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: Comics Academia
In the aftermath of Thought Bubble and its associated academic conference on comics, Possibilities and Perspectives, here is round up of what is happening comics-wise in the hallowed halls of academia. We have recently mentioned on downthetubes the Fractured Images,… Read More ›
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Latest Jeff Hawke’s Cosmos Now Available
Has it really been five years since Bill Rudling started publishing Cosmos? Titan’s series of Jeff Hawke books may have stopped after two titles but Bill’s 84 page, A4 sized zine which reprints complete stories from the Daily Express’ daily… Read More ›
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In Review: Charley’s War – Underground And Over The Top
Underground And Over The Top is the latest in Titan’s annual Charley’s War reprint series and it follows the story of First World War soldier Charley Bourne from May to September 1917. The book covers two full stories with the… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: New Issue Gen
The latest issues of Commando are now available – Commando 4247Raiders from the Sea Story: Ian Clark Art/Cover Gordon Livingstone Previously published as Commando 2550 Tommy Bell was heartbroken when he was evacuated from his blitzed home city of Glasgow…. Read More ›
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C For Cartoon Classroom
Cartoon Classroom is a free resource website set up by David Lloyd, Steve Marchant and Paul Gravett which aims to centralise all the information available on the study of cartooning and sequential art in the UK and the Republic Of… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: 27 November 2009
Carlton’s seventh and latest Commando reprint book Battle Of Britain: Scramble!, with its air combat theme, is being promoted in the RAF’s newspaper the RAF News. Commando editor Calum Laird is interviewed in the newspaper where he talks about the… Read More ›
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Oh,Oh,Oh,Oh,Oh! Happy Birthday Mr Freeman!
It’s a significant birthday for our publisher…
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Happy Birthday, Mr Freeman – Other Voices
Others wish our publisher a Happy Birthday
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Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo Signing at Forbidden Planet
Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo (pictured), creators of Tank Girl Skidmarks, will be signing Skidmarks #2 at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 5th December 1 – 2pm. Alan and artist Jamie Hewlett created… Read More ›
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Strip! for Savage Messiahs, Doctor Who and Al Davison…
Here’s some info about the shows ace podcaster Alex Fitch is involved with that will be broadcast over the next 7 days: On air: Strip! – Ctrl Alt Shift: Lightspeed Champion and Savage Messiah Continuing ‘British Mavericks’ month on the… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Awards, Thought Bubble Signings and Hi-Ex
• Leonie O’Moore, Tony Hitchman and WJC from the “New British Comics” anthology will be present at Thought Bubble convention (Saturday, November 21st) and they will be happy to sign your NBC copies. Signing will be available throughout pretty much… Read More ›
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Win a PSP 3000 thanks to the Geeks!
To celebrate the launch of the Sony Digital Comic Store, top British comics and SF news site Geek Syndicate has teamed up with Sony and Insomnia Publications – publishers of titles such as Cages, Cancertown and Burke and Hare –… Read More ›
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New "Soldiers Zero" iphone Comic Launched
US e-publisher Underwater Samurai Studios Publishing have just released their first made for digital comic, Soldiers Zero, utilising technology developed by Irish iphone comics makers Infurious Republic, the creators of digital titles such as Beatnik High and the controversial Murderdrome,… Read More ›
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Fractured Images, Broken Words at Lancaster University
Comics writer and former 2000AD editor Andy Diggle will be one of two keynote speakers at an academic conference that will include discussions on the comic form at Lancaster University next year. Together with Professor Terry Eagleton of Lancaster University,… Read More ›
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New Commando Titles
(with thanks to Calum Laird): Here are details on the new Commando titles from DC Thomson on sale until 25th November in all good newsagents… Commando No 4243: Dangerous Despatches Story: Norman Adams Cover and inside Art: Keith Page Intrepid… Read More ›
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Free Comics Workshops at ThoughtBubble
Leeds comics event Thought Bubble, which takes place this coming weekend, has just announced several free workshops for children and adults run by industry professionals. If you or anyone you know wants to come along for some comic art and… Read More ›
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AntiFolk Goes Zine Friendly
In order to try and get more zines, comics and self published material out to a wider audience, Britain’s Alternative Press team are teaming up with like-minded events organisers to ensure they have a table for the sale of zines… Read More ›
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Commando Webbing: 16 November 2009
Norway sends us Nemi (published daily in The Metro and compiled annually by Titan) and in return we now send them Commando. DC Thomson’s official CommandoMag site is reporting that Commando comics are being published in Norway by Egmont Serieforlaget… Read More ›
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Most Bizarre British Comics Tie-In 2009
And the 2009 downthetubes award for the most bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise of the year goes to… Firstly let’s remember that our favourite piece of bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise to date has been the Jackie Knitting Set. DC… Read More ›
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In Review: Spandex
The Book: Welcome to Spandex – super-heroes with a difference! From the creator of The O Men (www.comix.org.uk/theomen), Spandex is a brand new super-drama with a very unique spin. And even if you have heard what it’s about, it’s really… Read More ›