Pat Mills - the politics of 2000 AD - Marxism 2017

[Spaceghost]

Brother Pat will be discussing the subversive politics of his 2000 AD stories on the 8th of July at Marxism 2017.

https://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/speakers.htm

[Smith]

To quote another,not-so-beloved droid: It was always dodgy,anarchist stuff.

[JLC]

Yes! Viva Pat!

[Smith]

Speaking of Pats politics;is it a bit weird that Bill Savage is a royalist?It doesnt really fit into the mold of Pats heroes.

[sheridan]

Speaking of Pats politics;is it a bit weird that Bill Savage is a royalist?It doesnt really fit into the mold of Pats heroes.

A Thatcher-supporter as well (can't remember where I read it, but it was long before the Volg war ended in Great Britain).

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

Perhaps writing a character who's world view might be radically different to your own is a challenge. Pat Mills for all his faults strikes me as a writer who likes to challenge himself with different material. Bill Savage is different to Slaine, Nemesis, and Finn, as he was a human, had no super power or allegiance to Dark Gods but only the love of his country and a desire to free his land from Volgan aggressors. That set him apart for me with only Dan Dare being a similar character, but Dare had advanced science on his side. Bill had only his combat skills and shotgun to solve his problems, and the ordinary man against extraordinary odds will always provide real drama. 

[Richard]

A lot of people who have no love for the monarchy might feel differently if Britain was invaded and occupied by the Russians for several years.

[lwhitehead]

Hey I love the Monarchy


LW

[Smith]

Perhaps writing a character who's world view might be radically different to your own is a challenge. Pat Mills for all his faults strikes me as a writer who likes to challenge himself with different material.

I havent really thought of that.I guess it would make sense.
As for who likes the monarchy or not,thats a topic for another thread.

[EDazzling]

Mills on Savage in his own words from Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! The Secret History Of Judge Dredd & 2000AD:

I think it helps that I've made Savage a working class Tory who loved Margaret Thatcher and would love Theresa May. So it can be hard for me to get inside Bill's head, but I make a point of talking to similar characters for story material. I will regularly drink with them in ex-pat bars, to my wife's despair, listening to their often appalling views, nodding my head neutrally as I make mental notes to write it all down later in my notebook.  I need to know the enemy. How his mind works and why.

Like Kris Kristofferson, I'll drink with the devil to beat him. And I don't believe that no one wants to know. 

"And then I stole his song".

[Smith]

So method writing?
I dont dare to guess who he hanged out with to write Greysuit.

[lwhitehead]

Method Writing so Pat must had some pain in his Life,



LW

[sheridan]

Method Writing so Pat must had some pain in his Life,

LW

There is - he's gone in to some detail in the Millsverse blog recently.

[Dark Jimbo]

Mills on Savage in his own words from Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! The Secret History Of Judge Dredd & 2000AD:

I think it helps that I've made Savage a working class Tory who loved Margaret Thatcher and would love Theresa May. So it can be hard for me to get inside Bill's head, but I make a point of talking to similar characters for story material. I will regularly drink with them in ex-pat bars, to my wife's despair, listening to their often appalling views, nodding my head neutrally as I make mental notes to write it all down later in my notebook.  I need to know the enemy. How his mind works and why.

Aaahhh.... If his expierience of right-wing views are those of white-van-men in ex-pat bars, Pat's partisan politics suddenly make so much more sense to me!

[Smith]

It does explain a lot.