WHIPPET’S SNIPPETS
News, Views and other interesting items from John’s dog Reg
Only a few short days left until Lawless 2025.
Spector will be appearing at Enniskillen in early June.
12th May. This week John is working on what this dog is reliably informed may be the final part of his very last Judge Dredd story, ‘Death of a Judge’, bringing to an end almost 50 years of writing the great lawman. When finished he plans to dodder out and commemorate the occasion (Reg sadly not invited!), though it’s debatable whether it will be celebration or wake.
However, with art like this there is always a chance he will be tempted back! Fabulous work from Mike Perkins with the excellent Chris Blythe on colours.
No prizes for recognising these three. All appearing at Lawless at the end of May. Drawing by the talented Abbie Rial, who’ll also be there.
Today your loyal columnist is in trouble for drinking the beer from the slug traps. Seriously, can a whippet with literary ambition be blamed for following the well-trodden path of a legion of hardened journalists? Alas, no understanding here. In the doghouse.
23rd April: This week John has been working on the penultimate part of Death of a Judge. The snippets of Mike Perkins’ art this dog has seen are amazing, and both I and Ruby are looking forward to seeing the whole story in print.
Saturday to London for the Spector signing with Dan Cornwell at Gosh Comics, 1:00 – 2:00 pm. The all-time 2000AD great Mick McMahon will also be in attendance, so that’s one not to be missed.
Some real MEAN T-shirts and hoodies on sale at the Rebellion Web Store. Click on the image to go straight there!
24th February: This week John has been finishing off A Life in Comics Part 4, about his time away from the comics world in the wilds of Scotland, including pages from a girls’ comic strip he had forgotten all about, Dumbells Academy.
There’s a Kickstarter out for Pat Mills, Gary Welsh and Phillip Vaughan’s Ragtime Soldier. Pat and Joe Calquhoun’s ‘Charlie’s War’ was one of the best British comic strips ever. If Ragtime Soldier is half as good it’s well worth supporting.
Steven Austin drew this poster of three well-known comic creators for John’s good friend Jacko. If you think your lucky wall won’t faint with their awesomeness Steven will be selling a few prints at Lawless. Bow wow!
Reg says: I sadly will not be there as I have squirrels and rabbits to chase.
17th February: This week John has been working on Rok the World Part 2, featuring Rok, Kyle and many other well-loved characters, including the delightfully horrible Baz and Shel. The theme is green, focusing on man’s inhumanity to the planet. It would have been good to have Rok disintegrating President Musk and his mad henchman Trump, but using real characters tends to unhelpfully date a story, so it was decided against. Rok’s brilliant artist Dan Cornwell will be starting on the art sometime this month.
In other news, Ruby and I both got a pig’s ear for being good dogs.
A Life in Comics. In response to queries, this dog can reveal that Rebellion Publishing have made an offer to publish John’s memoirs. John has not yet agreed because he has no idea if he’ll ever finish the memoirs, assuming he even lives that long. Anyway, he’s taking the tablets and getting on with them, so expect another revealing episode soon.
Button Man. Fifth Season have just renewed their option, so the property is still in active development with David Leitch and Simon Kinberg in charge.
Upcoming appearances! You can see John this year at
- Lawless Comic Con at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Bristol, 24-25 May – check out their website, tickets now on sale.
- Enniskillen Comic Fest 7-8 June – admission free.
- Hi Vis Comic Con, King’s Heath, Birmingham, Saturday 21 June – admission free.
Other excellent guests will also be in attendance.
Cast A Cold Eye. As mentioned on Facebook, if you’re looking for a good read John recommends Cast A Cold Eye, the second book in Robbie Morrison’s excellent Jimmy Dreghorn series (and don’t forget the first book, Edge of the Grave). “Set in 1930s Glasgow, Robbie convincingly recreates a world of razor gangs and terror killings with a plot that intrigues right up to the end.” It’s an impressive career move from a well-liked 2000AD creator. Arf!
Speaking of 2000AD alumni also worth checking out is former 2000AD and Megazine editor David (D.V.) Bishop’s Cesare Aldo historical crime series. Judging by the rewards they’ve been nominated for and actually won, they’re a feast for the reader.
A message from Perth, Western Australia. Hi John, I am one of the generations you “corrupted”, a rabid 2000AD reader from the 70s to the 80s. You and your mates made my childhood, populating my imagination with the weird, dark, insightful, satirical, scarey, morbid and brilliant stories you made. I probably got my life-long fear of nuclear war from Judge Dredd but you also educated me about this world, and showed me the deep pleasure of stories. It’s never left me. It was moving to see the photo of you with the young fan on your website, both of you smiling. That kid is me, 45 years ago, in a sunburnt isolated little town on the edge of Australia, learning about the future, the world, and the imagination from you. Thank you for your work. Thank you for your work. I can’t actually thank you enough… (I am not a fanboy, I’m a rational grownup with three kids and a career editing documentaries. Yet, I am overwhelmed with gratitude like a little kid. Those childhood aesthetic experiences sit deep. BTW I’m loving the memoir.). Cheers, Nick Dunlop