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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In Memoriam: 2000AD artist Massimo Belardinelli
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Should Alan Moore be proud?
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Online Digital Comics Woes
Just read this rather worrying note about poor customer service from digital comic store Direct2Drive on the Kung Fu Rodeo blog. Sounds to me like a lesson in how not to run your business in an age when comments on… Read More ›
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More Blair and Bush
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Create your own comics
ROK’s new comics project, now in beta, is up and running – check out www.rokcomics.com — and we’ve had some terrific and positive feedback from a wide variety of comics creators. Delivery to mobile is still in progress but the… Read More ›
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Johnny "BC" Hart Dies
76-year-old Johnny Hart, award-winning creator of the popular B.C. comic series and co-creator of The Wizard of Id with Brant Parker, died this weekend. He apparently suffered a stroke while working at his drawing table at home in Nineveh, Broome… Read More ›
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Promoting Comics rant
Hmf. I’ve been trying to add old blog entries from previous blogs to this one, back dating as I go. I’m having little success doing this – it either works once, and then starts treating the entry as a modern… Read More ›
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Mite-Sized Judge Reid!
Brilliant artist Gary Hall joins in this growing gallery of dangerous present day politicians adopting 2000AD-styled law giving with “Mite-Sized Judge John Reid”. Thanks, Gary!
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Zombie Captain America
Thought you might appreciate this April Fool story Forbidden Planet’s Kenny Penman spotted via a German comics news site: a new Marvel book starring a zombie Captain America, drawn by Charlie Adlard… although given the popularity of zombies right now… Read More ›
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2000AD Britain – It’s Really Happening
Responding to an appeal for comic images of Britain inspired in part by news of the establishment of a Ministry of Justice, straight from the pages of 2000AD, the ever brilliant SMS sent me this image, hot on the heels… Read More ›
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Judge Reid by Nick Miller
Comics artist Nick Miller has quickly risen to my “Drawn Judge John Reid Challenge” and delivered this cracking version of the savage Scot from the new British Ministry of Justice! Thanks, Nick!
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Move over Dredd, it’s Judge Reid!
Anyone fancy whipping up a better version of this quick and crude montage in response to the impending creation of a Ministry of Justice by British Secretary John Reid? I’m more than happy to post the results! Here’s som edirect… Read More ›
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Monkeys discuss creationism
It’s been fun doing the full run through of Monkey News this week. I particularly enjoyed this edition, where Russell the Monkey reads a story about Creationism…
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Marshall Rogers dies
Just read via Newsarama that US artist Marshall Rogers has died. His work on Mister Miracle, Detectives Inc. and Doctor Strange remain personal favourites, but it was his Batman strips for Detective Comics which originally made him an artist whose… Read More ›
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Monkey News continues
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Old enough to remember this?
You’re probably 2000AD’s core audience, then…
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Comics on Your Mobile – Exclusive
Well, it’s been five years (at least) in the making — but I’m delighted to report that I’m in the middle of a first round testing of a new comics-to-mobile service for ROK Media, that should launch soon, and we’ll… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Jim Cronin
I was very sorry to hear from my Mum last night that ape rescue campaigner Jim Cronin died this week. Jim was the co-founder of Dorset’s Monkey World with his wife Alison, an internationally renowned ape rescue centre I’ve visited… Read More ›
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Re-visiting childhood
Talk about a labour of love. dtb contributor Matthew Badham’s just passed on a note from 2000AD fan Paul (Book of Lists, There’s No Time Like the Present) Rainey, who’s re-visitng the entire 30 year run of the title, after… Read More ›
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Flat Pyramid
This might be a useful site for artists: Flat Pyramid, founded by professionals in the creative media and corporate America, is dedicated to the creation, management, worldwide promotion, and distribution of digital content online. The website provides an intermediary platform… Read More ›