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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Original Comics Art Auction To Benefit Philippines Flood Victims
(via Forbidden Planet International and Gerry Alanguilan): Following the terrible floods in the Philippines, which have caused a huge number of deaths and damage to homes and infrastructure, some of comics professionals based there – many of whom have been… Read More ›
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Eagle Times (Volume 22, Number Three) Delivers Danny Dare
The latest issue of Eagle Times (Volume 22, Number Three) features an article by downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs on Danny Dare (“Dan Dare’s Number One fan”), who appeared in Wham! in the 1960s. The cover art illustration for the issue is… Read More ›
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The Script Archive Needs Your Help
We’re sorry to report that the fab comic writers resource, the not-for-profit Comic Script Archive might be going down. “It sucks because I know it’s been really helpful to a lot of you – even some pros have emailed me,… Read More ›
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Making the Most of your Self Published New Comic at BICS
Comics Worth Reading, a great US indie comics advocate, has featured a recap on some recent posts following last weekend’s Small Press Expo in the US, and offers some useful advice on using possibly duff copies of your new book,… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Pitching at Conventions, Classic Tempest and Comic Domination
• Anyone planning to attend the British International Comic Show to pitch work might be interested in Insomnia Publications Guide to pitching to them, which they hope will give creators a bit more help and confidence when it comes to… Read More ›
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"The Prisoner" Merchandise Planned
While ITV has yet to announce its scheduling for the new The Prisoner series inspired by the 1960s cult classic, they clearly have high hopes for the show’s success, announcing the appointment of not only a book but also a… Read More ›
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Garth Debuts in New Spaceship Away
The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on sale now via the official web site, and as previously mentioned, features the first installment of the Frank Bellamy Garth story The Bubble Man, beautifully re-coloured by… Read More ›
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Saints Be Praised! It’s the Dead Sea Comic…
Straight from the caves of Qumran, missed by Bedouan and archaeologists alike, comes the Dead Sea Comic filled with fun, facts and figures from Bible times, from the downright bizarre to the truly incredible. Did you know that Abraham married… Read More ›
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Primeval Revived, So Where’s the Comic?
ITV has changed its mind about cancelling its Saturday teatime time travel and dinosaur show Primeval, prompting some to wonder if this means a comic will now get off the ground. ITV announced yesterday that Primeval will return to UK… Read More ›
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Marvel Motormouth Cover Art For Sale
Someone got a bargain.
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Team TOXIC at BICS
(via Lew Stringer): The editorial team behind TOXIC, Egmont’s popular long-running comic-mag for boys, are just one more publisher exhibiting at this year’s British International Comic Show at the ThinkTank, Millennium Point in Birmingham this weekend (October 3rd/4th). TOXIC will… Read More ›
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Thomas Wogan Is Re-Published
Any comic creator out there who wonders if it’s worth self-publishing will be pleased to hear that sometimes all those hours slaving away at the photocopier, then stapling comics together until you’re sick of the sound of the ‘ker-chunk’ as… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Davison Who Art, Time Bombs and Herbbs!
• As part of the A Thing About Machines electronic Arts Festival, dedicated to the innovative composer Delia Derbyshire who composed the Doctor Who theme, The Tin Angel in Coventry screened films by local filmakers, including the premiere of comic… Read More ›
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Striker Heads Into the Net
Long-running soccer strip Striker recently came to an end in The Sun – catching many fans by surprize, even though creator Pete Nash had been saying for some time he planned to end the saga. But, after 24 years of… Read More ›
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In Review: Salem Brownstone – All Along the Watchtowers
The Plot: A sumptuous and rich gothic fantasy following the adventure of Salem Brownstone as he falls into a strange and magical world after the death of his father. As he twists the key and slowly creeps into the grand… Read More ›
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Scottish Dragons In The Crimea
Just how far around the world do the words of some blogs get? For Scotch Corner, the Scottish daily art blog, it is the Ukraine. Specifically Bakhchisaray School No. 1 in Crimea, Ukraine. Scotch Corner runs a monthly competition to… Read More ›
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The Avengers Amended
Compare and contrast!
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Copyright: Internet Access Cut Off No Answer, say Greens
Europe’s Green Party has stepped into the battle about copyright and piracy, which increasingly affects comics publishing as comics are scanned as soon as they are published and re-distributed free online. Last week, the French National Assembly adopted a modified… Read More ›
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Panel Borders: Emma Vieceli, promoting new British Manga
Continuing ‘Women in Comics’ month on podcast Panel Borders – and originally broadcast on Resonance FM – this week Alex Fitch talks to Emma Vieceli, illustrator of the Manga Shakespeare adaptations of Hamlet and Much ado about Nothing who has… Read More ›