Anyone who has read one of many issues (now well over 2000 Progs) of weekly science fiction comic book 2000AD will know who Tharg is. This tall, green alien from the planet of Quaxxann is the editor of the comic and has the task of making sure that the issues are delivered on time, week in, week out. 2000AD launched in 1977 and in 2017 is celebrating 40 years of publication. During the 1970’s it was common for comic books to have a mythical character as an editor in order to present the comic to the many readers. 2000AD has Tharg and a handfull of fine editors have taken on the role in the past 40 years. Two stand outs are David Bishop and Steve MacManus. They are both at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to discuss their time at 2000AD and talk about how the comic has endured after spending 40 years on the shelves of British comic book stores and newsagents.
Recently Steve MacManus released his book The Mighty One: My Life Inside The Nerve Centre. This memoir is a tell all book looking at 2000AD during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. David Bishop on the other hand is celebrating the updated version (through the pen of Karl Stock) of his book Thirll-Power Overload. This mammoth tome charts the last 40 years of 2000AD and is an insightful behind the scenes look at the comic and the creation of some of it’s best loved characters, including Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog and Nemesis The Warlock.
The event is chaired by local journalist David Pollock. The questions focus on the trials and problems of dealing with management, creators and falling sales. Steve MacManus mentions that he took over as editor at a time when the comic was created using analogue tools, as opposed to digital methods.During this time sales were at over 100,000 copies per week. It is also mentioned that MacManus was editor at a period when Grant Morrison, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman were writing for the comic. These creators went on to find great success in America and can count 2000AD as a major factor in their careers. David Bishop succinctly sums up what makes 2000AD so special – good stories and good art. The 2000AD event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival underlines the enduring nature of the comic, which continues to inspire readers today with good stories and good art.