After 40 years and over 2000 issues Tharg the Mighty has decided that it’s time to do something for all of the droids under his command, as well as the faithful readers who devour their weekly thrills. With that as the goal, The Mighty One set forth to plan the greatest single-day shindig in all the galaxy!
On Saturday, February 11 thrill seekers young and old can convene in London for the 2000 AD Forty Years of Thrills Festival. It’ll be a day packed with signings, exclusive merch and panel discussions (a couple of which will be led by me, your intrepid cub reporter!) In addition, it looks to be shaping up to be a real who’s who of 2000 AD talent dating all the way back to Prog 1. Folks like Pat Mills, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy, Colin MacNeil, Andy Diggle, Henry Flint, Jock, Peter Milligan, John Higgins, John Reppion, Leah Moore, Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie, Glenn Fabry, Simon Bisley, Ian Edginton, Dave Gibbons, Mick McMahon, Steve Yeowell, Rob Williams, Si Spurrier, Al Ewing, Sean Phillips, Dan Abnett, Duncan Fregredo, D’Israeli, Tom Foster, Kev Walker, Annie Parkhouse, Chris Weston, Steve McManus, Simon Fraser, Mark Sexton, Paul Cornell, Peter Hogan, Charlie Adlard, Boo Cook, Dom Reardon, Dylan Teague, Frazer Irving, INJ Culbard, John McCrea, Laurence Campbell, Leigh Gallagher, Mark Harrison, Mike Dowling, Steve Pugh, Tiernen Trevallion, Roger Langridge and so, so many more.
Beyond the stuff you’d expect about guests and exclusives, there are a couple of really interesting bits in the official press release, which you’ll find below. I’m intrigued by their referring to the festival as an ‘experience,’ as well as the teasing of ‘spectacle.’ Now, regular readers of the publisher’s two magazines will know that hyperbole is a big part of the language of the publications, but I don’t know if that’s what this is. The guest list is huge, and it doesn’t seem to be pitched as what we’d think of as a traditional comic convention, so I’d say the smart money’s on there being some real surprises in store. For some reason, I’m getting a sort of Morrison Con vibe from all of this, which is a thing that anyone who attended that show could tell you is a good thing.
Any of you readers going to be there? Thrilled by the line up? Let us know in the comments!
2000 AD 40 YEARS OF THRILL POWER FESTIVAL
GUEST LIST ANNOUNCED!
Rebellion have unveiled an epic guest list for the ultimate 2000 AD experience event in London this February
which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the long-running science fiction weekly comic!
February 11th 2017, Rebellion toasts 40 years of the publication of legendary British weekly comic 2000 AD by presenting a huge celebration in the UK capital. The main event, a one-day ‘immersive live extravaganza‘, will take place at Hammersmith’s Novotel and includes a jam-packed schedule of prestige events, original programming, world exclusive merchandise and one-of-a-kind spectacles befitting the legacy of the finest comic book export the UK has ever produced.
The most ambitious single occasion in the history of 2000 AD publishing, the festival will feature an unprecedented number of writers, artists and editors to have graced its pages including: Pat Mills, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Alan Grant, Jesus Redondo, Robin Smith, Cam Kennedy, Arthur Ranson, Colin MacNeil, Andy Diggle, Henry Flint, Jock, Peter Milligan, John Higgins, John Reppion, Leah Moore, David Bishop, Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie, Glenn Fabry, Simon Bisley, Ian Edginton, Dave Gibbons, Mick McMahon, Steve Yeowell, Rob Williams, Si Spurrier, Al Ewing, Sean Phillips, Dan Abnett, Duncan Fregredo, D’Israeli, Tom Foster, Kev Walker, Annie Parkhouse, Chris Weston, Clint Langley, Ian Kennedy, Richard Elson, Chris Blythe, Hilary Robinson, Richard Burton, Steve McManus, Jon Davis-Hunt, Alan Barnes, Alec Worley, David Bailie, Simon Fraser, Mark Sexton, Eddie Robson, John Tomlinson, Paul Cornell, Peter Hogan, Steve White, Charlie Adlard, Geoff Senior, Eoin Coveney, Ben Willsher, Boo Cook, David Kendall, David Millgate, David Roach, Dom Reardon, Dylan Teague, Frazer Irving, INJ Culbard, Jeff Anderson, John McCrea, Karl Richardson, Laurence Campbell, Lee Sullivan, Lee Townsend, Leigh Gallagher, Mark Harrison, Mike Dowling, Mike Collins, Mike Perkins, Nick Percival, Neil Roberts, Nigel Dobbyn, Patrick Goddard, Paul Marshall, Rian Hughes, Simon Davis, Simon Gurr, Simon Jacob, Steve Pugh, Steve Roberts, Steve Tappin, Tiernen Trevallion, Warren Pleece, Simon Bowland, Abigail Ryder, Roger Langridge and many, many more!
Continued below“We have brought together a group of the greatest writers and artists on the planet,” said Rebellion’s head of books and comics Ben Smith. “We’re confident that this is not only the largest assembly of 2000 AD talent ever, but a line up that rivals any UK comic event. We very much hope that come February, Earthlets large and small will consider their minds well and truly blown!”
Tickets for the 2000 AD: 40 Years Of Thrill Power Festival are on sale now and can be purchased at 2000adonline.com/40years
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