2000 AD
For me, long before I found Spiderman, Superman and all those superheroes, I read British comics. Not like The Dandy or The Beano, but comics like The Victor or Battle, comics that had stories mostly based during the second world war. That is, until February 26th 1977. For 8p (Earth Money) I purchased the first issue of 2000 AD. A comic that had science fiction stories before I realised what science fiction was.
In the first episode it had stories about Britain being invaded by an Asian army. It was a gritty story of resistance by one man against the forces that had killed his family in the invasion. It ran along similar lines to stories in comics such as The Victor and Battle. Violent, with lines like “I ain’t running from dirty Volgans”, it didn`t hold its punches as Bill Savage battled to free his land.
Flesh was a time traveling story about 23rd century cowboys who traveled back to prehistoric times to herd and slaughter dinosaurs so that the humans in the 23rd century could have fresh meat. While not adhering to the time travel rules such as don`t do anything that effects the future, Flesh had a mixture of westerns, dinosaurs and science fiction that captured the readers imagination.
Dan Dare, who first appeared in The Eagle in 1950, made his reappearance. A space going hero, Dan Dare was a do-gooder who often had to battle alien species to save his comrades.
A man who was implanted with computers became M.A.C.H. 1. A man who was faster, stronger, smarter than anyone else, he was sent on missions that no one else could undertake.
Harlem Heroes told the story of the sport of Aeroball, something like basketball with jetpacks. The Heroes were easily the best team in the league until a suspicious accident killed most of the team.
Not appearing until issue two was Judge Dredd. Probably the most famous creation of 2000 AD, Dredd was a new age lawman who never ever let anyone off with a warning. He was the law, and he upheld it in the face of mutants, robots, corrupt Judges and anything else the writers could throw at him. He would later feature in a movie with the same name which was universally panned by fans of the comic.
Other stories that would appear in future issues included a story about a polar bear trying to survive the attempts to kill it after it swallowed a probe, and A.B.C. Warriors who were a group of robots in a war. Strontium Dog was a mutant who could see through walls which was helpful in his role of bounty hunter. Rogue Trooper was a genetic soldier, born with a chip implanted in him that could be transfered to equipment if he died.
Every now and again, there would be a complete science fiction tale told in just one issue, many twisting the norm to surprise the reader. Many of these stories made the reader think rather than just turn the page.
One of the writers of 2000 AD was Alan Moore, one of the most well writers in comics. He created the Watchmen comic series as well as V for Vendetta which recently became a movie.
For an impressionable youngster who wanted to read and read, 2000 AD was instrumental in getting me into science fiction, just in time for Star Wars which was released 3 months after 2000 AD began.
