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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Art Reviw – 30 stars of tomorrow
Glossy art magazine the Art Review showcases 30 stars of Tomorrow in its March 2008 edition and, although he’s not featured on the actual list it self, 2000AD artist Ian Gibson makes a play for some of Charles Saatchi’s spare… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Cover Artist Walt Howarth
Cartoonist Lew Stringer reports that Walt Howarth, the prolific artist of many British annual covers of the 1960s and 1970s has died, aged 80. This is Lancashire reports Walt, whose credits include work on Doctor Who, The Lone Ranger, Dempsey… Read More ›
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Keep Me In Caramacs!
Sparked by a quick debate on a Yahoo comics group comes news that the British small press might be failing in its legal obligations by not sending copies of their magazines – however short the print run – to the… Read More ›
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Titan’s Top UK Sales
London-based Titan Books, well known for its comics collections and which recently announced a publishing deal with Egmont for new Roy of the Rovers and Battle titles, topped sales in two categories UK sales in the week ending 2nd March…. Read More ›
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Third Heavy Metal Film Planned
A new animated ‘anthology’-styled movie inspired by the Heavy Metal SF and fantasy comics magazine and directed by David (Zodiac) Fincher is in the works from Paramount. Los Angeles-based animation studio Blur, whose credits include graphics for games such as… Read More ›
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A Gaffe of Media
Over on socksandbarney.com, top artist Steve Conley recently delivered a telling blow on the US mainstream media with a fun cartoon, just one of his very funny “Socks and Barney” strips he’s been keeping far too quiet about, in my… Read More ›
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Red Dwarf’s Holly on Tour!
Both incarnations of Red Dwarf computer Holly, Norman Lovett and Hattie Hayridge, are to tour UK theatres in their new stage show Double Header. The actors will perform comedy stand-up as well as talking about Red Dwarf, celebrating its 20th… Read More ›
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Platinum Studios’ Comic Book Challenge Opens
US publisher Platinum Studios, also owners of the Drunk Duck webcomics site, has announced the launch of The Comic Book Challenge 2008 – a Pop Idol-styled comic book contest – at www.ComicBookChallenge.com, coinciding with the release of Jorge Vega’s 2007… Read More ›
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Sean Azzopardi Interviewed
With the release of his new book, Twelve Hour Shift, Matthew Badham has just interviewed London-based cartoonist Sean Azzopardi and both have kindly given permission for us to republish the piece here. Sean Azzopardi is a self-published cartoonist living and… Read More ›
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Paul Cornell Interviewed
British podcast producers Geek Syndicate have just released an epic 90 minute journey through time and space and into the mind of comics and TV writer Paul Cornell, whose credits include Doctor Who, Primeval, Wisdom, Robin Hood and a host… Read More ›
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In Memoriam: Dave Stevens
Writer Mark Evanier has paid tribute to Rocketeer artist Dave Stevens, who died this week after a long battle with leukaemia. He was just 52. A tributes page has been added to the American artist’s official web site, and in… Read More ›
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New Columbo DVD out 31 March
The next volume of Columbo DVDs is due out in the UK on 31 March. The Season 8 box set comprises the four episodes which made up the 1989 season – at the time of broadcast they were the first… Read More ›
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Doctor Who Fun in the 1990s…
I recently came across this spoof Doctor Who Magazine cover in my archive, which once graced my office wall at Arundel House, Marvel UK when I was editor of the title in the 1990s. Do you think it will sell… Read More ›
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Martin’s Match of the Day
Artist Martin Baines, whose work includes strips for Spaceship Away, DC Thomson and work on Titan’s Wallace & Gromit, is busy working on the BBC’s new, weekly, Match of the Day magazine, which has just launched. The title features a… Read More ›
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ROK Comics Creator Interviews Online
Several interviews with creators of UK-based comics to mobile service ROK Comics, have been posted on the downthetubes.net main site. The questions were compiled by David Hailwood. • Artist Josh AlvesJosh Alves is a Graphic Designer/Cartoonist/Stand-up Comedian residing in the… Read More ›
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Gerry Anderson In Glasgow
Television producer Gerry Anderson has appeared at the Aye Write Book Festival in Glasgow, talking about his career in series as diverse as Four Feather Falls, Stingray, Space:1999 and Lavender Castle as well as his career defining Thunderbirds, and giving… Read More ›
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MamTor’s Mother of a Comic
Mam Tor Publishing, the brain child of Liam (Death’s Head II, Man Thing etc.) and Chris McCormack Sharp has collaborated with Mother (London) Advertising Ltd. to produce a 16 page quarterly comic inside the London edition of Time Out magazine… Read More ›
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Happy Birthday, Oor Wullie!
He is Scotland’s most famous son, a dungaree-wearing, spiky-haired scamp who has sown mischief in Auchenshuggle for 70 years — and first appeared in the Sunday Post on 8th March 1936. Oor Wullie, who celebrates being “nine years auld” today… Read More ›
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The Last Lecture: People versus Things
I came across this video completely by chance — but that should be no surprise, because at the moment it’s a version of one the most viral videos on the Net. This is virtual reality pioneer Randy Pausch, who is… Read More ›
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Merlin Begins Filming at Last
Former One Foot in the Grave comedy star Richard Wilson is to star in a new 13-part drama Merlin BBC1 is lining up for a Saturday teatime slot which will screen later this year. Independent production company Shine, who also… Read More ›