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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Mad Web Finds: Klingon TV
Described as ” A transmission recently received from an extraterrestrial source. Prepare for battle…”, we’re with the commentators who think this may be a clever bit of promotion for the upcoming Star Trek MMO and not an early trailer for… Read More ›
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DFC Collections On Their Way
Collections of some of the brilliant strips that featured in the subscription-only comic The DFC are in the pipeline for 2010 release. Due in April, March and May respectively are MeZolith by Adam Brockbank and Ben Haggarty, Good Dog, Bad… Read More ›
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Success for "Discovered Authors" First Graphic Novel
Publishing company Discovered Authors’ first foray into graphic novels, Death’s Door: Ignorance Likes Company by Jag Lall, has been getting some good press worldwide and has been picked up as a teaching aid for young people. The story touches on… Read More ›
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New Crikey! on sale This Week
(with thanks to Lew Stringer): The twelfth issue of British Comics magazine Crikey! should go on sale this Friday, 29th October. The issue includes interviews with 2000AD co-creator Pat Mills, Albion writers Leah Moore and John Reppion and veteran comic… Read More ›
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30 Years of Viz Exhibition
In November 1979, DHSS clerk Chris Donald, his 15-year old brother Simon and old school friend Jim Brownlow put together a 12-page comic fanzine in a bedroom of the Donald family home in Jesmond, Newcastle. The initial 150 copies of… Read More ›
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Ready (For Sarah Jane And The Doctor)? Always!
The BBC has just five new episodes featuring David Tennant as the Doctor still to broadcast before he hands over to Matt Smith. The two part Doctor Who regeneration story is odds on to get some of the highest viewing… Read More ›
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In Review: The Misadventures of Jane
The Book: Charts some of the cartoon (mis)adventures of Britain’s first and best-loved World War 2 pin-up – the scintillating, blue eyed, blonde-haired, clothes-phobic cartoon legend that is Lady Jane Gay. This collection features two full strips (no pun intended)… Read More ›
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Solipsistic Pop Launch Date Set
Solipsistic Pop – a new, bi-annual anthology featuring the best alternative comic artists based in the UK – will be launching book one at London’s ICA on 8th November. “The book has been created with the intention of providing a… Read More ›
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In Review: The Best Of Battle
It feels like it has been a long time coming but Titan’s Best of Battle has finally hit the stores and surprisingly, for a “Best Of” book, the wait has been worth it. Battle Picture Weekly was IPC’s answer to… Read More ›
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Comic Conference Announced at Manchester University
Manchester Metropolitan University will host an academic conference on comics next April, with deadline for papers in January – and report that a new academic journal about comics will be published next year. Grandly titled The Graphic Novel and Comic… Read More ›
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Don’t Forsake The Prisoner
Fans of The Prisoner reading this blog might want to check out the various web sites of US band Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, which has a new music project in the works inspired by the show aptly… Read More ›
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In Review: The Chimpanzee Complex – Paradox
The latest science fiction offering in Cinebook’s increasing number of translated bandes dessinee albums from France is The Chimpanzee Complex. Unlike Aldebaran or Orbital this is a story that takes place in the near future of 2035 and begins on… Read More ›
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Emma Vieceli’s Dragon Heir: Reborn
British artist, writer and general ambassador for all things Manga, Emma Vieceli, has added a webcomic to her website. Dragon Heir was the first comic series that she worked on providing the story and art with Andrew Ruddick providing the… Read More ›
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FAB Gerry Anderson Comics
The latest issue of FAB published by Fanderson, the Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society, is now out. FAB is a 64 page A5 full colour fanzine published quarterly and available exclusively to Fanderson members. Issue 64 includes the third part of… Read More ›
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Matters of Convention: UK Web ‘n’ Mini Comix Thing
Continuing our series of interviews with British comic convention organisers, for this seventh instalment Matthew Badham talks to comic creator Patrick Findlay of the UK Web ‘n’ Mini Comix Thing, which is being held annually in London. These convention features… Read More ›
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Ricardo Garijo: The Commando List
A checklist of the Commando comics drawn by Ricard Garijo, first compiled by Vic Whittle in 2009
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In Memoriam: Ricardo Garijo, Commando Artist
We’re sorry to report the passing of Argentinian comic artist Ricard Garijo, aged just 55
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Accent UK Releases "Fastest Man" One Shot
A quick round up of news from top British indie Accent UK, whose latest Western anthology has now shipped and is in comic stores across the globe (Diamond Previews Order reference JUN090671 for those of you wanting to order from… Read More ›
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Exeter Comics Expo Announced
Ever a glutton for punishment, Mike Allwood, considered the driving force behind the Bristol Comics Expo team, has announced he’s also working on a one-day Comics Expo in Exeter, Devon, for early 2010, with artists Mike Ploog, David Lloyd and… Read More ›
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Comics Revue Goes Bi-Monthly
Fans of US newspaper comic strips such as Flash Gordon and Al Williamson’s Secret Agent Corrigan will already know about Comics Revue, but you may not know Manuscript Press has just re-launched the long-running magazine as a bi-monthly, with double… Read More ›