Product Description

2000 AD is Britain's longest-running science-fiction comic. Created in 1977 by Pat Mills et al, it quickly won the hearts of readers and has been a mainstay of newsagents' shelves ever since. Over three decades stories have come and gone, but 2000 AD has succeeded in creating some of the most iconic characters in comics - including Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper. 2000 AD continues to be a major force in comics and Thrill-Power Overload explores its varied and often controversial history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108291 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Thrill Power Overload
I've been lucky enough to read a proof of David's TPO book and can highly recommend it to any one who has ever read the Galaxies Greatest Comic.
The book is around 40,000 words longer than the original articles that appeared in the Judge Dredd Megazine which in themselves came in at around 80,000 words so far more information than fans of 2000 AD have seen before.
From inside information from creators to interviews and comments made by many of the people involved in the gestation, birth and growing pains of 2000 AD through its formative years right up to its 30th Anniversary.
If at any time you've been touched by the hand of Tharg or are fans of many of today's best known creators then Thrill Power Overload is a book for you.

From Bill Savage to, well, Bill Savage
Having picked up back issues of the Megazine purely to get my mitts on David's essay, I was thrilled to learn the whole thing was being compiled (and updated) into one volume. The end result is an absorbing, superbly researched and shockingly candid romp through 30 years of publishing history. Unlike other commentators, I loved all the stuff about union strikes and shop floor unrest - exactly the sort of workaday detail that sets this account apart from other comic histories. Yes, the illustrations are a little disappointing (it feels often like they were slung on the page without much thought to context) and more 'behind-the-scenes' sketches and early designs would have been great. But, I'm sure that's not Mr Bishop's fault, and the thing still notches up five stars from me.

A worthy book for comics historians
Hefty book, hefty price, but well worth it. This is a mature look back at the history of 2000AD from its insiders. Bishop uses his position as ex-editor to talk to the creators themselves, and they don't hold back on the criticism.

However, it's not a negative book by any means. So few comics survive for 30 years and this is a worthy and positive tribute to its longevity.

Yes, it would have been nice to see unused character sketches, or photographs of the creators at work or at convention appearances, but this is the story of 2000AD the comic, and that's where it's focused. Some unused pages from the original "dummy issue" are shown, including the cover (when it was called AD2000).

Some books on comics are little more than boring plot resumés of the characters. This book is nothing like that thankfully! This is the "behind the scenes" story of the comic, and the industry surrounding it, from the horse's mouth as it were, warts and all.