The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic is returning to Thought Bubble this November!
The annual celebration of comics and comic culture is taking place at the Harrogate Convention Centre on 12th and 13th November, and 2000 AD will be there with a packed booth and its famous artist and writer talent searches!
This year’s show features a veritable Nerve Centre of 2000 AD talent, lead by the legendary John Wagner and Mick McMahon, as well as Rob Williams (Judge Dredd), Steve Yeowell (Zenith), Charlie Adlard (Savage), Andy Diggle (Lenny Zero), D’Israeli (Scarlet Traces), Ian Edginton (Scarlet Traces), Al Ewing (Zombo), Jock (Judge Dredd), Roger Langridge (Pandora Perfect), John McCrea (Judge Dredd), Leah Moore (Storm Warning), Anna Morozova (Lowborn High), Sean Phillips (Devlin Waugh), John Reppion (Black Shuck) and more!
The 2000 AD booth will be located in the main Redshirt Hall, with both classic and brand new collections – including mega-early copies of some forthcoming titles – as well as freebie comics, discounts on selected graphic novels, and a back issue longbox for the dedicated collector!
And as well as “The Galaxy’s Greatest Panel” on the Sunday – with writers Rob Williams and El Sandifer and artists Anna Morozova and Tom Foster – the 2000 AD writer and artist talent searches return with would-be droids battling it out in front of two panels of top creative judges deciding who wins paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! See how you can enter now!
Don’t miss a Thrill-powered weekend, Earthlet – head straight for Thought Bubble!
THE 2000 AD THOUGHT BUBBLE SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER
2000 AD WRITER TALENT SEARCH
11AM – 12PM // PANEL ROOM 1, QUEEN’S SUITE Join aspiring comic writers as they make their pitch to our judging panel of Leah Moore (Storm Warning), Andy Diggle (Lenny Zero) and Laura Bailey (Demarco P.I.), with the prize being paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! See how you can enter here.
2000 AD ARTIST TALENT SEARCH – FINALISTS SELECTION
1PM – 2.30PM // 2000 AD BOOTH, BOOTH #2 REDSHIRTS HALL Artists wishing to enter the 2000 AD Artist Talent Search should bring their entries to the 2000 AD booth, where finalists will be selected for Sunday’s judging panel. See how you can enter here.
SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER
2000 AD ARTIST TALENT SEARCH
11:15AM – 12:15 PM // PANEL ROOM 1, QUEEN’S SUITE Join aspiring comic artists as they submit their work to the scrutiny of our top judging panel, featuring Jock (Judge Dredd), Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), Anna Morozova (Lowborn High), with the prize being paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! See how you can enter here.
2000 AD: THE GALAXY’S GREATEST PANEL
2PM – 3PM // PANEL ROOM 2, QUEEN’S SUITE 2000 AD lands at Thought Bubble 2023 with an out-of-this-world panel! With very special guests including Rob Williams, Anna Morozova, Tom Foster, El Sandifer and Laura Bailey discusses the latest blockbusters from The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with secrets revealed exclusively during the panel.
For the first time since the pandemic, 2000 AD returned to the Thought Bubble convention in Harrogate with the only talent search of its kind in the UK – with the prizes being paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
It’s Dragons’ Den meets the Nerve Centre as Tharg the Mighty’s droids sit in judgement on hopeful writers and artists looking to join their ranks.
The script competition, at which would-be writers have two minutes to pitch their idea for a four-page ‘Future Shock’, took place on the Saturday afternoon in front of a panel made up of 2000 AD editor and writer Matt Smith, writers Leah Moore, John Reppion and Al Ewing, hosted by 2000 AD publicity droid Molch-R.
Congratulations to Tom Watts, whose pitch ‘Love Bird’ impressed the judges and will now be published in a future issue of 2000 AD!
Winner Tom Watts (left) with Molch-R and 2000 AD editor Matt Smith
And this year, entrants for the art competition had to draw pages from writer Kek-W’s Tharg’s Terror Tales: Music Of The Spheres, originally drawn by Dan Cornwell. After getting through a HUGE line of would-be contestants, Matt Smith chose seven entries to go forward to the judging panel on the Sunday.
In front of a live audience the panel – made up of artists Steve Yeowell, Liana Kangas and Anna Morozova – went through each entry and gave advice to the artists on how to improve their work.
But in the end there could be only one winner – and the panel unanimously chose the entry byMike Walters! Here are his pages:
Thanks to all the contestants of both competitions – we’ll be back to Thought Bubble next year on the hunt for new talents for the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
And here are the other entries who made it through to the judging panel – which is your favourite?
Along with signings from Jamie McKelvie (Captain Marvel, The Wicked & The Divine), Pye Parr (Intestinauts), and Ramzee (2000 AD Regened), the 2000 AD writer and artist talent searches return to the in-person show again this year, with would-be droids battling it out in front of two panels of top creative judges deciding who wins paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
We are delighted to announce that Gerry-Finley Day, the co-creator of Rogue Trooper, The VCs, and Harry Twenty on the High Rock, will be our guest of honour this year. He will be signing at the 2000 AD booth (Booth #4, Redshirt Hall) from 3.45pm-4.15pm on the Saturday, where copies of The Best of Gerry Finley-Day will be available to purchase. And on the Sunday morning, Gerry will be taking part in a Q&A session at the Mercer Art Gallery, close to the convention centre. Running from 11am-12noon and hosted by 2000 AD‘s Michael Molcher, there are just 20 seats available for this special event, which will be first-come-first-served and open to weekend/Sunday Thought Bubble ticket holders only.
And this year sees a special Sunday morning workshop for kids, with writer Ramzee helping the comic creators of the future MAKE THE BEST SCI FI COMIC EVER!
Saturday
11:00-12.30 Artist Talent Search Portfolio Selection
12:30-13:15 Writer talent search
12.45-13.15 Pye Parr ‘Intestanuts’ signing
13.30-14.15 Jamie McKelvie ‘Best of 2000 AD’ signing
15:45-16:15 Gerry Finley-Day signing
Sunday
11:00-12:00 Gerry Finley-Day Q&A (Mercer Gallery)
12:00-12:45 MAKE THE BEST SCI FI COMIC EVER! kids’ workshop with RAMZEE
2000 AD is delighted to announce that Gerry-Finley Day, the co-creator of Rogue Trooper, The VCs, and Harry Twenty on the High Rock, will be its guest of honour at the Thought Bubble convention this year.
One of the most inventive writers in British comics, Gerry’s influence on British comics and the development of 2000 AD cannot be understated. He will be 2000 AD‘s special guest at the Thought Bubble show, which is taking place in Harrogate on 12-13 November.
He will be signing at the 2000 AD booth (Booth #4, Redshirt Hall) from 3.45pm-4.15pm on the Saturday, where copies of The Best of Gerry Finley-Day will be available to purchase.
And on the Sunday morning, Gerry will be taking part in a Q&A session at the Mercer Art Gallery, close to the convention centre. Running from 11am-12noon and hosted by 2000 AD‘s Michael Molcher, there are just 20 seats available for this special event, which will be first-come-first-served and open to weekend/Sunday Thought Bubble ticket holders only.
New York Comic Con is just a week away and the 2000 AD droids are preparing to be fired across the Atlantic to bring pure, unadultered Thrill-power to the masses!
The legendary British comic hits one of the biggest conventions in the US, and Booth 4318 will be packed with the latest graphic novel collections as well as the finest in genre fiction writing from Rebellion Publishing. Plus there’s the official state-side launch of our new series Best of 2000 AD, the ultimate mixtape of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
We have four top talents signing at the booth over the weekend:
Arthur Wyatt (writer: Dredd movie comic) – Saturday 11am
And to celebrate not just 45 years of 2000 AD but also the launch of Best of 2000 AD, a special Best of 2000 AD: Bringing Britain’s Finest Stateside panel on Friday evening (7:45pm – 8:45pm, Location: 406.3) will discuss how to distil forty-five years distil forty-five years of ground-breaking and industry-changing comics into one title and what the series can reveal about how to make great comics, with guests Tiffany Babb, Chloe Maveal, Owen Johnson, Arthur Wyatt, and Greame McMillan.
It promises to be another action-packed week at New York Comic Con – make sure you get your dose of 2000 AD Thrill-power!
The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000 AD at 45 was the star-studded online convention celebrating four and a half decades of the groundbreaking British comic, 2000 AD!
Taking place over the weekend of 26-27 March, the event threw a spotlight on just some of the creators who have helped make 2000 AD the galaxy’s greatest comic while also exploring the impact it has had far beyond its pages, from comedy to politics! With more than 60 guests over 21 panels, as well as the debut of a brand new Judge Dredd role-playing game, The Galaxy’s Greatest is a true celebration of 45 years of groundbreaking and anarchic comic books.
Catch up on all the panels from this fantastic event here, with celebrity and creator guests revealing why they think 2000 AD is still The Galaxy’s Greatest!
Authors on 2000 AD: comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince talks to best-selling crime writer Ian Rankin, award-winning sci-fi author Lauren Beukes, and popular children’s writer Louie Stowell about comics, prose, and the influence of 2000 AD.
2000 AD: Beyond Borders: host Kelly Kanayama talks to 2000 AD writers Arthur Wyatt and Michael Carroll (Judge Dredd) and artist Chris Burnham (Judge Dredd, Batman) about their perspectives on this quintessentially British comic book export.
The Crisis Generation: the second wave of the ‘British Invasion’ no less an impact on American comics than the first. Host Torunn Grønbekk talks to Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys), Sean Phillips (Criminal, Reckless) and John McCrea (Hitman, Judge Dredd), all of whom graduated from the ‘mature comics’ boom of the late ’80s and early ’90s and went on to have a huge impact on the industry.
2000 AD Beyond the Pages: for four and a half decades 2000 AD has influenced more than just comics. Comedian Sarah Morgan talks to Rowan Hooper from New Scientist magazine and writer David Quantick about 2000 AD‘s influence far beyond its pages.
Comics and Politics: rebellious, anarchic and anti-authority, 2000 AD has always been deeply political – but what is the crossover between politics and comics? And what kind of political career gets inspired by 2000 AD? Host Michael Molcher talks to MPs Stella Creasy and Alex Sobel, alongside political commentator and author Ian Dunt about politics, comics, and Tank Girl as a role model (?)
Next Generation Writers: host Michael Molcher talks to three writers who pushing the boundaries of 2000 AD storytelling: from all-ages series like ‘Full Tilt Boogie’ by writer Alex de Campi, to the … mature adventures of ‘Devlin Waugh’ by Aleš Kot and writer Rob Williams’s fresh perspectives on legendary characters like ‘Judge Dredd’ and ‘Hershey’.
Critics on 2000 AD: comics is a big world. We hear from four comics critics – Tom Shapira, Tiffany Babb, Chloe Maveal and Zack Quaintance – about what series and characters make 2000 AD unique…
2000 AD Audio Adaptions: how do you take a medium that is a synthesis of words and pictures, and turn it into sound? Acclaimed comedian Desiree Burch talks about audio adaptations of 2000 AD with Future Shocks Radio producer Natt Tapley, Penguin Random House Audio producer Chris Thompson and Paul Powell, who dramatised Judge Dredd stories for BBC Radio One in the 1990s.
The Writer’s Journey: Host Kelly Kanayama talks to writers Al Ewing, Tom Eglington and Ramsey Hassan about writing comics and the writer’s journey…
Pat Mills: a legend of comics and the creator of 2000 AD, Pat Mills talks to graphic novel editor Oliver Pickles about the saga of one of his most famous creations – the Celtic barbarian, Sláine.
John Wagner: rounding out the first day of The Galaxy’s Greatest is a brand new audio interview with the legendary co-creator of Judge Dredd & Strontium Dog – John Wagner. He talks to Michael Molcher about his career, his latest work, and how he has no plans to retire…
SUNDAY PANELS
2000 AD: The Next 45 Years: the Sunday panels kick off with a chat with Rebellion owners Jason Kingsley OBE & Chris Kingsley OBE, head of publishing, film & TV Ben Smith, and 2000 AD editor Matt Smith about the past 45 years and the next…
The Changing Face of Art: podcaster Scott Weatherly talks to legendary 2000 AD artists Chris Weston, Jake Lynch, Simon Davis and Steve Yeowell about the changing styles and craft of art in 2000 AD over the past 45 years.
2000 AD New Artists: we hear from four of our newest artists Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), Korinna Mei Veropoulou (Harlem Heroes), Dan Cornwell (Judge Dredd) and Anna Morozova (Viva Forever) about the freedoms and legacies of drawing for 2000 AD…
On The Brink: it’s the modern 2000 AD classic which has already established itself as a landmark series and acclaimed writer Dan Abnett and artist INJ Culbard talk to comics critic Tom Shapira about their critically-acclaimed slow-burn sci-fi horror series.
Comics & Satire: Toby Venables talks to comedians Mitch Benn, Dane Baptiste, and Joel Morris about comedy, satire, and how 2000 AD made a freak outta Mitch…
The Art of Colours & Letters: we hear from some unsung heroes of 2000 AD – colourists & letterers. Colourist Sally Jane Jurst, legendary letterer Annie Parkhouse, letterer Jim Campbell, and colourist Chris Blythe discuss the vital but often underappreciated art of colour & letters…
2000 AD Art Legends: in an unmissable panel, four of the biggest artistic talents ever to grace the pages of 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine – Mick McMahon, Brian Bolland, Frank Quitely and Jock – talk about their work, their influences, and going from 2000 AD to changing the face of comics.
Fantasy 2000 AD Nerve Centre: podcaster Scott Weatherly talks to artists Simon Fraser, PJ Holden and Liana Kangas about what stories they would put into their ideal issue of 2000 AD in they were Tharg for a day!
2000 AD: The Great Game(s): Have you always wanted to step into the shoes of your favourite 2000 AD character and explore their world? We talk to the legendary games creator Sir Ian Livingstone, games developer Andy Chambers and Duncan Molloy from Rebellion’s board games division, Rebellion Unplugged, about 2000 AD board games and RPGs.
DREAD: DREDD playthrough: a brand new version of the award-winning TTRPG game Dread will plunge you and your friends into a thrilling race against time in Mega-City One – with a unique game mechanic that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Designed specifically for 2000 AD’s 45th anniversary by original Dread writer Epidiah Ravachol, Dread: Dredd brings the ENNIE award-winning game to the iconic world of 2000 AD’s ‘Judge Dredd’. And to round off the 45th birthday celebrations, an intrepid band of democrats attempt to thwart Judge Dredd in the first ever playthrough of this brand new game! Join gamesmaster Grant Howitt, writer Al Ewing, artist PJ Holden and and cartoonist & TTRPG creator Jen Vaughn as they try to usher Walter the Wobot into the limelight and hopefully avoid being shot or cubed by the Judges!
Get ready to celebrate 45 years of the Galax’s Greatest Comic this weekend, Earthlets!
Featuring celebrity fans and legendary creators, The Galaxy’s Greatest online convention will stream online and for free on 26 and 27 March on 2000 AD’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as Rebellion’s dedicated Twitch stream, plus a dedicated Fringe with panels uploaded direct to YouTube. The two-day show features top flight guests and creators on twenty panels, all discussing the impact of 2000 AD on comics and culture over almost half a century!
During the show we’ll be unleashing three gorgeous limited edition prints on our webshop, from top artists Chun Lo, Ian McQue and Zoe Thorogood – keep your eyes peeled, Earthlets!
Now check out the timings for what promises to be a fascinating weekend of discussion and fun!
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FRINGE (ON YOUTUBE)
Saturday Main Stream:
12pm – Authors on 2000 AD: Robin Ince (Host), Ian Rankin, Lauren Beukes, Louie Stowell
1pm – The Crisis Generation: Torunn Gronbekk (Host), John McCrea, Sean Phillips, Garth Ennis
2pm – Comics & Politics: Mike Molcher (Host), Ian Dunt, Alex Sobel, Stella Creasy
3pm – Next Gen Writers: Mike Molcher (Host), Alex de Campi, Ales Kot, Rob Williams
4pm – Audio Adaptations: Desiree Burch (Host), Nathaniel Tapley, Chris Thompson, Paul Powell
5 – Pat Mills: interviewed by Oliver Pickles
6 – John Wagner: interviewed by Mike Molcher
Sunday Main Stream:
12pm – 2000 AD: The Next 45 Years: Mike Molcher (Host), Ben Smith, Jason Kingsley, Chris Kingsley, Matt Smith
1pm – New Artists: Mike Molcher (Host), Tom Foster, Korinna Mei Veropoulou, Dan Cornwell, Anna Morozova
2pm – Comics & Satire: Toby Venebles (Host), Dane Baptiste, Mitch Benn, Joel Morris
2.50pm – The Art of Colour & Letters: Mike Molcher (Host), Sally Jane Hurst, Annie Parkhouse, Jim Campbell, Chris Blythe
3.55pm – 2000 AD Art Legends: Mike Molcher (Host), Mick McMahon, Brian Bolland, Vincent Deighan (Frank Quitely), Jock
4.50pm – 2000 AD: The Great Game(s): Mike Molcher (Host), Andy Chambers, Ian Livingstone, Duncan Molloy
5.55pm – Judge Dredd RPG Playthrough: Grant Howitt (Host), Al Ewing, Pj Holden, Jen Vaughn
Fringe
Saturday 12pm – 2000 AD: Beyond Borders: Kelly Kanayama (Host), Arthur Wyatt, Michael Carroll, Chris Burnham
Saturday 2pm – 2000 AD: Beyond the Pages: Sarah Morgan (Host), Rowan Hooper, David Quantick
Saturday 4pm – Critics on 2000 AD: Tom Shapira (Host), Tiffany Babb, Chloe Maveal, Zack Quaintance
Saturday 5pm – The Writer’s Journey: Kelly Kanayama (Host), Al Ewing, Tom Eglington, Ramsey Hassan
Sunday 12pm – The Changing Face of Art: Scott Weatherley (Host), Chris Weston, Jake Lynch, Simon Davis, Steve Yeowell
Sunday 2pm – On the Brink: Tom Shapira (Host), Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard
Sunday 5pm – Fantasy Nerve Centre: Scott Weatherley (Host), Simon Fraser, PJ Holden, Liana Kangas
The Galaxy’s Greatest is coming – our FREE online convention celebrating 45 years of 2000 AD is THIS WEEKEND!
Streaming over 26 and 27 March on Youtube, Twitch, and Facebook, the two-day show will feature top flight celebrity and creator guests on more than a dozen panels, all discussing the impact of 2000 AD on comics, culture, and politics over almost half a century – as well as announcements and new merchandise.
And we’ve announced even more incredible guests from our fantastic line-up, including:
legendary Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog writer JOHN WAGNER
All-Star Superman and Missionary Man artist FRANK QUITELY
Judge Dredd and Batman: The Killing Joke artist BRIAN BOLLAND
It’s less than two weeks to go until The Galaxy’s Greatest – our FREE online convention celebrating 45 years of 2000 AD!
Streaming over 26 and 27 March on Youtube, Twitch, and Facebook, the two-day show will feature top flight celebrity and creator guests on more than a dozen panels, all discussing the impact of 2000 AD on comics, culture, and politics over almost half a century – as well as announcements and new merchandise.
And we’ve announced even more guests from our fantastic line-up, including:
legendary Judge Dredd and Sláine artist MICK MCMAHON
children’s author LOUIE STOWELL
comedian and broadcaster ROBIN INCE
Criminal and The Fade Out artist SEAN PHILLIPS
bestselling author LAUREN BEUKES
comedian DESIREE BURCH
Judge Dredd and Proteus Vex writer MICHAEL CARROLL
author and founder of Games Workshop IAN LIVINGSTONE
It’s less than three weeks to go under The Galaxy’s Greatest – our FREE online convention celebrating 45 years of 2000 AD!
Streaming over 26 and 27 March on Youtube, Twitch, and Facebook, the two-day show will feature top flight celebrity and creator guests on more than a dozen panels, all discussing the impact of 2000 AD on comics, culture, and politics over almost half a century – as well as announcements and new merchandise.
And we’ve begun announcing just some of our guests from the fantastic line-up, including:
superstar artist on Batman and Judge Dredd – JOCK
hit writer behind The Boys and Preacher – GARTH ENNIS
writer on the Dredd movie comics & Full Tilt Boogie – ALEX DE CAMPI
artist on Judge Anderson and Viva Forever – ANNA MOROZOVA
Judge Dredd and Rok of the Reds artist – DAN CORNWELL
writer on Judge Dredd, Hershey, and Ichabod Azrael – ROB WILLIAMS
