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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Guardian’s Free Drawing Guide Out Tomorrow
Hot on the heels of what seems to have been a popular giveaway, judging by the scant number of copies in local newsagents, The Guardian is following up its week-long comics promotion with two guides for budding artists being given… Read More ›
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Grandville Tour Announced
Bryan Talbot has been in touch to give us the rundown of dates for his signing tour to promote his ace new graphic novel, Grandville (read our review here). GRANDVILLE UK TOUR 2009 Saturday 26th September 1pm – 2:30pm: Signing… Read More ›
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New British Comics #2 On Its Way
The second issue of indie anthology title New British Comics, featuring this spiffing cover by Nelson Evergreen, should be published in October. Contributors for the 84-page anthology, which will be published by Karol Wisniewski in both English and Polish, include… Read More ›
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Comics @ Wigtown Book Festival
Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway is Scotland’s National Book Town and advertises itself as “a book lover’s haven” with over a quarter of a million books in twenty book-related businesses. It is not surprising therefore that it has its own… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Beano, Broons, Bunty and Bombers
It is that time of year when next year’s calendars are hitting the stores and the one to look out for at the moment is the Beano Retro Comic Art Calendar. With the weekly Beano falling into line with the… Read More ›
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Prisoner Comic Preview Released
An eight-page preview comic of the new US series of The Prisoner is available to download from US production company AMC’s web site here. The Marvel custom comic features art by Brazilian artist Amilcar Pinna, with colouring by Chris Sotomayor,… Read More ›
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Solipsistic Pop Launched
Solipsistic Pop – an anthology that features the very best in alternative UK comics – has launched its website with a manifesto that states the intentions of a new wave of comic artists taking over the UK alternative scene. With… Read More ›
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Fanderson Forum Gets Online Makeover
The official fan club for Thunderbirds co-creator Gerry Anderson, Fanderson, officially launched its new online Forum to replace the club’s ageing Yahoo group yesterday (on the 10th anniversary of the day the earth was blown out of Earth’s orbit in… Read More ›
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ComICA Adds James Jean, McPherson to Line-Up
This year’s Comica festival in London, has announced the addition of North American superstar guests James Jean and Tara McPherson to its line up. Their appearances will be a free instore signing on Thursday 12th November at Comica partner and… Read More ›
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Visiting Artist Expelled from UK
While the artist mentioned in the report below isn’t from the world of comics, the actions taken against her – which have been widely condemned in the past couple of weeks – could affect any comics creator visiting the UK… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: In Memoriam, Guardian Giveaways and Art for Sale
• downthetubes regrets to report the passing of illustrator and comic colourist Ian Mckie last Monday, aged 58. Bryan Talbot reports his heart stopped during what’s been described as a “horrific” asthma attack. The twin brother of Angus McKie, Ian… Read More ›
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In Review: Milk by Stref
Reviewed by David Hailwood Milk is a brand new anthology from Insomnia Publications, containing the works of Stref. It consists of darkly humoured horror and sci-fi oddities, three panel strip cartoons, abstract art, and a whole host of ‘bonus features’…. Read More ›
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In Review: Strange Times
Reviewed by David Hailwood The Plot: A group of misfits are thrust together by forces beyond their control, and charged with the task of averting the destruction of mankind. The Review: Strange Times collects the popular web comics of Dave… Read More ›
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In Review: Phoenix: A Warrior’s Tale
Reviewed by David HailwoodPhoenix: A Warrior’s Tale is a brand new 52 page black and white comic from Adam Grose and Tony Suleri, creators of the popular Cosmogenesis saga. The Plot: Descending from the heavens, an ancient demon has returned… Read More ›
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Let’s Talk About Jane
Titan Books will be releasing The Misadventures of Jane, an eagerly-awaited collection of the classic strip and other material featuring the World War 2 pin up heroine, later this month. Charting the cartoon (mis)adventures of Britain’s first and best-loved World… Read More ›
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Yet More Starblazing In Dundee
After the Starblazer calendar, the Starblazer Adventures role playing game and the Starblazer artwork exhibition at the Lamb Gallery in Dundee, the Starblazer bandwagon continues to roll on. As we mentioned back in July, sculptor Trevor Gordon was working an… Read More ›
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Heretic Tomes in the Black Library
(with thanks to Matthew Badham and Jonathan Green): As of January 2010, Black Library will be launching a range of Print on Demand titles which will allow them to bring back classic and fan-favourite novels, graphic novels and even artbooks… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Marvel Mash Ups, XIII and a Dalek Competition
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Andersonic 8 Is Go
The latest of the superb Gerry Anderson fanzine Andersonic has just been released. Issue 8 includes a new interview with artist Mike Noble, who discusses his work on Anderson-related comic strips in TV Century 21 and Look-In, talking about his… Read More ›
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Moore on Marvelman at Marvel
Alan Moore has commented on Marvel’s acquisition of Marvelman, saying he’s pleased the deal, which will mean his Marvelman stories will be re-published, will see the character’s creator Mick Anglo benefit once again. “After being initially informed by Neil Gaman’s… Read More ›
