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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Hairsine delivers "Masked" cover
Top artist Trevor Hairsine has provided the cover to a new superhero short story anthology edited by my friend and ace SF book editor Lou Anders, who used to work for me on Star Trek Magazine and Babylon 5 Magazine…. Read More ›
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With Great Power is now… Masked
My friend Lou Anders, who used to work for me on Star Trek Magazine and Babylon 5 Magazine, but these days is an award-winning editor for Pyr Books, and who very kindly introduced me to artist John Picacio whose work… Read More ›
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Dan Dare gets Pulped!
Every once in a while, the Internet throws up some gorgeous work featuring a famous character – but the origins of the art is clouded in mystery. Given all the interest in Dan Dare recently, it was perhaps no surprise… Read More ›
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Buy Your Commando…
New Commandos from DC Thomson now on the news stand in the UK highlight the work of top veteran comic artist Ian Kennedy and sees the start of the VE-Day stories, marking the 65th anniversary of the end of World… Read More ›
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Comic-inspired movie Largo Winch comes to London
Successful Belgian bande dessinée series Largo Winch has been made into a live action film. Its writer and creator Jean Van Hamme was on hand at the Institut Francais in South Kensington in London to answer questions after a screening… Read More ›
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Comic Creator Spotlight: Nick Miller’s "Political Logic"
Lancaster-based cartoonist and downthetubes chum Nick Miller – co-creator of the long-running The Really Heavy Greatcoat, which most recently featured in the much-missd Comics International, came up with this strip in response to the current national political dilemma in the… Read More ›
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Classical Comics ‘The Tempest’ shortlisted for major book awards
Classical Comics adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest has been shortlisted for two different awards. The company will hear this week if it has won a gold, silver or bronze Independent Publisher (or “IPPY”) award from Independent Publisher Online: no small… Read More ›
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New DC Thomson Books From Waverley
Waverley Books are the Scottish publisher of DC Thomson tie-in books with many Maw Broon cookery titles under their belt as well as the magnificent History Of Beano and they will be adding to these titles over the rest of… Read More ›
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Nich Angell at work on Brief History of the Next Universe
Comics artist and animator Nich Angell has a full colour collection of short sci fi stories entitled A Brief History of the Next Universe due soon. “The book is going to pull together brand new stuff I’m doing right now,… Read More ›
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Free Comic Book Day: a report from the (British) front line
Free Comic Book Day – an annual event to promote the comics industry worldwide – gets bigger and better every year, and for First Age Comics, based in the Assembly Rooms on King Street, Lancaster, the latest incarnation was easily… Read More ›
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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 ›