Perhaps the most mysterious and unappreciated figure in comics is the editor of 2000AD, the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic due to their hiding behind the comic’s figurehead character editor Tharg. Its also one of the most wide-reaching editorial jobs in Anglophone comics with the only story that has to be there is the weekly Judge Dredd adventure, aside from that the editor has four story spaces to fill as he sees fit. For nearly three years now Matt Smith has been occupying the hot seat and he took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions.
411: Thanks for agreeing to this interview Matt. On July 28th 2000AD with Prog 1400 will have one its quarterly “jumping on points†for new readers where all the series featured start with new stories. To the poor soul who doesn’t pick up 2000AD now what one thing about this line up (dubbed the “Summer Assaultâ€) should convinced to do so?
Matt: Because it features some of the best writers and artists on the whole damn planet, and a line-up of a few of British comics’ most enduring characters. If a person out there used to read 2000 AD during the ‘Golden Age’ of the early 1980s and drifted away, pick up Prog 1400 and you might be pleasantly surprised. If you’ve never read 2000 AD, now’s the perfect chance to experience the humour, action and beautiful artwork of the Galaxy’s Greatest.
411: Prog 1400 features just four stories with one of them being our annual summer Strontium Dog story by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. What do they have in store for us this year?
Matt: It kicks off with ‘The Headly Foot Job’, in which Johnny and Wulf bust Headly Foot – a rogue S/D Agent sentenced to death on the planet of Fum – out of jail. Trouble is, Headly’s not the most pleasant of characters… This will be followed (with maybe a gap of a couple of progs) with a major series called ‘Traitor to His Kind’, in which Johnny and Wulf go back to the mutant ghetto of Milton Keynes after King Clarkie is kidnapped by mutant extremists. Will Johnny help the norms or stay true to his mutant brothers? It’s a fantastic story, with resonances of ‘Portrait of a Mutant’, and will keep readers on the edge of their seats!
411: Another long-running series making it’s return ABC Warriors written by its creator Pat Mills. This is the second book of The Shadow Warriors and after a successful first book there’s great anticipation for this series. However, this book will see a marked change in artistic style with the previous artist Carlos Ezquerra replaced by Henry Flint; to what extent does story mirror this change from the first book?
Matt: I don’t know if Pat wrote the second book with the change in artist in mind, but Book II has got a lot of freaky ideas in it that suits Henry’s spiky imagination down to the ground – Belly Blasters, talking traffic cones, Cyboons on Trisaurs, and of course the reveal of the remaining Shadow Warriors…
411: You’ve had a much more productive working relationship with Pat Mills than your predecessor Andy Diggle enjoyed with the work produced by Mills being more numerous and of a higher quality. In what ways have you handled him differently than Diggle did and what effect do you think this has had on his work?
Matt: I think it comes down to whether, as editor, you feel you are there to hammer into the creators what you want in the comic, or you adopt a more supportive role. The way I see it, nobody buys 2000 AD for who the editor is – all they want to read is stories by the writers and artists, and it’s their imagination the punters are spending their groats to enjoy. Sure, you want the best possible work from your contributors, but not to the point where you’re telling them how to do their job. So, when it comes to Slaine, ABC Warriors or Savage, I’ve listened to what Pat’s wanted to do, made suggestions, and trusted him. He works extremely hard and benefits from an enthusiastic response. He enjoyed writing Savage immensely, and I think that showed in the humour and research he put it into it. You always get better stories from happy, fired-up creators.
411: On a similar note, the Summer Line-up marks the third line-up in a row that features stories from John Wagner and Pat Mills with a similar reliance on them in evidence over at Judge Dredd Megazine. Does it worry you that even after 27 years 2000AD still relies to such an extent on two creators that were involved in its launch?
Matt: They’re amongst the people whose work always goes down best, and they probably know how to write for 2000 AD better than anyone. I wouldn’t say it worried me – as long as they’re happy still writing for the comic and the readers continue to enjoy the stories, I don’t see a problem.
411: In Prog 1406 we will also be seeing another series of Samantha Slade, Robo Hunter by Alan Grant and Ian Gibson as part of the revival of the Robo-Hunter franchise that began with their story in the Winter line-up. How successful do you think this revival has been and do you think this series will maintain/increase its momentum?
Matt: I think it’s gone down pretty well – its captured the lunacy and action of the original, and has plenty of potential to come and go like all the best ongoing series. I think Samantha’s got a nicely sardonic narration, and it’s never less than enjoyable to see Hoagy and Stogie.
411: Moving away from Golden Age series we will also be seeing the return of Caballistics Inc. by Gordon Rennie and Dom Reardon. This has been one of the hottest new series in recent 2000AD history despite being in many ways atypical for the comic with (among others) its team dynamic, horror leanings and human protagonists. How do you explain this series success and how does this story build on the shocking events contained in PROG 2004’s 10page story “Krystalnatchâ€?
Matt: I think its gone down well because, unlike a lot of horror, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the hints of various backstories keeps the readers constantly intrigued. Gordon’s tapping into an area that he enjoys a lot, and Dom’s artwork gets more and more striking with each episode. The Prog 1400 story ‘Picking up the Pieces’ is a catch-up episode – mainly Jonathan coming to terms that his fiancée is possessed by a demon – before launching into a brand-new investigation in ‘Creepshow’, where they take on a haunted film studio…
411: As part of the second wave of the Summer Assault Asylum 2 by Rob Williams and Boo Cook starts in Prog 1406, which series makes way for it?
Matt: Asylum II starts after the ABC Warriors finishes with a 10-page episode in 1405.
411: Asylum 1 was an overtly political series and proved to be controversial with some believing that it painted those concerned about the effects of mass immigration as racists and Nazis. Do you expect the new story to cause a similar fuss?
Matt: Possibly, though it’s difficult to gauge what the reaction will be to a story. In Asylum II, the aliens are dying on their island in the middle of the Pacific, and Holt is pleading with the governments to give them aid. When a couple of aliens decide to take revenge on the humans that persecute them, Holt must stop them despite his allegiances. So this story’s about the lengths desperate people will go to make their plight known…
411: On the subject of controversy, it appeared from a recent “Nerve Centre†column you wrote that you were surprised by the ferocity of complaints about the level of female nudity present in such series as Durham Red and Valkyries. In a leftfield and progressive comic did it surprise you to encounter such conservativism from your readers? Has it caused you to reconsider your editorial policies?
Matt: It’s not a new reaction, it has to be said – I seem to remember the readers complaining about salacious material for years (remember Mark Harrison’s DeMarco cover?). I don’t quite understand how some can be happy with extreme violence but balk at a little nudity… I think they might feel it’s thrown in a desperate attempt to grab a few casual Loaded readers, but there’s never been an editorial policy to insert more T&A. Most times it’s because the artist wants to make the strip as visually exciting as possible.
411: The mentioned column was written under the guise of Tharg, 2000AD’s fictional editor. What are feelings towards Tharg and his effect on the comic?
Matt: I like writing as Tharg – you can be as verbose and self-aggrandising as possible, and sometimes I’m quietly pleased with a line in a Nerve Centre for its flowery language. Plus he’s good to hide behind, and because he’s all-mighty, everything is part of his ‘great plan’.
411: The final piece in the line-up is the ever-present Judge Dredd. He’s stories are usually something of a mystery to the reader with a story rarely running the whole way through. What’s in store for the character over the summer?
Matt: You mean running all year? Well, scheduling Dredd is the most difficult story because he has to appear in every issue, and leaving enough time for the artwork to be done means a juggling act. Prog 1400’s story ‘Big Deal at Drekk City’ by John Wagner and Cam Kennedy sees the lawman leading a group of cadets out in the Cursed Earth and they come across a group of mutie criminals congregating at the township of Drekk City. What are they doing there? You’ll have to read it and find out… After that, Henry Flint’s working on another story by John that’s a follow-up to ‘Terror’ – watch this one go nuclear, Earthlets…
411: This year will see the third anniversary of you becoming editor. Its been a period that has seen the comic move strength to strength as you’ve built on the efforts of Andy Diggle to salvage it from the dark days of Fleetway ownership. How have you found the experience?
Matt: I enjoy it massively. Dealing with the writers, artists, letterers, colourists, seeing stories get an enthusiastic response, dangling future Thrills before the readers and watching the reaction… it’s great fun. I’ve read 2000 AD since 1985, so there’s no other comic I’d rather edit.
411: What do you consider your biggest achievement and biggest failure as editor of 2000AD?
Matt: Biggest achievement? The fact that I’ve tried to make the comic as varied as possible, to appeal to as many people as possible. I like the way strips like Droid Life and Bec & Kewl bring a sense of mischievousness to the comic. I’m quite pleased I managed a cover out of Brian Bolland under my editorship. Keeping the mix of classics like Savage, Slaine and Strontium Dog with new stories like Leviathan, The Red Seas and Lobster Random. Failure? I wish I could go into more detailed feedback on story submissions, and I find it sometimes difficult to tell aspiring artists how to improve their artwork beyond ‘Keep practising’!
411: What do you have planned for the rest of the year for 2000AD?
Matt: All things going to plan, we’ve a second Lobster Random series by Simon Spurrier and Carl Critchlow; a sequel to the Peter Milligan/John Higgins series ‘Freaks’ called ‘Faces’ by John Higgins and Mindy Newell; Synnamon and Red Seas miniseries; and the Christmas issue should feature new series for Nikolai Dante, Slaine, Caballistics and new future sport Thrill ‘Second City Blues’ by Kek-W and Warren Pleece.
411: Moving away from your role as editor. You’ve recently been involved in writing the scripts for the Judge Dredd stories appearing in the British Free Paper “The Metroâ€. There’s a rich tradition of editors becoming writers with Pat Mills, John Wagner, Alan Grant and your two immediate predecessors Andy Diggle and David Bishop both moving into comic writing. Do you consider yourself possibly going into that area at a later date?
Matt: I do enjoy writing – I partly got my degree in it – though I wrote the Metro strips more by necessity; a daily strip requires a huge turnover of material and it was all hands to the wheel. I’ve just finished a Judge Dredd novel for Black Flame, which I found quite exhausting to write while doing a day job. To be honest, I can’t see myself going freelance, because I’d be too worried I wouldn’t get enough work to make a living!
411: Is there anything else you’d like to say before we finish?
Matt: Keep it zarjaz!
411: Thank you for sharing your time with us Matt.
Matt: Cheers!
2000AD is available every week in all good British newsagents and shops and around the world through air- mail subscription. The Summer Assault is launched with Prog 1400 out on July 28th. Check Previews for American Direct Order listings.
