2000 AD Covers Uncovered: Dan Cornwell shows us Dredd’s big … nightstick
5th February 2021
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, with 2000 AD Prog 2217, it’s a very special occasion for Dan Cornwell, whose artwork we’ve been seeing on various Judge Dredd strips since his debut in 2017 on the John Wagner written War Buds in 2000 AD Prog 2045.
He’s been drawing Dredd inside the Galaxy’s Greatest for three years plus now, but up until this week he’d not had the thrill of getting on the cover. That changes right here, right now, with this rather stunning Judge Dredd on the cover of Prog 2217, out 3 February…
Dan’s also the Dredd artist inside the Prog this week on the rather revealing done-in-one Dredd, Naked City, written by Ken Niemand.
Ever wondered what you’d see if you had some kind of psychic x-ray vision in Mega-City One? Well, Moe Hallam, mall security cop, doesn’t have to wonder… but she does have to make sure she averts her eyes…
All that and much more in the latest Prog (and if you ever wanted the thrill of seeing a naked Dredd, this is the Prog for you!), but right now we’ll hand over to Dan Cornwell to tell you all about putting together this debut cover… and it was all a complete accident!
DAN CORNWELL: There was no remit from Matt for this cover, in fact he never even asked for a cover. This all happened by pure chance.
Long story short, I was having difficulties with the paper stock I would normally use – 280gsm Bristol board, so decided to try other types. The problem was, in the heat of the summer the inks weren’t soaking into the paper quickly enough and I found myself waiting for 5 minutes after inking a section of the image before I could continue, and even then in some cases the ink was still wet. I decided to try Windsor & Newton 220gsm smooth surface heavy stock cartridge paper. This worked – I still use it now.
I thought I should do a quick sketch and ink it to see the results. I penciled out my ‘go-to’ character, Judge Dredd. Took about half an hour.
Once he was sketched I thought it was quite a good pose, so added a little more detail.
I decided that this could be quite a cool picture so I started to play with the idea of adding a background. This is when I had issues. What to add? His badge? His Lawmaster? Mega City One? All been done before. Anyway I chose the latter. But I wanted it to be different. A bizarre angle that was not as the same perspective as the foreground character.
Making things difficult for myself I chose a 5 point perspective cityscape. When I was happy with the result I inked the whole thing. This was the purpose of the task after all. Thankfully I went well.
Next up, time to scan and clean up the image…
I then had to figure out the colour palette for this image. As I was drawing it, in the back of my mind I was seeing an 80’s synthwave, Bladerunner colour vibe. That’s how I see MC1 in my mind’s eye.
First job – and as all colourists will tell you, the most boring and tedious part, laying out the flats – blues and pinks...
Once the city and Dredd were flatted on separate layers (easier to select specific areas to work on) I then added tones to the city itself. I was working on the basis that the light will emanate from deep within the city and the tops of the buildings will be relatively dark. This in turn will make Dredd pop...
Then I worked on the light and shadows on Dredd and the city. Trying to find the right balance. Looking at the colour layers without inks, or looking at the whole image with a black and white filter which allows you to see the tones of the picture and where you can adjust the image...
Once I was happy with the overall composition and feel of the piece I added the final details here and there, adjusted the colour balance and levels. Then I flattened the picture. I made two versions, one slightly darker than the other. Printing can darken images.
I sent both to Matt to see if he would be able to find any use for it.
He’s a hard nut to crack. I’ve tried before. But this time he actually said he loved the image!
Of course, at this stage, there’s still no guarantee it’ll be a cover – that’s something you just have to hope for. But to quote Pa Angel “PRAISE THE LORD”, it was chosen as a cover!
After making my debut in the Mighty Prog four years ago, and now the Meg, I am lucky enough to get a cover. And all by chance!
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And thanks to Dan Cornwell for sharing that happy accident with us – you can find that Dredd cover on 2000 AD Prog 2217, out on 3 February from all good newsagents, comic shops, and the 2000 AD web shop.