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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New Harker Debuts
You’ll all be pleased to hear that Issue 9 of the fab indie detective series title Harker, from Ariel Press is out now. It’s available from all the usual comic shops (listed here on the offcial blog) and it’s also… Read More ›
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New British Comics #2 Released
The second issue of anthology title “New British Comics” is now on sale, available, just like the first issue in both English and Polish. Edited by Karol Wisniewski, the new edition comes wrapped in a superb cover by Nelson Evergreen,… Read More ›
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Titan Launches Wallace & Gromit iPhone Comic
Britain’s Titan Publishing has just launched its first digital comic for iPhone and iTouch – featuring Aardman Animations’ inventors extraordinaire and Oscar winners, Wallace & Gromit. Launched as the animated pair celebrate their 20th Anniversary, each comic is a complete… Read More ›
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Back From The Depths Presents Hallowscream! 2009
It’s finally here! The 2009 Back From The Depths Hallowe’en Special is an anthology horror comic that’s not for the nervous, inspired in part by the short-lived Scream! title published in the 1980s. The comic, which includes contributions from creators… Read More ›
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November Commandos Revealed
Internet spooks delayed the arrival of DC Thomson’s latest information on its new issues of war digest Commando, but thanks to a bit of counter espionage from downthetubes and the Dundee offices of the monthly magazine, we’re finally able to… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Comics Good for You, Superhero Homage in 2000AD… and Moore
Yes, we know we haven’t done one of these for a while: juggling work for ROK Comics and Titan Books as well as a few other things is proving a welcome but all-consuming challenge most days of the week… •… Read More ›
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Frank Bellamy Art Auctioned
The Winter 2009 auction at British auction site Compalcomics is now open and includes a mix of gems, including rare Frank Bellamy artwork from Eagle and more. Issues of Beano, Dandy and Wizard from the war years are again on… Read More ›
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Daleks: Animated!
Inspired by Big Finish’s Dalek Empire audio series, here’s an animated version of the opening scenes from the first story, animated using Carrara 6, Daz studio and Crazytalk 6. After centuries of peace, the galaxy is invaded by the… Read More ›
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Orang Utan’s Alpha Gods’ now on Android, iPhone
British independent comics publisher Orang Utan Comics have extended their presence on mobile phones with the arrival of its Alpha Gods title on Android, iPhone and iTouch via Robot Comics. Written by Ian Sharman with art by Ezequiel Pineda, Alpha… Read More ›
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Johnny Red’s Real History Revealed in BBC Shows
Comics commentator Michael Crouch reports that Radio 4’s excellent From Our Own Correspondent show has just aired an item on the Night Witches – the all-women squadrons that fought for Russia during World War 2 and who featured in the… Read More ›
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Century 21 Strip Collection Details Revealed!
Trailed here back in July, publishers Reynolds & Hearn have kindly given downthetubes the lowdown on the strips that will feature in their third volume of Gerry Anderson comic strips, most taken from the brilliant 1960s comic TV Century 21,… Read More ›
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All New UK Comic for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Upcoming issues of Titan Magazines Star Wars: The Clone Wars Comic are to include all-new comic strip stories specially created for the title. The new-look 32-page comic, on sale from 12th November, will include a self-contained eight-page mini-story in every… Read More ›
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Comic Artist Refused Permission to Attend own Book Launch
Comic artist Nikhil Singh, illustrator of the acclaimed Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers recently published by Walker Books, has now been held in South Africa for five months, unable to return to the UK even to attend his own… Read More ›
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Starblazer Revived?
Rumours have reached downthetubes that some form of Starblazer collection is in the works at DC Thomson, along with other graphic collections based on some of the company’s most popular characters from a range of comics. Although Carlton Books have… Read More ›
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Arts Foundation Graphic Novelist Awards: Shortlist Announced
The Arts Foundation has just announced that Spider Moon creator Kate Brown, Bill Bragg, Karrie Fransman and James McKay have been shortlisted for the Graphic Novelist awards. Established 18 years ago, the Arts Foundation (www.artsfoundation.co.uk) has awarded over £1.5 million… Read More ›
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Matters of Convention: ComICA
Continuing our series of interviews with British comic convention organisers, for this eigth instalment Matthew Badham talks to Paul Gravett of London’s ComICA festival, which takes place next month (5th – 26th November). These convention features are being cross-posted on… Read More ›
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Sapphire and Steel Art For Sale
A page of Sapphire and Steel art by Arthur Ranson from Look-In, the “Junior TV Times” of its day, is up for sale on eBay. Inspired by the mysterious ITV drama created by P.J. Hammond, Sapphire and Steel appeared in… Read More ›
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Keith Page Launches New Web Comic
Commando artist Keith Page, who’s also working on a new steampunk comic, Iron Moon, for Spaceship Away, has just started a new web comic, Dennis the Donkey on a dedicated blog entitled “Witchcraft Street”. This is the backstory to his… Read More ›
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Arts for Hearts Auction Site
(with thanks to Ian Stacey): A new blog has been set up to promote the upcoming week-long Arts for Hearts auction on eBay in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, starting on 2nd November. The blog features samples of the… Read More ›
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Bambos Goes Expo!
Comics artist Bambos Georgiou reports on London MCM Expo 16 which ran 24th & 25th October 2009 and is fast developing the comics element of its line-up… I first realized that there were movie cons which included comics in their… Read More ›