Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons & Mick McMahon - The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Lockdown Tapes

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Welcome to the seventeeth of The Lockdown Tapes as The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast continues to broadcast the joys of Thrill-power during the COVID-19 pandemic! Got a theme or interview you'd like to hear? Let us know at [e-mail]
Three legends - one podcast! The Thrill-Cast plays host to artists Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, and Mick McMahon for just under two hours of chat and laughs! Whether it's reminiscing about their different routes into their careers or Dave's impression of a mechanical eraser, these acclaimed creators are an absolute delight to listen to.
It's hard to overstate how this trio has shaped the comics industry, from Bolland's stunning brushwork and Mick's unique style on Judge Dredd to Gibbons' multi-layered storytelling in Watchmen, their work has influenced generations of comic book artists and writers.
The Thrill-Cast is increasing its broadcasts during this difficult time, so make sure you're keeping yourselves and your loved ones safe - and stay tuned for more from the Galaxy's Greatest Podcast!
The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast is the award-winning podcast that takes you behind-the-scenes at the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! As well as interviewing top creators and famous fans, we bring you announcements, competitions, and much more! You can subscribe to the Thrill-Cast on your favourite podcast app, iTunes and Spotify, you can listen now at 2000AD.com/podcast or you can watch at / 2000adonline

[@andreasilvestri1696]

I can't believe I'm actually watching my Holy Trinity... I'm 55 now ...it was 1978 and I was in Nigeria with my family, as my father (who initiated me to the pleasure of reading comics) was working there at that time.. in Italy (where I'm from) I was growin up with marvel heroes and some belgian comics.. UFO and space:1999 were my old and new testament and Star Wars the holy Grail .. but in Lagos, at that time, I could only be able to scavenge some strange comics, printed on awful newsprint, with terrible colours... strange names: Tornado.. 2000ad.. Charlie's war... And I immediatly fall in love with them.. Finding them regulary was out of matter so I had to wait years before buying the complete stories by Titan books first and Rebellion later... The first time I saw Bolland's Judge death... The McMahon's ABC warriors.. Gibbon's Rogue Trooper... And I'm still reading over and over their stories... And what about O'Neill work on Nemesis and ABC? and Ezquerra and Ron Smith stoney face? and Splendid Colin Wilson (boy, what a hand)? And McManus.. McCarthy (does Wagner had a weak spot on Highlanders ?😊) and every other artist who worked on this great, great magazine.. I thank them all for having filled my childhood with joy and dreams.. a big hug to you all!!!

[@Tristan_again]

Mike McMahon: for me, the definitive Dredd artist.

[@dylanduff9125]

I might have to agree,just reading Judge Child again..McMahon kills it.

[@benedictchaplin5473]

My favourite Judge Dredd artist, always associate the big feet, elongated limbs style with Judge Dredd because of him.

[@amnesiacradar]

15 minutes in and absolutely loving this, all legends of my childhood and I still appreciate their art.

[@hellboy69ism]

Great to hear stories from the Golden age of 2000AD, from the greatest artists.

[@BrendonWrightcartoonist]

Hearing this interview has gotta be the highlight of a lifetime! Heaven will be a room full of 2000AD artists discussing drawing software....

[@stephenboddy7489]

Superstars of 2000AD, they set a very high bar! All awesome artists. Great to listen to the banter. 👍🏻

[@androod6211]

I'm so behind on my playlist, but this was worth the wait. How lucky are we? Three absolute masters of the form, and entertaining to boot. Thanks for putting this together Mike.

[@nickmoran1]

That was so enjoyable.Thanks

[@MultiSoulless]

Absolutely superb - all my heroes in one podcast. RIP Carlos.

[@eddiebrennan6714]

If Steve Dillon was still with us this would be my Beatles of British comic book art. Or one of the line ups!!! IMHO - the Masters. Legends. And whatever word exceeds 'raconteurs'.

[@MikeTimbers]

Please do an interview with Ian Gibson!!

[@chuzzbot]

That was great! Thanks to all involved.

[@Oscuros]

I must admit, I can't imagine ever getting into 2000ad in the 1990s. I started to go off it when everyone went to Vertigo and I started reading Vertigo and other comics like the rest of my generation that had grown up with 2000ad. For me personally it was about the artists and I was a massive fan of individual artists and used to get into arguments with people about them and if they were good good or not. I always liked Brian Bolland the most, but he didn't seem to get enough work because he was not good at deadlines because his work was so good. When he left to do Camelot 3000 I really missed him and he never really came back after that. I know he says he was never gone, but I personally really, really missed him and his work. Next, I liked Kev O'Neil and Gibbons, Carlos Ezquerra, Brian Talbot, Steve Dillon. But by the late 1980s you had this Cliff Robinson guy who did terrible knock-ffs of Boland and he seemed to do his own colouring and he did the kneepads in yellow, like in that awful film. Kneepads are green, everyone knows that. I have to admit that I always hated Zenith too. I didn't know it was Grant Morrisson at the time, it was well drawn, just hated it, Zenith got centre spread and it was the beginning of the end for me, only slightly raised by the appearance of Fabry, but that was only for a while. One of the friends I used to argue with in school about 2000ad artists, is an artist now, he's done CG for Heaven's Gate and a whole bunch of movies, but in school we wanted to be comics artists for 2000ad, we used to sketch and sketch on our rough books, anyway, he liked McMahon and Cam Kennedy. I hated them both, because McMahon did big feet we used to argue about that, but he got me to appreciate them both in the end. I was only a kid and was and am a bit of a nazi for clean lies, good mark and tone, excellent posing, all of which Bolland did and does. I was also aware of Heavy Metal and even satirical stuff like Metal Hurlant via my Dad and other people not from the UK in my family that were also comics fans. Because of that heritage I had seen Hugo Pratt in the original South American comics, Moebius from France too, but my favourite to this day is Francisco Solano Lopez for the Institute and of course, Evaristo. I also got to know Oscar Chichoni as a friend of the family, and Juan Jimenez who did Astronauta, I have to say that I see no link between those comics and 2000ad. I understand that they were influential, but was really surprised that Mike came from that tradition. I guess pleasantly so. It's a shame that war comics are always missed out in these, since Ezquerra did some excellent examples, but so did a few of the Spanish and Latin American artists anonymously.

[@ja_no]

This is great! I'm on a huge McMohan kick right now, absolutely love his work.

[@ElBrandenBrazil]

Love these guys and the amazing work they have created.

[@PazBinv1]

Great podcast; the time just flew by. Any chance of a chat with Doug Church? Or Kevin O'Neill?

[@mattwestrup2000]

Captivating. Heroes to me when I was 10, reading 2000ad and still heroes to me now.

[@martingeraghty3308]

Utterly entertaining couple of hours in the company of 3 absolute LEGENDS.

[@hogowar]

Sorry, Joe Rogan. My new favourite podcast. Love it. Thanks Tharg!

[@dylanduff9125]

Wow awesome,these guys were my heroes growing up.So good to listen to their stories.

[@mettrisscomputeque8238]

That was awesome. I happen to be reading Steve MacManus' book at the moment (signed, printed upside down, must be worth something :-) ) and it's interesting to compare the stories. Yet again listening to guys who were there talking about background is so absorbing. And it was really funny too. Great stuff!

[@2Old4Toys]

My goodness this is priceless... these guys are legendary to me. Thanks so much for this!

[@stephenlooney5676]

Brilliant! Well done! Kev o Neil next ?🙏

[@codswallop321]

These three look like they could be brothers... geniuses all

[@johnsonbenjamin887]

This was amazing

[@sandratyler5387]

Wow fantastic Thrillcast!

[@geekhut590]

"I haven't finished my electric eraser anecdote yet"

[@rootsnootthnute8598]

Makes me want to share MY hat. It's a really nice hat.

[@alienproductions9948]

Wish Ron Smith could've joined in. Great stuff.

[@Toracube]

Thank you guys. I love your work.

[@ThePeabe]

i loved every part of this video. thanks for this!

[@BiggerBoatPR]

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you

[@marko1446]

Absolute pleasure to watch this ...many thanks 😀

[@JudgeMinty]

Wonderful. Mick let loose with an electric eraser! Hats! Tabletop Pats!

[@dean1380]

This was so enjoyable to listen to and learn from if it's ever possible to do this again it would be highly welcome, thank you for this

[@Jamie-666]

What a nice bunch of blokes,I loved this! I devoured 2000AD as a kid from issue 1 onwards. LOL, this'll be a familiar story: how many of our mothers threw out our complete collections once we left home? I was devastated 🙁

[@Ickie71]

Mine never used to last a month!Ive had to re-buy them!The ones i have now are in a far better condition than mine were after just a few weeks back in 1980!

[@Jamie-666]

@@Ickie71 Good to know there are complete collections out there 👍

[@Ickie71]

@@Jamie-666 i have all issues of Battle Action from 1977-79 and almost complete 1980-82.

[@Ickie71]

and i got War and Battle pic lib from 1959-onwards(not complete)

[@Jamie-666]

@@Ickie71 Never sell them!! Good man ✅

[@mrvanguard8467]

Fan of 2000ad from issue 8 this was pure gold.

[@ausven]

Brilliant, best yet.

[@MrGummyVoid]

rediscovering 2000ad after 30 years; loving these vids..

[@Alan236]

Brilliant! Thank you

[@sterlacchini]

Superb!

[@cormacjordan7173]

Loving all of these lockdown tapes, please keep em coming. Just one thing Michael, is there anything you can do about the fluctuating lighting on your camera? Thanks again for the amazing vids!

[@amnesiacradar]

I noticed the fluctuations in light, it's quite distracting.

[@2000ADcomics]

Currently Molch-R is restricted to the webcam on his Macbook, but is aware of the light levels and is looking at ways to overcome it.

[@eddiebrennan6714]

Go to 53:57. The Angel Gang Pin-up. For a few glorious seconds Junior Angel's right arm aligns perfectly with Brian Bolland's ceiling fan. Isn't that gorgeous...?

[@hgwells1899]

Lol

[@richardtorres3688]

Whilst they're all great, I think it's a crying shame to see that Gibbons and Bolland have much nicer gaffs than Mick. 2 very fine artists there with lovely big spaces and libraries behind them, but the true genius is talking from what looks like an iso cube, and is also the shyest. So it goes.

[@dannywhittingham4849]

Bollands Animal Man covers...=wow

[@hogowar]

Brilliant hearing artists take on “scamming” at conventions. Can’t agree with their perspective on all they said but I understand it. People ain’t always scamming if they are there for profit. It’s not always one or the other and some fan subsidise they’re fandom by picking up sig’s etc. For other “fans”. 😉

[@RobertSmith-es2gh]

What a great set up of great artists. Discovered McMahon‘s art just recently, his Slaine‘s spectacular. To the interviewer, maybe next time be a bit better prepared, you seemed lost at times.

[@Jamie-666]

Slaine was spectacular.

[@dannywhittingham4849]

the presenter is a cross between Iron Man and Eddie Izard ;)

[@jahmah519]

Remember buying these comics & thinking we would be in cars hovering above the ground, I didn't know about oil petrol that all was provided or taken from the Earth & that it all comes at a cost to her, I don't think those that built cars knew it was damaging to the environment so let's build these vehicles that hover using green efficient technology

[@RavenRachelSteele]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@richardtorres3688]

Also: Selling watchmen art to buy showcase #4. Bad call. I guess it made as much sense at the time as the now infamous watchmen rights contract

[@johnnoneya223]

I like Paddle steamers

[@DB-sh4gh]

Are the "computer" artists today as talented as these greats ??

[@Jamie-666]

Not a chance!

[@hogowar]

1:52:17 is pure gold!

[@SuperLaughHard]

This is wonderful. Though I do wish Mick and Brian had let Dave have his say more 🤪