2000 AD Covers Uncovered: A return to ‘everyone’s favourite fascist’ for John McCrea on the cover of Prog 2328!
19th April 2023
Every week, 2000 AD brings you the galaxy’s greatest artwork and 2000 AD Covers Uncovered takes you behind-the-scenes with the headline artists responsible for our top cover art – join bloggers Richard Bruton and Pete Wells as they uncover the greatest covers from 2000 AD!
This week, a striking Dredd adorns the cover of Prog 2328 courtesy of John McCrea…
Now, just like Jock’s recent cover for Prog 2321, this one started off as work outside the Prog. But whereas Jock’s was a commission, this Dredd from John was just personal, a case of getting back on the horse after a long illness.
Now, thankfully for us, whereas Jock had no process images to show us (we did ask!) John has plenty. So, here’s John himself to tell us – and show us – all about it…
JOHN MCCREA: This cover was drawn about a year ago. I got long Covid in August ’21 and spent 6 months unable to do anything but sleep. I was literally sleeping 19 hours a day. It was not fun. I had been drawing a DC comic called Soul Plumber and had completed the first issue when Covid struck. After a couple of weeks, I realised I had to get help. So I asked my old pal and 2000ad regular PJ (Maybe) Holden to step in and draw the book until I was better again- sadly the best I could manage was inking several pages here and there during the remaining 5 issues.
Around March of ’22, I felt well enough to try drawing again. I figured a pic of everyone’s favourite fascist Joe Dredd was what I could manage, and this pencil drawing showed up!
I dutifully post the sketch on social media and it received a pretty warm welcome, but I was still unsure if it was any good, so I figured I would ink it. I find inking much easier than drawing so this didn’t seem impossible. Bear in mind I was sleeping 13 hours a day by this point and was pretty knackered the rest of the time.
Once again, social media came to the aid of my mangled ego. No one hated it.
So I chucked a bit of digital tone on it...
At this point, it was starting to look almost professional.
So I decided to be a bit naughty and send it to Matt Smith, Tharg’s alter ego, and see if he fancied running it as a cover. Let’s face it folks, after 6 months of bugger-all work, the old bank account was looking pretty dusty so a few galactic groats seemed enticing!
To my surprise, he said yes immediately and paid me in what seemed like minutes. Joy!
Of course, it still needed some colour so I dropped my old colour co-conspirator Mike Spicer a line, and off we went!
As usual, I was a dreadful taskmaster and put Mike through the wringer- I had a definite idea of how I wanted the colour, with lots of overlap, etc. (I’m sure there’s an official term for this, but my brain is mush these days).
Mike, being the pro that he is, rose to the challenge.
A year later, here it is. I am still fond of it. If you like it, let ol’ green bonce know, as I love drawing for 2000 and another cover or two would be jolly fun.
First of all, we’re all so glad to hear that John’s feeling at least a little better now. Good luck and good continued recovery to you John! We’d also like to thank him for taking the time and sending along the work for the cover for us to oooh and ahhh over. And finally, we can only agree with John that it would be great to see more of McCrea working for Tharg, either on the cover or on the inside!
You can find 2000 AD Prog 2328 wherever you pick up your weekly dose of Ghafflebette comics, including the 2000 AD web shop from 19 April!
And finally, one of those rare McCrea 2000 AD covers which we were fortunate enough to grab him to talk about in this Covers Uncovered!
