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Judge Dredd, Johnny Alpha, Bill Savage, Ro-Jaws & Hammerstein, Rogue Trooper....anyone of a certain age (and likely British) will recognise those names and be taken straight back to the late 70s and world of culture defining comic 2000AD.
Launched in 1977 with a title pointing the way to that far off year in the exotic future, 2000AD was a weekly insight into tomorrow's world filled with robots, aliens and non-stop (often gruesome) action.
It quickly evolved into darkly humorous, stylish and often scientifically robust fantasy fiction, some stories were set centuries hence, others were closer to home like the very probable Invasion set in 1999 and pitching hard as nails London lorry driver Bill Savage against the occupying Russians (or Volgans as they were referred in the story.)
I couldn't wait for Friday to come round and I'd spend all weekend reading it several times over. More often than not I'd also get out my sketchbook and diligently copy my favourite characters - especially the showcase tableaus that would often open a story.
I also adapted my toys to make believe I was playing the characters - I made my own bandolier and 'bounty hunter' holster to become Strontium Dog, Johnny Alpha - complete with blaster fashioned after sawing off the barrel and stock from my plastic Woolworths, L1A1 British Army rifle.
After becoming an avid reader, a lot of other accessible science fiction seemed to be simplistic and lacking in hard edged danger or obviously dumbed down for kids. I didn't really understand until years later how uniquely clever and informative 2000AD had been.
As I grew up I learned about the realities of racism and segregation - hang on, just like in Ro-Busters where sentient robots in the future fought for their rights to be liberated from an eternal life of drudgery, persecution and enslavement.
I became aware of The Holocaust - mirrored in Strontium Dog - Portrait Of A Mutant where in the 22nd century a generation of deformed citizens born after the nuclear war are first marginalised, then ostracised and eventually marched into death camps.
All along, the authors of 2000AD had been sowing the seeds of historical tragedy, blind prejudice, corporate greed, the technological singularity and environmental upheaval in the guise of raw action and mind bending story telling.
Splundig vur Thrigg (Betelgeusian for farewell.)