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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Geek Syndicate Launches first ever 2000AD podcast
Top Brit podcast site Geek Syndicate have launched a new podcast on under our banner dedicated to all things 2000AD – possibly the first of its kind devoted solely to Rebellion’s weekly scifi comic. Everything Comes Back To 2000AD is… Read More ›
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Bryan Talbot IS The Doctor
(with thanks to Pádraig Ó Méalóid): Congratulations to top comics creator Bryan Talbot, who has been awarded an honorary doctorate for his “outstanding contribution to the Arts as writer and graphic artist” by Sunderland University. The ceremony is on Friday… Read More ›
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Chorion Secure Rights to Dan Dare
(Updated 14 July 2009): Media trade magazine Broadcast is reporting that the company Chorion has secured international licensing rights for “classic” Dan Dare, as featured in the original Eagle comic, offering the character for “a broad range of licensing applications.”… Read More ›
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Eddie Campbell Interviewed
The Forbidden Planet International blog has just published a smashing interview by Pádraig Ó Méalóid with Eddie Campbell (From Hell, Alec and much more), just as Top Shelf’s big Alec: the Years Have Pants collection is announced in Previews, due… Read More ›
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New Comics Events Site Launched
While it’s still largely focused on US events, comics fans and British convention organisers might want to check out UpcomingCons.com, a new web site which hopes to list conventions around the world. Offering a new fan convention resource focused on… Read More ›
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Watchmen on DVD, Blu-Ray
The big-screen adaptation of the most celebrated graphic novel of all time, Watchmen, will be released as a Region 2 two-disc DVD and Blu-ray with Digital Copy on 27th July. Directed by Zack Snyder (300), the 2-disc DVD of the… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing 6 July 2009: Scotch Corner, Harker, Tom Baker, Bodysnatchers and Cricket
• Those pesky Scottish creators are attempting another coup of downthetubes with a reminder that Scotch Corner, a collection of Scottish artists, is up and running. The fine team from north of the border include Thomas Crielly, Gary Erskine, Andy… Read More ›
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DC Thomson Bids Farewell to former Beano Editor
Comics artist Lew Stringer picks up on news that broke over at web site Comics UK that Euan Kerr, DC Thomson’s Deputy Manager of Children’s Publishing and former long-standing editor of The Beano and other titles, is to retire. Dismissing… Read More ›
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Apollo 11: Behind the Scenes?
Contributions to our 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing Comics Celebration album on the downthetubes forum are coming in daily, with this latest gem from comics, storyboard artist and illustrator Martin Baines, a tongue-in-cheek tip of the hat to the… Read More ›
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In Review: Torchwood – Rift War
When Titan Magazines launched Torchwood The Official Magazine in January 2008, they chose to follow the example of Panini’s Doctor Who Magazine and include a comic strip. While the Doctor Who comic strip is an historical remnant of Doctor Who… Read More ›
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Birmingham Con Helps Realize Creators Dreams
This year’s British International Comic Show in Birmingham has announced the publication of the first winner of the BICS Got Talent Writing contest. The lucky winner, John Howson, has had his Future Shock story “9 to 5” illustrated by the… Read More ›
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‘Nana Rocket launched by Forbidden Planet!
This is just a bit of Friday fun! In 1988, Forbidden Planet commissioned the young Rian Hughes to create the world famous rocket logo and typeface still used today. Now you can own a piece of history with this vinyl… Read More ›
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BVC’s Shades Enters Spirit World
British Web comic publisher Broken Voice Comics has just released Chapter 12 of its flagship title, the online graphic novel Shades online, plus some of the first pages of Chapter 13 have just been launched at its website. For the… Read More ›
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Pasties Are Better Than Comics
Oh all right, that’s not really true, but you’d be hard pressed to find more enthusiasm for the pastry-based food, created by the Cornish and whose reputation is frequently ruined by bakeries across the UK who simply have no idea… Read More ›
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Strip!: There’s no time like the present
Starting Sci-Fi comics month on the Strip! radio show for London-based arts channel Resonance FM, Alex Fitch talks to small press creator Paul Rainey about his serialised graphic novel There’s no time like the present, which he has been self… Read More ›
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Ex Astris Artist Celebrates Moon Landings
Bill Storie (aka Mike Nicoll), the creator of CGI comic Ex Astris featured in Spaceship Away, has sent us this fab piece of art to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first human moon landing, which forms part of a… Read More ›
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Pride Illustrated at Foyles
Illustrators, cartoonists and artists gathered in London yesterday to discuss graphic literature and queer culture as part of Pride London, for an event chaired by comics expert Paul Gravett. The line up at the event, held at Foyles book shop,… Read More ›
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Combat Colin: The New Brickman
Brickman is dead and there’s a new Brickman patrolling Guffon City – ex-Marvel UK hero of the 1980s, Combat Colin! The bobble-hatted bucaneer ditches the bobble hat for a black cowl and cape in US publisher Active Images Elephantmen #20… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Volume 22 Number Two – Summer 2009
Following up on our brief mention for the latest issue of Eagle Times (Volume 22 Number Two) yesterday, here’s the full details for the issue. The cover story is a look at the nature artwork of Tom Adams, nowadays best known for… Read More ›