A View to a Thrill

Dredd & Anderson -Art by Robin Smith -with my my colour based of James Bond poster featuring Roger Moore and Grace Jones -I tried to use similar colours from that original movie poster probably not as good as original as that was nicely coloured for it's time anyhow-but needed the practice been a colourless summer since I lost that Star Wars splash page.- I will get back on that and Anderson -but things are kinda hectic.
Bit of a speculative post this time around about Mega City One TV series (I imagine the wheels are in motion ) but first up the MC4 (I'm always harping on about the wonders of The MC5 but Mega City Four were also awesome- saw them I guess in 1990 or 91 my friend Sam was a bit of a blagger  managed to get back stage and briefly chat with them-she did the same thing with Neds Atomic Dustbin- as well  -we chatted more about Viz rather than where they got moniker from -then after that it was totally Pogo City  but a few songs from them first

But back to the 22nd Century - what is a Mega City anyhow? well this video will give you a better idea and  a  insight into it's history if you are unfamiliar with the Dreddvesrse


Not sure shows going to be as Dredd centric as people expect -he's bound to be within cast but I get a feeling it'll be partially about The Wally Squad who are the undercover judges would also serve as a good way to see the underbelly of the City -The criminals and the stories behind there criminality -

 I deduce this as  the shows writer Rob Williams wrote Low Life -so I imagine we'll get to see Lenny Zero ,DeMarco PI ,Jack Point, Amiee Nixon and Dirty Frank in a few episodes.Newish characters but a great way to see the underwold of MC1 -A few vids about those stories- Shane MacGowan meets CyberPunk

Here's interview with Rob (they'll be a few of these vids throughout post)

I do hope we do get the classics though - started reading Dredd in the mid 80's I had lots to catch up on so thank grud Titan bought out those chronicles among the first ones I read was The Cursed Earth Saga - I liked how it was structured it's the first story really where we see how the Mega Cities came about the history behind them and the Justice system - here's an  old drawing I did back in 94 or 95 featuring Nova a mutant boy with the power of telekiensis I always wondered whatever happened to him - Dark Autumn I think that episode was called -he sided with JD and Spikes Harvey Rotten   against The Mutant Brotherhood (also really terrific looking characters)

One of my all time faves Cursed Earth -also thats when they  started drawing Dredd's helmet better in those stories the bubble headed helmet looked kind of soft so I'm glad Mick  and Brian changed it up a bit good to see story in full glory as I had the Titan Albums and two stories were omitted hence "Uncensored"- hope we get to see some of the Cursed Earth on the telly although like these new books about the origins of the Justice system would make a another good spin off show- another bit of old (incomplete) artwork I guess halfway through George W Bush residence in White House  hence the crazy  Helicopter and the Mek Troopers looking the way they do - I've  always wanted to see The Battle of Armageddon  in Death Valley - So my Fargo looks much like Dredd but a couple of years after I did this page Origins came out -and it made sense that the judges uniform was different been 30 years prior to Dredd's first appearance in 77 and Prez Booth was captured elsewhere - I thought of Darkies Mob panel when I  did the Mek Troopers - I will colour that original panel  soon as it's a all time fave  featuring Japanese soldiers  yelling "Banzai!" I read recently in "Be Pure Be Vigilant Behave! Pat Mills secret history of 2000ad  that Dredd and Solomon  the Judge in the cloak  in my pic were based upon monks at Pat Mills school- so Pat is very much a father figure to JD as John Wagner  and Carlos at least in the early days ...I s'pose they have something in common with Morton Judd

I'd like to see The Sovs make an appearance perhaps see Orlok the Assassin getting up to some sabotage  of some kind -just as much a nemesis as Judge Death - I'd wait though a few seasons for Block Mania and Apocalypse War to really kick off - would be a essential story  and alot of destruction to look forward too-whether story takes place before or after AW is yet to be known.

I've watched this dudes videos before about other comics so I know he likes a drink too lol -He mentions future slang here -there's a section in The Judges Avalanche book that covers that very subject- looking forward to reading Lone Wolf  at end of the month.Great he mentions Fred Gee here  -classic Corrie PotMan (not that type of pot) A Jack Duckworth prototype in a way.

But here are a few more Dredd epics that might be featured in Mega City One -no idea when shows coming out but very excited as the possibilities are endless The Pit would be great as well as America - lovely thing is it's ongoing and takes various view points - especially enjoyed The Pit as it was like a cop show far different and mature than the 1995 movie which came out  around the same time  -it also leads up to the events of the second Robot War and the return of Orlok -

 whilst America deals with The Democracy movement -and Total War terror group which reflected what was going on in the news at that time and even more poignant today without been all preachy in the way it's told - it's down to the reader to make out who the good guys or bad guys are-if they even exist at all -such as it is in real life -(I think  America's parents were Porto Rican  not Mexican -which they state in video) read this back in 90 -1st issue of The Megazine - Quality -astounding artwork by Colin MacNeil the artist was very young too at the time , blows my mind he did this whilst at college .Judge Beeny's a fave glad she's on The Council of Five - gives me hope positive  change will come to MC1 I've featured Judge Death alot here-and once I'm up for it I'll continue colouring The Four Dark Judges --really goes without saying that they should get live action debut on MC1 TV but always liked The Judda -really great bad guys - kind of a pity they're all dead now at least in the comics. worthy adversaries to Joe -possibly because they are him-excepted brainwashed by there creator who also is Dredds' creator "But any monkey can shake a test tube " I think Dredds retort to Judd when they finally meet up... might bring them back in a fan fic thing that's been cooking in my brain  called "The Lawbreakers" -would love to have another go at Dredd -not sure how I'd approach it though  just yet.

It's been 41 years now -am I meant to feel ancient yet? nah still feel the same.. guess that's thrill power at work.