Monday 20 July 2009

"He saw you coming!"

Imagine the scene, it's the tenth anniversary of the Judge Dredd Megazine and editor Andy Diggle gets one of the goddamn hottest comic artists ever to do a special commemorative cover. That artist was none other than Frank Miller, who was at his creative peak with his Sin City series.

Former Megazine editor David Bishop was in the command module as the art arrived as he was about to go for a farewell lunch with Dredd creator John (God) Wagner. Bishop says "I opened the package in Wagner's presence. His comment: "He saw you coming!"

Bishop sent an email to Miller expressing his disappointment and it was agreed that the cover would never be used. Two good tings come out of this sad little tale - one, the art was sold for more than $2000 for the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund and the other was that Diggle wrote Lenny Zero for free to fund the cover - giving the world not only a really cool character but more importantly, giving super artist Jock a big step up the artisitic ladder.

8 comments:

  1. I think it's probably fair to say that Frank clearly didn't give a toss about Dredd... which is a shame.

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  3. It was David Bishop who commissioned this piece.

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  4. If you start at the top of the piece and work your eyeline downward, you can actually see the point where Miller stops even trying.

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  5. Yeah I thought Bishop had coommissioned it too Rufus, but he says different on his blog:
    http://viciousimagery.blogspot.com/2006/07/hmph-he-saw-you-coming.html

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  6. Was any explanation ever given as to why Dredd has a beard?

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  7. I doubt it Emperor. This article, coupled with the link above, seem to suggest that there was minimal contact between Bishop, Diggle and Miller: www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14205

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  8. Heh, I was told by someone from the heirarchy of Dark Horse that Miller was apoplectic with rage when this got rightfully rejected! Full marks to Bishop for not being dazzled by Miller's "celebrity" status and seeing this piece of shi... er.. art for what this is.

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