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.

  • Abadzis in The Guardian

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    Nick Abadzis, whose book Laika has drawn deserved critical acclaim from many quarter of late, has just announced that he has a a three-page strip in The Guardian from this Saturday (19th April)that runs for six weeks (every Saturday in… Read More ›

  • Lee’s Legion of 5

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    Image details: Stan Lee at the opening Reception For ”Stan Lee: A Retrospective” in February 2007. Image via picapp.com Marvel Comics Master Stan Lee and his Pow! Entertainment, along with Brighton Partners have teamed with CG producers Rainmaker Entertainment (now… Read More ›

  • HammerWeb Revamped

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    It’s been a long time coming, but the Hammer Films official web site (www.hammerfilms.com) has just been updated to fully reflect its new productions, while still celebrating its groundbreaking history as Britain’s favourite horror film company. The site has had… Read More ›

  • BBC Seeks New Writers

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    The next generation of TV writers are being sought by the BBC for its Drama Writers Academy, a unique course that equips writers with the skills to work on BBC flagship continuing drama programmes. The Academy is the only course… Read More ›

  • Cartoonists invade Shrewsbury

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    Shrewsbury will be invaded by all manner of cartoonists this coming weekend (18th – 20th April), intent on enjoying themselves to the maximum at the Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival. Guests include Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell, Steve Bright, David Fletcher (creator… Read More ›

  • Exhibition Review: Make Mine Manga!

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    I approached the How Manga Took Over The World exhibition at Manchester’s Urbis museum, writes Matt Badham, with some trepidation. I’m not a massive manga and anime fan and certainly don’t know my shonen from my shojo. However, perhaps because… Read More ›

  • 2D Returns to Derry

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    2D, The Northern Ireland Comics festival, will return this year and will take place from the 5th – 7th June in the Verbal Arts Centre and other locations here in Derry, Northern Ireland. The festival is organised by the Verbal… Read More ›

  • Webby Awards Nomination for Ring Tales

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    The 12th Annual Webby Awards has nominated US company RingTales for the Best Animation Video of 2008, based on a selection of RingTales’ animated versions of the print cartoons from The New Yorker magazine. Winners will be announced on 6th… Read More ›

  • Septic Isle debuts

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    UK independent comic publisher Moonface Press will launch its new graphic novella Septic Isle with a limited edition of just 100 copies at next month’s Bristol International Comic Expo. In the 1970s and ’80s, Jacob Marley was MI5’s most revered… Read More ›

  • Torchwood Toys go Underground

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    BBC Worldwide has chosen Underground Toys as the North American and UK licensee for Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, with several product lines planned, including mugs, key chains, plastic replica items, laying cards and resin busts. Expect products to start shipping… Read More ›

  • More Moore

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    Ronald D. Moore, that is – not Alan. US broadcaster Fox has ordered a two-hour sci-fi pilot, Virtuality from Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica) and produced by Universal Media Studios. Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun along with Ronald and… Read More ›

  • Twilight Zone and Flyings Saucers come to Comics

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    The newly revamped icv2.com reports that UK publisher Walker Books is launching a series of eight graphic novels based on classic episodes of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. The first two volumes will be out in October, just one year… Read More ›

  • Expo Latest – Exclusives Promised

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    With now only four weeks to go until the UK’s biggest comics convention at Bristol’s British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall on 10th and 11th May 2008, it’s time to reveal some of the new books, offers and EXpo EXclusives… Read More ›

  • Times features Classical Comics

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    Today’s Times newspaper carried a full feature on bringing Shakespeare to teenagers “as they like it” and included a plug for both the recently-published Manga and Classical Comics Shakespeare comics. The piece has made Classical Comics artist Jon Haward’s day,… Read More ›

  • Yuri’s Night Celebrated in Style

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    Supporters of space exploration were busy celebrating this weekend, with annual Yuri’s Night events across the planet on Saturday, marking Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s first human space flight on 12th April 12th, 1961 and the first launch of the US… Read More ›

  • Podcasters Paraded!

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    Whether you’re looking for a place to discuss comics with like-minded individuals, or you’re after ideas for new titles, comics podcasting has the answers – and now, the makers of some of the UK’s finest shows are about to reveal… Read More ›

  • Art Attack!

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    May 1st-15th sees the return of Street Blitz to London – the interactive way to conduct guerrilla art. The idea is to use the whole city as an open gallery. Install your art, or creative urban landscape subversion, and then… Read More ›

  • Book And Magazine Collector 294

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    The latest issue of Book and Magazine Collector, issue 294, is now available and has a selection of interesting articles. David Ashford and Norman Wright’s Great British Comic Artists series hits number 28 with Philip Mendoza who worked for Thriller… Read More ›

  • Thunderbirds Specsavers Ad

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    (Updated 11 April): Now being screened in the UK is this fun Thunderbirds-inspired advertisement for Specsavers featuring an updated Virgil Tracy and The Hood in a mini adventure to promote their Specsavers Reaction lenses. The advertisement was shot using the… Read More ›

  • Friday Fun: Unsold SciFi Pilots

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    After getting a phone call from a TV producer this week seeking comics that could be adapted for TV – and suggesting a few British independents and UK publishers he should try — it seems it’s TV pilot pitching season… Read More ›