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.
-
That Alan Moore, He Likes to Draw
The Forbidden Planet Blog Log has just posted this fab wraparound cover for esoteric comics-magazine-thing Dodgem Logic #3 (courtesy of Knockabout Comics), featuring artwork by none other than Alan Moore himself, who as older readers will recall, once drew the… Read More ›
-
John Watkiss’ Sherlock Holmes Art on Sale
Quality Communications is offering a limited edition portfolio of Sherlock Holmes art by John Watkiss
-
Windett Joins Comic Book Mafia!
Preston-based comics artist Dave Windett – whose credits include work on a variety of animated characters from Fox and Warner Bros. and his illustrations for the Norwegian book series, Magic – has joined the Comic Book Mafia. Lest you think… Read More ›
-
Blast from the Past: SCAN, with added Alan Moore
A quick guide to the “legendary” British comics zine (accoriding ton its editor)
-
Ron Jobson In Book And Magazine Collector
The latest issue of the A5 size monthly Book and Magazine Collector is now in the shops and it has reached Issue 320. This issue has an article by Norman Wright and David Ashford on the artist Ron Jobson. While… Read More ›
-
Panini’s Marvel Deal Under Threat?
Back when Disney bought out Marvel Comics, here at downthetubes we speculated Panini, which reprints Marvel titles across Europe, may find their titles under threat. Now, news site Bleeding Cool reports that as Disney has now finally taken charge of… Read More ›
-
LifeSupport: Change Through Art Competition
What has the recession meant to you? LifeSupport: Change through art, a project of online guide to life, is challenging comic creators to express their view on the Globalization Crisis. Creators are being encouraged to create a photograph, film or… Read More ›
-
Time Leech: Time Bomb!
The final instalment of a Doctor Who comic strip, Time Bomb, is live on the Doctor Who fan site, Kasterborous.com. Written by Christian Cawley, with art and lettering by Rick Lundeen, this is the concluding episode of the Time Leech… Read More ›
-
Sci-Fi London Lines Up Comic Creator events
Garry Leach, Rian Hughes, Dez Skinn, Gary Erskine, Emma Vieceli and Simon Furman are just some of the comic creators who will be appearing at this year’s SCI-FI-LONDON event on Saturday 1st May. At last year’s SCI-FI-LONDON (www.sci-fi-london.com) the organisers… Read More ›
-
Southport College Celebrates Eagle Anniversary
Southport College is hosting to a Dan Dare exhibition celebrating 60 years of Eagle
-
Where’s Me Flippin’ Jet Pack?
It’s the cry of many a 1960s child, wowed by future visions featured in comic strips and TV shows like Captain Scarlet. Well, it seems that, finally, the future is here, thanks to the Martin Aircraft Company… Last year, the… Read More ›
-
CD24 Launches Alameda Web Comic
UK indie publisher CD24 has just launched Alameda, a new weekly web comic by Tony Wicks. “John Higgs is no longer a participant in the rat race,” says Tony of the story. “He’s living the life he always wanted, with… Read More ›
-
Elephantmen: more details on film emerge
Following up on our previous story about Comicraft/Active Images Elephantmen, more details have been released about the planned film of the comic created by top British creator and former Marvel UK Group Editor Richard Starkings. Comicraft has now officially announced… Read More ›
-
Charity shop’s first-edition Beano find
The Scotsman reports today that a rare first-edition Beano annual from the 1930s is set to make a small fortune for Cancer Research UK after it turned up in a pile of donations at their St. Andrews shop. The annual,… Read More ›
-
Torchwood star pens new comic
The new issue of Titan’s official Torchwood magazine – on sale in the UK on Thursday 15th April – plays host to an exclusive Torchwood comic strip penned by series star and fan-favourite, Gareth David-Lloyd and drawn by award-winning artist… Read More ›
-
Cornell Takes on Action Comics
Hugo Award-nominated, top British comics creator Paul Cornell – whose credits include Captain Britain and MI13 and Doctor Who – has just been announced as the writer of DC Comics prestigious Superman title, Action Comics. Paul Cornell will join interior… Read More ›
-
In Review: Harker 11
The Plot: Another body has been discovered, but the killer has been careless. DCI Harker makes his move, determined to expose the murderer and take him in. But never mind all that! The Goths are three goals down and only… Read More ›
-
New Doctor Who a "Half Witted Clown"
With new Doctor Who Matt Smith now on our screens, reaction to this latest regeneration seems to have been generally positive. But to hear a new Doctor described as a “pantomime character” or “a looney” may come as a surprize…. Read More ›
-
Commando Goes Fornightly
If you’re looking for the first four new Commandos released for the first half of April, you’d better be quick. The next batch will be out on 22nd April as publishers DC Thomson have had their sale dates brought forward…. Read More ›
-
Dan Dare Film: Latest News
(UPDATED: Steve Holland over on Bear Alley has discovered the mentioned Cinemas-Online item about a possible Dan Dare film is not a new item about the project – it was first posted in 2005. The story below has been updated… Read More ›