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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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 ›
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Dan Dare Revived – in Bosnia!
Dan Dare is back in a regular comic – in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a long time off the shelves, publishing company PrintMedia has just relaunched Plavi Vjesnik, which first published the Eagle space hero (and other Eagle strips) in… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away Soars Again
The latest issue of Spaceship Away, the science fiction comics magazine inspired by and featuring the original Dan Dare has just gone to the printers and will be on sale in all its usual outlets, and online, soon. This issue,… Read More ›
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Michael Rosen heads up new writing competition
Michael Rosen, Children’s Laureate 2007-2009, is heading the panel of judges in a new short story competition for children and young people just launched by children’s charity Jigsaw4u (www.jigsaw4u.org.uk). Entrants have the option of sending in an illustration. Launched in… Read More ›
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DC Thomson launches Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine
DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano and award-winning teen title Shout, have announced their biggest girls’ magazine launch of 2010: the Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine, based on the life and works of the popular and acclaimed children’s author and former… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: Ian Kennedy
In case it has passed your notice, Commando have been having a mini celebration of Ian Kennedy’s work for the title as it is 40 years since he first produced a cover for them. As we have previously reported, the… Read More ›
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Titan launches Shaun the Sheep on the iPhone
Quickly following up from the hugely successful launch of the Wallace & Gromit digital comics, Britain’s Titan Publishing is now bringing another Aardman creation, Shaun the Sheep, to the iPhone. Shaun, the star of the hit BBC animated show, is… Read More ›
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Commando Strikes!
Here’s the rundown of the latest Commando titles on sale now from DC Thomson, which continue in part to celebrate artist Ian Kennedy’s 40-year plus career… Commando 4263: Fury StrikeStory: Alan Hemus Inside artwork and full wraparound cover: Ian Kennedy… Read More ›
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Pictures from France: Sarah McIntyre in Angoulême
downthetubes may have one of the best Scottish comics correspondents in, er, Scotland, in the form of Jeremy Briggs, but we don’t have a foreign correspondent: and yet, British comic creators regularly attend the biggest annual French Comics Festival, Angoulême… Read More ›
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Alex Ronald’s Red Sands Resurrected
Check out Alex Ronald’s first ever comic
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Book and Magazine Collector 317
The latest issue of the A5 size monthly Book and Magazine Collector is now in the shops with two British comics creators being covered. The magazine includes an interview with artist and writer Garen Ewing on his work on The… Read More ›
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New Starblazer Comic?
As much as we would like to tell you that DC Thomson have published issue 282 of their science fiction digest Starblazer, we can’t. However we can show you artist Graeme Neil Reid’s idea of what the cover of Starblazer… Read More ›