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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Ebay auction in aid of comics writer Jake Black
Friends of comic feature writer Jake Black (who is one of the main writers for Britain’s DC Figurine Collection magazine, and also wrote some features for me back in my Titan Magazine days) are running a charity auction on eBay… Read More ›
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Gaiman, Eddie Campbell at Sydney Opera House – no, really…
Above: One of the images from GRAPHIC’s Neil Gaiman competition, which ran on Facebook. (with thanks to Peter Stanbury): Neil Gaiman will appear at Australia’s Sydney Opera House in August, ‘performing’ in what can only be described as a unique… Read More ›
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Time for Paul Rainey’s graphic novel to come to a close…
The eagerly-awaited final episode of Paul Rainey’s acclaimed comic There’s No Time Like The Present is now available, bringing the acclaimed ‘sci-fi soap’ to a close, some six years after it began. “Part 13 is the super-sized,” says Paul, “Well,… Read More ›
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In Review: Tripwire Magazine #54
Published by: Joel Meadows The Magazine: The latest Tripwire annual includes interviews with Matt Groening and David X Cohen about plans for their new run of Futurama on Comedy Central, veteran movie poster artist Drew Struzan, the team at visual… Read More ›
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Comic fans rally to help Leeds-based OK Comics store from closure
Comic fans around the UK and beyond – including TV and Radio presenter Jonathan Ross – have rallied to try to stop a popular Leeds-based comic store, OK Comics, from going under after building work caused a huge drop off… Read More ›
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The Rainbow Orchid goes Dutch
Garen Ewing’s fab all-ages adventure comic The Rainbow Orchid is to be published in the Netherlands by Silvester Strips. Marking the first official European collection of the ligne-claire-styled saga, it will be released in three parts, with volume one at… Read More ›
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Rude Britannia on the road at Bestival and Big Chill festivals
(with thanks to French Kiss Vintage for the news tip): As well as the ‘static’ exhibition in London, Tate Britain’s Rude Britannia exhibition has been on tour this Summer, and there are workshops and other events planned at two more… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: George Low
Former Commando editor George Low (above right, with former Dandy editor Morris Heggie, left and Commando writer Ferg Handley, middle) was the surprise guest at the Oxfam Comics Event in Edinburgh on Saturday 17 July. There he joined an impressive… Read More ›
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Brits Invade ComicCon Again: Morrison, Mills, Abnett and many more
(Updated 20/7/10): If you’re a Grant Morrison fan and you’re lucky enough to be at the San Diego Comic Convention next week, you won’t want to miss the Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods panel. Sequart and Respect Films have produced… Read More ›
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Grandville, Manga Shakespeare shortlisted for Children’s Book Awards
Much to the author’s surprize, Bryan Talbot’s cracking steampunk-inspired graphic novel Grandville has been shortlisted for a Sheffield Children’s Book Award in the awards new graphic novel category, one of five titles topping a list of favourite comics based on… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Mazeworld, Mad Science and Harvey Pekar
Does the sporadically torrential rain of the last few days mean that’s all the summer we’re going to get? I hope not. Onto the Tube Surf… • Arthur Ranson sends word that Daniel Clifford, a fan of the artist’s Mazeworld… Read More ›
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MCM Expo comes to Manchester
MCM Expo organisers have announced a host of initiatives to ensure that their shows, which include a wide range of comics offerings, are bigger, better and more fun than ever, starting with the next London MCM Expo at Excel in… Read More ›
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The DFC Will Rise Again
(With thanks to John Anderson of Soaring Penguin): The acclaimed but sadly short-lived weekly comic The DFC will return, says publisher David Fickling – possibly as soon as next year. Speaking at a presentation for the Society of Children’s Book… Read More ›
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Buzz Comic Launches Soon
Buzz Comic – a web site described by its creators as “a kind of YouTube for comics people”, offering space to promote comics and advice on creating them, should be ready for a beta launch on Monday 19th July. The… Read More ›
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In Review: The Rainbow Orchid – Adventures of Julius Chancer Volume 2
by Garen Ewing Publisher: Egmont UK Out: Now The Book: In Volume Two of The Rainbow Orchid, the intrepid Julius Chancer journeys from Europe to the Indian sub-continent as he steps up his quest for the rainbow orchid. He soon… Read More ›
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Titan Books, Langridge, Quitely and Starkings get Harvey nominations
The 2009 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. The nominees include New Zealand but UK-based artist Roger Langridge, Scotland’s Frank… Read More ›
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UK Comics Undercover In The USA
In the week that the USA sent back ten Russian agents who had been living undercover in the USA, two British comics that operate under the cover of American publishers have arrived on our shores. First is Paul Grist’s The… Read More ›
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A Tribute to Neil Emery, who helped bring back Charley’s War
Here at downthetubes we were sorry to learn this week of the death of Charley’s War fan site runner Neil Emery, who his partner tells us passed suddenly and unexpectedly, cause unknown, at the far too early age of 39… Read More ›
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The Best Of The Victor Due For Release
The Titan Books publications of Best Of Battle along with the individual Battle character books of Johnny Red, Rat Pack and Darkie’s Mob have obviously not gone unnoticed by other publishers and, with a lull in publication of their thick… Read More ›
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Caption 2010 ‘Mad Science’ Art Appeal and guest update
For anyone interested in exhibiting artwork and/or donating artwork to the Caption auction, part of Mad Science Caption 2010 at the East Oxford Community Centre on 31st July – 2nd August, the organisers tell downthetubes they can accept artwork right… Read More ›