Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid Boo Cook

Name: Boo Cook

Blog:  www.boocook.blogspot.com

Tumblr: http://boocook.tumblr.com

Tumblr: http://cro-magnonbulletin.tumblr.com

Currently working on: 

I'm currently working on a new five-part Judge Anderson, Psi strip called 'Stone Voices' with Alan Grant. That should be surfacing in the Judge Dredd Megazine in the summer... aside from that, i have regular cover duties ongoing for Richard Starkings' Elephantmen comic over at Image.

I've got various other bits and bobs in the pipeline, but it's too early to mention them yet... fingers crossed!

First memory of 2000AD?

My first memory of 2000AD was sifting through a stack of back progs at my pals Tom and Ian's house in Devon when I was 9. i can remember being totally blown away by the sheer craziness of the "Judge Child Quest" and ABC Warriors and frankly had to get me some...

I got the 1982 2000AD annual for Christmas that year and had the comic sent to me by my Grandpa each week from then on... I need a spare room just for my progs!

Favourite Character or Story?

I love Dredd. who doesn't? My favourite story for him has to be the whole Block Mania/Apocalypse War saga I think, but actually if I really had to name my favourite all time character it would have to be Johnny Alpha/Strontium Dog, with Wulf Sternhammer coming a close second. I always read Dredd last in the weekly comic, unless Johnny is in the prog , then he gets the fabled slot.

Strontium Dog has had so many amazing story arcs i'd struggle to name all my faves, but "Rage", "Portrait of a Mutant", "The Killing", that crazy "Moses Quest" story... I could go on all night!

What do you like most about the 2000AD?

The thing that really works for me about 2000AD is its unflinching approach to experimental and groundbreaking strips. I think the secret of its success is that it just keeps on pushing and inventing newer and crazier strips and characters.

The old staple heroes are treated with respect, and new ideas are always given a chance to flourish - since its birth right up to the present day Tharg and his editorial minions have had a brilliant policy of giving creators free reign with their ideas and really nurturing new talent - many of whom have gone on to be some of the biggest names in comics.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?

More of the same! Johhny Alpha is currently back in the prog, but if they could work out a credible way to bring Wulf back too I'd be a happy cyber bunny.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?

I have loads of anecdotes about the 2000AD crew to tell, from Colin MacNeil's wife punching Dom Reardon over a hedge to Al Ewing's amazing dance moves.

But many of them are terribly damning and incriminating(!) so i'll just pay my birthday respects to the comic itself by saying; since I was 10 it has been like a brother to me, a massive part of my life. My Grandpa probably had little idea that he was filling my brain sci-fi rocket fuel that would instil a crazed yet balanced moral code in me that will last a lifetime.

Since those early days it has become my job and my passion for it and sci-fi in general hasn't dwindled in the slightest.

It is part of my core, and without it I wouldn't have met the most amazing person on the planet: my lovely wife. We met exactly 10 years ago at the 2000AD 25th birthday celebration at the Ministry of Sound in London.

So Tharg.... I SALUTE YOU!!!

• 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

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid Arthur Ranson

Mazeworld, written by Alan Grant, drawn by Arthur Ranson

Name: Arthur Ranson

Website, with blogs: www.arthurranson.com/

Present work:

Rather recklessly I have recently commenced producing in Paint software a ‘comic’ - Sirius. An Intergalactic Adventure - appearing on my web-site. Intended for my amusement, it has become a time consuming addiction that is probably ruining my chances of ever running a marathon.. Or running.

First memory of 2000AD?

My first memory of 2000AD was, hoping for work, nervously taking my samples to editor Richard Burton. Even at that time the young 2000AD’s reputation had grown to where many artists considered it was the hip place to be.

Unlike the impression that US comics gave - that they generally demanded a house style - 2000AD gave artists great scope for individualism. To my surprise, I not only got a promise of work but lunch too. A pint of beer, a curly sandwich and a career changing commission.

Judge Anderson pencilled by
Brian Bolland (inked by Gary Martin)

Favourite characters?

Apologies but number one really has to be Psi Judge Cassandra Anderson. Cass was my favourite when Brian Bolland was drawing it so I was well chuffed to be offered it and Alan Grant’s stories were great, giving Cass a greater consistency and humanity than any other comic strip character I can think of.

Johnny Alpha created by T.B. Glover, aka John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in Strontium Dog. It never kept its appeal but it was one of the strips that on its early appearance, I would have liked to draw. A dramatic story with potential for a wide range of stories and settings plus character design that looked great.

Slaine, if only for the extraordinary art work by two exceptional artists. Glen Fabry and Simon Bisley. Whether in line or painted both men produced pages that were a real pleasure to see.

What do you like most about 2000AD?

The impressive thing about 2000AD is its courage. It has always seemed willing to try something new, use fresh artists, writers and concepts. Several things I was involved in would not have happened in a more hidebound comic and I got to read unexpected stuff and see some very good artwork. A list of people who have drawn or written for them will demonstrate just how good they are at talent spotting.

What would you like to see in 2000AD as it heads into it's Forties?

I have had many amazing ideas about what 2000AD might do over the years. Luckily none of them were ever taken up. My record on unsuccessful commercial ideas makes me ill suited to offering advice and reluctant to offer any concrete suggestions now.

Some platitude about keep up the good work is best I can do. Life begins at forty?

Do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?

Despite his authoritarian manner not being the managerial style a liberal like myself should approve of, Tharg does seem to produce among his minions a marked sense of commitment.

This is not just a shabby attempt at self promotion but I was really impressed by the dedication and care of those responsible for the production of the Mazeworld graphic novel. So respect to backroom boys Graphic Novel Editor Keith Richardson, Graphic Designers Simon Parr and Luke Preece and judging by the book’s coverage, PR guy Michael Molcher.

• This post is part of a series of birthday tributes from a wide range of comic creators celebrating 2000AD's birthday on 26th February 2012. For more about 2000AD, visit www.2000adonline.com

2000AD © Rebelllion

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From script droid Alan Grant

Name: Alan Grant

Blog or web site: 

Check out www.2000adonline.com for Alan's numerous 2000AD credits

Currently working on: 

I've just finished Part 5 of the new 6-part Cadet Anderson series, Algol; hopefully, the villain of the piece will re-emerge from the cubes 35 years later, to tie into current Anderson timelines as a major character.

Once that's done, I'll be thinking about a new Durham Red series, with original artist and co-creator Carlos Ezquerra.

First memory of 2000AD?    

John Wagner arriving at my house in Dundee, wanting to consult my collection of US Marvel/DC comics to make sure his new stories didn't use already-established ideas. John was working full-time on the new material for 2000AD, and asked me if I'd like to take over his commitment to writing Tarzan stories for European publication. So, although I didn't start work on 2000AD for another 18 months, 2000AD was actually the catalyst that got me my first break in comics.

Favourite Character or Story?

Much though I like Judge Dredd, I have to say my co-favourite characters are Strontium Dog and Psi-Judge Anderson. Favourite stories that I wrote or co-wrote were Anderson in Satan (art by Arthur Ranson) and Strontium Dog in Rage (art by Ezquerra).

My favourite Dredd story has to be America, by Wagner and Colin MacNeil. And there's an honourable mention for Alan Moore's DR and Quinch series.

What do you like most about the 2000AD?     

Its in-your-face, don't-give-a-shit attitude, which I'm very happy to see continued in stories by Al Ewing and Si Spurrier, amongst others.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?     

I'd like to see a story set in the near future employing the very real trials and tribulations of the current political/economic scene. While these matters are often projected into the future via Dredd stories, I think they can lose some of their immediacy in the process.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?     

Most of the ones I recall are too embarrassing to commit to print, involving large quantities of alcohol and a very liberal attitude to personal health and safety!

• This post is the first in a series of birthday tributes from a wide range of comic creators celebrating 2000AD's birthday on 26th February 2012. For more about 2000AD, visit www.2000adonline.com

Judge Anderson © Rebelllion

Web FInds: Someone Old, Some New

Art by Cliff Robinson

(with thanks to Matt Badham): Many British comic characters may not be getting the exposure these days - who wouldn't want to see new adventures of Steel Claw or Adam Eterno? - but thanks to the web, comic creators can keep these icons alive. Case in point is Someone Old, Someone New - a blog where artists feature old and new British comic characters in one frame of 'What If?' style fun.

The creation of 'MangaMax', who also runs the AIEEE blog on British comic characters, the  brief is simple: ask an artist to depict a chosen classic, long out of print British comic character meeting a modern, in print one. Whether they get along and what they're doing is entirely up to the artist - part of the fun of it seeing just what they'll come up with. The only stipulation anyone is given is that it must be black and white, the natural enviroment of the 70's, apart from that its all down to them.

Robot Archie and Judge Anderson
Art by Dave Taylor

Many artists have already stepped up to the plate, including Cliff Robinson (above, who helped kick the project off), Glenn Fabry, Dave Taylor, Paul Grist and many others.

The blog is also  a showcase for a slowly growing collection of commissions of Black Max, MangaMax's favourite ever British comic character - and convention sketches of those classic 60/70's strips he love so much.

So well worth checking out at: http://someoneoldsomeonenew.blogspot.com

- The Spider, Janus Stark and Robot Archie © IPC
- Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson © Rebellion

- Adam Eterno and Black Max © Egmont UK

Planet Replicas launch Dredd costumes - ideal for vigilantes?

Prepare to dispense justice like Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson - officially licensed Judge replica costumes from Planet Replicas are coming.

(We can just see these being snapped up by those 'real life superheroes' the media loves reporting on at the moment).

Faithfully reproduced from 2000 AD’s most famous lawman of the future, the costumes complete with the distinctive helmet, name badge, pads (shoulder, knee and elbow) utility belt, Lawgiver (sadly, not operational) and gloves.

All other items can also be sourced through Planet Replicas. Personal customisation will be available, as well as other options.

With the choice of male and female Judge costumes, outfits for the whole family are a possibility – ideal if you are setting up your own Mega-City One Sector House.

- More info and pics at: www.planetreplicas.com

WebFinds: Cliff Robinson's Captain Britain

Regular readers of downthetubes will remember artist Cliff Robinson - one of many great creators on 2000AD down the years. He began his own blog some time ago, and has been posting some fantastic art, including this brilliant 'faux' Captain Britain Weekly cover - inspired by CB's first run in with Captain America back in the 1970s - and a fun 'Robot Archie' illustration.

His blog features the preliminary drawings for the Robot Archie, Judge Anderson and
Modesty Blaise art. "Looking afresh at these drawings and the finished art, I'm beginning to wonder whether I've drawn Modesty's waist just a tad too thin," he notes.

• Check out his blog at: cliffrobinsoncomicart.blogspot.com