In the first part of The Dredd Generation, Ninth Art spoke to 2000AD's founding fathers, Pat Mills, Alan Grant and John Wagner. In the second part, we spoke to recent writing talents Dan Abnett and Andy Diggle This month, it's the turn of artists Frazer Irving, Jock and Boo Cook to have their say.

FRAZER IRVING: "Still a newbie"

Irving is one of the latest 2000AD artistic finds to graduate to a wider audience stateside, as he's currently illustrating the miniseries FORT (as in Charles Fort) for Dark Horse. However, the Galaxy's Greatest Comic is where he has developed his style, and where he was able to grow as a creator.

2000AD's 25th Anniversary: cause for celebration or commiseration?

"Celebration! We're still here and badder than before. Now we have a wider audience, going from old men to young kids. I think we should be proud to still rocking and a-rolling at 25 years. The [25th Anniversary] party was fun too."

Do you feel you've had an impact at 2000AD? What work of yours are you the most proud of?

"I dunno... I still feel like a newbie. It's only been two years working and a year and a half actual stuff in print ... although there's been a lot of Irving in the mag. I like to think I've made an impression with many of the readers, although it's still very noticeable that older artists - especially ones who haven't drawn for the mag for over 15 years - are still seen to be the best artists we have. It's not fair I say! They ain't here anymore!

"Best work: hmm. NECRONAUTS is a personal fave, though STORMING HEAVEN I am very proud of in a strange way...[but] JUDGE DEATH: MY NAME IS DEATH is clearly the best and most cohesive strip I've done."

What do you hope to achieve next, artistically?

"I want to be worshipped like a god. That is all any artist should desire. That and higher page rates. Are you listening, Tharg?"

JOCK: "Making a mark"

His is the artwork that greets you when you access 2000AD Online, and as he relates, he's also responsible for Judge Dredd's latter-day public image, despite only having rendered a handful of DREDD strips. Jock has also worked with Andy Diggle on LENNY ZERO, and with John Tomlinson on TOR CYAN.

How do you feel about 2000AD's 25th anniversary? Is it a time for celebration?

"Why would it be anything else? If something continues to grow and prosper, like 2000AD, it's a real achievement!"

What's the work you're most proud of, and do you feel you've made your mark on the magazine?

"I'd like to think that I've made a mark, but you never really know what the readers think. Reaction has generally been good, so hopefully I'm doing something right! Tharg often asks me to draw Dredd when he needs something for other people, so it's nice to think I've put my stamp on Old Stony Face. I've ended up doing Dredd for British Airways, MTV, skateboards, and all sorts of things. Shame the BA one wasn't a shot of him firing his gun down the side of a 747... now that'd be cool!

"Work I'm proud of? Err... most of my Dredd stuff, LENNY ZERO and the odd cover... the CARVER HALE cover went down quite well. I quite liked having that Lenny Zero sketchbook too... some people apparently thought all the cover sketches were done afterwards as filler, but it ain't true! As Lenny was my own cover, I wanted it to be perfect... but it ended up being a Dredd shot instead! Oh well. Still quite like it though."

Were you a regular reader of 2000 AD back in the day? What artists/characters did you gravitate to?

"Yep, I'm a fully paid up member of the Prog 534 club!" [This refers to the issue of the magazine where Danny Cannon - who would go on to produce and direct hit US TV show CSI, and, of course, to direct the JUDGE DREDD movie - had a fan letter published detailing his vision of a potential DREDD film. The mock poster can be seen here.

"I've been a long time Dredd fan, so it's great to draw him and his city... it's something I never tire of, trying to [capture] the manic-ness of Mega City 1. You can push it and push it and you still haven't scraped the surface of what it's capable of!"

BOO COOK: "Sick and gritty."

By his own admission, up-and-comer Boo Cook has some way to go to reach the level of his influences - but if what he says is any thing to go by, he's on his way there.

How did you enjoy the 2000AD 25th anniversary party?

"Well, my life changed drastically that night, having met my future wife - the delectable fraghead, Miss Gemma Bryden, at said event. ... Shame the [editorial staff] were all locked away in a cupboard upstairs though..."

As one of the more recent artists to come on board at 2000AD, do you feel you've had a chance to establish yourself yet?

"I actually don't think I've made my mark at 2000 AD yet at all, having only done a few FUTURE SHOCKS and some (poorly) printed ABC WARRIORS, but with any luck that should all be set to change in the autumn with the debut of the sickest grittiest alien/political gorefest that is ASYLUM, courtesy of Rob "beautiful mind " Williams - it's my favourite work to date. Although the ABC WARRIORS was quite an accolade to be given to draw - my art was shite."

Have you always been a fan of the magazine?

"I've been a massive 2000AD fan since I was ten, and it's always been my ambition to work for [the title]. I've always loved the cast of STRONTIUM DOG - especially Wulf - who else gets to say 'cool as der cucumber' and gag Hitler with his sock? Not many. ZENITH was the start of my Grant Morrison awareness, a blinding strip, and anything involving Brendan McCarthy was always a winner in my book."

Special thanks to Mark Chapman at Rebellion for his assistance.

Brent Keane is a regular contributor to Ninth Art and PopImage and has also written for Opi8, Sequential Tart and Nerdbait.

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