It started with an artist’s dream – but now, the nightmare of the Dark Judges’ early days is coming to 2000AD.
Artist Dave Kendall was inspired by a haunting dream to create his own versions of John Wagner and Brian Bolland’s classic Judge Death, Judge Mortis, Judge Fire, and Judge Fear characters – and now those versions are getting their own strip in the weekly SF comic in “Dreams of Deadworld” will begin in 2000AD Prog 1946 on 2nd September 2015.
Written by Kek-W and beautifully painted by Kendall, the four-part series is set on Deadworld – the original home of the Dark Judges, who declared that because all crime is committed by the living then all life should be a crime. The story explores what happens to the fearsome foursome after their slaughter of the entire population but before they discovered the dimension jump technology that allowed them to visit Judge Dredd’s Mega-City One.
Each episode will focus on a particular Dark Judge as they stalk the remains of their once-teeming world, unveiling more of about their origins. In the first episode, Judge Fire travels beneath the waves to discover treachery by members of their terrifying department of twisted justice never before seen!
“So, a nightmare come true,” says Dave Kendall. “An unheard of thank you, for the early morning wake up by my children, which allowed these versions of the Dark Judges to be dragged kicking and screaming into the light. Also, much gratitude to friends and colleagues on social media. Their support gave me the confidence to approach Tharg with these beasties.”
“If David Cronenberg reimagined Brian Bolland’s original Dark Judges, they wouldn’t look too dissimilar to Dave Kendall’s,” adds Tharg’s (possibly) human editor on 2000AD Matt Smith (but only when the Green One is eating cups, presumably). “Rooted as they are in a sense of decay and grotesque body transformation. The horror of ‘Dreams of Deadworld’ is a visceral kind, in which an entire planet has been turned into a charnel pit, and these creatures rule it as their kingdom. Never mind getting inky fingers – when readers turn the pages on DoD, it oozessss…”
Dave’s first professional work was “Psycho Killer” for TOXIC! written by Pat Mills. From there Necroscope for Brian Lumley beckoned and a comic for the rock band, Metallica, work from both projects featured in ‘Sound & Fury’, an exhibition of Heavy Metal Imagery in Bradford Museum and around the country.
Currently working in the areas of comics and role playing games and as a book illustrator and book cover artist, one of his most recent projects was the horror series Houses of the Holy, written by Mike Carey, available exclusively as a digital title from Madefire.
• 2000AD Prog 1946 will be available in print from all good newsagents and comic book stores in the UK and Ireland on 2nd September, and from comic book stores in North America via Diamond Distribution in October (code: JUL151559). The issue will also be available as a DRM-free digital download from 2000AD’s online shop at www.shop.2000ADonline.com or our Apple and Android apps.
• Dave’s official web site is at: www.rustybaby.com
- 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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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