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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Valentine Chronicles Comic Art Gallery Opens
The web-based story site The Valentine Chronicles is celebrating its third birthday with a brand new gallery featuring artwork by top UK artists like Alan Davis (ClanDestine, Excalibur, Marvelman), Dylan Teague (Judge Dredd) Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy, Judge Dredd), his image… Read More ›
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London International Creative Competition Launched
The London International Creative Competition for 2010 has just been announced and is calling for entries. Described as “a vehicle for facilitating contact between uniquely talented artists and an international audience”, work is juried by a board of internationally esteemed… Read More ›
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In Review: Nikolai Dante – Amerika
Writer Robbie Morrison’s roguish Nikolai Dante character has been a success for 2000AD from his first appearance in Prog 1035 in March 1997 and with Amerika the Rebellion reprint books of his ongoing adventures have reached number 9. It is… Read More ›
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Book and Magazine Collector 318
The latest issue of Book and Magazine Collector is now available and features the first part of a series of articles entitled Forgotten British Comics on the titles of the so called Pirate Publishers, those companies that produced often one-off… Read More ›
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Al Davison offers Life Drawing Master Class
Comics artist Al Davison has just announced he’s running an all-day Life Drawing Master Class in Coventry in April. An all-day life drawing extravaganza, it’s the opportunity of expert tuition by the very talented Al, in the beautiful surroundings of… Read More ›
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Compalcomics Auction offers rare Beanos, Frank Bellamy Art, Dick Tracy
The Spring 2010 auction at British comics auction site Compalcomics is now open. The catalogue for the auction – one of four held every year – includes a rare copy of The Beano Issue 5 (expected to sell for between… Read More ›
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Comic Cat Music…
Since it’s the weekend, we thought you might have time to enjoy this animated treat, Edgar the Cat by Rodrigo D. Ricci, an artist we’ve been working with here at downthetubes on other projects. The music is by his brother…. Read More ›
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TimeBomb’s "Bomb Scares" set to disturb minds!
Leicester-basd British indie TimeBomb Comics has launched Bomb Scares, their first horror anthology collection. Best described as “disturbing horror in a twisted vein” this 56 page one-shot features 10 stories by 18 talented creators from across the globe: Shane Oakley,… Read More ›
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Are You a Tempolush?
London based comic creator Richy K. Chandler has just launched tempolush.com, a new website showcasing his artwork and comics. downthetubes readers may have seen his work in titles published by Titan, Accent UK and Factor Fiction Press, and can now… Read More ›
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Complete Frank Hampson Story Book Announced
PS Publishing has just released details of Tomorrow Revisited: The Complete Frank Hampson Story, scheduled for release in April – the 60th anniversary of Eagle. Written by Alistair Crompton, with art contributions from Don Harley and Andrew Skilleter, the book… Read More ›
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Torchwood Comic Goes Online
UK TV channel Watch has teamed up with Titan Magazines to offer an exclusive Torchwood online comic. Drawn by ace comic artist Brian Williamson and written by Oli Smith, the story is set at Pontyvale Golf Club, where the post-Christmas… Read More ›
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London Book Fair lines up comics events
The London Book Fair has almost finalised its list of comics events for this year’s three day event at Earl’s Court in April, with a line up of guests that so far includes Paul Gravett, Helen McCarthy, Emma Hayley, Ian… Read More ›
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Mills, Langley Signing at Forbidden Planet London
Forbidden Planet has just announced a signing by Pat Mills and artist Clint Langley to mark the publication of ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Volume 2 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 27th… Read More ›
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In Review: The Chimpanzee Complex – The Sons Of Ares
Cinebook’s The Chimpanzee Complex trilogy began with Paradox which was reviewed here and now continues with The Sons Of Ares. Set in our Solar System in 2035, writer Richard Marazano and artist Jean-Michel Ponzio tell the story of an astronaut… Read More ›
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Former 2000AD Editor Turns "Pill Pusher"
Pill pushing of the fictional kind, of course (what did you think we meant?), as tomorrow (Wednesday 10th February at 1.45pm) see the broadcast of former Judge Dredd: The Megazine and 2000AD editor David Bishop’s first drama commission – an… Read More ›
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Commando dishes up Vampire Jets and Vengeful Australians
Here’s the first salvo of DC Thomson’s Commando title for February 2010, folks! Commando No 4267: Desert VengeanceStory: Mike Knowles inside artwork and cover: Carlos Pino A British mobile canteen. You’d expect it to supply troops with sugar, chocolate, sandwiches… Read More ›
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Hammer Films Update
The official Hammer Films website has today launched a new online shop selling items associated with the vintage British film studio. Items for sale include DVDs, books and T-shirts, along with some new reproduction film posters. But that’s not the… Read More ›
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Exeter Expo Incoming
Hot on the heels of what sounds like an amazing SFX Weekender – which included appearances by Tom Baker, Dez Skinn and Paul Cornell and many other top talents – there’s a smaller but nonetheless eagerly-anticiapted event next weekend: the… Read More ›
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The Four Doctors for 2010!
Big Finish, the company licenced by the BBC to produce audio dramas based on Doctor Who, have confirmed that they will be releasing a multi-Doctor story in December 2010 entitled The Four Doctors, starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy… Read More ›
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In Review: Paragon 5
The latest issue of UK indie title Paragon, Issue 5, edited by Dave Candlish is out now. Featuring the work of artist Stephen Prestwood and writers Dave Candlish (who also provies some art) and The Emperor, with additional contributions from… Read More ›