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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Strip! Goes Manga, Mills talks French (comics, that is)
Continuing ‘cross cultural comics month’ on the show, the Strip! radio show this week is looking at the winners of last year’s Manga Jiman (Pride in Manga) competiton run by the Japanese Embassy in London to find the best new… Read More ›
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First Beano Book, Marvelman Cover Art up for auction
Over 200 items of British comics and art form the Summer 2010 auction at UK auction house Compalcomics, including a rare Beano book discovered in a charity shop and cover art for an early issue of Marvelman by creator Mick… Read More ›
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VE Day Anniversary marked in new Commandos
The first two stories of the latest Commandos from DC Thomson, on sale this week, continue the VE-Day series first issued for the 50th anniversary 15 years ago. Denis McLoughlin handles the tank story with Commando regular, Ibanez, take care… Read More ›
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Smuggling Vacation sequel Day of the Deal finally goes on sale
There will be plenty to look out for and buy at this weekend’s Comic Expo in Bristol this weekend (if you’re one of the lucky ones who have a ticket for this now sold out event) – but one title… Read More ›
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Get Wasted! Issue 4 hits the stands
Issue 4 of adult humour magazine Wasted is on sale now, featuring a sexy cover by the ever-brilliant Dave Taylor. This issue features more War On Drugs, Alan Kerr’s absolutely superb Lusi Sulfura (“She was sent to Earth to drag… Read More ›
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In Review: Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham
By: Darryl Cunningham Publisher: Blank Slate The Book: Psychiatric Tales delves inside the mysteries of mental disorders – presenting explanations and recollections using the cartoonist’s own experiences as both a psychiatric and care nurse and as someone who himself has… Read More ›
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Cinebook Announces Titles For Late 2010
Cinebook, the Canterbury based publisher of translated Franco-Belgian graphic novels, have released their catalogue for the second half of 2010 and it includes new series that haven’t been translated into English before. These new series are Long John Silver, written… Read More ›
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Comics @ Belfast Urban Arts Academy
With its own comics convention, 2-D, at the start of June and the Belfast Telegraph newspaper having just given away a second set of free DC Thomson reprint comics over the course of a week, Northern Ireland has an active… Read More ›
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David Bishop launches graphic novels collection in Scotland
(Adapted in part from David Bishop’s Vicious Imagery blog and reposted here with his full permission): Comics writer, editor and TV script writer David Bishop was at the Greenock Public Library, Scotland last night to help promote its new collection… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Figures now on sale
Termight Replicas has started taking pre-orders for the new Dan Dare 1:6 Scale Action Figure. The first in a series created by Day2Day Trading, the figure comes with detachable hands, helmet, boots and ‘Paralysing Pistol’ (which, we gather, sadly has… Read More ›
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Ross Talks Turf with Geek Syndicate
Top British comics and media podcast service Geek Syndicate has secured something of a well-deserved exclusive – a 45 minute interview with Jonathan Ross about about the success of his new comic, Turf, working with Tommy Lee Edwards, the future… Read More ›
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Doctor Who artist conjures iconic Football Moment for new print
Former Doctor Who comic artist Richard Piers Rayner has produced a limited edition print recreating one of football’s most iconic moments, when Pele and Bobby Moore were pictured swapping shirts. The original photograph, taken by John Varley at the Estadio… Read More ›
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iPads to order in UK, but which Comic Reader is best?
The prices and release date details for the most hyped and anticipated gadget this year, the Apple iPad, which features a number of digital comic products were announced for the UK this week. The device has been much touted as… Read More ›
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Paul Rainey’s 2000AD marathon draws to a close
In November 2006, after an impetuous, ill-thought out bid on eBay, comic creator Paul Rainey won the first 1188 programmes of 2000AD… and so began a marathon read that became a long-running decision to rad and review them every issue… Read More ›
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IPC Media, owners of classic comic archive, considers title closures
IPC Media – owners of classic but no longer published titles such as Lion and many comic characters such as the Steel Claw, the Spider and Robot Archie – has announced that it is undertaking a strategic review of its… Read More ›
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Hairsine delivers "Masked" cover
Top artist Trevor Hairsine has provided the cover to a new superhero short story anthology edited by my friend and ace SF book editor Lou Anders, who used to work for me on Star Trek Magazine and Babylon 5 Magazine…. Read More ›
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With Great Power is now… Masked
My friend Lou Anders, who used to work for me on Star Trek Magazine and Babylon 5 Magazine, but these days is an award-winning editor for Pyr Books, and who very kindly introduced me to artist John Picacio whose work… Read More ›
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Dan Dare gets Pulped!
Every once in a while, the Internet throws up some gorgeous work featuring a famous character – but the origins of the art is clouded in mystery. Given all the interest in Dan Dare recently, it was perhaps no surprise… Read More ›
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Buy Your Commando…
New Commandos from DC Thomson now on the news stand in the UK highlight the work of top veteran comic artist Ian Kennedy and sees the start of the VE-Day stories, marking the 65th anniversary of the end of World… Read More ›
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Comic-inspired movie Largo Winch comes to London
Successful Belgian bande dessinée series Largo Winch has been made into a live action film. Its writer and creator Jean Van Hamme was on hand at the Institut Francais in South Kensington in London to answer questions after a screening… Read More ›