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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Classics Illustrated Returns to UK
Classics Illustrated, comic adaptations of classic novels, are back in publication in the UK for the first time since 1970. The Classic Comic Store re-launched the Classics Illustrated series this week. Not to be confused with British publisher Classcial Comics‘… Read More ›
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Creating Manga in Barrow
Want to draw some manga? For 2008, the British National Year of Reading, Kate from IndieManga will be running a workshop on the basics of character design, scripting, panelling and pencilling your own doujinshi (that’s Japanese for a self-publication). The… Read More ›
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Holden and Ewing’s Eye Candy Project Now on Sale
Paul Holden and Al Ewing’s Eye Candy comic – the world’s first comic for kids for the iphone (mentioned earlier this week) – is now on sale from the Apple Store. The first issue of the digital comic features the… Read More ›
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Reppion and Moore in Manchester
This coming Saturday (27th September) Leah Moore & John Reppion will be appearing at the Golden Orbit sci-fi, comic and card fair in Manchester. The fair is being held at the Sachas Hotel on Tib Street , Piccadilly, Manchester M4… Read More ›
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Virgin turned to Liquid
Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times reports that Virgin Comics, publishers of the new Dan Dare, are definitely no more, and that visitors to the Virgin web site are now directed to Liquid Comics. The good news appears to… Read More ›
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CancerTown Graphic Novel Update
Nic Wilkinson has just been in touch with an update on the Cancertown graphic novel we previously featured on downthetubes. Scheduled for release by Insomnia Publications at the end of the year, this original graphic novel is the work of… Read More ›
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Declan Shalvey Interviewed
Over on the Forbidden Planet blog, Joe Gordon has just posted a fascinating interview with artist Declan Shalvey, who has carved a good name for himself on titles such as Andy Winter’s Hero Killers which went on to win an… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Behind the Scenes Contest Launched
(Via the BBC): Fans of Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes at the studios where the shows are filmed. On Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 November,… Read More ›
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New Wasteland On Sale
Wasteland #20, the latest issue of the monthly comic book series published by Oni Press is on sale this week, written by Antony Johnston and drawn by Christopher Mitten, with covers by Ben Templesmith. Wasteland takes place one hundred years… Read More ›
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20 Years and Celebrating!
Canterbury comic shop Whatever Comics is holding a grand re-opening celebration on Saturday 18 October to mark its 20th anniversary and relocation to a fantastic new spot on the city’s main high street. Laurence “Punisher” Campbell and comic book writer… Read More ›
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Jeff Hawke’s Cosmos Reached Fifth Year
The latest issue of Jeff Hawke’s Cosmos will soon go to press, featuring the usual splendid assortment of strips from the Daily Express and back up features about the space-faring RAF pilot. Coming in at 84 pages with three complete… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 22 September 2008
• One of downthetubes contributor Matthew Badham’s two articles in the new Judge Dredd Megazine (article entitled The Nu Brit Comics Revolution) pimps Blank Slate, The DFC, ROK Comics, Trains are Mint and Garen Ewing’s Rainbow Orchid. You should be… Read More ›
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Thunderbirds: Action Alert!
FTL Publications in the USA have that announced the second of their officially licenced Thunderbirds novels, Action Alert! will be released in November 2008. The previous novel, Countdown To Action!, was published in June 2008 and was the first new… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: Beano Merchandising
The range of Beano merchandising in this its 70th year continues to expand. While many of the items are aimed at the younger fans there are things of interest for the more mature readers of the title. Fine and Dandy… Read More ›
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In Review: Commando and Starblazer Calendars 2009
Two years ago I began the review of the last Art of Commando calendar with “You wait years for a Commando calendar to come along, and then two arrive at once!” After nothing last year save for the usual Beano… Read More ›
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In Review: Classics From The Comics 149
It has been out for a while but it is still worth giving the latest issue DC Thomson’s monthly reprint magazine Classics From The Comics a hearty pat on the back. Issue 149 includes two sections that are new to… Read More ›
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Solar Wind: The Last Hurrah
The are some constants in life: night follows day, the episode written by Steven Moffat will be the best story in any given season of new Doctor Who, and original Eagle fans will always hate any new version of Dan… Read More ›
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Scotland’s Celebrity Chef
The latest cookbook from Scotland’s newest celebrity chef, Maw Broon, has just been released. Last year’s offering, simply entitled Maw Broon’s Cookbook, sold over 170000 copies and so Mrs Brown has released a second this time entitled Maw Broon’s But… Read More ›
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It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day!
So, let’s celebrate… • Talk Like A Pirate Day Official web site
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EyeCandy iPhone Kids Comic
… an idea which speaks for itself from Paul J. Holden after his content problems with Murderdrome, so let’s let him do the talking about his new iphone app, EyeCandy, available from the iApps Store soon for 99 cents. •… Read More ›