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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Tube Surfing: 3 July 2008
Steve Holland of Bear Alley reviews Paul Gravett’s Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics here. He dubs it a ‘must-have collection.’ Over at the Forbidden Planet Blog, Alex Fitch gives us the lowdown on many of the neat podcasts coming… Read More ›
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2000AD Playing Cards For Free
The August issue of SFX, number 172, comes with a nice little freebie of a set of 2000AD playing cards. Nicolai Dante is, appropriately, the Jack of Hearts while Halo Jones is the Queen of Hearts, although that perhaps should… Read More ›
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British Comic Sales
The latest public news stand comic sales figures
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Tube Surfing: Remembering Michael Turner, Virgin’s Dan Dare Collection
Scurrying around the web for comic related news, so you don’t have to
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Manchester Zinefest Returns
Manchester Zinefest returns in 2008 on the 30th August. The venue will be Urbis, slap bang in the city centre. The Zinefest last ran in 2006, the work of a loosely organized group whic attracted some 200 people who viewed… Read More ›
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Dredd goes Dynamite
US publishers Dynamite Entertainment, whose titles include Red Sonja, Xena and Battlestar Galactica, and who recently announced a new Buck Rogers title, have just secured the rights to produce an all-new Judge Dredd comic for the American market, likely to… Read More ›
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It’s A Girl!
Congratulations from all here at downthetubes go to Richard and Alice Sheaf on the safe arrival of their baby daughter. As for her name, well there were plenty to choose from: Bunty, Debbie, Jackie, Jinty, Judy, June, Nikki, Sally, Tina,… Read More ›
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Latest Spaceship Away Now Available
The fifteenth issue of ‘Classic’ Dan Dare magazine Spaceship Away is now on sale direct from the official website or from specialist shops. Behind the Tim Booth cover are the regular Dare strips of Green Nemesis with art by Don… Read More ›
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Beano 70th Anniversary Exhibition
After their successful Comics Day as part of the Dundee Literary Festival, Dundee University will be hosting Happy Birthday Beano which is described as the official 70th anniversary exhibition for the comic. In association with the Beano’s publishers, DC Thomson,… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 27 June 2008
Archaeologist and TV presenter Neil Oliver’s latest book, Amazing Tales For Making Men Out Of Boys, tells historical tales for courage and sacrifice from Sparta, through the Second World War to Apollo 13. The book contains reprinted illustrations from Look… Read More ›
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21st Century Dare Merchandising
With the new Virgin version of Dan Dare drawing to a close with issue 7 of the limited series, Virgin have jumped onto the merchandise bandwagon with an item about as far removed from the metal toys and bagatelles of… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing: 26 June 2008
• Writer Mark Millar has just been interviewed for Scotland’s Evening Times, just back from the opening of Wanted in Hollywood (Check out this viral site inspired by the movie…).“To see it polished and finished up on the big screen… Read More ›
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WebComic Spotlight: The Ten Doctors
An ace Who fan-produced web comic
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Comic Creator first for ICA
Paul Gravett has been in touch to tell us about a pretty special event, Between The Panels 3, which will take place on 2 August 2008 at the ICA in London. ComICA will be hosting the first ever in-depth discussion… Read More ›
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In Review: Dundee Literary Festival Comics Day
Like its 2007 predecessor, Biff! Bam!! Crikey!!!, the 2008 Comics Day of the Dundee Literary Festival was held at Dundee University and was again organised by Dr Christopher Murray of the university’s English Department. While the previous year was a… Read More ›
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Redick Slices into SliceofSciFi
There’s a new podcast interview at SliceofSciFi.com with ROK Comics creator David Reddick, also the cartoonist behind LegendofBill.com, along with Roddenberry Productions COO Trevor Roth, talking about his webcomics Gene’s Journal and Rod & Barry for Roddenberry.com
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Caption Guests Announced
The 17th annual Caption comics convention taking place in Oxford in August has just confirmed a few more guests for the Timewarp, with representatives from classic magazines Escape and Deadline as well as a veritable golden horde of creators involved… Read More ›
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Eleventh Hour In Shops Now
Eleventh Hour Volume 1, the anthology title created by Orang Utan Comics Studio and published by AAM/Markosia hits retail stores worldwide this week. Featuring twelve stories by the creative minds at Orang Utan Comics Studio with art by artists from… Read More ›
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Blank Slate Are Mint!
New British publisher Blank Slate (www.blankslatebooks.co.uk), the brainchild of Forbidden Planet International founders James Hamilton and Kenny Penman, kindly sent us review copies of the first two graphic collections in their range. The new company has an ambitious publishing program,… Read More ›
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Dare, Mekon T-Shirts On Sale Online
In our recent review of the Dan Dare and The Birth Of Hi-Tech Britain exhibition at London’s Science Museum, Jeremy Briggs mentioned the Dan Dare/Mekon t-shirts and how they weren’t in the online store. Peer Lawther, E-Marketing Executive at the… Read More ›