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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Tube Surfing: 6 April 2009
• We’re sorry to report US comics artist Frank Springer died at his home in Damariscotta, Maine on Thursday aged 79. His credits include work for Marvel, including issues of Thundercats and Transformers – reprinted by Marvel UK – and… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 5 April 2009
• The Independent on Sunday carried a two-page ‘interview’ with Roy “Roy of the Rovers” Race today, a splendid piece of well-researched work about the character and his history by writer Cole Morton. The piece not only promoted the new… Read More ›
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Who Gazes Upon The Watchmen?
Now that the fuss about the movie has died down and you have treated yourself to the absolute edition of the graphic novel, to the definitive companion to the graphic novel, to the companion to the film, to the art… Read More ›
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Andrew Skilleter Narnia Artwork Exhibition
Today saw the opening of The Wonder Of Illustration art exhibition at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum. The exhibition features original Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland artwork by Spanish artist Angel Dominguez and original Chronicles Of Narnia artwork by Britain’s… Read More ›
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TOXIC Comics Special Out Now
TOXIC Issue 137 with the Comic Supplement featuring work from a host of great creators is on sale now in all good newsagents. So go and buy a copy and support British Comics! If sales are strong it will encourage… Read More ›
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Bristol Expo Tickets – High Demand for PreOrders
Focusing this year mostly on the Best of British Comics around, the Bristol International Comic Expo returns at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on 9th – 10th May 2009, with a special one day extra event on Saturday – the Small… Read More ›
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Furman’s New Projects
Top British comics creator Simon Furman may have been quiet of late, but this doesn’t mean he isn’t busy. In fact, when he called downthetubes last week it was clear the writer, whose credits range from Transformers to Doctor Who,… Read More ›
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"New British Comics" Anthology Published
The first issue of New British Comics, an 80-page comics anthology featuring, 13 stories and 17 artists including Dave Thomson, Malcy Duff, Paul O’Connell and Rob Miller has just been published. The book has been self-published in Poland in two… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson at Forbidden Planet
(Date Updated): Gerry Anderson, who is 80 on 14th April, will be making a public appearance at the Forbidden Planet flagship store in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Saturday 18th April, from 1.00pm. He’ll be there to sign copies of Reynolds… Read More ›
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Razorjack On Sale This Week
John Higgins collection of Razorjack, which includes a new four-page strip, goes on sale in the UK in all good comic shops this Thursday (2nd April). The collection has been published by revived indie Com.x, headed up by publisher Eddie… Read More ›
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GhostNet Comment
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Roy of the Rovers in Newsagents again This Week
A quick reminder that this week sees the release of the first of four collections of classic British comic strip in newsagents, starting with Roy of the Rovers. As we previously reported, Egmont UK and WH Smith have teamed up… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Saturday 28th March 2009
• British comics creator Sean Michael Wilson, whose recent credits include writer for Classicial Comics upcoming Canterville Ghost (out in November) and Sweeney Todd (out next year) adaptations, has become, we believe, perhaps the first British creator to have a… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 27 March 2009
• This weekend sees the opening of the touring Doctor Who exhibtion in Glasgow’s superb Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with costumes, props and more from the revived series going on show from this Saturday through to January 2010. Forbideen… Read More ›
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Scottish Uni Launches Comic Writing MA
Edinburgh Napier University has announced a new MA course in creative writing aimed at aspiring computer games and graphic novel writers. The one-year postgraduate course, part of a range from the University’s School of Creative Industries, has been created by… Read More ›
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Howard Chaykin on Board for BICS
Legendary comics creator Howard Chaykin, creator of American Flagg, Time2, American Century and more is the latest overseas guest confirmed for this year’s British International Comic Show taking place in Birmingham in October. With a career spanning four decades, Chaykin’s… Read More ›
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Bryan Talbot in Preston This Weekend
Top comics creator Bryan Talbot is paying a visit in Preston on Saturday night (28th March) at 8.00pm at The Continental pub. “It’ll be a bit like one of the old SF group meetings,” says Bryan, referring to Preston’s popular… Read More ›
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Justice Bill Petition: Opposition Mounts
Concerns about Britain’s Criminal Justice & Immigration Act 2008 which came into effect in January 2009 and Section 49 of the Coroners and Justice Bill which is currently being reviewed in Parliament are growing among comics creators and fans, with… Read More ›