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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Charity comics project hopes to count the cost of war
“Caging the Snow Lion” by Sean Duffield and Lawrence Elwick, just one of many comics in the War: The Human Cost book. It tells the remarkable true story of Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan Monk imprisoned and tortured for 33 years… Read More ›
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Hypercomics Exhibition wows Time Out critic, talk tonight
(with thanks to Paul Gravett): The Hypercomics Exhibition in Pump House Gallery in London’s Battersea Park has just been picked as exhibition of the week and given five stars by Time Out London. For innovative comics creator Daniel Merlin Goodbrey… Read More ›
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Never In The Field of Human Conflict…
The 15th of September is Battle Of Britain Day commemorating the victory of the Royal Air Force seventy years ago in defending the United Kingdom from the up to then undefeated forces of Nazi Germany. Yet things could easily have… Read More ›
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Striker on the Subs Bench Again…
Long-running football strip Striker’s run in Nuts magazine will come to an end next month, creator Pete Nash reports. Sadly for Striker fans who have followed the strip from The Sun to its weekly own comic, then back to the… Read More ›
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UK Annuals deep discounted, exclusive extras at some retailers
It’s the season for UK annuals – another sign that retailers are warming up for Christmas that is as regular as Sky screening festive movies in July and UK Gold airing Victoria Wood Christmas Specials this week. For comics fans,… Read More ›
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Zarjaz Special focuses on Dredd’s Dark Judges
Conor Boyle’s cover art for‘Dark Judgement’ Comic writer Richard McAuliffe and artist Conor Boyle have put together an ace but very creepy Zarjaz Special focusing on Judge Dredd’s ‘Dark Judges’, which will be on sale at the British International Comic… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Yigit Koroglu
Aircraft by Yigit Koroglu. More info here 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… Read More ›
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Comic Artists Map their influences in popular Internet ‘Meme’
PJ Holden’s ‘Influence Map’ 2000AD artist PJ Holden has joined the growing number of comic artists who have created ‘influence maps’ of their work, assembling the art of creators that has inspired him into a pleasing graphic (right). The project… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: JK Woodward
The U.S.S. Cairo for the comic Captain’s Log: Jellico,to be published soon by IDW. Art: JK Woodward The format of SciFi Art Now – out this October – is such that it promotes the art of the creators, but there’s… Read More ›
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Bloodwhat comic reaches its online finale
Bloodwhat, the online comic creation of Worcester film-maker Douglas Wilson, has recently reached the story’s conclusion after an impressive regular three times a week schedule for the past year and a half. With some 6000 views per month, the comic… Read More ›
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Crucible: Work in Progress – Fight!
A panel from an early page of the new book, as our heroes encounter their first bad guys on the streets of the sea coast city of Pomorele… This is Work In Progress, so the final art by Smuzz may be… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK
Continuing podcast and radio show Panel Borders month-long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics for both the American and domestic markets, in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction… Read More ›
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Beano Club to be revamped into online community
BBC News reports that The Beano Club, launched in 1976 as the Dennis the Menace Fan Club, is to be replaced with a website in a bid to attract more members. The official web site for the Club – probably… Read More ›
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Rian Hughes ‘Yesterday’s Tomorrows’ collection gets US publishing
Yesterday’s Tomorrows, a collection of comics by “luminescent pop culture demon” and SciFi Art Now contributor Rian Hughes spanning over two decades of his career, is being re-published in the US by Image Comics in November. Previously published by Knockabout… Read More ›
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Image publishes US edition of Rian Hughes Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Yesterday’s Tomorrows, a collection of comics by “luminescent pop culture demon” Rian Hughes spanning over two decades of his career, is being re-published in the US by Image Comics in November. Previously published by Knockabout Comics in the UK in… Read More ›
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In Review: Paragon Issue 6
The latest issue of indie comic zine Paragon is out now, an anthology title featuring the work of creators Mark Howard, Dave Candlish, the Emperor and Stephen Prestwood. There’s also a fab ‘guest pin up – a gruesome demon by… Read More ›
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CLiNT #1 sales strong, says Mark Millar
(Updated 1430, 9th September): Sales of CLiNT #1 and reaction to the new British comic magazine have been very positive, according to its creator Mark Millar – and he says more retail outlets are seeking copies, including supermarkets, which account… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Dr Strange and Spider Man, zines in Birmingham , a misunderstood shark and more CLiNT reviews
Right, what’s out there today: There’s an excellent interview with artist Brendan McCarthy over at Mark Kardwell’s Bad Librarianship blog. In it, Brendan gives us the inside track on various projects past and present, as well as discussing his new… Read More ›
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Showcasing Liam Sharp on YouTube
SciFi Art Now contributor Liam Sharp – whose credits across many comics and publishing projects – including Gears of War and Death’s Head II, which I was editor of – are legion. Now, Liam’s put together an impressive showcase of… Read More ›
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Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Bill McConkey
Mechanical Heart by Bill McConkey 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 ›