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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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Jeff Michelmann
Feuersbrunstby Jeff Michelmann Jeff Michelmann (aka ‘Gucken‘) is a young self-taught artist living in Germany. Space Art is his favourite kind of art – much of are scenes happening in space or on fictional planets in unknown galaxies… SciFi Art… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing : Country Surfing with Commando, Marvelman & Rainbow Orchid
Scotland: One of the latest batch of Commandos, issue 4329 Divided Aces, written by Scot Ferg Handley and illustrated by Argentinian Jose Maria Jorge, is set in and around Edinburgh and includes the familiar Forth Rail Bridge on its cover…. Read More ›
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In Review: Clint #2 – real life superheroes and Kick Ass 2
The second issue of CLiNT, Mark Millar and Titan Magazines’ British news stand anthology, mixing comics with a range of features that include a focus on ‘real-life superheroes’ and an interview with Charlie Brooker, is a much-improved mix on the… Read More ›
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Colliding Words and Pictures: An Interview with Sarah McIntyre
Sarah McIntyre (left) with the ‘Fleece Station’ creative crew – Lauren O’Farrell and Gary Northfield – at MCM London 2010. Photo: Jeremy Briggs Cartoonist and illustrator Sarah McIntyre first came to Matthew Badham’s attention via her Vern and Lettuce strips… Read More ›
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Agent Fireball: Debriefing A Cold War Spy
In February 1977, DC Thomson released the first issue of Bullet, their new boy’s adventure comic, at the same time that IPC released Action. The two comics went head-to-head as weekly action adventure anthologies with photographic editorial characters. If the… Read More ›
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Laydeez Do Comics: Ellen Lindner Talk
Whores of Mensa 5 – On Sale Now! from Ellen Lindner on Vimeo. (with thanks to Peter Lally at Alternative Press): Comics’ artist Ellen Lindner will be discussing the process of putting together the just released issue of comics’ anthology… Read More ›
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Charlotte Corday Times Two – graphic novels, that is…
Time Bomb Comics has confirmed their next release, the graphic novel London Calling, will be launched at the British International Comics Show next month (October 2010). Written by screen-writer Stephen Walsh with stunning artwork by renowned Commando artist Keith Page,… Read More ›
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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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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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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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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 ›