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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Britain is Broken…
British indie comics publisher Moonface Press has launched a website to support the release of its forthcoming graphic novel, Septic Isle. The site – www.britainisbroken.com – features a free PDF download of the book’s first 10 pages, plus information about… Read More ›
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More from Blank Slate
New UK publisher Blank Slate has announced a further four graphic collections, following hot on the heels of their release of Oliver East’s Trains Are Mint and Mawli’s We Can Still be Friends. All four stick to the publishers hoped… Read More ›
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The Surgeon Recut
Scottish publishers Rough Cut Comics, publishers of Rose Black, the Freedom Collective and more, are releasing a trade paperback compiling the original two-issue mini-series The Surgeon, featuring the early artwork of Jaeson Finn. The Surgeon, which ran ran for five… Read More ›
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Jack Kirby Quarterly Returns
We knew Dez Skinn, former editor of Comics International, Warrior and many more Brtitish comics titles couldn’t keep away from good old print journalism forever. His next project is the 15th anniversary special of the world’s first-ever magazine devoted to… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 12 July 2008
• Artist Rufus Dayglo has posted a message on the official 2000AD Forum revealing the new Tank Girl: Skidmarks series will begin will be making its debut in Judge Dredd Megazine #275.Meanwhile, Tank Girl – Visions of Booga #3 will… Read More ›
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2000AD Online Makeover Nears Completion
The 2000AD Online web site seems to have almost completed its month-long makeover, with a cleaner layout that integrates more obvious links to some of Rebellion’s other services such as ipod comic site Clickwheel. “About a year ago, we had… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday Beano Event
As previously mentioned here, Happy Birthday Beano, the official 70th anniversary exhibition will be running in the Tower Building of the University of Dundee from from 18th July to 20th September 2008. The display will include original artwork from the… Read More ›
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Indiana Interview On Geek Syndicate
The latest episode of the fab podcast Geek Syndicate features an interview with Rob Williams, the writer of the new Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods) comic from Dark Horse. Direct Link: http://comicspodcastsuk.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/geek-syndicate-episode-88/
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Crime Writer in the making
Our congratulations to downthetubes contributor and former editor of the critically-acclaimed fanzine Eagle Flies Again Ian Wheeler, who has just been announced as the winner of this year’s Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival competition, which takes place in his… Read More ›
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Commando Shop – Summer Offer
DC Thomson’s official Commando shop is currently offering free postage on all its orders. The Commando Gear shop offers T-shirts and mugs in a variety of different colours and designs with the Commando logo and the familiar F-S fighting knife… Read More ›
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Stealing Dilbert
When the G8 governments met in Japan this week, one of the items on the agenda that has been discussed in secret for months was signing an agreement that could enable customs officers and others to search your laptop or… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 9 July 2008
• Jason Wilson has sent me a copy of Smuggling Vacation, now available in all good bookshops. I’ll post a longer review later in the week as I’ve only had chance to flick through it today, but I love the… Read More ›
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Science in Education — or is it…
New Scientist has published a worrying feature focusing on the news that on 28th June, The Science Education Act was passed as law in the State of Louisiana in the US. This piece of legislature now allows teachers in this… Read More ›
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NetFinds: SF in Six Words
A nice little find this evening… back in November 2006, Wired Magazine published the results of an appeal for some very short SF stories – six word stories to be precise. The challenge to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from… Read More ›
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Beano Birthday Publicity Ramps Up
DC Thomson is pulling no punches when it comes to promoting the Beano‘s upcoming 70th issue, running a two page feature in this week’s Sunday Post to promote Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park’s upcoming guest editorship of the birthday… Read More ›
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Eagle Times Volume 21 Number 2 – Summer 2008
The latest issue of the Eagle Society‘s magazine Eagle Times (Volume 21 Number 2, Summer 2008) is now available by mail order. The magazine includes features on the artists who worked on the “Riders of the Range” strip, a look… Read More ›
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Forbidden Planet Polls its Punters
In 1978, Forbidden Planet opened its first store in London’s Denmark Street (better known to some as “Tin Pan Alley”) and has been at the forefront of all things science fiction, Fantasy, Cult TV and Film, including books, comics, DVDs… Read More ›
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The DFC – Single Issues Now Available
Much has been said over the last few months on the subject of the new British children’s comic, The DFC, and a lot of it has to do with its distribution method. The only way to get hold of it… Read More ›
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The Moment Has Been Prepared For…
It’s tonight. Pull on your Dalek slippers. Get the Doctor Who chocolate from the fridge. Take the phone off the hook because, believe it or not, there may be some people not watching it. And enjoy. 65 minutes of new… Read More ›
