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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Wicked Willie Returns!
Remember Wicked Willie, the creation of Gray Jolliffe? Well, he’s back, as right and upright as ever in The Complete Wicked Willie, out on DVD in January. Based on Jolliffe’s internationally best-selling series of cartoon books about the continuing adventures… Read More ›
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On My Radio…
Alex Fitch has just sent us details for the shows he produces that are being broadcast / podcast over the next seven days… On air: Strip: The work of Art Spiegelman Guest presenter Grant Rogers talks to Pulitzer Prize winning… Read More ›
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Cartoonists join Stars on Canvas Fund Raiser
The Willow Foundation, the only British charity of its kind providing special days for 16 to 40 year olds with life-threatening conditionshas teamed up with respected British artist Julie-Anne Gilburt to hold Stars on Canvas, a colourful and imaginative art… Read More ›
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Unhappy Farewell to “Stalag 666”
Hope Falls and Doctor Who comics writer Tony Lee has bid an acrimonious farewell to Stalag 666, his first strip for 2000AD, which finishes its 15-part run this week. Drawn by Jonathan Davis Hunt, the Prisoner of War camp-inspired strip… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 27 November 2008
• Forbidden Planet International is running a competition to win a thousand pound shopping dash in its Belfast store – a three minutes to dash around grabbing up to a grand’s worth of goodies. It’s only open to residents of… Read More ›
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British Comics on the Rise?
Regular readers of downthetubes already know the British comics industry is far from dead, but now that gut feeling is backed by new figures which reveal sales are booming, up more than 70 per cent in the past five years…. Read More ›
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Eagle in Portugal
… well, sort of. Thanks to a friend on a message board, we’ve come across information on this Portuguese comic, Foguetao, published in 1961, which includes strips from Eagle such as Dan Dare. The Portuguese web site notes the title,… Read More ›
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Doomlord’s Credit Crunch Deal
All evil must go!
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New Football Comic Launches
Rammie, the first issue of an all-new football humour comic for children will go on sale in UK newsagents tomorrow (26th November) featuring work by Duncan Scott, Nick Brennan, Nick Miller, Lee Healey, and Lew Stringer. With a cover price… Read More ›
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Jim Krueger scripts Stand In for Ardden
A new project from best-selling writer Jim Krueger
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Pens, Pencils and Photocopiers: Alternative Press Fair 2009
The Alternative Press Fair 2009 in London has just been announced, bringing together the worlds of alternative comics, zines, self-produced art-books, poetry and diy/punk culture for one amazing day, like a great colourful blacmange that you can’t eat. It’s a… Read More ›
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Commando – as you’ve never seen it before!
Here’s a bit of comics-related fun from a recent edition of FHM magazine (not that we here at downthetubes read such things, cough, cough). To illustrate a piece about common men’s problems (cancer, bereavement, being dumped by a woman etc),… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 24 November 2008
• Kieron Gillen talks about writing the new Warhammer Crown of Destruction comic series from Boom Studios over on comiccon.com, the series inspired by on Nottingham-based Games Workshop’s hugely popular gaming system and figures. “It’s a world that lives on… Read More ›
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Captain Eager comes to DVD
Anyone who’s a fan of Dan Dare, Rick Random, Flash Gordon and perhaps even Captain Scarlet might not want to check out the new DVD Captain Eager and the Mark of the Voth, unless of course they’re prepared to enjoy… Read More ›
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Review: The Most Natural Thing in the World by Frances Cassavetti
Right, time to review cartoonist Francesca Cassavetti’s The Most Natural Thing in the World (hereafter referred to as The Most Natural Thing). Ok, here goes… The Most Natural Thing is a joy. One of the best comics I’ve read all… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 23 November 2008
“It’s a cracking read, Gromit”. Having appeared on the cover of the 70th anniversary Beano and with their next adventure due to be broadcast on BBC1 this Christmas, Wallace and Gromit’s popularity is being used to give a boost to… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: A Thought Bubble Comic Con Special
It’s been a week since the Thought Bubble comic con’ in Leeds and it seems that the fuss is only just beginning to die down, with many exhibitors and punters naming it as their con of the year! “There was… Read More ›
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British Zombies Boom!
A few months ago, up and coming British comics artist Paul Harrison-Davies promised a sneak peak of a comic he was working on before finding out sneak peaks were not allowed. “Well, I’m told the comic’s out so I guess… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 21 November 2008
• King Features Syndicate, the world’s premier distributor of comics (including Hagar the Horrible, Popeye and more), columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to newspapers worldwide, is launching Comics Kingdom, a first-of-its-kind digital platform it says provides a revenue-driving business… Read More ›
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Hine, Braithwaite on Brave and Bold
British creators David Hine and Dougie Braithwaite team up on DC Comics Brave and the Bold title for the next four issues, delivering a story which begins with a strange child channeling the Green Lantern oath and scrawls it on… Read More ›