Name: Graeme Neil Reid
Web site: www.gnreid.co.uk/
Blog: http://www.gnreid.blogspot.com
Group Blog: http://scotchcorner.blogspot.com/
Currently working on:
Illustrations for a museum, some fantasy role playing stuff and a few other projects which I can't mention (no major secrets just client confidentiality).
First memory of 2000AD?
Finding the 1981 2000AD annual at a car boot sale and having read every page going to a newsagents to pick up Prog 427.
Favourite Character or Story?
Impossible to answer, which is your favourite child? Judge Dredd has to be high on the list but close behind would be Johnny Alpha and Wulf.
Bad Company, Zenith, The Dead, The V.C.s, ABC Warriors, Defoe, Rogue Trooper, Metalzoic, Halo Jones... and the list goes on and on.
One of the most consistent draws for me has been the artist Colin MacNeil and his work on 'Song of the Surfer' was amazing. And, of course, the opening Dredd story of the Megazine 'America' probably stands as one of the greatest.
What do you like most about the 2000AD?
Two things stand out for me now. The fact that I read it as soon as its delivered, just the same as I did when I was 14. The second is the quality of work in 2000AD's pages is on an all time high I feel. We can all look back to those 'classic' years and stories but as a fan you can't beat the work that has been in the comic for the last five years or so. Zarjaz is a popular word for the level of greatness!
The passion and dedication put into the scripts, art and lettering is on show. Yes, you get hired to create these pages but I don't think there is a single 2000AD creator that is just doing it for the money, the love for the comic is on display with every page.
Look at the 35th anniversary cover beautifully drawn by Chris Weston. He produced the rough for this awesome cover on spec, he wasn't asked to by the editorial staff he took it on himself to come up with that, that's the love of the comic if nothing else.
What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?
That's tricky really. Whatever they are doing to make 2000AD at the moment works so pretty much more of the same as far as the weekly goes.
I'd like Rebellion to look into a weekly, 2000AD digital junior title that is super cheap to read. I'm thinking you have two original stories featuring Dredd, Alpha etc. and use three 'classic' strips as reprint material but keep it aimed at 10 year olds and make it cheap for your PC, iPad etc.
I was a big fan of the 1980s Eagle and it was crammed with three page strips and it kept to the younger age group well, it had brilliant art and exciting stories and was an excellent junior title to 2000AD. I'd love to see something like that appear for kids now.
If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?
Apart from Mek-Quake they're all very nice, nothing beats the sharp bolt of thrill power that hits you when an email arrives from Tharg!
• The bumper 2000AD 48-page Prog 1771 with the Chris Weston cover (left) mentioned by Graeme goes on sale 22nd February 2012 with a choice of two variant covers, a free bagged special gift and a truly galaxy-spinning line-up!
• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com
2000AD © Rebellion
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