In fact I've collected them for 30 odd years now. In particular I have read the sci-fi comic 2000ad from the very beginning. The name, 2000ad, may sound a little odd for a sci-fi comic - given that its now significantly beyond that, but given that the first publication rolled off the press in 1977, its name is a tribute to its longevity and its discerning and loyal readership.
Here's the interesting thing about 2000ad. A very large proportion of its readership, have read it from its early days. Which is to say, that a large proportion of its readership are very much older than you would expect a comic reader to be.
A question that pops out of the paragraph above is, why is this the case? How is it that the readership as they have grown, have continued to read what is regarded by many to be a childish indulgence?
One of the reasons I continued to read 2000ad, as opposed to say 'Whizzer and Chips', was that as I grew, the characters I read about grew as well. As opposed to remaining forever 8yrs old, the characters in 2000ad, evolved and became more complex and in real terms, grew older.
One character in particular stands out.
Judge Dredd.
In 2000ad, Dredd has evolved from being an unflinching, dogmatic, enforcer of The Law, to having doubts about the city, the system, the role of the Judges and his place amongst them. Even to the degree where he quits and exiled himself from the city. Its this growth I think that has kept the same readership from their infancy to maturity. Dredd has grown with them.
A quick search on Google will reveal that as well as being a comic character, Dredd has been the subject of two films. One (which we will only briefly speak of here) was released back in 1995 and starred Sylvester Stallone as the man himself
The film came in for quite a bit of stick. It was slated for being cringingly camp and for not being true to the character. In essence a wasted opportunity. I've always been in two minds about it. One the one hand, the critics where right, if you were a Dredd fan, its doubtful you would find much to like about this film. On the other hand, if you were not familiar with Dredd, it did give you an introduction into Dredds world, and some of the major players in his world. It even introduced an ABC Warrior (for which I give the film some credibility).
The more recent incarnation of Dredd is a very different beast entirely. The character of Dredd is bang on. Karl Urban nails it. Absolutely nails it. That's not an easy trick, given that Urban has very little to play with.
Dredd is a man of very few words. Dredd is not particularly physically imposing. It is Dredds presence as the embodiment of The Law that defines him and which comes across in the comics. Without the help of a writer like John Wagner or an artist like Carlos Ezquerra, its hard to see how that could be achieved.
Urban achieves it though.
The new Dredd film is criticised by some for not showing off Mega City One. It does in fairness look like its been filmed in what appears to be a multi-story car park. You hardly ever see the outside of the Peach Trees city block. But here's the thing. That doesnt matter. This film is about Dredd. Dredd is like an expertly made, searingly hot chilli. You dont want to plop chilli with some salad and potatoes and a few veg, it doesnt work.
A good chilli is eaten with very little else. The film is treated in the same way. Dredd is deposited with a rookie partner in the pressure cooker of a city block, with no escape. The inhabitants of the block, controlled by the drug kingpin MaMa are out to silence Dredd once and for all.
A very simple story, contained within a simple environment with no distractions. Dredds character is allowed to shine through. It's epic.
If you really want to appreciate the film. Take a look at the original Dredd comics. They are now collected in volumes, so you dont have to buy hundreds of back issues of 2000ad.
