Although some might count Monday 21st February 1977, and even, very wrongly, 26th February as 2000AD’s official “birthday”, it was out in the wild before that – so trust us, we’re not getting a head start on formal festivities!
In decades past, February was a busy month for comic launches from Britain’s “Big Two”, DC Thomson and Amalgamated Press/IPC/Fleetway. Launches in years past include The Playbox (1925), The Victor (1961) SMASH! (1966) The Wizard (1970, the second title to bear that name from DCT), Disneyland and Tammy (in 1971) Action and Bullet (1976), Nutty (1980) Nikki (1985), and Buddy (1986).
![Bullet issues 1, 2, published in 1976, both with free gifts - a signet ring with Transfers and Survival booklet and Wallet [vfn] (2)](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_7721.jpg)
Long gone publishers such Alan Class (the publisher, not the man, still with us) launched Astounding Stories in 1966, and Polystyle, its assets owned by Daily Express and Mirror publisher REACH, launched Countdown, too, in 1971. Marvel UK launched Strip in 1990, The Amazing X-Men (1991) and Biker Mice from Mars in 1995.
So when did 2000AD actually launch in 1977? Well, that’s actually a little muddled. For a start, the cover date of 26th February is very much not its actual launch date.
Confused? You’re not the only one. But archivist and cartoonist Lew Stringer has clarified this previously. You see, in the past in many cases, the date on British comic covers is the “off sale” date, with notable exceptions; the day when newsagents would be expected to take an old edition of a comic or magazine off their shelves, and replace it with the latest release.
So, as you can see from the promotional flyer above, included in Action (cover dated 19th February 1976) to trail the new comic, the official on sale date of 2000AD Prog 1 was Monday 21st February 1977. But even that’s a fudge, because as Lew Stringer has previously noted, it actually went on sale on Saturday 19th February, and even Friday 18th February in some areas!
However you want to mark it, and when, though, Happy 49th Anniversary 2000AD! and we’re very much looking forward to whatever current publisher Rebellion (and Tharg himself) are planning for the 50th next year!
Head downthetubes for…
• 2000AD is online at 2000AD.com
• downthetubes How British comic cover dates have (largely) lied to you for decades
Lew Stringer explains British comic cover date shenanigans that throw publicists and archivists aplenty!
• Rusty Staples: Hatch, Match & Dispatch
Michael Carroll’s marvellous regular features on titles launched and cancelled
• downthetubes: Classic British Comics: Who Owns What?
• Rusty Staples: Oddities: Flogging Cheese and Stamps via the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic
How much did it cost to put an ad in a British comic back in the 1970s?
• Action: The Sevenpenny Nightmare downthetubes Micro Site compiled by Moose Harris
With thanks to Lew Stringer
- About the Author
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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: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Flashback Corner
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