The free 2000AD@45 online event this weekend, celebrating 45 years of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, went down really well across various web platforms, but for those of you who may have missed it, or parts of it, Rebellion have posted recordings of the talks on YouTube.
We’re still not really sure if the event’s anchor really appreciated “help” from his co-host, Walter the Wobot, but we enjoyed his appearance…
“The Galaxy’s Greatest Fringe” celebrated 45 years of 2000AD, and proved a smashing trip back in time across the history of the comic – but for those of you keen to know what is coming up in the near future, then you should definitely check out the chat with Rebellion owners Jason Kingsley OBE and Chris Kingsley OBE, head of publishing, film & TV Ben Smith, and 2000AD editor Matt Smith about the past 45 years and the next…
Matt Smith talks frankly about editing 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine during the pandemic (Jason also revealing some of the contingencies they had to consider as COVID-19 took hold on the publishing industry), and the panel also discuss the challenges of balancing nostalgia for British comics with looking forwards, building on a huge British comics legacy Rebellion now owns.
Jason also hints that plans for 2000AD TV and film projects are now back on the table, derailed by the pandemic “but they’ve got to be in the right way”.
The two-day, star-studded online convention, “chaired” by Michael Molcher (and Walter!), streamed online and for free on 2000AD.com/45years, as well as 2000AD’s Facebook and YouTube, and Rebellion’s dedicated Twitch stream.
Also free webcast over the weekend…
Creating 2000AD: The Writers
• Pat Mills – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
A legend of comics and the creator of 2000AD, Pat Mills talks to graphic novel editor Oliver Pickles about the saga of one of his most famous creations – the Celtic barbarian, Sláine.
• John Wagner – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
A brand new audio interview with the legendary co-creator of Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog – John Wagner. He talks to Michael Molcher about his career, his latest work, and how he has no plans to retire…
• The Writer’s Journey – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Host Kelly Kanayama talks to writers Al Ewing, Tom Eglington and Ramsey Hassan about writing comics and the writer’s journey…
• On The Brink with Dan Abnett & INJ Culbard – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
“Brink” is a modern 2000AD classic which has already established itself as a landmark series. Acclaimed writer Dan Abnett and artist INJ Culbard talk to comics critic Tom Shapira about their critically-acclaimed slow-burn sci-fi horror series.
• Next Generation Writers – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Host Michael Molcher talks to three writers who pushing the boundaries of 2000AD storytelling: from all-ages series like ‘Full Tilt Boogie’ by writer Alex de Campi, to the … mature adventures of ‘Devlin Waugh’ by Aleš Kot and writer Rob Williams‘s fresh perspectives on legendary characters like ‘Judge Dredd’ and ‘Hershey’.
Creating 2000AD: The Artists
• 2000AD Art Legends – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
In an unmissable panel, four of the biggest artistic talents ever to grace the pages of 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine – Mick McMahon, Brian Bolland, Frank Quitely and Jock – talk about their work, their influences, and going from 2000AD to changing the face of comics.
• The Changing Face of Art – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000 AD @ 45
Podcaster Scott Weatherly talks to legendary 2000AD artists Chris Weston, Jake Lynch, Simon Davis and Steve Yeowell about the changing styles and craft of art in 2000AD over the past 45 years.
• The Art of Colours & Letters – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
We hear from some unsung heroes of 2000AD – colourists and letterers. Colourist Sally Jane Jurst, legendary letterer Annie Parkhouse, letterer Jim Campbell, and colourist Chris Blythe discuss the vital but often under appreciated art of colour and letters…
• New Artists – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
We hear from four of our newest artists Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), Korinna Mei Veropoulou (Harlem Heroes), Dan Cornwell (Judge Dredd) and Anna Morozova (Viva Forever) about the freedoms and legacies of drawing for 2000AD…
2000AD – The Spin-Offs
• 2000AD Audio Adaptions – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
How do you take a medium that is a synthesis of words and pictures, and turn it into sound? Acclaimed comedian Desiree Burch talks about audio adaptations of 2000AD with “Future Shocks” Radio producer Natt Tapley, Penguin Random House Audio producer Chris Thompson and Paul Powell, who dramatised Judge Dredd stories for BBC Radio One in the 1990s.
• 2000AD: The Great Game(s) – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000 AD @ 45
Have you always wanted to step into the shoes of your favourite 2000AD character and explore their world? Legendary games creator Sir Ian Livingstone, games developer Andy Chambers and Duncan Molloy from Rebellion’s board games division, Rebellion Unplugged, talk about 2000AD board games and RPGs.
• Dread: Dredd RPG first ever playthrough! – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
A brand new version of the award-winning TTRPG game Dread will plunge you and your friends into a thrilling race against time in Mega-City One – with a unique game mechanic that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
Designed specifically for 2000AD’s 45th anniversary by original Dread writer Epidiah Ravachol, Dread: Dredd brings the ENNIE award-winning game to the iconic world of 2000AD’s ‘Judge Dredd’.
Beyond 2000AD – Examining the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic
• Authors on 2000AD – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince talks to best-selling crime writer Ian Rankin, award-winning sci-fi author Lauren Beukes, and popular children’s writer Louie Stowell about comics, prose, and the influence of 2000AD.
• The Crisis Generation – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
The second wave of the ‘British Invasion’ no less an impact on American comics than the first. Host Torunn Grønbekk talks to Garth Ennis, Sean Phillips and John McCrea, all of whom graduated from the ‘mature comics’ boom of the late ’80s and early 1990s and went on to have a huge impact on the industry.
• Critics on 2000AD – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Comics is a big world. Hear from four comics critics – Tom Shapira, Tiffany Babb, Chloe Maveal and Zack Quaintance – about what series and characters make 2000 AD unique…
• Comics and Politics – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Rebellious, anarchic and anti-authority, 2000AD has always been deeply political – but what is the crossover between politics and comics? And what kind of political career gets inspired by 2000AD?
Host Michael Molcher talks to MPs Stella Creasy and Alex Sobel, alongside political commentator and author Ian Dunt about politics, comics, and Tank Girl as a role model (?)
• Fantasy 2000AD Nerve Centre – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Podcaster Scott Weatherly talks to artists Simon Fraser, PJ Holden and Liana Kangas about what stories they would put into their ideal issue of 2000 AD in they were Tharg for a day!
• 2000AD, Comics & Satire – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
Toby Venables talks to comedians Mitch Benn, Dane Baptiste, and Joel Morris about comedy, satire, and how 2000 AD made a freak outta Mitch…
• 2000AD Beyond the Pages – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
For four and a half decades 2000AD has influenced more than just comics. Comedian Sarah Morgan talks to Rowan Hooper from New Scientist magazine and writer David Quantick about 2000AD‘s influence far beyond its pages.
• 2000AD: Beyond Borders – The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45
On 2000AD: Beyond Borders, host Kelly Kanayama talks to 2000AD writers Arthur Wyatt and Michael Carroll (Judge Dredd) and artist Chris Burnham (Judge Dredd, Batman) about their perspectives on this quintessentially British comic book export.
• Talks recorded during the 2000ADS@45 event are featured here on YouTube
The two-day, star-studded online convention streamed online and for free on 2000AD.com/45years, as well as 2000AD’s Facebook and YouTube, and Rebellion’s dedicated Twitch stream
Want to watch the event as cast? Check these links
• The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45 Day One
• The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000AD @ 45 Day Two
• Talks recorded during the 2000ADS@45 event are featured here on YouTube
The two-day, star-studded online convention streamed online and for free on 2000AD.com/45years, as well as 2000AD’s Facebook and YouTube, and Rebellion’s dedicated Twitch stream
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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