2000AD unveils star-studded audio drama “Future Shocks” adaptations

2000AD - Future Shocks Radio

Christmas has come early for 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine subscribers, with the first episode of Future Shocks Radio now live on the 2000AD app.

These audio adaptations of classic “Future Shock” stories, featuring celebrity voices from the likes of Konnie Huq, Rufus Hound, Al Murray and Janet Ellis, are available exclusively to 2000AD and Meg subscribers through the app for Apple and Android devices.

The first Christmas-themed episode is available now, with more to follow in the new year.

Future Shocks Radio is a brand new series of audio adaptations of classic 2000AD stories – half-hour audio dramas based on classic “Future Shocks”, which will be available exclusively to 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine subscribers.

“Future Shocks” have been a staple of 2000AD since 1977, when the late, great writer Steve Moore pioneered the short comic book story with a sting in the tail that have seen legendary writers such as Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman hone their craft into the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comics.

Now, those classic stories are gaining new life in new interpretations from some of the most exciting new and established talent in audio drama!

Produced by two-time BAFTA winner Nathaniel Tapley (Have I Got News For YouThe News Quiz) with an exciting team of writers and creatives, Future Shocks Radio offers bold, witty takes on classic stories with well-known performers like former Blue Peter presenters Konnie Huq and Janet Ellis, comedians Rufus Hound and Al MurrayEastenders actor Nitin Ganatra, Hollyoaks actor Lizzie Roper, and Spitting Image voice actor Steve Nallon, as well as compelling new voices like 2020 BAFTA-winner Gbemi Ikumelo and a veritable torrent of comic talent.

The stories will be available to current and future print and digital 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine subscribers to listen for free via the 2000AD app. To access the free podcasts, subscribers will need to sign-in to the app with their Rebellion ID – the same email they use to control their digital or physical subscription.

The opening page of "One Christmas During Eternity" from 2000AD Prog 271, by Alan Moore and Jesus Redondo
The opening page of “One Christmas During Eternity” from 2000AD Prog 271, by Alan Moore and Jesus Redondo – reprinted in The Complete Future Shocks Volume 2

The first episode, which went live on the app this week, is Christmas-themed and is an adaptation of “One Christmas During Eternity” (from 2000AD Prog 271 in 1982) by Alan Moore and Jesus Redondo and “The Star” (from 2000 AD Prog 297 in 1983) by Chris Lowder and Massimo Bellardinelli, starring Katherine Jakeways, Nitin Ganatra, Steve Nallon, Thomas Tapley, Darren Strange, Lisa Bowerman and Zoe S Battley.

Both stories feature in The Complete Future Shocks Volume Two, published by Rebellion last year.

Subsequent episodes will be released in 2021.

“It’s been a real honour to get to work with some of the treasured holy texts of British sci-fi,” commented Nathaniel Tapley. “It’s been incredibly exciting to be able to find some of the most exciting talents at work today, combine them with stories and characters of extraordinary writers and artists, and to get them all to record the whole thing under their duvets as the world outside falls apart.

“Bringing these stories to a new medium with its potential for new audiences feels like a tremendous responsibility,” he added, “and it’s been amazing to see how the cast and crew have done frankly extraordinary work under difficult conditions.

“We hope we’ve created something both respectful of the past and new and unique in its own right. Where else can people hear Al Murray as an Australian alien in a story by Alan Moore, Janet Ellis as Nadia, futuristic companion of Blast Barclay in a story by Grant Morrison, or Rufus Hound vigorously pretending to be a car?

“We’d like to thank Tharg for the opportunity and request that he release our families now.”

Ben Smith, head of publishing at Rebellion, said: “Subscribers are a vital part of 2000AD and we are always looking for ways to reward them. This year more than any has been incredibly tough for everyone including our own readers, so to be able to give them these podcasts which have been made with such humour and enthusiasm by Natt and his team who have proven themselves to be long-standing admirers of 2000AD is a real treat. We can’t wait to hear what they make of these first episodes and the rest of the series over the next few months.”

The news comes just days after Penguin Random House announced the first set of 2000AD series to receive major audiobook adaptations, with Judge Dredd: AmericaJudge Dredd: The PitThe Ballad of Halo JonesSláine: The Horned God, and Brink, due for release on Audible in 2021.

• Print and digital subscriptions to 2000AD and/or the Judge Dredd Megazine are available from the 2000 AD webshop at shop.2000AD.com with monthly, annual, and two-year options

Follow Nathaniel Tapley on Twitter @intent | Online at nathanieltapley.com

You can read his recent “My Comedy Career interview” on BCG Pro

Buy The Complete Future Shocks Volume One (Amazon UK Affiliate Link)

The Complete Future Shocks Volume One

This first volume takes us back to the earliest days of the strip and showcases the burgeoning, immense talents of such luminaries as Steve Moore, Alan Moore, Brett Ewins, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Cooper, Carlos Pino, Jesus Redondo, Steve Dillon, Peter Milligan and many, many more.

Buy The Complete Future Shocks Volume Two (Amazon UK Affiliate Link)

The Complete Future Shocks Volume 2 - Final Cover

Featuring early work by creators that went on to engrave their names into comics history, including Alan Moore, Brett Ewins, Colin Wilson, Dave Gibbons and Mick McMahon.

Future Shocks Radio – The Episodes

The Future Shocks that will be featured are:

• “Grawks Bearing Gifts” by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson
First published in 2000AD Prog 203

• “Dear Mum” by John Richardson
First published in 2000AD Prog 97

• “One Christmas During Eternity” by Alan Moore and Jesus Redondo
First published in 2000AD Prog 271

• “The Star” by Chris Lowder (writing as J.H. Teed) and Massimo Bellardinelli
First published in 2000AD Prog 297

• “Long Live the Queen” by Kelvin Gosnell and Eric Bradbury
First published in 2000AD Prog 212

• “The English/Phlondrutian Phrasebook” by Alan Moore and Brendan McCarthy
First published in 2000AD Prog 214

• “The Sacrifice” by Alan Hebden and Mike White
First published in 2000AD Prog 109

• “A Cautionary Fable” by Alan Moore and Paul Neary
First published in 2000AD Prog 240

• “Burping Hitler” by Rob Williams and Simon Gurr
A “Time Twister” story, first published in 2000AD Prog 1887

• “Beware the Men in Black” by David Perry and Jesus Redondo
First published in 2000AD Prog 286

• “Robot Repairs” by Robert Flynn and Brett Ewins & Jim McCarthy
First published in 2000AD Prog 37-38

• “Drive He Said” by Al Ewing and Edison George
First published in 2000AD Prog 1532

• “Spaceland” by Al Ewing and Edmund Bagwell
First published in 2000AD Prog 1508

• “Blast Barclay” by Grant Morrison and Mike White
First published in 2000AD Prog 516

• “Sunburn” by Alan Moore and Jesus Redondo
First published in 2000AD Prog 282

• “The Armageddon Game” by Peter Milligan and Anthony Jozwiak
First published in 2000AD Prog 462



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