2000 AD Regened – Talking “Future Shock!” with Karl Stock and Luke Horsman
3rd March 2020
2000 AD 2170 is out now – the first of four 2000 AD Regened Progs for 2020, with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic getting an all-ages spin. Classic characters and new strips in a 48-page special, perfect for readers new and old, with five strips designed for all-ages.
But no special Prog of 2000 AD would be complete without the bite-sized sci-fi masterpieces we know as Future Shocks – and the all-ages Regened Progs are no exception to that.
We spoke to writer Karl Stock and artist Luke Horsman about what to expect from Living Your Best Life…
Karl, first of all, what’s your Future Shock all about?
Karl Stock: Living Your Best Life is set in a near-future where humanity hasn’t only discovered that reincarnation is real, but that people can be so desperate to try a new life that they’ll pay to be in the next. What happens when a spoiled brat with more money and ammo than sense turns up and demands to be made new?
The Future Shock is the time-honoured entry point for creators to 2000 AD, but with Regened, seeing as the 2019 Regened Prog was the best-selling issue of the year, there’s even more exposure. How did it feel to get the gig and how did it come about?
KS: I knew there was a new Regened coming up and – having written a ton of features and some strips for 2000 AD and associated titles, including the Shock in last year’s all-ages special – I pitched something.
It’s always a massive thrill to see my work in print in 2000 AD, and what I’ve seen of Luke’s art is stunning; I realise it’s a necessary cliché of these interviews, but good artists go beyond what the writer imagines in their head, so it’s like reading your own story for the first time when you see it again.
When I was writing the strip I didn’t realise last year’s Regened was the best-selling prog of 2019, but it was great to hear the news.
Luke Horsman: I was over the moon to be able to contribute to 2000 AD, especially for the Regened all-ages Prog. I actually got the gig after a chance conversation on Instagram with long-running 2000 AD artist Karl Richardson who thought my art would be fitting and put me in touch with Editor Matt Smith.
Given that Regened is an all-ages special and that the Future Shock tales have, over the years, had a tendency to become somewhat darker than when they began back in the 70s, how did you approach an all-ages Future Shock for Regened?
KS: For this one in particular, I kept the tone and feel of 2000 AD‘s early Future Shocks in mind – after all, it was a kid’s comic to start out with, even though the editors and creators were visionary enough to make something which also worked for adults. I had in the back of my mind that children’s comics don’t have to be childish.
LH: After reading the script, I thought Karl’s humour was perfect, so I tried to reflect that as best I could with enough levity and wit, but also tried to keep a little grit that you tend to see in an average Future Shock.
Did writing and drawing for an all-ages audience with Regened mean you needed to change your styles at all?
KS: I don’t think I’m experienced enough to have a style – getting there, though! But that can be a benefit, it means you’re more aware of the demands of the individual story, which you have to be for all-ages work.
LH: My artwork tends to swing between a dark over-blacked style and light cartoon work as I get a variety of Indy comic scripts – so I have the luxury of swapping in and out now and again. So I could really get my teeth into this and make all those animated style embellishments.
Finally, seeing as this is your first 2000 AD credit Luke, and I’m not sure we’ve ever done this with you Karl… a few old favourites…
What are your first memories of reading 2000 AD? Did you read it growing up, or as an adult?
KS: I’ve been a continuous reader of 2000 AD since the early 1980s and the buzz of getting a new prog every week throughout childhood was something to relish, but at the moment the bridge between the Beano and something like 2000 AD is too big for young readers to easily cross in the same way. Hopefully, Regened is a first step towards at least offering an alternative.
LH: My first memory of 2000 AD was the 1984 Annual with that great Dave Gibbons cover. That really cemented my love for Dredd and the Sci-Fi genre. I’ve been collecting on and off ever since.
Luke, how did you make your way into comics and what work have you done already?
LH: Well, I’ve been a freelance illustrator for a long time, starting out in graphic design for packaging, publishing, and web. I always wanted to work in comics, so the last seven years or so has been focused on doing just that – over time the business and the portfolio have grown and now that’s all I do, so the inner child is happy right now!
I’ve worked with a good amount of independent authors over the years on a variety of books and pinup cover pieces for small press Indy books, including variant cover work for Last Bastion Studio’s Luchador, The Elemental Balance 6 issue run for Insane Comics, Odyssey: Initiation For Jettison Zone, and the Endangered series for Ishan Comics. Plus many more titles in the works.
I also have a creator-owned book called Edengate, which I work on from time to time – but as with most side projects, it’s a slow burn labour of love.
2000 AD Prog 2170, the first Regened Prog of 2020, goes on sale from newsagents, comic book stores, and online on 26 February 2020. Future Regened Progs will be Prog 2183, Prog 2196, and Prog 2206.
And you can find more Regened action, including another fabulous Future Shock by heading to the 2000 AD shop to pick up 2000 AD Prog 2130, the Regened Prog from 2019.