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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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Blu-Ray, DVD Details
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is coming to DVD and three-disc Blu-ray on November 30 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment in the UK. From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen delivers non-stop action… Read More ›
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Egmont’s Misty Comic Special Content Revealed
Egmont UK’s Comic Specials, which began with Roy of the Rovers earlier this year, continue next month with the release of its first collection dedicated to the popular 1970s girls horror comic, Misty. The official Misty web site, which publishes… Read More ›
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Starkings, Salmon Unleash Cold Blooded War
IDW has just published standalone Doctor Who story, Cold Blooded War, written by former Doctor Who Magazine comic strip editor Richard Starkings and former Doctor Who Magazine editor Gary Russell. Drawn by Adrian Salmon, the story is set in the… Read More ›
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UK Comic Creators Launch "Cartoon Classroom"
UK comic creators are encouraged to sign aboard a new initiative, Cartoon Classroom, which aims to foster links between artists, writers and others and educational institutions, and detail events and workshops that promote the comics form in Britain. “Cartoon Classroom… Read More ›
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Star Trek DVD Release Date Set
The new Star Trek film beams onto DVD and 3 Disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy on 16th November 2009 in the UK. This visually spectacular, blockbuster prequel from acclaimed director J.J Abrams (Lost, Mission: Impossible III) follows a young James… Read More ›
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Paul Dini Signing in London Friday 28th August
Marking the highly anticipated release of Batman: Arkham Asylum in the UK, Emmy award-winning script writer Paul Dini will be signing copies of the game at Game 100 Oxford Street, London tomorrow (Friday 28th August) between 1 and 2.00pm. Paul,… Read More ›
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Crikey! Goes Colour
The latest issues of British comics magazine Crikey! is on sale this week – and has made the leap to full colour throughout. Running to 84 pages the first issue of the now bi–monthly Crikey!, with a Dennis the Menace… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: My Hero Director John Stroud
We’re very sorry to report that My Hero and producer and director John Stroud has died aged 54 of a brain tumour. John, who was also co-founder of Big Bear Films with Marcus Mortimer and is probably best known for… Read More ›
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Beano Revamp announced, New Look for Dennis
DC Thomson has announced plans to revamp its remaining weekly comic, The Beano. Contrary to our earlier report they’ve also given Dennis the Menace a makeover in the comic as well as the re-design planned for his new CBBC animated… Read More ›
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Nostalgia and Comics Opens Doors to Small Press
Some good news for British small press publishers – another store wants your comics. The Manchester Comix Collective reports that part of a major makeover for the Nostalgia and Comics shop in Birmingham – which is owned by Forbidden Planet… Read More ›
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Comic Piracy on the Net: New Clamp Down Plans Announced
British fans sharing e-versions of comics via the Internet could soon come under the spotlight of anti-piracy organisations, after the government announced further measures to tackle digital piracy, mid-way through the consultation period on its Digital Britain report. The Guardian… Read More ›
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Dennis De-Menacing Denounced
(Updated 24/8/09): CCBC’s revamp of The Beano‘s Dennis the Menace, which launches next month on the TV channel, has been given the big thumbs down by his creator’s family. The Daily Telegraph reports that Rosemary Moffat and Alison Gardiner, the… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: SciFi Heroes of the 1970s
What’s not to love about this labour of love by illustrator Dusty Abell we just found over on deviantart? We don’t think Dusty’s missed out many of TV’s 1970s heroes, including those from British series such as Space: 1999. “This… Read More ›
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Adventures in Wonderland
downthetubes is pleased to announce an interview by Matt Badham with Dracula and Sherlock Holmes writers Leah Moore and John Reppion. Leah and John are the husband and wife writing team behind Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery, The Complete Dracula,… Read More ›
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WexWorlds Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival Invades Wexford
Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer, Darren Shan (The Saga of Darren Shan) and Hugo Award-winning author Ian McDonald (Brasyl, Desolation Road) are among the many creators who will be attending the first WexWorlds Festival, in Wexford, Ireland from Friday 20th… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Eternal Warrior, Enid Blyton and Kit Williams
• It’s about time we re-plugged the Eternal Warrior, Paul Grist’s pastiche on British comics hero Adam Eterno, who first appeared in Thunder back in the early 1970s. Over on the Bleeding Cool forum, some Americans have started screaming that… Read More ›
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Omnivistascope 5 Now Available
“Omni-Vista-Scope” 1. A device upon which all things may be viewed.2. The Omnivistascope Corporation, a universal broadcaster.3. A high quality science fiction comic anthology written by Paul Scott. The latest issue of Paul Scott’s excellent annual Omnivistascope has been released…. Read More ›
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Take A Dump For 99p
David Robertson has sent us details of his new small press title Dump which follows on from the two issues of Berserkotron, his previous title. Dump is a 24 page US size anthology with colour covers and black & white… Read More ›
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Garth in Colour for Spaceship Away: Exclusive Sneek Peek!
Spaceship Away, the British science fiction comic anthology publishing all-new adventures of the original Dan Dare, adds Daily Mirror action hero Garth to its line up next issue. First published in 1943, Garth’s time-travelling adventures lasted for over 50 years… Read More ›
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GI Handley: Rise of the Writer