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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Geek Syndicate Auctions All-Star Superman Art for Charity
Comics and scifi podcast site Geek Syndicate has launched a charity auction that will include some unique comic art and other collectables, to help an eight-year-girl after the sudden and untimely death of her father, a loyal supporter of the… Read More ›
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Starscape Launches Ouija: Heartstrings
Indie publisher Starscape has just published Starscape Presents: OUIJA: Heartstrings, written by Gary Simpson (Dead, 2000AD, RedEye) with art by Tim Youlden. Described as a comic for fans of Hellblazer or Ghost Rider, the 28-page title introduces Sebastian, someone who… Read More ›
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Busting with Nostalgia!
With the release of a Buster Special imminent, former sub-editor Dez Skinn has just posted this 1970s image of the editorial team online. Pictured looking like something straight out of Life on Mars but with comics are the staff of… Read More ›
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Buster Busts into WH Smith
Egmont’s latest Classic Comic collection – this time bringing Buster back to the shelves of WH Smith – goes on sale soon, just in time to be a Christmas stocking filler. This is the final special of four released this… Read More ›
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Wallace & Gromit are a Digital Comic Hit
Titan Publishing are reporting a huge success for their Wallace & Gromit digital comic, which launched last month (see news story). The strip is taking the iPhone app charts by storm and is currently ranked number one in the UK… Read More ›
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Mohawk Media issues call for Comic Art Samples
Publisher Mohawk Media has announced that it is in search of artists for upcoming comic book and graphic novel projects. Having had success with its Mr. T graphic novels, the publisher is readying to get new projects underway in 2010…. Read More ›
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Sixth Tele! – Beano and Dandy In The Belfast Telegraph
Not so much news as “olds” but it is worth mentioning that the Belfast Telegraph gave away modern reprints of old Beano and Dandy comics during the week beginning 23 November 2009. The six issues were reprints of the Beanos… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Comics Academia
In the aftermath of Thought Bubble and its associated academic conference on comics, Possibilities and Perspectives, here is round up of what is happening comics-wise in the hallowed halls of academia. We have recently mentioned on downthetubes the Fractured Images,… Read More ›
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Latest Jeff Hawke’s Cosmos Now Available
Has it really been five years since Bill Rudling started publishing Cosmos? Titan’s series of Jeff Hawke books may have stopped after two titles but Bill’s 84 page, A4 sized zine which reprints complete stories from the Daily Express’ daily… Read More ›
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In Review: Charley’s War – Underground And Over The Top
Underground And Over The Top is the latest in Titan’s annual Charley’s War reprint series and it follows the story of First World War soldier Charley Bourne from May to September 1917. The book covers two full stories with the… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: New Issue Gen
The latest issues of Commando are now available – Commando 4247Raiders from the Sea Story: Ian Clark Art/Cover Gordon Livingstone Previously published as Commando 2550 Tommy Bell was heartbroken when he was evacuated from his blitzed home city of Glasgow…. Read More ›
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C For Cartoon Classroom
Cartoon Classroom is a free resource website set up by David Lloyd, Steve Marchant and Paul Gravett which aims to centralise all the information available on the study of cartooning and sequential art in the UK and the Republic Of… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: 27 November 2009
Carlton’s seventh and latest Commando reprint book Battle Of Britain: Scramble!, with its air combat theme, is being promoted in the RAF’s newspaper the RAF News. Commando editor Calum Laird is interviewed in the newspaper where he talks about the… Read More ›
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Oh,Oh,Oh,Oh,Oh! Happy Birthday Mr Freeman!
It’s a significant birthday for our publisher…
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Happy Birthday, Mr Freeman – Other Voices
Others wish our publisher a Happy Birthday
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Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo Signing at Forbidden Planet
Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo (pictured), creators of Tank Girl Skidmarks, will be signing Skidmarks #2 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 5th December 1 – 2pm. Alan and artist Jamie Hewlett created… Read More ›
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Strip! for Savage Messiahs, Doctor Who and Al Davison…
Here’s some info about the shows ace podcaster Alex Fitch is involved with that will be broadcast over the next 7 days: On air: Strip! – Ctrl Alt Shift: Lightspeed Champion and Savage Messiah Continuing ‘British Mavericks’ month on the… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Awards, Thought Bubble Signings and Hi-Ex
• Leonie O’Moore, Tony Hitchman and WJC from the “New British Comics” anthology will be present at Thought Bubble convention (Saturday, November 21st) and they will be happy to sign your NBC copies. Signing will be available throughout pretty much… Read More ›
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Win a PSP 3000 thanks to the Geeks!
To celebrate the launch of the Sony Digital Comic Store, top British comics and SF news site Geek Syndicate has teamed up with Sony and Insomnia Publications – publishers of titles such as Cages, Cancertown and Burke and Hare –… Read More ›