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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Dan Dare Figure: Latest Sneek Peek!
Here are the latest images of the upcoming Dan Dare figure which will be released later this year by award-winning toy figure maker Day2Day Trading. (Click on the images for a larger view) As we’ve previously reported, the Dare figure… Read More ›
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In Review: Maw Broon’s Cooking With Bairns
She has been cooking for bairns since 1936 (in fact the exact same bairns since 1936) so Mrs Brown should really know a thing or two about cooking with children. With the help of Scottish cookery writer Catherine Brown, no… Read More ›
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In Review: Crikey! No.14
The latest issue of British comics magazine Crikey! is out now and comes packed with a huge range of articles, including an interview with top comics creator Bryan Talbot and a timely tribute to the origins of Eagle comic, which… Read More ›
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Glasgow Comic Mart With Added Small Press Goodness
The latest of the half yearly Glasgow comic marts will be taking place this Saturday, 3 April 2010, in Hillhead. In a change from the mart’s traditional home in recent years at Hillhead Library, Saturday’s event has moved down the… Read More ›
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FAB 65 Now Available
The latest issue of FAB published by Fanderson, the Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society, is now out. FAB is a 64 page A5 full colour fanzine published quarterly and available exclusively to Fanderson members. Behind a Space Precinct cover the issue… Read More ›
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Robert Culp 16 August 1930 – 24 March 2010
downthetubes was sad to learn of the death of Robert Culp, an actor with a number of cult TV and film credits to his name. Culp was perhaps best known for his role in I Spy, the American espionage series… Read More ›
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Bohze Moi! Scotch Corner Recruits Simon Fraser
The Scotch Corner daily art blog has added its sixth and final regular member in the shape of Nikolai Dante artist Simon Fraser. Simon has taken on the previously vacant Saturday slot on the blog which also features other Scottish… Read More ›
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Doctor Wii?
It looks as though we can expect a new Doctor Who game for the Nintendo Ds and Wii. The Newsround website is reporting that the game should be released in time for Christmas. At this early stage, the baddies in… Read More ›
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Girly Comic Website Returns
Via the Forbidden Planet blog, we’re pleased to report that the Girly Comic website is once again back in business and being updated. A hacker attack back in 2009 caused severe setbacks for the website, but now it’s back in… Read More ›
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Den of Geek Celebrates B Movies
The Den of Geek website is taking a week long look at the phenomenon that is the American B movie. Today, Karla Helion presents an overview of B movies, examining the circumstances under which they emerged, and over the next… Read More ›
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UK Web And Mini Comics Thing 2010 – This Saturday
With the mighty juggernaut that is Hi-Ex’s pre-publicity machine careering down those twisty Highland roads, it would be easy to miss the altogether quieter affair that is also on this Saturday coming. The UK Web And Mini Comics Thing 2010… Read More ›
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Chris Evans Cast as Captain America?
The Hollywood Reporter is suggesting that actor Chris Evans has been cast as Captain American in the upcoming film featuring the famous Marvel character. (This does not of course refer to the Radio 2 DJ of the same name, the… Read More ›
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Bubo Bobblehead!
Sometimes an item of fantasy or sci-fi memorabilia just catches your eye and makes you think ‘I want one of those!’ This rather adorable character is Bubo, mechanical owl and Perseus’ guide from the 1981 version of the movie Clash… Read More ›
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Evans Above! It’s a Zarjaz interview!
Illustrator-turned-writer Paul L Mathews has been in touch to say that his blog Paul L Mathews: Struggling On has a mini-interview with Dave Evans, the editor/publisher of 2000AD fanzines Zarjaz and Dogbreath and other titles such as FutureQuake and Something… Read More ›
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New UK Spider-Man Comic?
Is Panini about to launch a new Spider-Man comic? As every self-respecting comics fan knows, the company currently publishes several comics for the UK market based on the US Marvel titles, including the hugely successful The Astonishing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man… Read More ›
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Big Finish Baker!!
It looks as though Tom Baker, the 4th and arguably most popular Doctor Who, may soon be working for Big Finish, the company who have produced audio adventures based on Doctor Who for the past decade. According to the Big… Read More ›
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New Flash Gordon Collection
(Updated 1 April 2010): downthetubes has a bias towards comics of British origin but one American character of great interest to many British sci-fi/comic fans, Flash Gordon, is appearing in a new archival collection from Dark Horse, to be published… Read More ›
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The DFC LIbrary goes on air!
Between May 2008 and March 2009, children’s book publisher David Fickling launched a bold experiment in creating a new kids comic – The DFC – for the British market, which on a weekly basis featured new stories in a variety… Read More ›
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It’s Official: BICS is back for 2010!
The British International Comic Show – Britain’s largest and most popular event devoted solely to comics and graphic novels of all kinds – returns to Birmingham in October, with a truly international flavour as the organisers welcome renowned creators from… Read More ›