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2000 AD

Entry updated 14 February 2022. Tagged: Comics, Publication.

UK weekly sf Comic-strip magazine, 32-36pp, published by IPC from 26 February 1977, and then from 1987 by Fleetway. Fleetway was acquired by Rebellion Developments in 2000. Editors have included Kelvin Gosnell, Steve McManus, Richard Burton, Andy Diggle and Alan Barnes. Throughout, the editor has been presented as an Alien called Tharg, and some very entertaining and original sf short stories in graphic form have appeared under the title Tharg's Future Shocks. Early issues (referred to as "progs") were printed on cheap pulp paper with colour for the front and back and for a centre-spread. Continued success eventually justified a "new look", with better-quality paper and printing, including 50-60 per cent in colour. Many of 2000 AD's contributing artists and writers have achieved transatlantic success. They include Simon Bisley, Brian Bolland, Mike Carey, Dave Gibbons, Judge Dredd writers Alan Grant and John Wagner, Rian Hughes, Cam Kennedy, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Kevin O'Niell and Bryan Talbot. The magazine has featured a number of high-quality sf strips, including Dan Dare (from #1, 26 February 1977), Judge Dredd (from #2, 5 March 1977), Robo-Hunter (from #76, 5 August 1978), Strontium Dog (from #86, 14 October 1978), ABC Warriors (from #119, 30 June 1979), The VCs (from #140, 24 November 1979), Stainless Steel Rat (also from #140), Slaine (from #330, 20 August 1983), Alan Moore's Ballad of Halo Jones (from #376, 7 July 1984), Anderson Psi Division (from #416, 4 May 1985) and Bad Company (from #500, 13 December 1986). Many 2000 AD strips have been reprinted in the UK as Graphic Novels and also in the USA in comic-book format (with artwork stretched lengthways to suit the taller page shape) under the Eagle Comics imprint (subsequently continued by Quality Communications and later by Fleetway). There have been several related hardback publications in the form of Annuals and Yearbooks, containing occasional reprints from the weekly but mostly new material of lower quality; a short series of Anderson PSI Division Ties was written by Mitchel Scanlon. A companion magazine, Judge Dredd's Megazine, published monthly from 1990 to 2010, and a variety of short-lived companion magazines have also expanded the line-up of 2000 AD material. [RT/JP]

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