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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Orang Utan’s Alpha Gods’ now on Android, iPhone
British independent comics publisher Orang Utan Comics have extended their presence on mobile phones with the arrival of its Alpha Gods title on Android, iPhone and iTouch via Robot Comics. Written by Ian Sharman with art by Ezequiel Pineda, Alpha… Read More ›
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Johnny Red’s Real History Revealed in BBC Shows
Comics commentator Michael Crouch reports that Radio 4’s excellent From Our Own Correspondent show has just aired an item on the Night Witches – the all-women squadrons that fought for Russia during World War 2 and who featured in the… Read More ›
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Century 21 Strip Collection Details Revealed!
Trailed here back in July, publishers Reynolds & Hearn have kindly given downthetubes the lowdown on the strips that will feature in their third volume of Gerry Anderson comic strips, most taken from the brilliant 1960s comic TV Century 21,… Read More ›
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All New UK Comic for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Upcoming issues of Titan Magazines Star Wars: The Clone Wars Comic are to include all-new comic strip stories specially created for the title. The new-look 32-page comic, on sale from 12th November, will include a self-contained eight-page mini-story in every… Read More ›
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Comic Artist Refused Permission to Attend own Book Launch
Comic artist Nikhil Singh, illustrator of the acclaimed Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers recently published by Walker Books, has now been held in South Africa for five months, unable to return to the UK even to attend his own… Read More ›
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Starblazer Revived?
Rumours have reached downthetubes that some form of Starblazer collection is in the works at DC Thomson, along with other graphic collections based on some of the company’s most popular characters from a range of comics. Although Carlton Books have… Read More ›
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Arts Foundation Graphic Novelist Awards: Shortlist Announced
The Arts Foundation has just announced that Spider Moon creator Kate Brown, Bill Bragg, Karrie Fransman and James McKay have been shortlisted for the Graphic Novelist awards. Established 18 years ago, the Arts Foundation (www.artsfoundation.co.uk) has awarded over £1.5 million… Read More ›
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Matters of Convention: ComICA
Continuing our series of interviews with British comic convention organisers, for this eigth instalment Matthew Badham talks to Paul Gravett of London’s ComICA festival, which takes place next month (5th – 26th November). These convention features are being cross-posted on… Read More ›
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Sapphire and Steel Art For Sale
A page of Sapphire and Steel art by Arthur Ranson from Look-In, the “Junior TV Times” of its day, is up for sale on eBay. Inspired by the mysterious ITV drama created by P.J. Hammond, Sapphire and Steel appeared in… Read More ›
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Keith Page Launches New Web Comic
Commando artist Keith Page, who’s also working on a new steampunk comic, Iron Moon, for Spaceship Away, has just started a new web comic, Dennis the Donkey on a dedicated blog entitled “Witchcraft Street”. This is the backstory to his… Read More ›
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Arts for Hearts Auction Site
(with thanks to Ian Stacey): A new blog has been set up to promote the upcoming week-long Arts for Hearts auction on eBay in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, starting on 2nd November. The blog features samples of the… Read More ›
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Bambos Goes Expo!
Comics artist Bambos Georgiou reports on London MCM Expo 16 which ran 24th & 25th October 2009 and is fast developing the comics element of its line-up… I first realized that there were movie cons which included comics in their… Read More ›
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Mad Web Finds: Klingon TV
Described as ” A transmission recently received from an extraterrestrial source. Prepare for battle…”, we’re with the commentators who think this may be a clever bit of promotion for the upcoming Star Trek MMO and not an early trailer for… Read More ›
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DFC Collections On Their Way
Collections of some of the brilliant strips that featured in the subscription-only comic The DFC are in the pipeline for 2010 release. Due in April, March and May respectively are MeZolith by Adam Brockbank and Ben Haggarty, Good Dog, Bad… Read More ›
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Success for "Discovered Authors" First Graphic Novel
Publishing company Discovered Authors’ first foray into graphic novels, Death’s Door: Ignorance Likes Company by Jag Lall, has been getting some good press worldwide and has been picked up as a teaching aid for young people. The story touches on… Read More ›
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New Crikey! on sale This Week
(with thanks to Lew Stringer): The twelfth issue of British Comics magazine Crikey! should go on sale this Friday, 29th October. The issue includes interviews with 2000AD co-creator Pat Mills, Albion writers Leah Moore and John Reppion and veteran comic… Read More ›
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30 Years of Viz Exhibition
In November 1979, DHSS clerk Chris Donald, his 15-year old brother Simon and old school friend Jim Brownlow put together a 12-page comic fanzine in a bedroom of the Donald family home in Jesmond, Newcastle. The initial 150 copies of… Read More ›
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Ready (For Sarah Jane And The Doctor)? Always!
The BBC has just five new episodes featuring David Tennant as the Doctor still to broadcast before he hands over to Matt Smith. The two part Doctor Who regeneration story is odds on to get some of the highest viewing… Read More ›
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In Review: The Misadventures of Jane
The Book: Charts some of the cartoon (mis)adventures of Britain’s first and best-loved World War 2 pin-up – the scintillating, blue eyed, blonde-haired, clothes-phobic cartoon legend that is Lady Jane Gay. This collection features two full strips (no pun intended)… Read More ›
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Solipsistic Pop Launch Date Set
Solipsistic Pop – a new, bi-annual anthology featuring the best alternative comic artists based in the UK – will be launching book one at London’s ICA on 8th November. “The book has been created with the intention of providing a… Read More ›