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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Jeff Hawke’s Cosmos 4.3
The latest issue of Jeff hawke’s Cosmos is now out. The magazine (exclusive Sydney Jordan painted cover artwork shown left) has bulked up for this issue, pushing the page count up to 80 A4 pages and going perfect bound. The… Read More ›
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Tube Surfing – Monday 2 June 2008
• There’s a lengthy Pat Mills interview and appreciation in UK magazine Death Ray (issue #12, cover dated June 2008, Katee Sackhoff on the cover), co-creator of 2000AD and writer of strips such as Slaine and Nemesis the Warlock. However,… Read More ›
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Superman: Man of Style Contest
Ready to tug on Superman’s cape? Heck, tear it off and take the tights back to the drawing board! Project: Rooftop is teaming up with the Pulp Secret site and the Jim Hanley’s Universe stores for a new drawing contest… Read More ›
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Colan Auction Results
An Iron Man cover donated by top British comics artist Jon Haward to raise money to help veteran comics artist Gene Colan who is very ill and has no medical insurance has raised $290 for the cause. “I wish it… Read More ›
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downthetubes joins Comic Blog Elite
We’re pleased to report that the hard work of the downthetubes team has been rewarded with acceptance by Comic Blog Elite (comicblogelite.com), an “aggregator” site that delivers a league chart of some of the best comics blogs — of varying… Read More ›
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Alan Grant At The Borders Book Festival
On the same day as artist Bryan Talbot and others will be in Dundee for the Dundee Literary Festival, writer Alan Grant will be at Melrose in the Scottish Borders for the Borders Book Festival. Alan Grant will be interviewed… Read More ›
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Turn Your School Magazine into a Comic Book
Former Marvel Comics UK editor Tim Quinn will be holding storytelling and comic book creation sessions at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax on Saturday 5 July 2008 from 9.00 am through the day, as part of the line-up for the Calderdale… Read More ›
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Abadzis In The Times
Clearly not content with taking over The Guardian with the wonderful Cora’s Breakfast (see news story), Nick Abadzis reveals The Times will be serialising his new graphic novella The Trial of the Sober Dog, serialised in The Times every Monday… Read More ›
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DFC Issue One is a Doozy!
The first issue of The DFC – Britain’s first, subscription-only weekly comic, combining humour and adventure strips in one smashing package, has just arrived in the post — and it’s a terrific start for the new title. While an anthology… Read More ›
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Factor Fiction on Facebook
Factor Fiction, the publishing brainchild of Jay Eales and Selina Lock, now has a Facebook group. Check it out here if you’re a Facebook member As previously reported, Factor Fiction’s The Girly Comic and Violent! are now webcomics. Both web… Read More ›
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Gaiman Causes "Nerdgasms"
Well known celebrity gossip newsletter PopBitch has turned its attention to comics and book author Neil Gaiman this week. The newsletter, whose stories are often picked up by the tabloids and celebrity magazines like Heat reports that “Comic fans are… Read More ›
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Dan Dare Cap Badges, Dredd Buckles Released
Following the sell-out success of its Judge Dredd badges, Termight Replicas has announced two new licensed products available for pre-order. Both are full-sized props, with the same gold-plating as the Dredd badge, but this time combining it with coloured hard… Read More ›
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Copyright Theft: A New Weapon?
We’ve on occasion reported on some blatant copyright theft of comic artists’ work, but a new specialist search engine could help creators track down culprits a bit more easily. MicroStock Insider, a guide blog to selling stock photography on the… Read More ›
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Iron Man Art Auction to help Gene Colan
Top British comics artist Jon Haward has pitched in on efforts to raise money to help veteran comics artist Gene Colan who is very ill and has no medical insurance (see news story). Up for sale via eBay are the… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Beryl Cook
Artist Beryl Cook, a painter with a cartoonists’ sensibility for accurate observation from life, has died aged 81. Her official biography on her web site indicates she was born in 1926 in Surrey, one of four sisters. She left school… Read More ›
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Pratchett Fights On
The Times reports on an interview on BBC Breakfast today, revealing how the onset of Alzheimer’s disease has started to affect the writing of Terry Pratchett’s best-selling fantasy Discworld series. The author vowed to carry on writing despite having the… Read More ›
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Hewlett’s Olympian Task
Comic artist Jamie Hewlett and Blur band member Damon Albarn are to provide visuals for BBC Sport’s marketing campaign and titles for the forthcoming Olympic Games, based on the traditional Chinese folklore Journey To The West. The campaign, which will… Read More ›
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Pig Brother