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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Crucible: Setting the Scene: Page One
Here’s the latest version of the first page of the first Crucible story (we hope there will be more than one). It’s gone through several drafts, all part of building the world this tale will be set in. The female protagonist… Read More ›
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Andersonic flies back into action with exclusive interview
The latest issue of the ace Gerry Anderson fanzine, Andersonic, is now on sale. Issue 10 features a new interview with former Century 21 writer and director Leo Eaton in which he discusses his time directing the puppet series, writing… Read More ›
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Crucible: The Comic Strip
Good news this week as comic artist Smuzz and I got word that our pitch for a comic strip we have been throwing around ideas for since at least 1996 has got a publisher. ‘The Quest’ (working title) will… Read More ›
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A Special Summer With The Beano
(updated 2/8/10, with thanks to Lew Stringer) Summer and Holiday Specials of British comics were once a mainstay of the news stand year: special, (usually) higher-priced “one-offs’ of popular comics that not only gave regular readers something extra featuring their… Read More ›
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Manchester Uni to put bande dessinees under microscope for 2011 event
(updated 1 Augsut 2010): Manchester Metropolitan University will play host to an academic conference on bande dessines next year – and the call is out for papers. The International Bande Dessinee Society and the peer-reviewed Journal of Graphic Novels and… Read More ›
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Johnston to promote Dead Space at next Expo
Promotional art for Dead Space 2. © EA Games British comics writer Antony Johnston will be on hand to help promote the new EA Games title Dead Space 2 when it’s trailed at the next London MCM Expo, which will… Read More ›
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Garry Leach Marvelman art auction begins
British comics guru Dez Skinn is running an auction for a rare piece of Marvelman art by Garry Leach. On offer is Marvelman Episode 3, page 1 (which first appeared in Warrior Issue 3). “As an experiment, partially because of… Read More ›
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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 ›