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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Remembering Heroes
There was a time not that long ago when British boy’s comics celebrated the heroism of British and Commonwealth servicemen. As London celebrates the current British forces with the City Salute, Jeremy Briggs takes a look back at how British… Read More ›
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In Review: The Wolfmen
Review by David Hailwood Another fine offering from Accent UK, publishers of Robots, The Wolfmen successfully merges the crime and horror genre. This time, we get a stand alone comic written by Dave West and drawn by Andy Bloor set… Read More ›
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Return of the Cat
British comics artist ‘Israeli reports via his blog that local stray Lucky the Half Face Cat has resurfaced post winter near his London home. “He’s survived another winter,” says ‘Israeli, whose recent strips include various strips for 2000AD and contributions… Read More ›
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Eisner Awards Voting Opens
The online voting facility for this year’s Eisner Awards are now open and you can vote online for your favourites from the nominees, which are listed in full on the Will Eisner Awards web site. British creators nominated include Nick… Read More ›
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Studio Space Signings
Marking the launch of Image Comics’ exciting Studio Space book, the publishers have lined up four signings/ events throughout the UK starting in May. Written by the creators of Tripwire magazine – Joel Meadows and Gary Marshall – Studio Space… Read More ›
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Road Death Comics…
Rumble strips were invented to alert us to hazards. In fog or snow, or even worse, on the verge of sleep, when you…just…. can’t… keep… your… eyes..op-drrrrrrrrrr drrrrrrrrrrrr drrrrrrrrrrrrr! The noise, the jolt, the vibration of those grooves wakes and… Read More ›
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Never Been Exhibtion Online
(with thanks to Matthew Badham): Never Been, the giant comic strip that exhibited on the walls of Projekts MCR skateboard park in Manchester earlier this year is now online at www.stuartkolakovic.co.uk/neverbeen.htm The exhibition , both real and virtual, is the… Read More ›
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Temple of Comics!
On the weekend of Free Comics Day, downthetubes is pleased to report Issue #0 of The Temple Comic APA’s Digital Showcase is now available to download as a free PDF at templeapa.ning.com, featuring a motley collection of strips from some… Read More ›
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DFC Teaser Online
Some pages from the new weekly subscription-only British The DFC comic are now available to view on line at: www.thedfc.co.uk/teaser_issue.htmlDFC‘s content includines a strip by author Philip Pullman, The Adventures of John Blake, illustrated by John Aggs, one of the… Read More ›
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Robin Hood Joins Accent UK
Accent UK are very pleased to announce that by special arrangement with Geoff West of The Book Palace, they’ll have a supply of the newly released Frank Bellamy’s Robin Hood the Complete Adventures book at both the International Comic Expo… Read More ›
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Bond on the Radio, New Titan Collection
Ian Fleming, renowned author and creator of iconic spy James Bond, was born 100 years ago and to mark this special anniversary, BBC Radio 4 is joining in the celebrations – which include the release of more James Bond comics… Read More ›
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Friday Fun: The Legion of Super Potatoes
With all the interest in potatoes as a potentially better crop than rice in terms of round the year food source (last August, Chinese farmers were being urged to grow spuds instead of rice, for example), what better time for… Read More ›
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Borderliners Launched
Salford-based writer and artist Brian Gorman is launching a brand new comic book this month, and his work, employing some of the techniques used by Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson and featuring the likeness of Sir Ian McKellen in a… Read More ›
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New Elephantmen On Sale Now
Elephantmen plugged us, so, by return…
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Free Comic Book day
Tomorrow is Free Conic Book Day worldwide and your local comic shop may well be supporting it. A free comic featuring Dan Dare from Virgin Comics is just one of the many offerings. Find out if your ocal comic shop… Read More ›
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Join Stargate
You can keep your Grand Theft Auto, people. Stargate Worlds, the massively multiplayer online role playing game from new publisher FireSky, is now taking registrations for closed beta at www.StargateWorlds.com. The closed beta is an invitation-only test of the upcoming… Read More ›
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Daily Mirror’s Jane on DVD
One of the more obscure titles in our British Comics on Film list has just been released on DVD. Odeon Entertainment have released the 1949 B-movie The Adventures of Jane which is based on the Daily Mirror ‘s Jane comic… Read More ›
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downthetubes upgraded!
The main downthetubes site featuring comic creator interviews, a guide to writing comics, comics links, a comics events guide, the Really Heavy Greatcoat archive and more has just switched to a new server and the transfer may take a few… Read More ›
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Comics on My Radio
How do cartoonists choose the words for their speech bubbles? And – although we call them “speech” bubbles or balloons – how close are they to real speech? The language of cartoons, comics and graphic novels was the subject of… Read More ›
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Bulletproof Launches!
New UK-based comic book publisher Bulletproof Comics has announced the launch of its updated website and the release of its first issue # 0. “It’s certainly taken longer than we expected,” said Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Matt Yeo, “but it’s great… Read More ›