Artwork for ‘The Visible Man’, a strip considered for the launch of 2000AD View the comic’s original dummy

Name: David Bishop

Currently working on: 

Writing for the BBC1 drama series Doctors. My next episode, Fragile Strength, is scheduled to be broadcast on Tuesday May 8th this year.

I lecture part-time on the Creative Writing MA at Edinburgh Napier University, where we offer a unique module in writing for graphic fiction. Guest speakers on the module last year included Andy Diggle, Emma Hayley from selfmadehero, Gordon Rennie, Colin MacNeil and Scott Montgomery from Commando.

First memory of 2000AD? 

The Visible Man – I was fascinated by the fact you could see his guts through see-through skin.

Favourite Character or Story?

1. Judge Dredd, especially when written by John Wagner or Wagner & Grant – satirical, heroic, cynical, brilliant.

2. Nikolai Dante, written by Robbie Morrison – this swashbuckling character’s been on amazing 15-year odyssey, just sad it’s ending soon.

3. Cradlegrave, written by John Smith – this deserves to be on Channel 4.

What do you like most about the 2000AD? 

The anthology format – even if you hate a story in a particular prog, there’ll be something else you love in the same issue.

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

Innovation, new talent and boldness – as in the best periods of the past 35 years.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you’d like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions? 

Shameless plug moment: all my best anecdotes – at least the ones I could mention without fear of prosecution or legal action – are in THRILL-POWER OVERLOAD, my book detailing the first 30 years of 2000AD.

• 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

2000AD © Rebellion

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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.

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Categories: 2000AD, British Comics

Tags: David Bishop, Thrill Power Overload, Visible Man