Comics

2000 AD Covers Uncovered – Toby Willsmer – Great Flaming Skidmarks, it’s 2000 AD Prog 2332!

17th May 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!

What an incredible first few years in 2000 AD publishing history for the newly constructed Artdroid Toby Willsmer! Not many artists could claim not only winning the Art Stars competition, but then going on to set pulses pounding with covers and stories, including the Robo-Hunter strip in the zombie takeover tale The Darkest Judge and Cadet Dredd in Prog 2325

The Willsmer model is a classic 2000 AD artdroid, with some modern tweaks and upgrades. Built on an refurbished Bisley Mk1 chassis, augmented with some advanced Emond software patches then let loose with a host of bespoke subroutines of his own, he is a formidable addition to Tharg’s roster. He is quickly cementing a reputation for kinetic, literally explosive artwork that is irresistible to terrans and kills all known forms of Thrill Sucker dead. Toby has completed the cover of 2000 AD Prog 2332 (available 17 May) and what a stunner it is!

“Just listen to the gunfire and explosions in the city! Don’t linger on the pedways or ya won’t be lookin’ pretty!”
Petula Clark, Downtown Remix, 2144.

Over to Toby to tell you about his overall concept:

TOBY WILLSMER: I wanted to capture the moment just after Dredd had dealt with his perps and slid to a halt on his Lawmaster. I surrounded him with shootout carnage and burning stuff as a secondary light source and to add movement in there.

After decades of frustrating enforced celibacy, something on the ground had caught Dredd’s eye!

Rough and colour scheme
With the initial concept locked in, Toby got to work. He said “I came up with a fairly detailed rough idea and my initial thoughts on a colour scheme. Then sent them over to Matt to run his eyes over them.”

Once again, Dredd cursed the outdated Justice Department SatNav. There WAS no left turn, Drokk it!

Linework and initial lighting and shadows
“Once Matt approved the idea, I went ahead and drew up the detailed linework and added some basic shadows and textures.” And what amazing linework it is, wow!

Looking at Dredd’s Lawmaster screen, I guess he only has to follow the sound of bokking to bag his perp!

Initial colours
“From there I’ll head into the base colours, these help me to define where light and shadow will fall for the overall image. I wanted the city to be loose and dirty in the background and Dredd to be much more defined in the image bringing him to the front.”

Main part details
The image is really starting to pop now as Toby begins painting in the details. “As I wanted Dredd and his Lawmaster to have contrast lighting, I painted him first. This way I could balance the lighting and detail in the rest of the piece as I worked through it.”

“Six months for the Willsmer creep. Scrawling on the Megway.”

Details to the city
The final scrotnig painting. “I didn’t do much more on the city. Only detailing some parts, adding neon lights and some moonlight details on the buildings. At this stage, I’ll add all the small details/highlights to the whole image.”

I’m sure you’ll agree that this cover is a triumph! Thank you very much to Toby for sending the images and explaining his process.

You can get hold of the Willsmer Droid’s latest cover from anywhere the Galaxy’s Greatest is sold from 17 May, including at the 2000 AD web shop!

There’s lots more of Toby’s work available to marvel at online, including some outstanding 2000 AD pieces, so be sure to visit his website at willsmer.com. Highlights include this devilishly dark Judge Death bust…