Name: Gordon Rennie
Currently working on:
Dept of Monsterology, Absalom, Aquila, Judge Dredd, Robert Burns: Witch Hunter, Big Finish Doctor Who audio plays. Computer game stuff.
First memory of 2000AD?
I was there from Prog 1 (minus a wander off into the wilderness during the dark days of the early 1990s, when its pages were slathered in mud-like brown paint and ill-advised attempts to be wild, crazy and with it, by writers who needed to learn to walk before they could run.)
The thing that sticks most in the mind is an early cover for the story Flesh, featuring a guy in the jaws of a tyrannosaur, and calling out to his mate. “Shoot me, boss! Don’t let Old One Eye eat me alive!” They don’t write dialogue like that anymore….thank the heavens!
Favourite Character or Story?
Dredd. Early Zenith. The ABC Warriors. But not Strontium Dog, because he’s got stupid, stupid hair.
What do you like most about 2000AD?
As a writer – the scope to do a variety of very different stories. As a reader, being able to read that same variety. And all the sly (and not so sly) jokes.
What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?
Dredd getting a hefty reboot up the arse. God knows the old slugger needs something to keep him and his world fresh and moving forward.
If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you’d like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?
Well, there was the time when a previous Tharg regime told me I’d never write for the title. My, but how we still laugh about that to this day.
• 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
- About the Author
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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
Jump on board 2000AD with this week’s scrotnig Prog! (plus, new books coming soon) 
Strontium Dog early art page on offer from Book Palace Books 
Latest 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine crossover event launches today 
Alan Grant Memorial Scholarship Announced