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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More Local Heroes Events In Edinburgh
The National Library of Scotland have released details of more free events to tie-in with their Local Heroes exhibition on the art of graphic novels. In addition to the events already mentioned here on downthetubes, two more talks plus two… Read More ›
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William, not Billy the Cat
The Beano‘s Billy the Cat artist Nigel Dobbyn tells us he has completed his script for his Victorian-style Billy the Cat adventure “William the Cat”, a ten page strip will appear in the Beano Annual 2010 (out in 2009). “I’m… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Terry Maloney
Over on Bear Alley, Steve Holland has just paid tribute to writer and illustrator Terry Maloney, who died on 16 March 2008, aged 90. In the 1930s, Maloney joined the Communist Party and renounced his Catholic upbringing and the church… Read More ›
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By Sea, By Land, By Air: An Interview with Calum Laird
This interview was first published on 9th April 2008 on downthetubes and was merged with this blog in 2013. First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with,… Read More ›
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By Sea, By Land, By Air
First published in 1961 Commando is Britain’s last war comic. Indeed, of those British comics that many of us grew up with, only the ubiquitous Dandy and Beano are older – however, since there are eight Commandos a month, its… Read More ›
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Eagle Awards voting begins
Voting for the 2007 Eagle Awards is open now at the Eagle Awards site. The Awards will be presented in May at the Bristol International Comic Expo on the 10th May 2008. While downthetubes is not one of the comic… Read More ›
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Every Letter Printed Wins A T-Shirt!
…is how the editor of The Victor, James Halley, enticed his readers to write into the comic’s letters page, Tupper’s Talk-In. The Tough Of The Track was runner Alf Tupper who of course mixed competitive running with eating fish and… Read More ›
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Leicester Has A Hero
The winner of the Hero for Leicester competition – part of the Blam! comics season organised by Leicester library earlier this year which included appearances by Bryan Talbot and others – was Fox Spirit by Giles Meakin. Eight entries were… Read More ›
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Live Star Wars Art and Competition
It’s the biggest team-up in UK SF: Forbidden Planet and the Sci-Fi-London Film Festival are joining forces with the 501st UK Garrison to bring you live Star Wars Urban Art, from the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London between… Read More ›
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ITV seeks Sanctuary
Trade magazine Broadcast reports ITV4 has secured broadcasting rights to the first season of Sanctuary, a new show starring Stargate-SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis star Amanda Tapping, which started life recently as Internet webisodes. The 20-minute web pilot gained more than… Read More ›
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Blogging Till You Drop…
The New York Times reports some professional bloggers complain of physical and emotional strain created by an Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment. It’s worst, apparently, for tech bloggers but let’s be honest, sedentary jobs… Read More ›
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London Comics Exhibition
London’s independent book distributor bookartbookshop is hosting an exhibition of comics this month from London Underground Comics and the Camden Comics Stall. Regular titles such as Modern Monstrosity, Summer Ball Tongue of the Dead, Monkeys might Puke, Ninja Bunny and… Read More ›
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Alan Davis’ new CI Cover
Courtesy of Comics International editor Mike Conroy, downthetubes is one of the first sites to be able to post a sneak peek of Alan Davis’ stunning cover for Issue 206 of the comics news magazine. The issue includes a competition… Read More ›
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Solar Wind Collected
The Bumper Book of Solar Wind, a two-volume collection of all of the issues of the award-winning and very funny Solar Wind and its equally madcap companion titles, are now available from Lulu.com thanks to publisher and editor Paul Scott…. Read More ›
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Sound of Drowning #11 On Sale Now
The Sound of Drowning #11 from creator Paul O’Connell is out now and available from eponymous web site priced just £3. The issue includes strips such as ‘The Optician’, ‘Mexican Surgery’ and Daze: The Post Apocalyptic Avon Lady in Happy… Read More ›
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The Kitten Problem
Garfield animated cartoon writer Mark Evanier (also writer of the brilliant Groo comic and more) is having a hard time trapping a stray cat he’s (sort of) adopted — as much as you can adopt any cat. His aim is… Read More ›
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Woo Who! Another Hugo?
Can we drag you away from last night’s interminably cute Adipose (and how much do you want to bet that a few of them missed getting picked up by the mother ship and will turn up on Sarah Jane Adventures?)… Read More ›
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Diamond Dan
He may remain sartorially challenged but at least the Grand Orange Lodge’s superhero character now has a name. Back in November 2007 downthetubes reported on the nameless character who was being introduced via a competition to name him. Seven year… Read More ›
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Comics International back in favour
After many behind the scenes problems too tiresome to detail here, there’s some good news for Cosmic Publications, the publishers of comics news magazine Comics International, with the Famous StarStore blog the latest to offer a positive review of the… Read More ›
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In Review: Britten & Brülightly
(Updated 5/6/08): Just published by Jonathan Cape is Britten & Brülightly, a film noir-styled debut graphic novel by Brigton-based Hannah Berry, a graduate of the illustration course at Brighton University. This dark, unsettling but often funny tale centres on ‘Private… Read More ›