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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Creating Tammy: A True Story
Many years ago, British newsagents were awash with all sorts of comics: boys’ adventure, children’s titles, educational comics and more. But while humour comics reigned supreme in Britain, and still do, girls comics regularly outsold most of the more famous… Read More ›
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Hulk versus Death’s Head!
Apart from a cameo confrontation between Death’s Head II and the Incredible Hulk in Marvel UK’s Shadow Riders #1 (a little in joke on the part of myself and co-writer Brian Williamson, at the expense of the often maddening demands… Read More ›
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Giant-Size Band-Thing!
You know, now I’m even more annoyed that I missed out on the Birmingham International Comic Show last weekend (the result of circumstances beyond my control). If I’d been able to make it for the whole weekend and known they… Read More ›
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Temple Digital Showcase launched
The first edition of British Amateur Press Association group The Temple’s digital showcase is now available online from their web site to download as a free PDF. The 36 page magazine contains contributions from 10 members, including the likes of… Read More ›
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Win Copies of Gothic
Creators Leah Moore and John Reppion have dropped us a line to say that one of the highlights of the Birmingham International Comics Show this past weekend (see their report) was getting their hands on copies of David Hitchcock‘s new… Read More ›
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The Sun’s Thunderbirds Spoof
We admit it. Some of us at downthetubes – well, aside from flicking through the paper in the local takeaway to read Striker! – are not regular Sun readers, but full marks to the editorial team for this gem of… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away On Sale Now
The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on sale now via the official web site, featuring no less than eleven strips – including part one Secrets of Ceres, an all-new adventure by downthetubes editor John… Read More ›
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‘Comic Timing’ Exhibition Continues
Harrods “Comic Timing” Exhibition is continuing until 31st October 2008
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The Return of Classics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated (originally Classic Comics) was an American comic book series which ran from 1941 to 1971 and featured comic strip adaptations of literary classics ranging from The Time Machine to Moby Dick and Romeo and Juliet to The Jungle… Read More ›
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Come On Ye Reds!
After all the Roy Of The Rovers books due out from Titan in time for Christmas, Vision Sports Publishing of London have jumped on the bandwagon and released two football related graphic novels to compete with all those books on… Read More ›
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The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown
Not much warning but if anyone is within travelling distance of Dundee on Wednesday 8 October then Dr Chris Murray will be giving a talk to the Abertay Historical Society on The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown. Dr Murray was the… Read More ›
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Markosias’s new Starship Troopers Title
AAM/Markosia, British publishers of the hit series Kong: King of Skull Island, Starship Troopers and the critically acclaimed The Boy Who Made Silence, have announced the release of a Starship Troopers one-shot this coming December, War Stories: Tasch, scripted by… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Stand-Up Returns to Lancaster
Top comedian and actor Toby Hadoke returns to the Dukes, Lancaster this month with his hilarious hit show, Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf. This razor sharp comic odyssey, at The Dukes on Saturday 18 October (and will also be… Read More ›
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ComICA 2008 Line-Up Unveiled
The International Comics Festival is back!
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Transformers Animated #1 Heads for Stores
On sale later this month is Transformers Animated #1 from Titan, the company’s new tie-in with the latest animated incarnation of the phenomonally successful robots-in-disguise toy franchise. The first issue, on sale from 23 October, includes ‘Sideswiped’, one of two… Read More ›
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Doctor Who has Come To Bed Eyes!
Doctor Who star David Tennant and The X Factor judge Cheryl Cole have been judged to have the best ‘come to bed eyes’ among UK celebrities, according to a survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Tennant beat… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: DC Thomson Style
Ian Kennedy may be the pre-eminent Commando cover artist over the course of the title’s long history but it had been running for nine years by the time he did his first cover. Before that Ken Barr was the standout… Read More ›
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Futurequake 11: On Sale Now
(via David Hailwood’s new blog): The latest issue of the twice Eagle Award nominated Futurequake will be available to buy at the Birmingham International Comic Show this weekend. Preview images can be viewed on the messageboard of the comic’s website… Read More ›
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Small Press Week at FPI
Joe Grodon writes to tells us Richard Bruton, who write the Propaganda reviews for the Forbidden Planet International blog is posting a pile of themed reviews this week, all on British small press comics creators ahead of the Birmingham International… Read More ›
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ROK’s Hard Place Competition Winners
Hot on the heels of announcing David Fletcher as the winner of it 2008 Humour Competition (see story), British web and mobile comics publisher ROK Comics has revealed that the winner of its ROK and A Hard Place Comics Competition,… Read More ›