As Matt Smith noted on Facebook, yesterday marked the twentieth anniversary of his ascension to The Right Hand of Tharg.
I hope you'll join me in munching a plastic cup in celebration of this milestone, and of the many thrills, classic and new, we've enjoyed under his stewardship.
It's amazing to me that I'm still excited to read a new prog after 43 years of readership (and it still feels slightly unreal to see my name in a credit box every prog).
That is quite amazing congrats Matt.
Yes, I am in the same boat still enjoy reading the prog every Wednesday morning (a new tradition now that prog is also digital)
Did not know that. At some convention or other I asked Matt to sign the issue which by my calculations (very possibly incorrect by the way) marked him as the longesgt serving of Tharg's little helpers. that was Prog 1827 - he kindly did as Tharg - I hope Green bounce does find out he was copying his signature!
Anyway here we are over 400 Progs after that even and as other have noted I'm still loving the Prog week in week out. Very nearly getting to the end of a complete re-read - reading last years Progs now - gulp, sniff - and I can genuinely say Matt Smith reign has seen the most consistently excellent stories of any period of the title and to have achieved that over such a long time is just astonishing.
Others may scoff and call this out as us being snivelling loyalists, but let them. I do it cos I think the comic is genuinely as good as it ever been and that makes me happy. So thank you Matt Smith
That's some going in the comics business.
For someone who's been a fan since 1980 In my opinion it's been the most consistently high output of characters and storylines and would (controversially fighting my inner voice) say this is my favourite era in tooth history.
We are truly blessed to have Matt as the current Tharg.
Yes, congratulations and - above all - Thank You to Matt Smith.
I propose a new award for this dynamo of a man - the Krill Tro Squaxxo!
Impressive indeed!
Here's to the next twenty!
Raises a glass to a brilliant Tharg! Loving your work, Sir!
Wow, congratulations Matt. Thanks for all your incredible work!
It's quite the achievement, so well done boss!
Thanks for doing great work, Matt and here's to the next twenty years +.
Karl Stock should interview him.
Well done sir! a firm hand on the tiller!... should be an ample reward :)
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 08 January, 2022, 09:25:52 AM
I do it cos I think the comic is genuinely as good as it ever been and that makes me happy.
Quite so! I think the key thing the "2000AD's not as good as it was when I was twelve" crowd miss is the part
where they're not twelve any more. It's exactly the same way that you'll never love any band in your forties the way you loved bands in your teens. Doesn't mean you can't/don't/won't love a comic, band, film, as you get older — it's just
different. You're different.
I do not care what my 12 year old self would think of the prog today, I love to prog as much as I loved it in the 80s. I personally believe that we are in a very strong period.
People change. The world changes too. One of the interesting things about going through the UC is that I liked certain strips less than I thought I would (including, surprisingly, some classic Strontium Dog), found some strips borderline unreadable (sorry, Rabo-Hunter fans), but broadly enjoyed the more recent fare, often beyond what I was expecting (including 'reboot' Stront).
From a purely objective standpoint, however, it's hard to argue against Smith's tenure. That 2000 AD still exists at all is quite something, given the market. But that he's managed to keep things fresh and interesting across two decades as Tharg (and also taking on the Meg at the same time) is a great indication of his abilities.
Florix Grundabae (or whatever congratulations is in Quaxxan - maybe something about
Thrashoruns, or is that a completely different kind of celebration!)
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 09 January, 2022, 10:01:13 AM
It's exactly the same way that you'll never love any band in your forties the way you loved bands in your teens. Doesn't mean you can't/don't/won't love a comic, band, film, as you get older — it's just different. You're different.
To be fair, I can think of a number of bands/musicians I got into in my 40s that I love just as much if not more than my teenage music, from old 90 stuff I only discovered 20 years after the fact, to "modern" acts such as the Black Keys though Jessica Lea Mayfield to Big Thief and many more, but that' the topic for another thread!
It's a remarkable achievement to have stayed so long at the helm, steering this legendary vessel to tremendous success despite its often very motley crew... and still be such a nice guy! He's not known as The Mighty One for nothing!
(http://www.michaelowencarroll.com/pics/mattsmith20yearsediting2000ad.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HrAF160.png)
(Numbers pulled hurriedly from Teh Interwebs. So accuracy, she may not live here.)
So in about four months, Matt Smith will have edited more Progs than the next three longest-serving editors put together. If he stays in the chair (and the comic survives) five and a half years, he'll have more Progs under his belt than every previous editor combined. Blimey.
And he's about to reach his 1,000th prog.
Quote from: Richard on 09 January, 2022, 07:01:14 PM
And he's about to reach his 1,000th prog.
It just occurred to me that I didn't include the oddly-named Festive progs, which would push the total for Captain Smith up to 1004 already.
Well wow. While 20 years sounds impressive enough for some reason reflecting on 1000 Progs just punches home how much that actually is. So what something like 26000+ pages of comics... and that's before you even think about the Meg as well.
Bloomin' heck!
Something like 1004 progs, 199 megs, 11 specials and 10 FCBDs - just with the 2000 AD/Megazine franchise.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 09 January, 2022, 07:43:19 PM
Well wow. While 20 years sounds impressive enough for some reason reflecting on 1000 Progs just punches home how much that actually is. So what something like 26000+ pages of comics... and that's before you even think about the Meg as well.
Bloomin' heck!
Here's a fun game, pick a number for a page rate, multiply that up by the number of pages and that's how much money Matt has spent for Renegade :)
-pj
Quote from: pauljholden on 09 January, 2022, 11:01:03 PM
Here's a fun game, pick a number for a page rate, multiply that up by the number of pages and that's how much money Matt has spent for Renegade :)
-pj
Renegade?
Had a minor brainfart!
Amazing work. I look forward to it every week as much as any high-profile TV series. In particular, the ongoing quality and consistency of the comic over the last two years only reinforces the professionalism and talent of those at the top. Long may he reign!
It's been a hell of a run, long may it continue.
Over 1000 issues is incredible, flippin' 'eck indeed! Congrats to Matt!
Mega-congratualtions to Cyber Matt! Agree that by all measures, he's bloomin' great at his job, and we're lucky he's stayed on as long as he has, and I hope has no inclination to leave...