2000AD / Judge Dredd

[chronicles]

Anyone ever used to be into Judge Dredd? Started buying 2000AD around issue 600, and got repidly sucked into it. Then bought a friends' 200AD collection, containing issue 380-700, +/- about 10 issues. Didn;t touch it after about issue 715.

Storylines such as "Necropolis" were pretty superb - the whole notion of Judge Dredd realising that he was nothing more than a dictatorial oppressor was a real eye-opener. Not least, of course, the Dead Man series where he left Mega City 1 and forgot his identity.

This was all about the time that 2000AD was suddenly becoming very mature - Rogue Trooper became a brilliantly painted story about clones left to be slaughtered in a military experiement. Plus there was the quite gorgeously air-brushed Celtic "Slaine the God" story. And Johnny Alpha from Strontium Dog was killed off.

All quite superb stuff from something supposedly a kid's comic book. I guess that's why they returned to their old ways - Judge Dredd was rejuvenaetd and forgot democratic theory; Rogue Trooper became a black and white cartoon about a man with BIG GUNS; and Strontium Dog continued as a title with the "friends of Strontium Dog having merry jaunts". No idea what happened to "Slaine".

Best Judge Dredd story I ever read was "America", though. It actually came out in the Judge Dredd Megazine. I had the first twelve issues, then leant them out and never saw them again. Later found a reprint of it by itself in two parts and bought it.

"America" was about confronting democracy and oppression, through the eyes of a nerd and his unrequited love - for a woman who joined a guerilla movement against the oppression of the Judges. This wasn't kids stuff - this was adult themes and an adult story line, about freedom - and the lack of. Nicely painted, too. The one page spread of a Judge having his chest blown out in an ambush (no blood in that pic), was utterly memorable. So much so that I've lifted something of the concept and story them into "Emperor".

It dealt with important issues - so I thought I'd add my own spin to the whole theme. No, not plagiarising - couldn't do that. But it's good to be able to find a focus for political theory in my sf writing.

Anyway - any comments on either 2000AD or Judge Dredd from others here? Or am I the only one who ever read it? :P

[Genus]

Mate, I went looking for a 2000ad fan and here I am!

I have a nuber of issues from about issue 120 to issue 1000, then I missed a few hundred and got back into it recently over the last year.

I love 2000ad, when I was a kid it helped me figure out the world, and now I'm all growd up (depending on who you ask), I just love reading the stuff for it's cult and artistic glory.

I loved stories like the Nemesis books, the ABC Warriors, had a massive crush on Halo Jones for a while. And of course, you always have Joe Dredd up there with the best of them.

Great stuff!

[I, Brian]

Halo Jones was a great story, wasn't it? Then again, we're talking about some very good writers gracing 200AD - from Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, Pat Mills, Wagner-Grant, and others.

My collection only spans around 390 to 715. I lost interest after 2000AD had it's "mature readers" phase at the end of the 600's, only to go back down a level after.

I think Rogue Trooper was explictly indicative of this - the original series - great! But then, Friday - brilliant stuff. Yet after #700 Rogue Trooper appeared to sink into some daft little black and white macho cartoon figure.

Seemed like a general trend, and I was already heavily into DC Vertigo stuff such as Hellblazer, Sandman, and Doom Patrol. So I had to leave 2000AD behind.

What's happening these days, anyway, though? I figure there must have been a lot of chanegs? What's happening with Dredd and the gang, and who is the chief-judge these days?


Oh - and a kickback to Friday:

[knivesout]

Heya Genus! I have scans of the first 4 issues of 2000 AD and I must say there are some great stories in there. I also have a few Judge Dredd specials and a few late-80s issues of the mag.

One question: have you ever read Warrior? It was an excellent British comic from the 80s and sadly shortlived. A similar range of material as 2000 AD, but definitely not just a 2000 AD - wannabe.

[Genus]

Was that anything to do with the Eagle or Warlord? They were two other comics I read when I was just a nipper, seems to ring bells, but I can't put my finger on it.

I used to hate the Mekon with the vengeance of a nine year old.

[The Master™]

I remember Warlord - only 52 issues if memory serves!!! Very much like 2000AD... And was eventually swallowed up by 2000AD... One or two of the stories from Warlord moved into 2000AD for a short time...

One of the them was to do with a Nubian warrior - can't remember the name of that strip... And the other was to do with a Space Trucker... With a pointy head... Funnily enough, can't remember that either... And I think that Rogue Trooper started in there too...

[I, Brian]

Warlord had those strange photo stories, didn't it? I ermember some strange demony-thing.

Ace Trucking was the space trucker with the pointy head. It was a classic example of a concept that finished in mid-climax. The series reached to a cliffhangar, only to promptly disappear completely from 2000AD. Rogue Trooper - hm, I seem to remember something of that particularly moving in from somewhere. The originakl series was quite interesting, actually - liked the talking chipsets.

[The Master™]

I found the original Rogue Trooper was a lot better strip than the later one... Hunting for the bad Souther General... And then there was the love interest in the wonderful shape of Venus Bluegenes!!! One and only time I've found a Blue woman with a mowhawk hair style attractive!!!

Bagman, Helm and Gunnar were the personalities on his equipment - looked a lot like Genus' avatar!!!

[knivesout]

Warrior was one of the best comics I have ever read. There is virtually no info on it online. It included Alan Moore's V For Vendetta, Father Shandor Demon Stalker, Axel Pressbutton and the Laser Eraser, Bojeffries Saga and other stellar stuff. I would kill to own a complete set.

[Genus]

Originally Posted by The Master™

Bagman, Helm and Gunnar were the personalities on his equipment - looked a lot like Genus' avatar!!!

They got me...

[The Master™]

Originally Posted by Genus

They got me...

So, which piece of equipment are you stuck in???

[Strontium Dog]

Originally Posted by The Master™

I remember Warlord - only 52 issues if memory serves!!! Very much like 2000AD... And was eventually swallowed up by 2000AD... One or two of the stories from Warlord moved into 2000AD for a short time...

One of the them was to do with a Nubian warrior - can't remember the name of that strip... And the other was to do with a Space Trucker... With a pointy head... Funnily enough, can't remember that either... And I think that Rogue Trooper started in there too...

I think the comic you are refering to was Starlord, not Warlord. And IIRC Rogue Trooper and Ace Trucking Co both started out in 2000ad.

The name of the nubian warrior was Blackhawk.

[iansales]

Yes, Warlord was a war comic: Lord Peter Flint, Tales of the Luftwaffe, Union Jack Jackson... Starlord was SF.

Another comic that was absorbed by 2000AD was Tornado. That had a mix of SF and mainstream stories. One I particularly remember was Wolfie Smith, which continued for a while in 2000AD.

The earliest 2000AD prog I had was #27. But I subscribed from around #120 to #190, before moving onto stories without pictures :-) Um, I wonder where all my progs went? I'll have to check the loft...

[C. Craig R. McNeil]

2000AD was never (and still isn't) a kids comic. It was always certainly at the cutting edge of British and , indeed, world comics producing some of the best characters in the comic world. JUdge Dredd is a personal fave of mine but I agree it was a bit of a shame they didn't continue the storyline about his doubts.

One thing I have to point out - calling Slaine: The Horned God an airbrushed strip is shocking! It was all hand painted in acrylics and goache (sp?) by the excellent Simon Bisley.

[Harpo]

I started reading 2000AD from issue 2 ( the first issue didn't have Judge Dredd in it) and was an avid reader for about five or six years. After that I dipped in now and again over the years. Nowadays I read and re-read the graphic novel reprints, but dont bother with buying the comic. Although JD has just started a major new story which has all the signs of being an all-time classic, involving the cursed earth, judge fargo, etc. And art by Carlos Ezquerra too.