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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BBC’s Comedy Map Of Britain – Dundee
The BBC2 programme The Comedy Map Of Britain turned its attention to Scotland for the second programme of the second series. As well as taking Johnny Vegas back to the ruins of the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh and Doon Mackichan… Read More ›
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Comic Creation As It Happens
Website NewTeeVee reports that the hugely popular online comics Penny Arcade and PVP have begun live-casting their cartoon artists as they create the sites’ Web comics. Webcams pointed at computer desktops follow the process through the completed script. Each live… Read More ›
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Milligan on Mobile
The work of writer, poet, musician and comic genius Spike Milligan, who revolutionised comedy after the Second World War, is now available on the web and for mobile phone users through ROK Entertainment, the global mobile entertainment group, owners of… Read More ›
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Being Human To Return
BBC Three has ordered a six-part series of the popular one-off drama, Being Human from Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group. The intriguing pilot screened in February (as reported on downthetubes at the time), as part of the… Read More ›
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Prince Caspian Game: Special Scenes Filmed
Although there may well be no more Narnia films after Dawn Treader is released in 2010, there certainly seems to be enough being filmed when it comes to the upcoming Prince Caspian, with ans of The Chronicles of Narnia will… Read More ›
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Missing Believed Wiped
I don’t know if anyone caught ITV3’s affectionate documentary Those Were The Days about the Apollo 11 Moon Landing last night, with interviews and footage about the momentous event. (It’s currently available on ITV’s CatchUp service and to be repeated… Read More ›
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Dan Dare at the Science Museum
Good news for Frank Hampson fans. The upcoming Dan Dare and the Birth of High Tech Britain exhibition at London’s Science Museum, which opens next week, now includes murals drawn by Dan Dare creator Hampson back in 1977. Talking of… Read More ›
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Ewing and Holden Interviewed
Matthew Badham has just posted a great interview with 2000AD and small press creators Al Ewing and PJ Holden (who has also worked for Image Comics and Fantagraphics) on his Overspill blog. “We were supposed to be talking about Dead… Read More ›
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Saint Johns Church Edinburgh Easter Sign
Saint Johns church Edinburgh Easter sign – China and OlympicsOriginally uploaded by byronv2 Following up on our earlier post about Chinese piracy, Forbidden Planet’s Joe Gordon recently published this photograph of a thought-provoking poster outside Saint John’s church on the… Read More ›
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No More Narnia?
Several entertainment web sites including Digital Spy are reporting that Disney may end its The Chronicles of Narnia franchise after the third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is released. Prince Caspian, the second film in the series of… Read More ›
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Chinese Copyright Theft
(with thanks to Matthew Badham): Illustrator Darren Di Lieto and British artist Jonathan Edwards are just two of many creators on the warpath after discovering a Hong Kong-based publisher has illegally used illustrations and interviews conducted by Darren in a… Read More ›
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Classic Cold War Visions
(with thanks to Matthew Badham): The Guardian reports on an upcoming exhibition at London’s V&A Museum, featuring Sputniks, space suits, an early coupe form of the Trabant and a full-scale reconstruction of a futuristic inflatable building. Cold War Modern, which… Read More ›
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Do You Want To Kiss It Better?
Do You Want To Kiss It Better is a new charity comics anthology aimed at raising money for good causes. The first issue, Green, is on sale now from retailers such as Forbidden Planet Online and London comic shop Orbital… Read More ›
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Another DFC Strip Revealed
Following up on yesterday’s post about Neill Cameron’s strip for DFC, Mobot High, comes this image of Dave Windett’s strip for the new British weekly, subscription-only title, Lazarus Lemming. Dave’s credits include Simpsons Comics, Korky the Cat for The Dandy,… Read More ›
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Mobot High joins DFC title
British comics creator Neill Cameron has just announced that his new strip Mo-Bot High, and will be appearing in The DFC, the brand new weekly subscription-only children’s comic being launched in May 2008 by David Fickling Books, an imprint of… Read More ›
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No Barcodes Event
Oli Smith has published this promotional video for No Barcodes, the Camden Comics Mini-Con from 10-6pm on Saturday 31st May. The event features cheap food, glorious scenery (see video for more on this), sketching tables, entrance is free, and exhibitors… Read More ›
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Galleon 43
Comics creator Lewis has just released the above video promo for his new comic Galleon 43, which will be on sale at the Bristol Comic Expo next month. Written by Lewis and illustrated by Jacob Phillips, Galleon 43 follows Chris… Read More ›
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More straight to DVD Stargate
Stargate: Continuum debuts exclusively on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc in the US on 29th July, with members of SG-1 find themselves returning to a world where their history has been dramatically altered. Continuing the legacy of Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Continuum… Read More ›
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Haunted Liverpool book materializes
John Reppion’s new book, Haunted Liverpool, featuring art by Andy Bloor, David Hitchcock, Declan Shalvey, Mo Ali, Oliver Redding and others has just gone on sale via the Leah Moore and John Reppion’s web site shop. On offer is the… Read More ›
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Beano Reunion on Radio 4
Comics guru Paul Gravett is just one of many creators involved in a special comics-focused The Reunion show on BBC Radio 4 this coming Sunday (Sunday 20th April, 11.15 to 12 noon). “The Reunion is a fascinating series bringing people… Read More ›