Catch Up With The Galaxy’s Greatest – 2000 AD Online – 60 Guests, 21 Panels
by Richard Bruton
Over the past weekend, the big 2000AD@45 online convention, The Galaxy’s Greatest, celebrated 45 years of 2000 AD, with so many panels and events. But if you missed it – you can easily catch up. And it’s so worth it.
Taking place over the weekend of 26th-27th March, 2000 AD manages to attract a who’s who of those involved in the comic as well as a host of informed and entertaining guests and panellists from the world of comedy, writing, TV, and even politics – and if anyone tells you 2000 AD should stay away from politics, well, they just haven’t been reading it right.
More than 60 guests, 21 panels, and it’s all available online for those of you that couldn’t make it on the days – as all the panels and talks are up on YouTube right now at the 2000 AD YouTube site.
One essential to check out would be the illuminating chat with 2000 AD editor Matt Smith, Rebellion owners Jason Kingsley OBE and Chris Kingsley OBE, and head of publishing, film & TV Ben Smith – 2000 AD: The Next 45 Years.
Lots of fascinating things revealed in this one, including chats about getting the balance right between comics nostalgia and moving forwards, especially in light of the extensive British comics archive owned by Rebellion, the problems of publishing week in and week out, especially these past couple of Covid years, and yes, a mention of the 2000 AD TV and film projects…
And while talking essential viewing and listening, how about hearing from four artistic greats of the Prog? In 2000 AD Art Legends, the legendary Mick McMahon, Brian Bolland, Frank Quitely and Jock all talk about their work, their influences, and going from 2000 AD to changing the face of comics.
But that’s not anywhere near all… here’s just a little taster of some of the talks and panels you can watch and listen to right now…
Authors on 2000 AD: comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince talks to best-selling crime writer Ian Rankin, award-winning sci-fi author Lauren Beukes, and popular children’s writer Louie Stowell about comics, prose, and the influence of 2000 AD.
The Writer’s Journey: Host Kelly Kanayama talks to writers Al Ewing, Tom Eglington and Ramsey Hassan about writing comics and the writer’s journey…
John Wagner: A brand new audio interview with the legendary co-creator of Judge Dredd & Strontium Dog – John Wagner. He talks to Michael Molcher about his career, his latest work, and how he has no plans to retire…
Pat Mills: a legend of comics and the creator of 2000 AD, Pat Mills talks to graphic novel editor Oliver Pickles about the saga of one of his most famous creations – the Celtic barbarian, Sláine.
The Crisis Generation: the second wave of the British Invasion had no less an impact on American comics than the first. Host Torunn Grønbekk talks to Garth Ennis, Sean Phillips and John McCrea, all of whom graduated from the ‘mature comics’ boom of the late ’80s and early ’90s and went on to have a huge impact on the industry.
2000 AD Beyond the Pages: for four and a half decades 2000 AD has influenced more than just comics. Comedian Sarah Morgan talks to Rowan Hooper from New Scientist magazine and writer David Quantick about 2000 AD‘s influence far beyond its pages.
Comics and Politics: rebellious, anarchic and anti-authority, 2000 AD has always been deeply political – but what is the crossover between politics and comics? And what kind of political career gets inspired by 2000 AD? Host Michael Molcher talks to MPs Stella Creasy and Alex Sobel, alongside political commentator and author Ian Dunt about politics, comics, and Tank Girl as a role model.
2000 AD Audio Adaptions: how do you take a medium that is a synthesis of words and pictures, and turn it into sound? Acclaimed comedian Desiree Burch talks about audio adaptations of 2000 AD with Future Shocks Radio producer Natt Tapley, Penguin Random House Audio producer Chris Thompson and Paul Powell, who dramatised Judge Dredd stories for BBC Radio One in the 1990s.
The Changing Face of Art: podcaster Scott Weatherly talks to legendary 2000 AD artists Chris Weston, Jake Lynch, Simon Davis and Steve Yeowell about the changing styles and craft of art in 2000 AD over the past 45 years.
Comics & Satire: Toby Venables talks to comedians Mitch Benn, Dane Baptiste, and Joel Morris about comedy, satire, and how 2000 AD made a freak outta Mitch…
