Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!: 2000AD & Judge Dredd: The Secret History
I was delighted to hear this important , new book was being produced
( as a Kindle version first ) , and so I also waited till the paperback edition was available -
( I don't own a Kindle , plus I like to physically look at a book ) .
I have now read the book , and its just wonderful, and very detailed on the History behind the development and production of 2000AD
Where this scores , is that it gathers not just the internet interviews by Pat Mills , and his blog descriptions of Judge Dredd - but adds a whole extra layer to the story . You also get a real sense of how bad things were at IPC Comics - and the Management interference .
I loved the descriptions of Gerry Finlay-Day - and how he helped create some iconic characters , like Rogue Trooper and ' the VC's ' .
Gerry has been airbrushed from the early stories of 2000ad ( in Future Shock DVD - he is never mentioned )
I also loved the stories of the daft ideas that later editors tried to bring to the Comic - this was eye-watering stuff .
Thank you Pat Mills - you brought me Charley's War and Ro-Busters and the A.B.C Warriors - a mark of a Comic Legend
is that 40 years later you still remember the characters like it was yesterday !