2000AD Progs 101-200
There’s no doubt that 2000AD found its footing by the time it reached prog #100, with Judge Dredd as the anchor and Strontium Dog, Ro-Busters, and Robo Hunter broadening the appeal. But it was in the second 100 progs that the weekly comic built its lasting identity, easing away from its early “shock sci-fi” roots to become something truly original.
Over these two years, the format and logo changed twice, the cover price climbed steadily from 10p to 15p, the paper and printing quality improved, there was another “merge and purge” (this time with a weekly action comic named Tornado), and the first of many Eagle Awards were won for favorite British comic and character (Judge Dredd). Prog 140 saw the debut of The V.C.s, which brought both the future war genre and artist Cam Kennedy into the fold. The same issue featured 2000ADs first adapted material, Harry Harrison’s The Stainless Steel Rat, drawn by Carlos Ezquerra.
Here are all the covers for this amazingly progressive period…
Prog 110 • 4/28/79
Format changes as priting method shifts from
letterpress to higher-quality lithography.
Page size contracts from 9″ wide to 8.5″
Prog 111 • 5/5/79
First Ron Smith cover
Prog 119 • 6/30/79
First logo change, debut of A.B.C. Warriors
Prog 127 • 8/25/79
Merger with Tornado brings in three new strips
Prog 128 • 9/1/79
Format changes again, return to letterpress printing
Page size expands from 8.5″ wide to 9.5″
Prog 134 • 10/13/79
First Eagle Award wins, cover by Brian Bolland
Debut of The V.C.s and Stainless Steel Rat
Prog 146 • 1/5/80
Classic Dredd cover by Brian Bolland
Prog 148 • 1/19/80
Classic Dredd cover by Mike McMahon
First appearance of Judge Dredd’s arch foe, Judge Death
Prog 156 • 3/15/80
Debut of extended Dredd series, The Judge Child
Prog 160 • 4/12/80
Debut of classic Dredd villains, the Angel Gang
Prog 167 • 7/5/80
Debut of Comic Rock, origin of Nemesis the Warlock
Prog 168 • 7/12/80
Classic Dredd cover by Mike McMahon
Prog 178 • 9/20/80
Second logo change
Prog 182 • 10/18/80
Classic Dredd cover by Brian Bolland
