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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Celebrate 70 years of Comic Mayhem!
Ken Harrison has provided this great illustration for the forthcoming Beano and Dandy exhibition at the Cartoon Muesum in London. While some of the characters featured will be familar to today’s readers of The Beano and Dandy Ken has also… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 19 July 2008
Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter interviews British comic creator Daniel Merlin Goodbrey here. ‘What little I know about the writer and cartoonist Daniel Merlin Goodbrey intrigues in a way that it’s surprising I didn’t interview him a long time… Read More ›
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Cancertown Graphic Novel Planned
Cancertown (out at the end of the year from Insomnia Publications) is a new original graphic novel from British comic writer Cy (Starship Troopers) Dethan with art by Stephen Downey, colours by Melanie Cook and letters by Nic Wilkinson. It’s… Read More ›
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In Review: Him and Her’s Smuggling Vacation
by Jason WilsonPublished by Dealer Comics The Book: A 74-page graphic novel telling the story of an ordinary British couple – he works in IT, she works in Marks and Spencer – who, when on holiday in Spain, stumble across… Read More ›
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Creepy Curtain Crawlers!
Comic creator Chris Reynolds, the groundbreaking talent behind the classic Mauretania graphic novel, has just added a new Moon Queen adventure to the comics to mobile service ROK Comics. Titled Curtain Crawlers, the spooky tale is different to the previous… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 17 July 2008
• Due to unforeseen circumstances Jimi Gerkin’s much anticipated ‘Pens, Pencils and Photocopiers’ Comics and Zines Event in London this Saturday is going to cost exhibiting contributors £7 each. More details here: Jimi has asked that contributors get in contact… Read More ›
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Pubishing News Closes, Victim of Web Competition
British book trade weekly Publishing News, which has occasionally covered graphic novels and related illustrated books in its pages, is to cease publication. The issue of Friday July 25th will be the last. In a statement on the magazine’s website… Read More ›
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Bell Defends New Yorker Obama cover
Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell has sprung to the defence of the New Yorker magazine, currently embroiled in controversy for its latest cover depicting US presidential candidate Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle. Barack Obama supporters are said to be furious… Read More ›
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BBC Issue a Comics Challenge
(with thanks to Robin Ashwell): The BBC online News Magazine has just published an article on newspaper comic strips — and is challenging readers to send in their own four panel creations. The article, published to publicise self-taught artist (and… Read More ›
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Shatner on Your Mobile…
Thanks to a deal between ROK Media (publishers of ROK Comics) and top Hollywood photographer Sue Schneider, you can now buy wallpapers featuring some top SF TV and film stars — along with other celebrities — for your mobile. Mobile… Read More ›
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No Heroics Reviewed
Over on Comic Book Resources, Rich Johnston has published a preview, complete with several photographs, of ITV2’s new superhero sitcom No Heroics, as part of his latest Lying in the Gutters comics news and gossip column. The show, set to… Read More ›
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2000AD Owners Interviewed
Game site Develop reports that British independent developer Rebellion, publishers of the Rogue Trooper and Judge Dredd games and also owners of cult comics 2000AD and Judge Dredd: The Megazine, has hit out at reports saying that the UK is… Read More ›
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New Blake’s 7 Designer Speaks
(with thanks to Jeremy Briggs for the link): Scottish newspaper the Queensferry Gazette has just interviewed designer David Carey about his work for the new Blake’s 7 show in development for Sky One. The British broadcaster revealed back in April… Read More ›
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Tank Girl: More Preview Art Online
(with thanks to Mattew Badham): Chris Ryall, Editor in Chief at US publisher IDW, has just posted a selection of art from their new Tank Girl series on his personal blog. Written by creator Alan C. Martin and drawn by… Read More ›
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Grant Morrison: The Early Years Re-Released
Publisher Sequart.org has announced that a second edition of its first book, Grant Morrison: The Early Years, is now available exclusively through specialist comic shops via Diamond Previews (order code JUL084473). If you missed out last year, now is the… Read More ›
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Britain is Broken…
British indie comics publisher Moonface Press has launched a website to support the release of its forthcoming graphic novel, Septic Isle. The site – www.britainisbroken.com – features a free PDF download of the book’s first 10 pages, plus information about… Read More ›
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More from Blank Slate
New UK publisher Blank Slate has announced a further four graphic collections, following hot on the heels of their release of Oliver East’s Trains Are Mint and Mawli’s We Can Still be Friends. All four stick to the publishers hoped… Read More ›
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The Surgeon Recut
Scottish publishers Rough Cut Comics, publishers of Rose Black, the Freedom Collective and more, are releasing a trade paperback compiling the original two-issue mini-series The Surgeon, featuring the early artwork of Jaeson Finn. The Surgeon, which ran ran for five… Read More ›
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Jack Kirby Quarterly Returns
We knew Dez Skinn, former editor of Comics International, Warrior and many more Brtitish comics titles couldn’t keep away from good old print journalism forever. His next project is the 15th anniversary special of the world’s first-ever magazine devoted to… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 12 July 2008
• Artist Rufus Dayglo has posted a message on the official 2000AD Forum revealing the new Tank Girl: Skidmarks series will begin will be making its debut in Judge Dredd Megazine #275.Meanwhile, Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #3 will… Read More ›