tag:lewstringer.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/MokoFeed2009-11-09T12:07:08+01:00tag:lewstringer.blog.co.uk,2007-02-27:/2007/02/27/30_year_flashback_2000_ad_arrives~1815536/lewstringer2007-02-27T17:18:59+01:002007-02-27T17:18:59+01:00 <p>This week, <strong>2000 AD</strong> celebrates its 30th anniversary. The official birthday being yesterday, 26th February. Even the comic's fictitious alien editor "Tharg" stated in the current issue "...on 26th February 1977, I first launched this blistering publication onto Thrill-merchants' shelves".</p> <p>Unfortunately Mighty Tharg and the celebratory UK media are a tad off. February 26th was only the <em>cover date</em> of issue one, and it actually went on sale a week before that, on February 19th. (Or, officially, as seen in the ad here, Feb 21st).</p> <p>No matter. It's the longevity of the comic that matters, and <strong>2000 AD</strong> has beaten the predictions of its original management (who expected it to fail) and seen off every other adventure weekly published since. That's an achievement that every one of its many contributors and editors should be proud of.</p> <p>Actually, Feb 26th is a birthday for the comic because it marks the 30th anniversary of <em>Judge Dredd</em>, who didn't arrive until issue two. Dredd has remained in the comic throughout, featuring in constantly strong and entertaining stories which have always been leagues ahead of that poor spin-off movie that's best forgotten.</p> <p>I won't harp on here about <strong>2000 AD</strong>'s highs and lows as countless articles have already been written on the comic. What I have managed to find though is the original four page advert for the launch, which appeared in <strong>Battle</strong> comic in early February 1977. Also shown here are a selection of early issues, the <em>Dan Dare</em> centrespread by Belladinelli from issue one, and Dredd's first dynamic appearance from issue two.</p> <p><strong>2000 AD</strong> was a very different comic thirty years ago, and aimed at a younger readership back then, but it's the evolution the comic has undergone that's kept it going. That said, it's still retained the same mixture of black comedy, satire, and imaginative plotting it's always had. Or to call the ingredients by what they've always been known: <em>Thrill Power</em>!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://lewstringer.blog.co.uk/2007/02/27/30_year_flashback_2000_ad_arrives~1815536/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>