Last Wednesday – 28th September – marked a rather momentous day in British Comic Industry as 2000 AD celebrated a mammoth landmark with Prog 2000 – that’s correct 2000 issues of Earth’s mightiest comic!
Not only was there a rather excellent celebratory comic released for this day [read Mark Allen’s review here], which saw the excellent likes of Brian Bolland, Kevin O’Neill, Pat Mills, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra etc etc. gracing the pages, but all across the globe there was a mass signing event hosted in numerous comic book stores on October 1st. I was lucky enough to attend one at the Travelling Man in Manchester, UK, which was being attended by Leigh Gallagher, John Reppion, Leah Moore, Steve Yeowell, Peter Doherty and Andy Diggle.
Arriving at the Travelling Man fashionably early hoping to beat the queues, and also to secure an interview, I was greeted with a queue that was snaking from the 2000AD table – ladened down with Sharpie pens – all the way into the second, larger gaming room of the Travelling Man. I did manage to sneak over to the main table, under the guise of lining up some shots with my photographer and get a few words with Steve Yeowell.
The store rapidly filled with Earthlets, so I popped around to a few of those attending the event and asked some questions about their love of this mighty comic.
Villordsutch:- Why do you think 2000AD has reached Prog. 2000?
Carl: Because it’s constantly changing, it’s constantly evolving, it’s been able to reinvent itself over and over again but still stick to what made it fantastic from the beginning; which is every six pages you get something new.
Villordsutch:- What’s been one of your favourite characters or storylines?
Heather: Oooohh…Strontium Dog in Portrait of a Mutant.
Villordsutch: Over the 2000AD years who would you say is your favourite artist?
Rob: Carlos [Ezquerra], for what he does with Dredd and Strontium Dog. No particular story, I like all the stories he does.
Villordsutch: Over the 2000AD history who has been you favourite writer?
Kevin Lyons: At the moment Ian Eddington, who does Stickleback, Leviathan and Brass Sun.
After watching Steve Yeowell, Leigh Gallagher and Peter Doherty deliver some fine commissions for many people, I decided to join the hour long queue – at already an hour into the event. Luckily there are some rather splendid staff in the Travelling Man, who have a real passion for their products and this helped the time fly past.
Eventually I got to meet the wizards who are normally just names in boxes and I managed to pop a quick question to each.
Villordsutch: Why do you think 2000AD has lasted for 2000 Progs?
Leigh Gallagher: Oh man! That’s a big question!
V: It can be a couple of sentences.
LG: OK then, because there is so much variety in it, there’s been so much talent gone through its doors. The amount of American stars that started out in 2000 AD is unbelievable. It’s all to do with the talent really.
Villordsutch: What led you to the doors of 2000AD
Andy Diggle: Because it was my favourite comic and it changed the course of my life. I started reading it when I was about ten and it kind of blew the back of my head off. When I heard there was a job going in editorial, well actually like an office assistant, I jumped at the chance; as a way to learn how things operate behind the scenes. It’s very exciting to contribute to something that’s been a very big part of my life.
Villordsutch: Why do you think 2000AD has lasted for 2000 Progs?
John Reppion: I think why it’s lasted this long is that it’s constantly evolving, you’ve got your new artists, your new writers and even when you reuse these established characters like Dredd then people are coming up with a new take on it all the time. So 2000AD is constantly evolving, as much as people think it’s about the nostalgia and the comic they grew up with, it is but it’s the future as well.
Leah Moore: Because it’s so fun, I think people can make it relevant to events, make fun of people in it and find a way to make the characters reflect issues of the day. I think that people who grew up on it, want to work on it. I don’t know anyone in comics that wouldn’t like to work for 2000AD.
Villordsutch: What attracted you to 2000AD?
Peter Doherty: They were giving jobs out.
V: (laughing) That’s an answer!
PD: People I knew worked for 2000AD, so I got in through John Smith. He knew Steve MacManus, so he could introduce me and I showed him me work and Steve gave me a job. It was not as easy as it sounds, it’s who you know.
Villordsutch: Out of all of your time at 2000AD who would say you’ve enjoyed the most drawing?
Steve Yeowell: Ummmm, the glib answer is everybody. To be diplomatic (and be glib) I’ll say everybody.
After two and half hours of being in the Travelling Man and getting my 2000AD Prog 2000 signed by all that attended I packed up and left the still heaving store, powered on Haribo and Millionaires Shortbread, as I wondered what will Prog. 4000 look like some forty odd years from now.
Villordsutch and Flickering Myth would like to thank all at the Travelling Man in Manchester for allowing him to wander its floors during the event, and also to thank 2000AD for giving the thumbs up to do the same.
Photographs by Heather Bell.
