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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Space News: Last Lunar Eclipse until 2010
The last Total Eclipse of the Moon before December 2010 will begin in the small hours of Thursday 21 February in the UK. The entire event will be visible from South America and most of North America (on 20 February)… Read More ›
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Technology News: Prince victim of Identity Theft
Morocco’s state run news agency is reporting that authorities in Casablanca have rounded up the usual suspects and arrested an engineer accused of stealing the identity of Prince Moulay Rachid on Facebook. The prince, shown here perhaps at the moment… Read More ›
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Sarah Jane To Return
Despite bad news on some fronts for children’s drama in the UK – the cancellation of Grange Hill surely a reflection of how disparate TV viewing has become that it can no longer attract a large audience – the BBC… Read More ›
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RIP: Barry Morse
Actor Barry Morse, best known for his role as Lt Philip Gerard in the classic drama The Fugitive but who also starred as knowledgeable Victor Bergman in the first season of Gerry Anderson’s live action series Space:1999, died earlier this… Read More ›
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Marvel in the UK – The Early Years
With plenty of interest in Marvel UK right now from sites such as It Came From Darkmoor, regular readers not already checking out Lew Stringer’s brilliant Blimey! blog might want to head over there now and read his three part… Read More ›
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Phoo Action debuts 12 February
Phoo Action, a futuristic kung fu action film written by Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, will form part of the opening night line-up of the revamped BBC3 next week, debuting on Tuesday 12 February at 10.30pm. As we reported last… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Art and Magazines on ebay
(Posted by John Freeman, updated 6/2/08): Several items are now up for sale on ebay from me, with more to come, which some readers may be interested in here: Doctor Who Comic Art • “Ravens” Promotional ArtThis piece of art… Read More ›
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Mike Battles On!
Out now is the lastest issue of much-praised UK indie title Sgt. Mike Battle: The Greatest American Hero. #10 is the final part of the epic adventure Last Admin Hero, wrapped in a fantastic colour cover. When the terrorist group… Read More ›
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Prestonpandemonium 3
Just when you thought that there couldn’t possibly be any more Scottish comics related news comes confirmation from Nigel Barker that the third of his Prestonpandemonium mini comic marts will be held on Saturday 31 May. Running from Noon to… Read More ›
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Kidnapped – Collector’s Limited Edition
With thanks to Ron Grosset at Waverley Books we can show you the preview illustration of the two volume Collector’s Limited Edition of Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy‘s Kidnapped graphic novel. In addition to a hardback version of the graphic… Read More ›
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Babies Go Boom
UK independent publisher Orang Utan Comics has announced a new title they’re describing as “Calvin and Hobbes meets Spy vs Spy”. Baby Boomers is a heartwarming tale of two adorable infants and their ongoing desire to cause each other as… Read More ›
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Hanging around as The Doctor!
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Exclusive: Stand By For Action!
Comics International is to continue its unique coverage of classic TV SF in British comics with six linked features devoted to the shows of Gerry Anderson. Written by Shaqui Le Vesconte, a leading expert on Anderson in comics (he’s webmaster… Read More ›
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Jeykll and Hyde Graphic Novel
This year’s graphic novel created for the One Book – One Edinburgh reading campaign by the “Scottish Dream Team” of Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy will be the Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. As with last year’s… Read More ›
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Local Heroes Exhibition
There were more details at Hi-Ex of the comics exhibition that the National Library of Scotland is putting on later in the year in Edinburgh. Previously reported here as Comics Grow Up! it has now been retitled as Local Heroes… Read More ›
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When alien cats attack…
Putting a few items up on ebay over the weekend and the SHADO Mobile I decided to include attracted the attention of a dangerous foe during photography…. I know a Siamese cat gave SHADO a few problems in the show… Read More ›
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Death Watch from Broken Voice
Leading UK comics indie Broken Voice Comics recently released an online edition of Chapter 8 of its flagship title – the online graphic novel Shades. (Some early episodes of Shades are also trailed on ROK Comics). Written by David A… Read More ›
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Andersonic #5 On Sale via ebay
A quick plug for Andersonic Issue 5, now available via ebay as well as by post, a fanzine dedicated to all things Gerry Anderson that is garnering much praise from fans of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet et al. This issue comprises… Read More ›
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Shooting the Witness
Shooting the Witness is an exhibition at London’s Political Cartoon Gallery (6 March – 12 April 2008) of the work of the Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his assassination in London. Naji Al-Ali was one… Read More ›
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Hi-Ex in the Highlands: First Report
Over on the Forbidden International blog, Joe Gordon has posted one of the first reports on Hi-Ex, the first major comics convention staged in Inverness held this weekend. Guests included Gary Erskine, John Higgins, Colin MacNeil and many others, and… Read More ›
