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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Gears of War Prview Online
From downthetubes.net news blog (via Digital Comics News): The Gears of War mini-series from Wildstorm Productions, drawn by top British artist Liam Sharp has preview pages online for those of you still foolish enough not to go out an buy… Read More ›
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Panini Launches Marvel Heroes
Available now in all good British newsagents is the first issue of Panini’s Marvel Heroes, which launched last week. The first issue kicks off with two new stories featuring the Hulk and Iron Man respectively. The title’s editor Ed Hammond… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 13 October 2008
COMICS AND ‘ZINES • Radio 4 will be airing four 15-minute programmes on comics and cartoonists with Phill Jupitus, broadcasting on the back of a favourable response to his previous comics programme. The first one with Doonesbury creator Gary Trudeau… Read More ›
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The Seven Doctors
Various news sources are reporting that BBC Children in Need will be featuring a special Doctor Who episode this year featuring all seven surviving Doctors. Here’s what the Telegraph has to say about it: “The actors are getting together for… Read More ›
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Creating Tammy: A True Story
Many years ago, British newsagents were awash with all sorts of comics: boys’ adventure, children’s titles, educational comics and more. But while humour comics reigned supreme in Britain, and still do, girls comics regularly outsold most of the more famous… Read More ›
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Hulk versus Death’s Head!
Apart from a cameo confrontation between Death’s Head II and the Incredible Hulk in Marvel UK’s Shadow Riders #1 (a little in joke on the part of myself and co-writer Brian Williamson, at the expense of the often maddening demands… Read More ›
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Giant-Size Band-Thing!
You know, now I’m even more annoyed that I missed out on the Birmingham International Comic Show last weekend (the result of circumstances beyond my control). If I’d been able to make it for the whole weekend and known they… Read More ›
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Temple Digital Showcase launched
The first edition of British Amateur Press Association group The Temple’s digital showcase is now available online from their web site to download as a free PDF. The 36 page magazine contains contributions from 10 members, including the likes of… Read More ›
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Win Copies of Gothic
Creators Leah Moore and John Reppion have dropped us a line to say that one of the highlights of the Birmingham International Comics Show this past weekend (see their report) was getting their hands on copies of David Hitchcock‘s new… Read More ›
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The Sun’s Thunderbirds Spoof
We admit it. Some of us at downthetubes – well, aside from flicking through the paper in the local takeaway to read Striker! – are not regular Sun readers, but full marks to the editorial team for this gem of… Read More ›
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Spaceship Away On Sale Now
The latest issue of the Dan Dare-inspired comics magazine Spaceship Away is on sale now via the official web site, featuring no less than eleven strips – including part one Secrets of Ceres, an all-new adventure by downthetubes editor John… Read More ›
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‘Comic Timing’ Exhibition Continues
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The Return of Classics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated (originally Classic Comics) was an American comic book series which ran from 1941 to 1971 and featured comic strip adaptations of literary classics ranging from The Time Machine to Moby Dick and Romeo and Juliet to The Jungle… Read More ›
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Come On Ye Reds!
After all the Roy Of The Rovers books due out from Titan in time for Christmas, Vision Sports Publishing of London have jumped on the bandwagon and released two football related graphic novels to compete with all those books on… Read More ›
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The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown
Not much warning but if anyone is within travelling distance of Dundee on Wednesday 8 October then Dr Chris Murray will be giving a talk to the Abertay Historical Society on The Forgotten Heroes Of Beanotown. Dr Murray was the… Read More ›
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Markosias’s new Starship Troopers Title
AAM/Markosia, British publishers of the hit series Kong: King of Skull Island, Starship Troopers and the critically acclaimed The Boy Who Made Silence, have announced the release of a Starship Troopers one-shot this coming December, War Stories: Tasch, scripted by… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Stand-Up Returns to Lancaster
Top comedian and actor Toby Hadoke returns to the Dukes, Lancaster this month with his hilarious hit show, Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf. This razor sharp comic odyssey, at The Dukes on Saturday 18 October (and will also be… Read More ›
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ComICA 2008 Line-Up Unveiled
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Transformers Animated #1 Heads for Stores
On sale later this month is Transformers Animated #1 from Titan, the company’s new tie-in with the latest animated incarnation of the phenomonally successful robots-in-disguise toy franchise. The first issue, on sale from 23 October, includes ‘Sideswiped’, one of two… Read More ›
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Doctor Who has Come To Bed Eyes!
Doctor Who star David Tennant and The X Factor judge Cheryl Cole have been judged to have the best ‘come to bed eyes’ among UK celebrities, according to a survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Tennant beat… Read More ›

