Continuing our(semi!)regular features on character design and development,here is an early piece of concept art for Genetic Infantryman Rogue Trooper by co-creator Dave Gibbons;and below,the Gibbons droid’s quintessential Rogue,doing what he does best:killing Nort scum(with the help of trusty bio-chipped rifle,Gunnar!

The Gang’s All Here!

Well,almost..Cliff Robinson’s terrific commission featuring some of 2000AD’s greatest heroes,led of course by Tharg the Mighty!

• Judge Sackboy-Prog 168(12Jul’80)
• Rogue Sackboy-Prog 228(5Sep’81)
• Sackboy Alpha,Strontium Sack!-Prog 339(22Oct’83)

PlayStation 3® game Little Big Planet™ does 2000AD,with these brilliant mock-ups of actual covers and you can buy the costumes for your Sackboy® character in the game.

Judge Dredd(Prog168)-Mick McMahon                 Rogue Trooper(Prog228)-Dave Gibbons                    Strontium Dog(Prog339)-Carlos Ezquerra

Also available are ABC Warrior Hammerstein and Psi-Judge Anderson.

Military Technology On Nu-Earth

F-30D Condor Air Superiority Fighter.

Future War art by legendary UK sci-fi illustrator,Chris Foss

Military Technology On Nu-Earth

The M34A1 Saracen 3 Cavalry Assault Vehicle.

Future war art by British sci-fi great-Chris Foss.

Rogue Trooper “Friday” and the hi-tec arsenal needed to survive combat on the Nu-Earth battlefront,including his bio-chipped buddies,whose personalities are housed in his equipment:

• Lucky-communications expert housed in Friday’s backpack
• Top-tactical voice of reason stored in the helmet
• Eightball-damaged biochip causing unpredictable personality,housed in rifle!

Top drawer technical artwork by Chris Weston.

stomm2000ad:

Stunning portrayals of classic 2000AD characters by another super Scottish artist,Graeme Neil Reid.
From top:sexy Sauron,Tyranny Rex;everyone’s favourite mutant,(without claws!)Johnny Alpha and that G.I guy,Rogue Trooper.

You can also check out Reid,Alex Ronald and a plethora of unreasonably talented Scottish artists on the splendid Scotch Corner blog.Ye ken?

stomm2000ad:

Fine art,from 2000AD(mid-90’s)reader Keith Jackson,for a fairly weak-ass pun.

Rogue Pupa-heh!Worthy LRD(Liquid Refreshment Dispenser)or mug(!)winner. 

orcstain:

Rogue Trooper gets hooked on the juice.

Oh my. 

Prog 500, how long ago it seems.

A zarjaz montage of some of the classic characters at the time, drawn by the best of Tharg’s droids. The encouraging thing is that in the years since Tharg has added to his stable of top-of-the-range thrills, so this line-up would be very different today.