Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!

2000AD and Judge Dredd: The Secret History

By: Pat Mills

Narrated by: Pat Mills

As 2000AD and Judge Dredd celebrate their 40th birthday in 2017, Pat Mills at last writes the definitive history of the Galaxy's Greatest Comic and the turbulent, extraordinary and exciting events that shaped it.

The story begins in a garden shed in Scotland sometime in 1971...Pat Mills is the creator of 2000AD and one of the comic's top writers. He is also the creator of Action, co-creator of Battle, Misty, Marshal Law, Requiem Vampire Knight, Charley's War (described as 'the greatest British comic strip ever created') and the black comedy text novel Serial Killer.

'Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!' is the infamous slogan of Torquemada, the comic's favourite villain. It once appeared on the Berlin Wall, and symbolises the subversive nature of 2000AD that changed so many readers' lives and influenced generations of film directors, actors, rock bands, novelists and even school headmasters. Everything you've always wanted to know about Judge Dredd, Slaine, Nemesis, ABC Warriors, Flesh, Bill Savage and more, is in this book. Plus the writers and artists who created them and the real-life people and events they drew on for inspiration.

The scandals, the back-stabbing and the shocking story that was regarded as 'too sensitive' to ever see the light of day is finally told. Pat relates the dark story of the maths teacher who inspired his version of Judge Dredd, the creators' angry battles with the censors and each other, why certain writers, stories and even readers have been banished from the comic, a step-by-step account of how Judge Dredd was created, and how to write or draw for 2000AD today. There are new insights on the 2000AD creators' invasion of American comics, their failed French invasion, the Judge Dredd films, the forthcoming Judge Dredd TV series, other possible films featuring 2000AD heroes, the unusual secret of the comic's current success, the tough challenges it faces today, and its exciting future.

From the hilarious origins when Judge Dredd writer-creator John Wagner and Pat began their careers writing together in a garden shed by paraffin lamp, to the tragic stories of legendary comic artists who have passed, and the challenges as 2000AD fought for survival against The Suits determined to destroy it, this is a unique, personal, and passionate account by the man who made 2000AD happen. Funny, sad, angry, defiant, and outrageous: it's the comic book memoir of the year.

©2017 Pat Mills / Millsverse (P)2017 Spokenworld Audio & Ladbroke Audio Ltd

Critic reviews

"This is a great reading of an engrossing book. After 50yrs of creating and writing for comics Pat Mills finally tells his side of the story." (Rehan Mirza)

"Revealing the truly unfair way creators are treated in the archaic British comic book industry I'm sure there are a lot of people behind the scenes who will wish this tome was never released. Well done Pat!" (Ceiron Bounds)

"Clearly a must-have for any fan of 2000AD and Judge Dredd, this is also an essential listen for anyone with an interest in the process of producing magazines and comics. It's also a nostalgia-inducing remembrance of an explosion within the British comics scene from the man who was right in the thick of it. 9/10." (Nick Joy, Scifi Bulletin)

Required listening for any 2000 AD fan and, indeed, any human being in general

I have always been a fan of Pat Mills' writing, his fecund imagination, and his admirable candor. This book, far from tooting his own horn, shows a humble yet unrepentant Mills, who can rightfully be credited as not only the most important person in British comics today, but also a damn decent human being, with morals and business practices the rest of us should aspire to. He writes with flair, and delivers a brilliant vocal performance with an even and relaxed tone. I highly recommend this one.

Eye opening!

genuinely uncomfortable in places, kinda puts you off quoting the day job... but a fascinating journey for any fan of the galaxy greatest comic!

Loved every second of it!

I didn’t dislike one second of it. Pat Mills is my favorite comic-book writer and this book will explain exactly why.

Overall I have a lot of respect for Mills, but...

I actually have a lot of respect for Pat Mills and his obvious courage in bucking the establishment to bring the world subversive, thought provoking characters. That's why I wish I didn't listen to this book. Before I start, I'd like to state that the book is very well written and performed, and I had no problem following what Mills was trying to say. But holy crap, Mills, we get it. Everyone before you sucked because they were the 'old guard', everyone after you sucked because they didn't follow 'your vision.' America and UK bad, France good. Pagans good, Christians bad. You complain repeatedly about how you were either not or under paid, which is a very valid point, but then lament comics for having a profit motive. I am and will remain a Pat Mills fan, but now understand that many of the problems he has gone thorough are probably due part in the conflicting way he thinks about life.

Waste of money

Pat spends hours whining about the pay and rights or lack there of. He can’t seem to realize that he signed a contract and worked for a company that provided all of the funds for what he has had published. Used to be a fan of 2000ad, I don’t think I will ever by another copy.