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.
-
Alan Davis Expo Print Revealed
The Alan Davis DR and Quinch Britsol EXpo EXclusive Limited Very Edition Print can now be ordered via the Expo site: www.fantasyevents.org Produced only for Expo, which runs from 9-10 May in Bristol, this signed A3 Full Colour Print on… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: 13 March 2009
• Lucasfilm has published a feature on Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore’s connections to Star Wars, documenting the pair’s early Star Wars work. Alan wrote several Star Wars tales for Marvel UK while Dave’s first contribution was as an artist… Read More ›
-
John Higgins Talks Razorjack, Watchmen
Brilliant artist and colourist John Higgins has just completed a new four page comic strip for his collected magnum opus, Razorjack. Published with revived Com.x, the Brit independent comic company that John says “have quality and production values that can… Read More ›
-
Cla$$war Returns
This month sees the welcome return of British indie publisher Com.X, whose success was torpedoed by a series of unfortunate events shortly after it launched in the early Noughties. Com.X kicks off its new projects with a hardcover collected edition… Read More ›
-
Frazer Irving Goes Orbital
The great Frazer Irving, doodler of the dark and diabolical including Judge Death, From Grace and amazing writer David Hine, currently writing on Spider-Man Noir but whose credits stretch back to the 1980s with strips for Crisis, 2000AD and Doctor… Read More ›
-
Electric Sheep Springs on Tainted Love
The all new spring issue of Electric Sheep Magzine, featuring illustrations by Oli Smith, Emma Price and Tom Humberstone and a new comic strip by Mark Stafford, focuses on Tainted Love to celebrate the release of the sweet and bloody… Read More ›
-
Simonson On Air and Other Podcasts…
Alex Fitch talks to artist and writer Walter Simonson on Resonance FM which week, the creator whose exceptional four-year run on the Marvel comic The Mighty Thor in the early 1980s remains the most appreciated version of the character since… Read More ›
-
Thought Bubble Plans Mass Book Crossing
The Leeds Thought Bubble festival team have announced this year’s event will run from the 20 – 22 November, with a one day convention event on Saturday 21st at Saviles Hall Leeds, England. “Throughout this year’s event we will hold… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: 8 March 2009
• (via Matt Badham): Space war story Insurrection is currently wowing all those Earthlets who pick up Judge Dredd: The Megazine every month – with many suggesting that it might be one of the best series the Megazine has ever… Read More ›
-
ComPal Auction Closes This Week
A quick reminder that the Spring 2009 auction at Compalcomics, which includes offerings of art from TV21 by Frank Bellamy and Mike Noble (see news story) closes this week. Bidding will close on Tuesday 10 March at 8 PM UK… Read More ›
-
TV Magician Ali Bongo Dies
downthetubes is sorry to report that TV Magician Ali Bongo — described by friends as “the most influential and respected man in magic” — has died following a stroke, after being taken ill in France last month during a lecture…. Read More ›
-
Saturday Morning Watchmen!
If Alan Moore is annoyed about the new Watchmen film, just wait until he sees this — although, actually, this hilarious Saturday Morning Watchmen, the creation of British animator Harry Partridge, is the kind of parody he might just like…… Read More ›
-
Watchmen Reviews Round Up
In the absence of getting to the film myself yet — is it really worth putting up with modern cinema goers habits like texting on their mobiles, talking through the film and having the bladder control of fleas to bother?… Read More ›
-
Alan Moore on Writing, League and Watchmen
In a new interview for Salon.com that, like other news media features such as this one in The Independent, notes Alan Moore‘s absence from the credits of the Watchmen movie despite being the comic’s co-creator, the Northampton-based writer talks extensively… Read More ›
-
Captain Britain Podcast News
It’s the start of ‘classic heroes’ month on Strip!, the fab radio show and podcast presented by Alex Fitch. This week, Alex is talking to two of the creators of stories featuring Britain’s very own superhero – Captain Britain. First… Read More ›
-
Tune in for Channel Evil!
Renegade Arts Entertainment have released more information about Channel Evil, a stunning black and white title from the fevered imaginations of Alan Grant and Shane Oakley, which launches in April. Co-published with Belfast-based Berserker Comics, publishers of The Dead, the… Read More ›
-
Comic Book Alliance Petitions Government
A petition to the British Government to clarify new legal powers which may impinge on comics creation and fandom has just been launched, urging the Prime Minister to ensure that the future of the medium of Comic Art in the… Read More ›
-
Tube Surfing: 4 March 2009
• This is the 1500th Post to the downthetubes blog! Some sort of milestone. downthetubes itself has been going in varied forms since 1999. Special thanks to all our contributors, old and new! • Erik Salholm has just posted a… Read More ›
-
Hope Falls Trade in the Pipeline
Hope Falls, the five-part miniseries that AAM/Markosia released in 2007/2008 is, hopefully, to be released as a trade paperback, depending on trade orders through comic shops. The title is an enigma. In many ways, it’s known as the ‘little train… Read More ›
-
DFC Up For Sale
Sad news for British Comics: David Fickling’s wonderful weekly subscription comic experiment, The DFC, is up for sale, following a decision by The Random House Group to cease publication. If no buyer is found, the title will close on 27th… Read More ›