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.
-
Heroes Webisodes Scheduled
Digital Media Wire and other news services report NBC has announced plans to launch original webisodes in July for some of its most popular TV shows, including Heroes, The Office, 30 Rock and Chuck. A webisode is an episode of… Read More ›
-
The Eleventh Hour is Here
Eleventh Hour Volume One from British indie publisher Markosia in association with creators Orang Utan Comics, due for release in June, is now available to pre-order from your local comic shop. Featuring twelve stories across 80 pages of stunning artwork… Read More ›
-
Rainbow Orchid’s new Publisher
Egmont UK is to publish The Rainbow Orchid, first published independently by writer-artist Garen Ewing (inteeviewed by downtheubes in 2006). The Rainbow Orchid story, to be published in 2009, will join the Tintin series on Egmont’s publishing list and is… Read More ›
-
Dan Dare’s Holy Grail: Radio Luxembourg’s Dan Dare Radio Show
First broadcast in the 1950s, Radio Luxembourg’s Dan Dare Radio Show has become something of a ‘Holy Grail’ for fans, some still believing copies of the series may yet be found. Aired on Radio Luxembourg between July 1951 and May… Read More ›
-
Doctor Who Silly Season Continues
(with thanks to Matthew Badham): The Wiltshire Times recently reported a Trowbridge Christian has renounced the ‘evil’ of Doctor Who in favour of his religion is selling his collection on internet auction website eBay. The paper reports that having discovered… Read More ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
Missing Believed Wiped
The Missing Believed Wiped team are trying to drum up new members for their Facebook group.
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›
-
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 ›