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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Enter Burke and Hare…
After critical acclaim for Cancertown, Burke and Hare by writer Martin Conaghan, artist Will Pickering and letterer Paul McClaren is the next book from Insomnia Publications, which will be launched at the British International Comic Show) in early October. The… Read More ›
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Tim Quinn on Tour
Comics writer Tim Quinn is back on the cartoon workshop and lecture circuit, appearing at The Brindley in Runcorn tonight and elsewhere in the UK (see current dates below). Tim, whose credits include The Beano, Doctor Who Magazine and The… Read More ›
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In Review: Khaki Shorts Issue 19
I was sent this issue of Khaki Shorts, probably Glasgow’s longest running small-press comic, a while back but somehow it got buried between a copy of the local Chamber of Commerce business magazine and a review copy of Erotic Comics… Read More ›
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Dez Skinn – Dragged from the Grave!
Dez Skinn, writer and former editor of Warrior, Comics International, British MAD and many more has been persuaded back to Manchester’s fab Lass O’Gowrie pub for another event. “The b****** have dragged me out of mothballs to do a talk… Read More ›
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Comics Go to War!
Comics International editor Mike Conroy has written War Comics: A Graphic History
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Spaceship Away Back with More Dan Dare
The latest issue of British SF comics magazine Spaceship Away, on sale soon, continues to deliver a terrific mix of classic SF comics, including new Dan Dare adventures and more. The magazine features three Dan Dare strips featuring the original… Read More ›
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Something Completely Different
… this surely has to rank as one of the best titles for a magazine ever. Someone tell Lew Stringer he was been pipped to the post sometime during the Second World War…
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Comics In Scotland: 2000AD And More
As part of the first national Oxfam Bookfest, which runs from 4 to 18 July 2009, the British charity will be holding a comics event in Edinburgh. With the Dundee Literary Festival Comics Day in June and the Edinburgh International… Read More ›
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Timeframes – The 3rd Dundee Comics Conference
With the successful Scottish comics convention Hi-Ex over for this year and already confirmed as going ahead next year, the countdown to the next major Scottish comics event of the year is now in full swing. The third Dundee University… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 5 June 2009
• Busy racing between secret locations in an effort to find an internet connection that worked, we missed out on wishing Garen Ewing, creator of The Rainbow Orchid, a happy birthday yesterday (4th June) but there’s still time to enter… Read More ›
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2D Festival Begins in Derry
If you’re in Northern Ireland this weekend, then head along to the 2D Festival at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry, which is now up and running with guests David Lloyd, Liam Sharp, Glenn Fabry, Mike Collins, Bryan Talbot, David… Read More ›
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Dandy Issue 1, Amazing Fantasy #15 Up For Sale
There’s still time to bid on items – including a rare copy of the first ever Dandy – from British online auction site Comic Book Auction’s Summer Catalogue. Included in the British section of the catalogue is an extremely rare… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: David Carradine
downthetubes is very sorry to report the death of actor David Carradine, star of 1970s cult TV show Kung Fu, whose career saw a huge revival in recent years with an appearance in Quentin Tarrantino’s Kill Bill. As a teen… Read More ›
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Manhwa Galleries, Mixed Media Graduates and Manga Girls…
Starting cross cultural comics month on Resonance FM’s Strip! comic show, Dickon Harris introduces the 100 years of Manhwa exhibition at the London Korean Cultural Centre (see our report, here) and talks to a couple of recent illustration graduates this… Read More ›
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New BoJeffries Saga in the Works
New The Bojeffries Saga stories in the works from Top Shelf
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"Mystery" 5 By 5 Festival: Details Emerge
After our recent news story about rumours that ComicCon was coming to London’s 02 venue next year – a report flatly denied by the organisers of the US San Diego ComicCon who have since stated categorically they had not licensed… Read More ›
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Matters of Convention: Something for Everyone
Matthew Badham goes behind the scenes of the British International Comics Show (taking place 3-4th October at Birmingham’s ThinkTank) with co-organiser Shane Chebsey This is the second of a series of interviews with British comic convention organisers over the next… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 3 June 2009
We haven’t done one of these for at least couple of weeks, so hold onto your hats because there’s some folk clamouring for space… • Indie comics creator Sean Azzopardi has a new project – Thumbpaintings: life drawing using his… Read More ›
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Artist Visa System Protest Launched
The Manifesto Club, which campaigns against the hyper regulation of everyday life and supports free movement across borders, free expression and free association is co-ordinating a campaign against a new artist visa system introduced by the UK Home Office for… Read More ›