Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid Rufus Dayglo

By John Freeman on February 3, 2012

Name: Rufus Dayglo, artdroid

Tumblr: http://rufusdayglo.tumblr.com/
Blog: http://rufusdayglo.blogspot.com/
Web: solidgolddeathmask.com/

Currently working on:

I’m working on my new creator owned series Solid Gold Death Mask, which you’ll be able to get free from the website, solidgolddeathmask.com/, so bookmark it now!

I’m also drawing Judge Dredd for 2000AD, working on The Unwritten for Vertigo (DC Comics), and designing 2000AD toys for 3A Toys.

First memory of 2000AD?

It was one of the first comics I read…. I loved Ramon Sola’s Flesh strip, and later Mick McMahon’s Judge Dredd, and Carlos Ezquerra’s Strontium Dog. It completely informed my opinion of comics, and art!

Favourite Character or Story?

Judge Dredd, the first comic character I wanted to draw.

Sooner or Later, and Swifty’s Return, for Brendan McCarty and Jamie Hewlett’s excellent art, and Pete Milligan’s script.

Bad Company, Future war, monsters, and Ewins and Milligan at their best.

Flesh… you’re reading it, they’re eating it! Ramon Sola doing what he does best, Killer Dinosaurs and ripped up cowboys.

What do you like most about the 2000AD?

The diversity, and inconsistency, and the chances they’ve taken …on series, artists, and writers. It’s got so many worlds, and creators can play with them all.

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

Online, weekly episodes, to download, and custom printable Trade Paper Backs from the archives… (You picking the content from the vast library, like buying an ipod collection)

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

Brett Ewins and I started working on a short prequel to Bad Company, I’d still love to finish it…

• 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

John Freeman

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.