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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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 ›
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New "Soldiers Zero" iphone Comic Launched
US e-publisher Underwater Samurai Studios Publishing have just released their first made for digital comic, Soldiers Zero, utilising technology developed by Irish iphone comics makers Infurious Republic, the creators of digital titles such as Beatnik High and the controversial Murderdrome,… Read More ›
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Fractured Images, Broken Words at Lancaster University
Comics writer and former 2000AD editor Andy Diggle will be one of two keynote speakers at an academic conference that will include discussions on the comic form at Lancaster University next year. Together with Professor Terry Eagleton of Lancaster University,… Read More ›
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New Commando Titles
(with thanks to Calum Laird): Here are details on the new Commando titles from DC Thomson on sale until 25th November in all good newsagents… Commando No 4243: Dangerous Despatches Story: Norman Adams Cover and inside Art: Keith Page Intrepid… Read More ›
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Free Comics Workshops at ThoughtBubble
Leeds comics event Thought Bubble, which takes place this coming weekend, has just announced several free workshops for children and adults run by industry professionals. If you or anyone you know wants to come along for some comic art and… Read More ›
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AntiFolk Goes Zine Friendly
In order to try and get more zines, comics and self published material out to a wider audience, Britain’s Alternative Press team are teaming up with like-minded events organisers to ensure they have a table for the sale of zines… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: 16 November 2009
Norway sends us Nemi (published daily in The Metro and compiled annually by Titan) and in return we now send them Commando. DC Thomson’s official CommandoMag site is reporting that Commando comics are being published in Norway by Egmont Serieforlaget… Read More ›
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Most Bizarre British Comics Tie-In 2009
And the 2009 downthetubes award for the most bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise of the year goes to… Firstly let’s remember that our favourite piece of bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise to date has been the Jackie Knitting Set. DC… Read More ›
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In Review: Spandex
The Book: Welcome to Spandex – super-heroes with a difference! From the creator of The O Men (www.comix.org.uk/theomen), Spandex is a brand new super-drama with a very unique spin. And even if you have heard what it’s about, it’s really… Read More ›
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New Harker Debuts
You’ll all be pleased to hear that Issue 9 of the fab indie detective series title Harker, from Ariel Press is out now. It’s available from all the usual comic shops (listed here on the offcial blog) and it’s also… Read More ›
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New British Comics #2 Released
The second issue of anthology title “New British Comics” is now on sale, available, just like the first issue in both English and Polish. Edited by Karol Wisniewski, the new edition comes wrapped in a superb cover by Nelson Evergreen,… Read More ›
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Titan Launches Wallace & Gromit iPhone Comic
Britain’s Titan Publishing has just launched its first digital comic for iPhone and iTouch – featuring Aardman Animations’ inventors extraordinaire and Oscar winners, Wallace & Gromit. Launched as the animated pair celebrate their 20th Anniversary, each comic is a complete… Read More ›
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Back From The Depths Presents Hallowscream! 2009
It’s finally here! The 2009 Back From The Depths Hallowe’en Special is an anthology horror comic that’s not for the nervous, inspired in part by the short-lived Scream! title published in the 1980s. The comic, which includes contributions from creators… Read More ›
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November Commandos Revealed
Internet spooks delayed the arrival of DC Thomson’s latest information on its new issues of war digest Commando, but thanks to a bit of counter espionage from downthetubes and the Dundee offices of the monthly magazine, we’re finally able to… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Comics Good for You, Superhero Homage in 2000AD… and Moore
Yes, we know we haven’t done one of these for a while: juggling work for ROK Comics and Titan Books as well as a few other things is proving a welcome but all-consuming challenge most days of the week… •… Read More ›
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Frank Bellamy Art Auctioned
The Winter 2009 auction at British auction site Compalcomics is now open and includes a mix of gems, including rare Frank Bellamy artwork from Eagle and more. Issues of Beano, Dandy and Wizard from the war years are again on… Read More ›