The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Over on the 2000 AD Review site the mighty John Wagner discusses writing for Judge Dredd across three decades. For a lot of Brit comics readers its impossible to overstate John’s importance and influence – a whole pile of us have grown up reading his work (which maintains a consistently high quality); some of those grew up to become writers and artists in their own right.  For us he’s up there with the big, respected European BD scene names. No that’s not just fanboy hyperbole, Wagner, like Pat Mills, deserves that sort of recognition and respect. (link via Andy Diggle’s Twitter)

(Dredd and Rico on the cover of 2000 AD Prog 1664, by the one and only Carlos Ezquerra, (c) Rebellion)

“2000AD Review: The readership believes that he’s a surprisingly difficult character to pitch correctly. What would your advice be to a writer taking on a Dredd story with regards to getting his character right?

Wagner: Avoid the more absurd elements of Dredd’s world, they’re too easy to get wrong. Don’t simply retell my stories, write your own. I’ve been pounding the streets of Mega-City One for 30 years but there are still crimes I haven’t thought of, angles I’ve missed – new perspectives to be explored. But I’m perhaps too close to the character to be the best advisor. You should address the question to Al Ewing and Gordon Rennie, both of whom seem to understand what makes Dredd work yet still manage to give us their own take on it. Ask them how they approached it.” John Wagner advises on new writers and artists thinking on trying to pitch a Dredd story to Tharg.