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.
-
Smuggling Vacation Serialised
The independent comic Smuggling Vacation, which we reported last month, is beginning a two year serialisation as part of Weedworld Magazine starting this month, prior to print publication. The magazine sells some 50,00 copies an issue. , the result of… Read More ›
-
"The Prison" Trailer
Clown Press have just released this trailer for The Prison, a new colection of stories, prose, poetry and soapbox ramblings based on the observations of Adam R. Grose, writer of Adam R. Grose, Cosmogenesis: The Chronicles of Quongo. Grose writes… Read More ›
-
Who’s the Best Who?
… the answer, I’ve always believed, is that the best Doctor Who is almost always the one you grew up with. It’s no surprise then that, given the modern show’s target audience (a recent Broadcast feature indicated this is anyone… Read More ›
-
How not to get ripped off in the creative industries
A one day seminar takes place later this month offering a basic guide to the law, covering the steps a creative professional should take in order to stop your work being stolen. Being copied and someone else ripping off your… Read More ›
-
In Memoriam: Johnny Byrne
downthetubes is sad to report the death of writer and script editor Johnny Byrne. Byrne, born in Dublin in 1935, worked on many British television shows including Heartbeat, Tales of the Unexpected and the two BBC One vets series All… Read More ›
-
Ex Astris heads to Spaceship Away
A bit of self-promotion: artist Bill Stories (aka Mike Nicoll) is at work on a ten page Ex Astris strip of mine, “Homecoming” which will appear in black and white in UK Indie title Bulletproof #2, which is edited by… Read More ›
-
Heroes Webisodes Scheduled
Digital Media Wire and other news services report NBC has announced plans to launch original webisodes in July for some of its most popular TV shows, including Heroes, The Office, 30 Rock and Chuck. A webisode is an episode of… Read More ›
-
The Eleventh Hour is Here
Eleventh Hour Volume One from British indie publisher Markosia in association with creators Orang Utan Comics, due for release in June, is now available to pre-order from your local comic shop. Featuring twelve stories across 80 pages of stunning artwork… Read More ›
-
Rainbow Orchid’s new Publisher
Egmont UK is to publish The Rainbow Orchid, first published independently by writer-artist Garen Ewing (inteeviewed by downtheubes in 2006). The Rainbow Orchid story, to be published in 2009, will join the Tintin series on Egmont’s publishing list and is… Read More ›
-
Dan Dare’s Holy Grail: Radio Luxembourg’s Dan Dare Radio Show
First broadcast in the 1950s, Radio Luxembourg’s Dan Dare Radio Show has become something of a ‘Holy Grail’ for fans, some still believing copies of the series may yet be found. Aired on Radio Luxembourg between July 1951 and May… Read More ›
-
Doctor Who Silly Season Continues
(with thanks to Matthew Badham): The Wiltshire Times recently reported a Trowbridge Christian has renounced the ‘evil’ of Doctor Who in favour of his religion is selling his collection on internet auction website eBay. The paper reports that having discovered… Read More ›
-
Comic Expo Update
With just five weeks to go until the largest comics show in the United Kingdom, guests and schedules are starting to be announced for Bristol’s well-established Comics Expo. Once again hosted by the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall and… Read More ›
-
Digital Comics APA
The Temple APA is currently looking for contributors to its first Digital Comics Anthology, deadline 1st May 2008. For those who’ve never heard of the Temple (formerly titled ‘Temple of Heroes’), it’s the UK’s longest running comics anthology, whose membership… Read More ›
-
Northern Ireland Comic Con details
The organisers of 2D, Northern Ireland’s only comics convention at present, have just sent us the first details of their next event in June. 2D – Northern Ireland Comics Festival 2008 runs from 5th – 7th of June and takes… Read More ›
-
Calling Fireball Agents!
FIREBALL FOR HIRE Mysteries solved – problems licked – lost things found – crooks straightened out – anytime – any place BUT… ONLY TOUGH JOBS ACCEPTED. Do you recognise this man? As the agent/adventurer from D C Thomson’s mid-1970s Bullet… Read More ›
-
ComicCon In A Pub!
(with thanks to Paul O’Connell); The Gladstone (opposite Sainsburys, Lewes Road, Brighton), is hosting an indie small press comics event this coming Saturday (5th April) with comics, drinkpromotions, live music in the evening and more. If you’re in the area,… Read More ›
-
Who Watches the Watchnuts?
Good Grief! Charlie Brown as Doctor Manhattan? Young art star Evan Shaner has mimicked cartoonist Charles Schulz by combining his Peanuts characters and the Watchmen. The drawing includes Charlie Brown as Doctor Manhattan, Linus as The Comedian, Schroeder as Ozymandias,… Read More ›
-
What A Sweet Dalek!
If a gingerbread Tardis is not to your taste perhaps you would prefer cake, icing and chocolate while waiting for 6:20pm next Saturday? This cake was created for a young Doctor Who fan’s birthday and was based around the size… Read More ›
-
Missing Believed Wiped
The Missing Believed Wiped team are trying to drum up new members for their Facebook group.
-
Local Heroes Events in Edinburgh
As the National Library of Scotland’s graphic novel exhibition Local Heroes approaches, the Library have announced a program of talks in conjuction with the Edinburgh exhibition. On Wednesday 9 April at 7pm Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy will return to… Read More ›