2000 AD Online Forum

Dredd will not die, be replaced etc.

Why?

Because John Wagner DOES NOT OWN THE CHARACTER.

REBELLION OWN IT.

Which means they have final say whether Joe kicks the bucket. Not JOHN WAGNER!!
And as Dredd is the number one star of 2000AD, it is not financially viable for Rebellion to kill him off.

Kind of obvious really.

scojo

And if I am wrong, I will cook my cat!

scojo turning the microwave on.....

...in other ness today, a comic reader also announced the suprise discovery that grass is green, the sky is blue and water is wet.

More on these late-breaking revelations as and when we get 'em.  :)

I'm sure most of us are aware of what the situation used to be and presumably still is to a certain extent, re creators' rights. But I think also Rebellion are probably aware how important John Wagner is to their sales via his input in the Dredd strip.

Bugger, is that the Time? I'm due at the optician's to have my rose-tinted spectacles replaced.

H'mm. The sky's pretty grey from where I'm sitting.

Well with respect Milo, if what I say is so obvious, how come no one has ever mentioned it here before?

And why do so many people go on about Dredd either dying or being replaced, if what I say is so obvious?

Answers please if you dare...

scojo

The exact point about the obvious is that it doesn't have to be mentioned.  By its very definition, everyone already knows it.  Simple, non?

Dictionary definitions aside, no, like you, I don't think Dredd is going to be killed off or retired.  As you say, even if Wagner wanted to, the editors almost certainly wouldn't allow it.  Which makes me all the more interested to find out how the Rico/ageing plot threads are finally going to be resolved.

And, hell, if I'm wrong then you can serve me up a portion of broiled shooshi too!

scojo,
What you say is partially true, and partially wrong.  dredd is important to rebellion, but so is Wagner's input.  If wagner wanted to kill him and had a good reason, a good plan for the future and a good storyline, I'm sure Rebellion won't stand in his way.  There's always other judges to take his place, and Dredd could (and would) stay on as a supporting role.  Vigilante Dredd, anyone?

P.S.: Scojo, why do your subject titles always sound like a brit-cit tabloid headline?  WHY DREDD WILL NEVER DIE - THE PROOF!  Nice.

First thing - John Wagner has stated publicly the he will DEFINETELY NEVER KILL DREDD.  However, Dredd may still die, 'cos as you say, it ain't up to him, it is up to Rebellion.

I might be the only person to think he will eventually die, and here is why:

If Rebellion use their noggin's they will look at the character in about five years time and say "hmmm, that Dreddy is getting on a bit.  He just ain't believable any more."  

They will then remember that killing Johnny Alpha was the single biggest event of British Comic History, and realise that the only way to top it would be to kill old Stoneyface himself.

Dredd dies, sales go critical, the Graphic Novel is the most popular ever from 2000AD and sales continue as before 'cos Rico takes over the strip.

This is why it makes sense.

Another possibilty is this - wait, I think I'll post a new thread altogether......  (wait with baited breath, go on, you know you want to know...)

The way I see it, it's perfectly feasible for the current Dredd to take the long walk eventually. I personally can't see him becoming Chief Judge, or some old grumbly Academy of Law tutor (Do they still all have missing limbs?). The new Dredd is in place, about to move into his new apartment. I know the Dead Man's been done, but why not again? There's endless stories out there, even a link with Preacher Cain perhaps. As for staying alive in the current timeline, it's possible that Dredd could live on for another 50 years at least, even more if his stance on Stookie glanding slipped in his old age!

As has been said, you can easily kill off Dredd, but the city will still live on (unless of course, the Sovs get their revenge).

I NEVER WRITE LIKE THAT SEE MORE INSIDE TU-PLANG!

Mmm, I am not too sure about Rebellion Towers going with a Dredd death story, even if John wrote one.

Look at it this way...if you owned 2k, would you kill off Dredd?

I don't think so!:O)

SCOJO IN SAUCY SWINGERS SEX CLUB SCANDAL!
PLUS WIN WIN WIN! A NIGHT OUT WITH PAGE THREE STUNNER BETTY BUXOM! NOW THAT IS A BOOBY PRIZE!
ONLY IN 2000AD - THE COMIC ALREADY OUT OF DATE!

Surely if Dredd takes the Long Walk and Rico adopts Dredd's name and role then we have the best of both worlds?

Do't you just love idle speculation. Prog 1276 is out this week so thankfully not long til Prog 1280 and everyone can talk about what has been printed and not wild stabs in the dark about what is yet to be seen.

La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.

Link: The Class Of '79

One reason why this is a crappy idea. No one wanted Johnny Alpha to die. As readers we had to wait years for a decent stronty dog story. And even then it took a buy out and new owners to make a difference.

I agree brother, I agree!

Dredd goes off to the cursed earth, has a few kids, ocassioanlly gets his gun and goes back to the city:

"Where are you going honey?"

"The city, they need me."

"Okay, I'll put your dinner in the cryostore, that's the second time this year they've had a disaster, they want to be more careful."

"Sure, I'll be back in a month, maybe."

"You have fun dear"

"Watch out for the muties."

"Oh Don't fuss Joe."

ETC ETC

But people like to idly speculate, they are fans, what else do you expect them to do.  Leaving Rowdy isn't going to solve all the questions in my opinion as I think it's just a stage, not some great revelation.  I could be wrong it's just idle speculation.

When it is out, people will discuss it and then some will like it and some will moan.  Fans are the same all over Logan, you should probably realise that or you'll just get annoyed again in three weeks time.

What does La Placa Rifa mean?  Just curious.

Laugh?  Oh I couldn't stop.

Maybe they should do that as a pish take story and then have someone wake up from a dream and say "weird!"

Perhaps some artistic fan could do it?

Or it seems like just the thing for prog2003

How true. Idle speculation can lead to disappointment. Seeing as a good many of the threads are just that, I suggest we close down the message board until further notice.

>But people like to idly speculate, they are fans, what else do you expect them to do.  Leaving Rowdy isn't going to solve all the questions in my opinion as I think it's just a stage, not some great revelation.  I could be wrong it's just idle speculation.

Nothing wrong with some speculation but as soon as people saw the title 'Leaving Rowdy' the same old threads about Rico replacing Dredd started to appear. Again nothing wrong with that but when it starts going around in circles whats the point, you might as well wait for Prog 1280 and see what John has written.

>When it is out, people will discuss it and then some will like it and some will moan.  Fans are the same all over Logan, you should probably realise that or you'll just get annoyed again in three weeks time.

Don't get annoyed very often but on occasions when the board starts going around the same topic can't work out why it just doesn't move on. As for Dredd can't see John ever killing him off or replacing him.

>What does La Placa Rifa mean?  Just curious.

La Placa Rifa = The badge rules, Taken from a story by Wagner & Kennedy in Prog 718, entitled 'La Placa Rifa'

The Badge Rules,
W. R. Logan.

Link: The Class Of '79