Port Book Festival was set up by the many second hand books shops that crowd together… Read More ›
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Dundee Comics Day – 1 Week To Go
There is just 1 week left before the fourth annual Dundee Comics Day, part of the Dundee Literary Festival, which is taking place at Dundee University’s Tower Building on Sunday 27 June. This year’s theme is Creating Comics and the… Read More ›
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Commando – New Issue Gen
Straight from the Commando C.O. comes all the gen on the four latest issues of Commando available from 17 June: 4303 : STEER FOR ACTION From the first day of war in 1939, the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Dez Skinn, Fanzines Galore and Simone Lia
Right, what’s happening out there… Lew Stringer’s ace comics blog informs us that Dez Skinn has a new website. Dez was, of course, the man behind such titles as Warrior, Comics International and Doctor Who Weekly (still with us as… Read More ›
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New Eagle Annuals Website
We are pleased to report that Eagle has inspired a new fan website set up by Ian and Sharon Hartas. While most Eagle sites are devoted to Dan Dare this one is specifically for the Eagle annuals both from the… Read More ›
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The Comica/Observer/Cape Graphic Short Fiction prize 2010
The Comica/Observer/Cape Graphic Short Fiction prize 2010 is now open for entries. The deadline is 6th October 2010, with a first prize of £1000 and a runners-up prize of £250. The competition, now in its fourth year, usually creates a… Read More ›
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Competition: Win Tickets to Madame Tussauds Marvel 4D!
Two of the world’s leading entertainment brands – Madame Tussauds, part of the Merlin Entertainments Group, and Marvel Entertainment – have joined forces to create a unique new visitor experience at the leading London attraction – MARVEL SUPERHEROES 4D –… Read More ›