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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Classics from the Comics plays Cops and Robbers
Issue 169 DC Thomson’s Classics from the Comics is now on sale in all good newsagents — another gem of a 68-page retro monthly, full of comic classics from the publisher of The Beano and The Dandy. Humour strips in… Read More ›
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In Review: Comics at the London Book Fair
Last month the London Book Fair cranked up its coverage of comics and graphic novel publishing this year and David Baillie went along for downthetubes to see what was happening… LBF photos by Joel Meadows The London Book Fair is… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Modesty Blaise creator Peter O’Donnell
We’re very sorry to report the death of Modesty Blaise creator Peter O’Donnell, who died over the Bank Holiday weekend at the age of 90. Peter, who lived in Brighton, celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this month, had been ill… Read More ›
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Meet "Lil", the Girl who Left Home
Fans of Brighton-based creator Paul O’Connell‘s work with brilliant artist Lawrence Elwick may already be familiar with his gentle comic, She’s Leaving Home. Inspired by inspired by now-designer Laura O’Callaghan-White’s frequent yearnings for what was “out there” as a youngster,… Read More ›
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Titan to launch "Eagle for the 21st Century"
Comics by two of the UK’s most outspoken TV personalities and burgeoning writing talents – Jonathan Ross and stand-up comedian Frankie Boyle – will feature in CLiNT Magazine, an exciting new joint venture between Kick Ass creator Mark Millar and… Read More ›
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Dundee Comics Day 2010
The fourth annual Dundee Comics Day, part of the Dundee Literary Festival, will take place at Dundee University on Sunday 27 June 2010 and this year’s theme is Creating Comics. The guest speakers have now been announced and include Alan… Read More ›
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In Review: New British Comics #2
They’ve been jolly polite over at New British Comics: editor Karol Wisniewski sent me a copy of #2 eons ago (long before Wasted #3, below!) and again, it’s slipped through the cracks. Which it really shouldn’t have, because NBC#2 is… Read More ›
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In Review: Wasted #3
All right, confession time: Wasted Issue 3 has been on sale for postively ages and a review of this adult comic, available from specialist comic shops and online, is long overdue. The delay is not the fault of the Wasted… Read More ›
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Azzopardi launches "Sightings"
I caught up with enthusiastic and inventive indy press creator Sean Azzopardi on Free Comics Book Day at Orbital Comics, London, where, among others, Kieron Gillen was tapping out a script and Tom Humberstone was busy sketching along with enthusiastic… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Magazine features first Eleventh Doctor strip
The latest issue of Panini UK’s Doctor Who Magazine (Issue 421) sees the debut of the Eleventh Doctor in its comic strip pages, with the delectable Amy Pond in tow to boot. While Matt Smith’s Doctor has already appeared in… Read More ›
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Dan Dare at 60: Merchandise Update
With the Eagle and its best-remembered character Dan Dare celebrating a 60th birthday this month, fans will be pleased to hear that several items are either in development or already on sale now to mark the event. • The collectable… Read More ›
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downthetubes John Freeman at Sci-Fi-London
A quick reminder of two panels I’ll be appearing on tomorrow (Saturday 1st May) at Sci-Fi-London… 60 Years of Dan Dare A panel on 60 years of the lantern jawed space pilot. Alex Fitch will be talking to: Garry Leach,… Read More ›
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ConceptArt launches Female Form Course
This coming Sunday, ace illustrators web site ConceptArt.Org, who kindly helped promote my original appeal for artists for SciFi Art Now, will begin a new round of live streaming classes with a very beautiful program on the art of the… Read More ›
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Paper Science II launch
(With thanks to Alex Fitch): As part of Free Comics Day on Saturday 1st May, We are Words + Pictures will be launching their new, free newspaper format comic Paper Science II at Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London… Read More ›
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Losers on My Radio!
Concluding their month long look at the crossover between comics and film, Resonance FM broadcasts Strip! – The Art of The Losers this evening. Alex Fitch interviews Jock, the main illustrator of The Losers by Andy Diggle, the 32 issue… Read More ›
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Inker Appeal from Ex Astris comic creator
Bill Storie – my colleague and co-creator of the Ex Astris science fiction strip we’re producing – has too much work on his plate at the moment and he’s looking for a reliable UK-based inker to work with him. “There just… Read More ›
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IlluXcon Artists Line Up gathers pace
The third annual IlluXCon symposium whose guests include SciFi Art Now contributors Bob Eggleton and Patrick Jones, will take place in Altoona, Pennsylvania in the United States on November 11-14, 2010. As the only convention exclusively dedicated to fantastic art,… Read More ›
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Destinauts arrives online
Comic creator Ian Hewett, who’s also behind the mediablog Dystopian Fuschia, has just launched a free web comic, Destinauts. The comics opens with a mysterious object falling to Earth, crashing in the small town of Calendering… Five years later, and… Read More ›
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More Screaming Artists Wanted!
Back from the Depths, a group of horror comic fans inspired by the fondly-remembered but short-lived British title Scream! needs your blood… Creative blood, that is: the group is looking for artists and contributors for the new Back from the… Read More ›
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London MCM Expo prepares for comics invasion
The Comic Village at the upcoming London MCM Expo is looking more like a metropolis, with hundreds of fantastic creators already signed up for the 29-30 May show – including a visit from former Marvel UK editor in chief Richard… Read More ›