John Wagner is one of the best writers ever, we can all agree. Any word on how much Wagner we may get in 2000AD this year? Googling for interviews, I saw a 2018 one from August where he jokes "I'm also retired. Or at least I thought I was." Has he mentioned retirement etc? I hope we get more Dredd from him, or anything we wants to write.
I just listened to a very good 40 years interview with John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra from 2017, great listen. John mentions how he'd like to do a story of Dredd's death, done in Elseworlds style (a'la The Dark Knight Returns), so it wouldn't end the comic or anything. He's mentioned this idea before too.
Shouldn't he be able to do any Dredd story he wants? Seeing how he'd handle this, it could end up being one of the most memorable comics ever written if they let him do it. Not to hype it up, but what on Earth are they thinking not encouraging any Wagner Dredd story? But that's a bit more specific, I just think it's a bit of a missed opportunity for them to not let him write that. And who knows if his interest in that story has changed at all a couple years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXQesN7z9EM (that interview)
Anyways, he already has the most impressive resume of any writer, but there's always room for more. :D
I don't know how much more John Wagner will write, but I understand there's a [spoiler]Mechanismo[/spoiler] Dredd story coming out fairly soon. I have a feeling it won't be the last thing he will write for the Prog.
Quote from: Mardroid on 12 January, 2019, 11:12:12 PM
I don't know how much more John Wagner will write, but I understand there's a [spoiler]Mechanismo[/spoiler] Dredd story coming out fairly soon. I have a feeling it won't be the last thing he will write for the Prog.
Next week, according to the current prog.
Very cool!
Here is the add for it:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DuUmz40WoAAhe25.jpg:large)
I really like the idea for him writing the death of Dredd and ending the character himself and give finality to Dredd stories and just pass the title to Rico and maybe run a strip that covers Dredd earlier years from 2079-2099
This is very much a catch 22 situation. I do not want another Dredd, but the time factor always counts against him. I like the idea that the current Dredd strip is told in chronological order. How do you do a Dredd strip without the original Dredd?
As an alternative take I would also like a "what if" story where Wagner can do what he wants with the character. This story line will not be part of the main continuum.
Like it or not, Judge Dredd is a corporate character with a lot of brand value. He's as bullet proof as Superman at this point.
A John Wagner ending might be cool, but it certainly wouldn't be the end of the strip. (In my fantasy, a post-Dredd Dredd comic would feature Beeny, Giant Jr, and Rico as a kind of ensemble group book preserving Dredd's legacy. Heck, they should just do that now without killing Dredd IMO.)
To be honest, does anyone actually know if Wagner wants to do a 'death of Dredd' story? Maybe he's content that the character he co-created and shepherded will live forever?
Quote from: The Adventurer on 13 January, 2019, 04:59:53 AM
Like it or not, Judge Dredd is a corporate character with a lot of brand value. He's as bullet proof as Superman at this point.
A John Wagner ending might be cool, but it certainly wouldn't be the end of the strip. (In my fantasy, a post-Dredd Dredd comic would feature Beeny, Giant Jr, and Rico as a kind of ensemble group book preserving Dredd's legacy. Heck, they should just do that now without killing Dredd IMO.)
To be honest, does anyone actually know if Wagner wants to do a 'death of Dredd' story? Maybe he's content that the character he co-created and shepherded will live forever?
I can not remember that I did read that Wagner wanted to do a end strip for Dredd with Carlos (Rebellion was not to keen on this). So this statement from me is not a fact.
I musty agree I can not see that the character will be killed off it is almost like British Comics Superman/Batman. DC tried to kill off Superman and it proved to be a complete disaster. I do not want to see another Dredd I want the original.
Quote from: broodblik on 13 January, 2019, 05:10:53 AM
Quote from: The Adventurer on 13 January, 2019, 04:59:53 AM
Like it or not, Judge Dredd is a corporate character with a lot of brand value. He's as bullet proof as Superman at this point.
A John Wagner ending might be cool, but it certainly wouldn't be the end of the strip. (In my fantasy, a post-Dredd Dredd comic would feature Beeny, Giant Jr, and Rico as a kind of ensemble group book preserving Dredd's legacy. Heck, they should just do that now without killing Dredd IMO.)
To be honest, does anyone actually know if Wagner wants to do a 'death of Dredd' story? Maybe he's content that the character he co-created and shepherded will live forever?
I can not remember that I did read that Wagner wanted to do a end strip for Dredd with Carlos (Rebellion was not to keen on this). So this statement from me is not a fact.
I musty agree I can not see that the character will be killed off it is almost like British Comics Superman/Batman. DC tried to kill off Superman and it proved to be a complete disaster. I do not want to see another Dredd I want the original.
Death of Superman was a storyline. Superman's return was intended from the start. And strictly speaking at the time it sold pretty well and lead to some decent stuff. But it also did a lot of damage to the collectors market and when further event driven stories didn't sell as well it culminated in the 1996 comics crash.
'The Death of Dredd' as a storyline could work. But... in some ways that was already done with the lead up to Necropolis, yes?
Quote from: The Adventurer on 13 January, 2019, 05:19:45 AM
'The Death of Dredd' as a storyline could work. But... in some ways that was already done with the lead up to Necropolis, yes?
Yes this is true. Necropolis was like "The Dead of Superman" but done so much better.
Quote from: The Adventurer on 13 January, 2019, 04:59:53 AMTo be honest, does anyone actually know if Wagner wants to do a 'death of Dredd' story? Maybe he's content that the character he co-created and shepherded will live forever?
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/07/29/judge-dredds-creator-john-wagner-plans-to-kill-him-offf-forever/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hs77OaxEU8&t=12m14s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXQesN7z9EM&t=29m28s
From Bleeding Cool:
"JW: I would like to write his death story, and have suggested it to Rebellion. I've thought about it for some time now. Fans have even suggested pooling their money together to get me and Carlos to create that comic. But, I couldn't do it without Rebellion's agreement. You never know. there may be an Elsewhere like story one day.
OM: Like Dredd's Dark Knight?
JW: Yeah. It would be a lovely story to tell, but I would have to give it a lot more though, something like that. Not an epic, but maybe something as long as Dark Justice, a dozen or so episodes."
I am certainly missing Wagner - with the end of strontium dog - and various writers doing dredd. I've also been reading loads of his more recent work in the Hache collections - and it's just superb. Does anyone know if there is more Wagner Dredd to come - or anything else?
I spoke to him at a signing last month and he said he had not retired. There will be more Dredd, and he now intends to finish Spector after all (having originally decided not to when Carlos died). (He's also keen on Rok of the Rovers, although I can't remember if he said he would do more of that but I wove surprised.)
"How do you do a Dredd strip without the original Dredd?"
ask blake.
Quote from: Richard on 07 October, 2022, 06:33:35 PM
(He's also keen on Rok of the Rovers, although I can't remember if he said he would do more of that but I wove surprised.)
John's position on Rok of the Reds is that he'd love to do some more if (and I quote) "I don't lose a load of money on it."
It's just a sad fact that the Kickstarter for Vol2 barely limped over the finish line, and the financials for that relied on a long tail of convention sales that didn't happen due to Covid. I know John's
heart would love to do a lot more Rok, but there's literally no money in it.
Happy to hear he's keeping busy with more comics. We always need more Wagner!
Based on my sample size of one, so not representative of the world at large, but my 12-year-old football mad son can't get enough of the new Roy of the Rovers comics AND prose novels. I got him both volumes of Rok of the Reds and I know he's read and quite liked the first, not sure if he's got around to the second one yet. But he certainly hasn't gone back to it time and again as he has with the Roy/Rocky Race stuff.
It seems that the appetite for football stories doesn't entirely translate into adding a Sci-Fi element :(
Meanwhile I'm beyong excited for more Spector - that was a cracking premise, and I find Wagner's exploration of AI / robots living alongsiode humans to be just about the most fun and fascinating version on that entire subgenre of SF.
I would rather Wagner just write more Dredd. I would not mind more Rok but I never got onboard with Spector (but I am sure as soon as it is out I will read it or even buy it)
@AlexF: How's your boy with the Rocky stories? My daughter was quite fascinated to have a strip with a girl player. (Alas, her infant school football club smashed all the enthusiasm out of her actually partaking in the sport herself, beyond me and her kicking a ball around in the street.)
He loves the Rocky stories, possibly more than the Roy ones. Might in part be because he plays defence, too, whereas Roy is more of a striker.
[His twin sister has read most of the Roy/Rocky comics (but not the novels) and liked them well enough but she HATES sport in basically any form, and is a die-hard Manga binge-reader, with a side-order of the Phoenix.
To my eternal consternation, she has no time for 2000AD because "all the art looks the same." Maddening opinons that I just can't counter...]
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 07 October, 2022, 10:09:03 PM
Quote from: Richard on 07 October, 2022, 06:33:35 PM
(He's also keen on Rok of the Rovers, although I can't remember if he said he would do more of that but I wove surprised.)
John's position on Rok of the Reds is that he'd love to do some more if (and I quote) "I don't lose a load of money on it."
It's just a sad fact that the Kickstarter for Vol2 barely limped over the finish line, and the financials for that relied on a long tail of convention sales that didn't happen due to Covid. I know John's heart would love to do a lot more Rok, but there's literally no money in it.
Has there never been any exploration of the Megazine reprinting Rok or carrying a third volume as creator owned content?
Quote from: Will Cooling on 11 October, 2022, 12:39:03 PM
Has there never been any exploration of the Megazine reprinting Rok or carrying a third volume as creator owned content?
It's not come up in any conversations I've had with John, so I don't know, I'm afraid. I know Matt passed on the series fairly early on its history, and I think the rights for the first series are bound with BHP deal, so even if Matt was amenable to the idea, he wouldn't be able to run the whole story, which isn't ideal.
Sorry for ignorance but what is a BHP deal?
Quote from: broodblik on 11 October, 2022, 01:48:06 PM
Sorry for ignorance but what is a BHP deal?
The first series was published as a six-issue mini and then a TPB by Black Hearted Press (BHP) and I think the print publication rights still reside with them.
Thanks, pity that we might not see another Rok
the first series was serialised in comics scene - as it gradually metamorphosed into shift - and was very much at home there.
Oh I would love more Rok - I thought it was brilliant work by the whole team
Quick question on those classic Grant/Wagner partnership years. What were the last Strontium Dog and Dredd stories they worked on? I know Wagner was on "Bitch", and I found this fun interview with them both from 1988 talking about it, and their partnership. But was Wagner on The Stone Killers etc, stuff from early 1988? Right up to The No-Go Job?
For Dredd, on 2000AD.org they list prog 577 (June 1988)'s The Sage as the last one credited to them both on there.
https://www.tcj.com/the-john-wagner-and-alan-grant-interview/
I've been enjoying some old interviews with Alan and Carlos at the moment, and always enjoy Wagner ones as well. And it's cool that they worked together again on Bogie Man and Batman/Dredd so soon after the split too. Here's a fun tidbit about Batman/Dredd's release from wikipedia:
Igor Goldkind was 2000 AD's marketing consultant at the time and recalls one successful event:
I also organised more professional press conferences before major signings and national comic book signing tours, which hadn't really been done on a big scale in this country before. I remember the Judge Dredd vs. Batman graphic novel signing launch at the Virgin Megastore at Oxford Circus in London amazed even the police with the numbers that lined up around the block to get their book signed by Simon Bisley, John Wagner and Alan Grant. The store manager said it was a bigger draw than when David Bowie had done a signing the month previously.[2]
Speaking of John Wagner, I hope there's plenty of Wagner Dredd in 2023! And Spector sounds cool, I still haven't read that special it was in yet. I'll read anything he writes for sure.
I've always found that "bigger than Bowie!" line somewhat suspicious. I mean, did Bowie even do any signings at that store?
And now that I know it came from arch-bullshitter Igor Goldkind....
Quote from: PsychoGoatee on 24 January, 2023, 10:29:03 AM
Quick question on those classic Grant/Wagner partnership years. What were the last Strontium Dog and Dredd stories they worked on? I know Wagner was on "Bitch", and I found this fun interview with them both from 1988 talking about it, and their partnership. But was Wagner on The Stone Killers etc, stuff from early 1988? Right up to The No-Go Job?
Stone Killers onward was Grant alone.
Quote from: GordonR on 24 January, 2023, 10:33:46 AM
I've always found that "bigger than Bowie!" line somewhat suspicious. I mean, did Bowie even do any signings at that store?
And now that I know it came from arch-bullshitter Igor Goldkind....
Bowie defo did signing at the London Virgin Megastore, though can't speak to the timing. The bigger factor, if it was 1988, wouldn't that have been during his Tin Machine phase, which may explain a lot!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 24 January, 2023, 11:23:10 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 24 January, 2023, 10:33:46 AM
I've always found that "bigger than Bowie!" line somewhat suspicious. I mean, did Bowie even do any signings at that store?
And now that I know it came from arch-bullshitter Igor Goldkind....
Bowie defo did signing at the London Virgin Megastore, though can't speak to the timing. The bigger factor, if it was 1988, wouldn't that have been during his Tin Machine phase, which may explain a lot!
Arf! I did think to myself
"...but, you know, if it had been a signing for a Tin Machine album..."
Good to know on Stone Killers, thanks!
Sounds like that Batman/Dredd signing was from around 1991 I think.
Quote from: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 07 October, 2022, 08:30:42 PM
"How do you do a Dredd strip without the original Dredd?"
ask blake.
Roj Blake?
Tin Machine II. Released 2 September 1991
Dredd/Batman: Judgement on Gotham. Released December 1991.
It checks out.
ISTR being present for the conversation with the shop staff where the Bowie comment arose. The JoG queue was massive. It might even have gone round the block at one stage.
Any Wagner news in 2023 so far?
So far we have Spector running in the meg (455-).
Quote from: broodblik on 07 August, 2023, 06:02:48 AMSo far we have Spector running in the meg (455-).
That's great, nice to see that's back. I have that special it was originally in but didn't read it. I wonder if there's any script changes in the reprint etc. Cool to see it continue.
Quote from: PsychoGoatee on 07 August, 2023, 08:36:14 AMI wonder if there's any script changes in the reprint etc. Cool to see it continue.
Nope. Those first two Carlos episodes are exactly as they appeared in the original special.
..after that Dan Cornwell is on art duties. I am not sure how many episodes it will be
Why didn't you read it?! Living up to your username?
Quote from: PsychoGoatee on 07 August, 2023, 05:36:19 AMAny Wagner news in 2023 so far?
There's been a successful kickstarter this year for a collection of Bogey Man strips including a new one by JW and Ron Smith.
Quote from: Blue Cactus on 07 August, 2023, 02:01:52 PMQuote from: PsychoGoatee on 07 August, 2023, 05:36:19 AMAny Wagner news in 2023 so far?
There's been a successful kickstarter this year for a collection of Bogey Man strips including a new one by JW and Ron Smith.
Robin Smith surely? Either way up I'll be a happy squaxx.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 07 August, 2023, 02:06:13 PMRobin Smith surely? Either way up I'll be a happy squaxx.
A new Ron Smith strip would be quite a coup... :(
But, yes, a new strip by John and Robin, plus I've re-lettered the whole of the 56-page "Casablanca" story, because the chaps weren't really happy with original lettering.
(https://i.imgur.com/U8tPdCx.png)
Quote from: davidbishop on 25 January, 2023, 07:02:20 AMISTR being present for the conversation with the shop staff where the Bowie comment arose. The JoG queue was massive. It might even have gone round the block at one stage.
The Virgin Megastore near the corner of TCR? Pretty big block for a queue*!
*Queue E 2 notwithstanding
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 07 August, 2023, 02:17:55 PMQuote from: JayzusB.Christ on 07 August, 2023, 02:06:13 PMRobin Smith surely? Either way up I'll be a happy squaxx.
A new Ron Smith strip would be quite a coup... :(
But, yes, a new strip by John and Robin, plus I've re-lettered the whole of the 56-page "Casablanca" story, because the chaps weren't really happy with original lettering.
(https://i.imgur.com/U8tPdCx.png)
Now I'm trying to picture what a Ron Smith Bogie Man would look like. Pretty amazing, in my imagination at least.
Looking forward to the return anyway. He's a character in a million.
Apologies, of course it's Robin Smith. I'm very tired today. I'm looking forward to this collection. I think I've only read that one BM strip that was printed in the Meg, so the earlier stuff is all new to me. Very glad this Kickstarter was more of a success than the last Rok. I think John said that was partly down to now having the social media promotion it needed, which had been much improved for the Bogie Collection. So there's a chance this might give Rok series 3 a chance to go ahead.
Quote from: Blue Cactus on 07 August, 2023, 10:30:38 PMSo there's a chance this might give Rok series 3 a chance to go ahead.
John was very positive about this by the end of Lawless this year, so I think this is quite likely to happen... although it will obviously be dependent on getting the necessary alignment of his and Dan's work schedules.
Quote from: sheridan on 07 August, 2023, 02:22:20 PMQuote from: davidbishop on 25 January, 2023, 07:02:20 AMISTR being present for the conversation with the shop staff where the Bowie comment arose. The JoG queue was massive. It might even have gone round the block at one stage.
The Virgin Megastore near the corner of TCR? Pretty big block for a queue*!
*Queue E 2 notwithstanding
The Judgement On Gotham signing was at the Marble Arch Virgin Megastore.
The queue did go onto Park Lane and I think went as far as Green St (As far as I remeber it the queue wasnt snaked down N Row... but its a long time ago and I might have misremebered).
It was a long queue but I dont think it was as long as some of the annual signings at Forbidden Plant... thoese were epic :)
Very cool!
Quote from: Richard on 07 August, 2023, 01:02:27 PMWhy didn't you read it?! Living up to your username?
Now I don't have to wait so long to see where it goes. :D It wasn't intentional, my comics backlog goes back many years.
Happy new year! Any new Wagner to come this year? Wagner Dredd?
I was wondering if Wagner was writing any future JD
I have a sense that there is one big storyline left with him and his Dredd. Something that's a culmulation of years of plotlines, epics, stories and John's very essence of the Dredd inner monologue and narrative over his past and where's he's at as an aging badge.
I always liked it when Dredd did the 'fit for duty?' storylines with Judges who were deemed to be past their prime and struggling to keep up with the rigours and demands of the role.
Is there someone waiting to conduct an assessment Dredd's way I wonder?
A 70 odd year old brain is still a 70 year old brain, no matter what malarky has been grafted into / onto his body... Brain cells atrophy and so then do the functions they carry out.
Unless they can grow new ones of course...