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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In Review: Phoenix: A Warrior’s Tale
Reviewed by David HailwoodPhoenix: A Warrior’s Tale is a brand new 52 page black and white comic from Adam Grose and Tony Suleri, creators of the popular Cosmogenesis saga. The Plot: Descending from the heavens, an ancient demon has returned… Read More ›
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Let’s Talk About Jane
Titan Books will be releasing The Misadventures of Jane, an eagerly-awaited collection of the classic strip and other material featuring the World War 2 pin up heroine, later this month. Charting the cartoon (mis)adventures of Britain’s first and best-loved World… Read More ›
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Yet More Starblazing In Dundee
After the Starblazer calendar, the Starblazer Adventures role playing game and the Starblazer artwork exhibition at the Lamb Gallery in Dundee, the Starblazer bandwagon continues to roll on. As we mentioned back in July, sculptor Trevor Gordon was working an… Read More ›
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Heretic Tomes in the Black Library
(with thanks to Matthew Badham and Jonathan Green): As of January 2010, Black Library will be launching a range of Print on Demand titles which will allow them to bring back classic and fan-favourite novels, graphic novels and even artbooks… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Marvel Mash Ups, XIII and a Dalek Competition
More quick news bites…
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Andersonic 8 Is Go
The latest of the superb Gerry Anderson fanzine Andersonic has just been released. Issue 8 includes a new interview with artist Mike Noble, who discusses his work on Anderson-related comic strips in TV Century 21 and Look-In, talking about his… Read More ›
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Moore on Marvelman at Marvel
Alan Moore has commented on Marvel’s acquisition of Marvelman, saying he’s pleased the deal, which will mean his Marvelman stories will be re-published, will see the character’s creator Mick Anglo benefit once again. “After being initially informed by Neil Gaman’s… Read More ›
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Transformers Mag Hubris Hits Ten
Transformers fan magazine Hubris celebrates its 10th issue with a host of features dedicated to the giant robot saga and comes wrapped in a superb, exclusive full-colour wrap-around cover poster by top comics artist Stephen Baskerville. The magazine also includes… Read More ›
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The Prisoner Released – on Blu-Ray
British blu-ray and DVD distributor Network‘s first ever Blu-ray title will be a special-features laden collection of the original 1960s The Prisoner starring Patrick McGoohan. Available to buy as a six-disc limited edition box set on 28th September 2009 for… Read More ›
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Strip!: Fab Toons and Splendid Zines
London’s Resonance FM continues its ongoing coverage of comics with several shows from the Panel Borders team. Strip! Fab Toons and Splendid Zines: Starting ‘women in comics’ month on the show, Panel Borders have a couple of interviews with small press… Read More ›
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Look Out! It’s Pyook-In
Ace cartoonist Malcolm Kirk’s been homaging Look-In again. Enjoy… Snow Patrol Comic Strip by ~MalcolmKirk on deviantArt
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Frears to direct Tamara Drewe
Stephen Frears director of films such as The Grifters, Roddy Doyle’s The Van and The Queen is set to take the director’s chair for the big screen adaptation of Posy Simmonds Guardian comic strip Tamara Drewe. Variety reports Frears has… Read More ›
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The Oldie Book Launch, Exhibition
British cartoonist site Bloghorn reports a book of cartoons from The Oldie is to be published later this month, and an exhibition to go with it will be held at London’s Cartoon Museum. The Oldie Book of Cartoons 1992 –… Read More ›
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Disney Marvel Buy Out – What now for Marvel Reprints in the UK?
No, it’s not a hoax, not an imaginary story — media giant the Walt Disney Company, no slouch itself in the comics publication department, shook US comics publishing to the core late last week with the news that it had… Read More ›
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Creating Comics: G.I. Handley – Rise of the Writer
Edinburgh-based writer Ferg Handley has written for a wide range of British comics since the mid-1990s covering subjects as diverse as football, war and superheroes. With the recent launch of the UK tie-in comic GI Joe, for which Ferg writes… Read More ›
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Compal Launches Lot Search, Garth Art Up For Auction
The Autumn 2009 auction at British comics auction site Compalcomics, which has just announced an online search facility for all its past lots, closes soon. This catalogue’s star lot is The Beano Comic No 1 with original advertising flyer, an… Read More ›
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Cinebook Announces Cult Classic XIII Publication Plans
Over the last 25 years, the dark, engrossing graphic novel series XIII has attracted a cult following in French-speaking countries and beyond, with readers eagerly awaiting every one of the 19th instalments published so far. Now, Canterbury-based publishers Cinebook have… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: EveryDay Praise, Muppets and Mirabilis
• Forbidden Planet International’s Richard Bruton has been heaping praise on the work of Manchester-based Adam Cadwell, whose EveryDay webcomic . “Cadwell’s work is much more slice of life, observational style than others,” says Richard. “This means that the majority… Read More ›
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Angry Robot UK Launch in October
It’s a brand-fusion to reinvent science fiction in the UK, a union that may yet shake London to the core. Forbidden Planet London will be hosting the official UK Launch of Angry Robot Books on Saturday 10th October at the… Read More ›