Space flight is 50 years old this week and although the space race may well have been borne by the desire to develop bigger and better nuclear weapons – according to the accounts of Russian scientists reported in USA Today – the actual exploration of space, which began with the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957, continues to capture the imagination of many.
For me, it continues to inspire new writing – I’m working with ace artist Bill Storie on a new SF series, Ex Astris, which you can read via ROK Comics.
• There’s more information on the project at www.exastris.co.uk
• New Scientist magazine has a special web section on the legacy of Sputnik here
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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.
Categories: Science Fiction
Big Finish brings us The Seventh Doctor vs Soviet Cybermen in upcoming “Out of the Dark” 
In Memoriam: John Leeson 
New book, “Written by Terrance Dicks”, out later this month 
In Review: Doctor Who – The Key to Time