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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DC Thomson launches Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine
DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano and award-winning teen title Shout, have announced their biggest girls’ magazine launch of 2010: the Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine, based on the life and works of the popular and acclaimed children’s author and former… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: Ian Kennedy
In case it has passed your notice, Commando have been having a mini celebration of Ian Kennedy’s work for the title as it is 40 years since he first produced a cover for them. As we have previously reported, the… Read More ›
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Titan launches Shaun the Sheep on the iPhone
Quickly following up from the hugely successful launch of the Wallace & Gromit digital comics, Britain’s Titan Publishing is now bringing another Aardman creation, Shaun the Sheep, to the iPhone. Shaun, the star of the hit BBC animated show, is… Read More ›
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Commando Strikes!
Here’s the rundown of the latest Commando titles on sale now from DC Thomson, which continue in part to celebrate artist Ian Kennedy’s 40-year plus career… Commando 4263: Fury StrikeStory: Alan Hemus Inside artwork and full wraparound cover: Ian Kennedy… Read More ›
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Pictures from France: Sarah McIntyre in Angoulême
downthetubes may have one of the best Scottish comics correspondents in, er, Scotland, in the form of Jeremy Briggs, but we don’t have a foreign correspondent: and yet, British comic creators regularly attend the biggest annual French Comics Festival, Angoulême… Read More ›
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Alex Ronald’s Red Sands Resurrected
Check out Alex Ronald’s first ever comic
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Book and Magazine Collector 317
The latest issue of the A5 size monthly Book and Magazine Collector is now in the shops with two British comics creators being covered. The magazine includes an interview with artist and writer Garen Ewing on his work on The… Read More ›
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New Starblazer Comic?
As much as we would like to tell you that DC Thomson have published issue 282 of their science fiction digest Starblazer, we can’t. However we can show you artist Graeme Neil Reid’s idea of what the cover of Starblazer… Read More ›
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Latest Production from Time Bomb Comics
Congratulations from all here at downthetubes go out to Steve and Suzanne Tanner of Time Bomb comics on the arrival of their very own little bomblette. Sasha Joyce Tanner was born in the early hours of 31st January and weighed… Read More ›
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Bonhams auction house celebrates Doctor Who
Marking the upcoming auction of BBC Doctor Who memorabilia at the world-famous auction house later this month (24th February), the latest issue of Bonhams Magazine (Issue 21) features an engaging feature on the series by Benjamin Cook, alongside the publication’s… Read More ›
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Win an original sketch by Graeme Neil Reid
Throughout December and January artist Graeme Neil Reid posted up 18 different ink sketches ranging from comic superheroes, sci-fi film and Doctor Who characters on his blog, now you have the chance to pick one of theses sketches and have… Read More ›
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Colchester’s firstsite puts out Call to Comic Artists
(with thanks to Smallzone and Bryan Talbot): Colchester-based visual arts organisation firstsite wants to hear from artists working with comic imagery and media, who are interested in undertaking a unique residency as part of their next project… here’s the details… Read More ›
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British FX designer Mike Trim headlines Andersonic Nine
The latest issue of the brilliant Gerry Anderson ‘zine Andersonic (Issue 9) is now available and features a new, nine-page interview with designer Mike Trim, who discusses his work on the Anderson series from Thunderbirds through to UFO. His latest… Read More ›
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Crikey! It’s The Cloak!
British comic fans heading to their local comic store should ask if they’re stocking Crikey!, the monthly magazine devoted to British comics, if only because the latest issue marks the return of Mike Higgs’ The Cloak. The Cloak first appeared… Read More ›
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Make Your Own Film-Inspired Comic Strip Challenge
(via Andy Diggle and Creative Review): UK indie film magazine Little White Lies is challenging comic creator to re-imagine your favourite film as a six frame comic book story. The best mini-strips will then be featured in the next issue…. Read More ›
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Comic creators to deliver serial killer talk in Edinburgh
Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering, creators ofnew graphic novel Burke & Hare, will be at the Edinburgh Central Library in the Edinburgh Room on 28th January presenting a talk on the history of the serial killers and the production of… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: William Ritchie
Willie Ritchie, sitting at DC Thomson editor Morris Heggie’s desk in DCT Meadowside, Dundee with his beloved “Baby Crockett” in October 2009. Photo courtesy Morris Heggie We’re sorry to report the passing of the popular comics artist William Ritchie, who… Read More ›
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Dying to be dead? Forbidden Planet has the answer…
The top comics and specialist store Forbidden Planet London is offering horror fans an exclusive opportunity to win your own gruesome demise in John Meaney’s (Thomas Blackthorne’s) next Angry Robot title – or to get your hands on a gorgeous… Read More ›
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Accent’s "Fastest Man" one shot goes on sale
Accent UK‘s latest one shot, Whatever Happened To The World’s Fastest Man?, which has picked up glowing reviews from all who read review copies, is now available in all those UK comic stores which ordered it. Co-written and created by… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds Aren’t Go: Sylvia Anderson cancels nationwide tour
Fans of Gerry Anderson’s 1960s cult puppet show Thunderbirds are downhearted that Lady Penelope, aka Sylvia Anderson, has pulled out of a nationwide tour – citing lack of interest. Sylvia, now in her 80s, was to have been in conversation… Read More ›