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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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 ›
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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 ›
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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 ›
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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 ›
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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 ›
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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 ›
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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 ›
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Missing Believed Wiped
The Missing Believed Wiped team are trying to drum up new members for their Facebook group.
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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 ›
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Gingerbread TARDIS
With the BBC ramping up its publicity for the fourth season of Doctor Who of the ‘modern era’, what better time to celebrate with a special TARDIS cake? Which is exactly what one enterprising fan has done, and a smashing… Read More ›
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Dan Dare at the Science Museum
The Eagle‘s Dan Dare will be the focus of a new exhibition at London’s Science Museum later this month. Titled Dan Dare and the Birth of High-Tech Britain, Dan Dare enthusiast Dave Britton, who, among other things, has helped organise… Read More ›
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If only it would happen here…
News this week that the US courts have ruled that Time Warner, owner of DC Comics, is no longer the sole proprietor of Superman must be be good news for the heirs of Jerome Siegel — who 70 years ago… Read More ›
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It’s a Science Fiction World…
— or at least, that’s the view of a leading American professor, talking about a new article he’s written for Indiana’s Martinsville Reporter-Times. “Science fiction is no longer kids’ stuff, but serious literature,” acclaimed Jules Verne expert Arthur B. Evans,… Read More ›
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The Other Side of Harry
Friend, bodyguard, martial arts master, stunt man and actor John Carrigan, a regular cast member of recent fan produced Star Trek movies and more, has been in contact with downthetubes to tell us about The Other Side of Harry, a… Read More ›
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Modesty’s Yellowstone Booty
The dark underworld of espionage and crime is lit up once more by the fatal charms of the gorgeous Modesty Blaise — high priestess of pulp crime and goddess of cult thrillers. Titan Books collects three more classic, hard-to-find stories… Read More ›
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Stranded gets TV pilot
Mike Carey (X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Voodoo Child) and creator of Virgin Comics series The Stranded will be developing the story into a television series for SCI FI Channel. “One of the purposes of our SCI FI partnership is to… Read More ›
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Oli’s Comics Reviews for Cross Hatch
(Updated after short break 27/3/08, with apologies to Oli Smith and Oliver East): Trains Are Mint creator Oliver East is letting UK small press publishers know someone at alternative comics blog The Daily Cross Hatch “has taken leave of their… Read More ›
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A Demon Regrets…
Take some fallen angels, a bit of fire and brimstone, a disgruntled immortal, a plan to out-deceive the Great Deceiver himself; throw in a slew of Michael Golden covers; and you’ve got the upcoming, highly anticipated mini-series Demon’s Regret nailed… Read More ›
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Comix Thing in London today
Just a quick reminder that today (22 March) sees the 5th UK web comix Thing, a gathering of the British and overseas small press en masse to present their wares and promote new work, at the Great Hall, Queen Mary… Read More ›
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VIOLENT! Gets Virtual – and Girly Goes Global
This Saturday (22nd March 2008) sees the official launch of British indie press publisher Factor Fiction’s The Girly Comic and Violent! titles as webcomics (factorfictionpress.co.uk). To celebrate the launch, a brand new full colour comic strip Sisters of the Head… Read More ›