Every now and then, 2000 AD holds a competition to draw one of their classic characters in their ‘Art Stars’ contests. Although it will officially debut in a future 2000 AD Prog, we can exclusively reveal the winner of the “Robo-Hunter” contest, Toby Willsmer!
Robo-Hunter was created by writers John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist Ian Gibson, and is one of *the* classic 2000 AD characters. Inspired by Humphrey Bogart’s hard-boiled detective in The Maltese Falcon, world-weary Sam Slade spends his days hunting down errant robots, all the while yearning for the good life. But instead he gets caught up in increasingly unbelievably – and hilarious – situations that threaten to overwhelm his stoicism, not helped by his companions – the idiotic kit-built robot Hoagy and the robotic cigar Stogie (a disturbing prediction of the vaping craze). Sam’s first story, ‘Verdus’, launched a series that was irreverent, silly, and instantly popular. Gibson’s artwork, especially in the earlier stories, is a cornucopia of detail, from his brilliant robot designs to the expressiveness of his characters – all the while Sam’s gnarled, weary face goggle-eyed at the insanity of his world.
Congratulations, Tob! Federico Gennari came in second, and Andrew Strachan with the “Tharg’s Choice” spot. Federico and Andrew will each win a graphic novel bundle, and Toby will see his pinup featured in a future Prog. See both of the runners up below, and congratulations to all three artists!
