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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Tube Surfing: Davison Who Art, Time Bombs and Herbbs!
• As part of the A Thing About Machines electronic Arts Festival, dedicated to the innovative composer Delia Derbyshire who composed the Doctor Who theme, The Tin Angel in Coventry screened films by local filmakers, including the premiere of comic… Read More ›
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Striker Heads Into the Net
Long-running soccer strip Striker recently came to an end in The Sun – catching many fans by surprize, even though creator Pete Nash had been saying for some time he planned to end the saga. But, after 24 years of… Read More ›
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In Review: Salem Brownstone – All Along the Watchtowers
The Plot: A sumptuous and rich gothic fantasy following the adventure of Salem Brownstone as he falls into a strange and magical world after the death of his father. As he twists the key and slowly creeps into the grand… Read More ›
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Scottish Dragons In The Crimea
Just how far around the world do the words of some blogs get? For Scotch Corner, the Scottish daily art blog, it is the Ukraine. Specifically Bakhchisaray School No. 1 in Crimea, Ukraine. Scotch Corner runs a monthly competition to… Read More ›
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The Avengers Amended
Compare and contrast!
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Copyright: Internet Access Cut Off No Answer, say Greens
Europe’s Green Party has stepped into the battle about copyright and piracy, which increasingly affects comics publishing as comics are scanned as soon as they are published and re-distributed free online. Last week, the French National Assembly adopted a modified… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Emma Vieceli, promoting new British Manga
Continuing ‘Women in Comics’ month on podcast Panel Borders – and originally broadcast on Resonance FM – this week Alex Fitch talks to Emma Vieceli, illustrator of the Manga Shakespeare adaptations of Hamlet and Much ado about Nothing who has… Read More ›
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Kingdom of Adventure’s 24 Hour Comic Day
Kingdom Of Adventure, Fife’s comic shop, will be bringing 24 Hour Comics Day to Scotland this October. So far, KoA is one of only two shops taking part in this event in the UK. 24 Hour Comics Day, organised by… Read More ›
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Knights of Pendragon Collection Cover Revealed
Gary Erskine, the original artist of Marvel UK’s Knights of Pendragon back in the 1990s, has just published this superb cover to Panini UK’s upcoming collection of the strip over on the Scotch Corner Blog. Gary also goes into the… Read More ›
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Countdown to Brit Comics Show Begins
A massive gathering of British comic publishers and creators will be showing the public what the indigenous industry has to offer at the Think Tank in Birmingham next weekend for the British International Comics Show. As well as well known… Read More ›
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Latest Commandos – Check!
Here’s the latest issues of war comic Commando from DC Thomson, on sale from today, 24 September, to 7th October 2009. Commando can be ordered from your local newsagent or you can subscribe. • Commando 4231: The King’s Cossack (First… Read More ›
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FTL Anthology Back for Thirds
Orang Utan Comics has released the third issue of its anthology title Faster Than Light, featuring the work of creators such as Ian Sharman, Valerio Giangiordano, Simon Wyatt, Ashley Soltis and Jeff Balke. Indie publisher OUC’s flagship anthology series, FTL… Read More ›
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Terry-Thomas Bio Released in Paperback
The first biography of comedian Terry-Thomas – considered by some to be the inspiration for Captain Britain villain Mad Jim Jaspers and who made frequent British comics appearances – has just been released in paperback by Aurum Press, also publishers… Read More ›
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Comics International Not Dead, Says Publisher
Peter Boyce, publisher of Comics International, has categorically denied the long-running magazine has been cancelled, even though a regular issue has not been published for some months. downthetubes approached Mr Boyce for comment after former editor and publisher Dez Skinn… Read More ›
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Zombies invade the Wild West!
Spitfire Comics, the publishing arm of StarscapeOnline.com have a couple of new items out: a re-release of the sold out Collected Hook Jaw by Pat Mills and others, compiled from the pages of the 1970s comic, Action!; and a zombies… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Hi-Ex!, Insomnia, Commando and Francesca Cassavetti
The Scottish comics convention, Hi-Ex!, will be returning to Inverness in the Highlands over the weekend of 27 – 28 March 2010. We echo the sentiment in their new leaflet promoting the event, a quote for the SFX Blog stating… Read More ›
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Crawford Coutts On The Spot
Insomina Publications is fast becoming something of a rising star in the UK indie publishing press, with graphic novels such as Cancertown and the upcoming Burke & Hare just some of its well-received titles. As the company prepares to launch… Read More ›
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In Review: Burke & Hare
Reviewed by David Hailwood The Plot: Over a 12-month period from 1827-1828 in Edinburgh, Scotland, two Irishmen by the names of William Burke and William Hare murdered 16 people and disposed of their bodies to the eminent dissectionist Dr Robert… Read More ›
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Rebellion Takes on Solaris
Missed this owing to holidays, but just to note here 2000AD publishers Rebellion’s acquisition of the Solaris book publishing imprint from Games Workshop, completed earlier this month for an undisclosed sum. Solaris offers a mixture of new and traditional science… Read More ›