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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More from Moores
Read Yourself Raw reports that Alan Moore discusses the new League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen book The Black Dossier at Wizard www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/002034679.cfm Talking of Moores, folk may enjoy Leah Moore’s scathing review of their hotel accommodation in Lancaster, posted on Virtual-Lancaster…. Read More ›
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Astrapets
I’ll put something up on the main site later, but just received two fab books from artist Bambos Georgiou, the first of his Astrapets collection. Aimed at all ages, both The Great Space Chase and Dangerous Games are great fun:… Read More ›
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Lancaster Comics Festival – Thanks
I’d just like to thank all the small press creators — Redeye, Omnivistascope, Futurequake, the Comic Creators Guild, Soaring Penguin and many others — and professional comics creators – including Bryan Talbot, John Ridgway (pictured), Leah Moore, John Reppion, Adrian… Read More ›
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All set for the festival…
Lancaster’s Ashton Memorial will be filled with comics fans tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to the event. Local artist Ant Mercer has done a top job of PRing the thing, so I hope all his hard work pays off in… Read More ›
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Pingu for Number One!
While I was working at Marvel UK, Paul Neary once foolishly confessed admiration for the animation Pingu. Once the laughter had died away he made me watch the show with a view to a potential pitch for a comic and… Read More ›
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Mistaken Identity
Working on the virtual-lancaster.net web site as now only sometimes I do, just occasionally we get information from people in one of America’s Lancasters rather than Lancaster, England. Case in point is a very courteous note we had from the… Read More ›
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Eagle Flies Again 14
All being well, printers permitting, Eagle Flies Again #14 is on course to be on sale at this weekend’s Lancaster Comics Festival. Wrapped in a smashing Scream!-inspired cover by Graeme Neil Reid, the 36-page final issue includes an all-time British… Read More ›
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Dog Years
Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? Get an insider’s view with this film at www.atomfilms.com/af/content/dog_years. Very droll and one for anyone who’s ever owned or known a dog. Official site: www.dogyears.co.uk
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Spectacularly un-Spectrish
At my age, you’d have thought I’d have learnt not to be fooled by a gorgeous comic cover only to find the contents of said comic don’t live up expectations. But having only recently been blessed with the return to… Read More ›
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Collected Curios
For those of you who’ve ever been to a comics convention, or who have thought about going, this is surely for you both: www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.html – currently exposing the dark underbelly of fandom… in spades!
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Blogging from space
This has nothing to do with comics but definitely worth a mention — in terms of potential bragging this one pretty much tops several list. Blogging from space. Private space tourist Anousheh Ansari – a Star Trek fan, by the… Read More ›
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Adam Phillips “Bitey Castle” is truly stunning
I’ve just been sent this link to some truly stunning Flash animation, created by former Disney animator Adam Phillips: www.biteycastle.com (obviously, you need Flash to view) There’s some scary stuff here — part of a wider project this Australian creator… Read More ›
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Delano’s Outlaw Nation collected
Releases do Neorama reports that Jamie Delano‘s complete Outlaw Nation, which the British author describes as “my shot at a big, sprawling ‘American Adventure Story’”, first published by Vertigo in 2001 and 2002, will be published in November, in a… Read More ›
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News read by Monkeys!
The mobile “Monkey News” product I’ve been working on (although not as much as the rest of the team) — the news read by monkeys — has finally been launched. Designed for mobile phones, the service features animated news readers,… Read More ›
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Fab Holiday
Just back from a terrific holiday in Turkey. Yalikavak, on the Bodrum penninsula is very pleasant, quietish resort: we have been twice and rarely re-visit resorts but our first experience of the place two years ago was marred by a… Read More ›
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Battles in Time gets national launch
Battles in Time, the Doctor Who part work combining articles, a Customisable Card Game and comic strip by a variety of creators including artists John Ross and Lee Sullivan, is now on sale. The game doesn’t look too bad but… Read More ›
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Breaking into comics – 2000AD’s David Bishop speaks
Former 2000AD editor David Bishop recently posted a revealing interview outlining how he broke into comics and thoughts on how to get work in the industry on his Vicious Imagery blog. As usual, he’s very candid about his work, which… Read More ›
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Austen Baker Strikes Back
Oh dear, I seem to have upset Mr Austen Baker after I reported on his letter to Private Eye bemoaning public transport and bus lanes (he gets a right pasting in the current edition from other readers, so it would… Read More ›
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Freak Brothers pilot online
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers pilot is online at last: this is being made in Bristol by Celluloid Dreams. if you’re not familiar with the Furry Freak Brothers this is probably meaningless to you, but it’s quite fun regardless! 2021… Read More ›
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ComicPal Auction features Beano rarity
The Autumn 2006 auction at Compalcomics (www.compalcomics.com) closes soon. One of four auctions held annually, this one features 273 lots in their Autumn catalogue including what the company describes as two particularly “exceptional” items; a Beano Comic No 1 and a… Read More ›