2000AD, cover date 5 September 1981

Here’s another legendary cover from British comics history, as artist Dave Gibbons introduces us to genetic infantryman Rogue Trooper.

Looking at the opening layout on page 3, I’m reminded of other first pages by Gibbons that will remain forever in the memory. What a talent this man has for instantly setting the tone and claiming the reader’s attention.

Several months prior to the launch of Rogue Trooper, Tharg ran a reader survey asking what sort of stories we wanted in future issues. ‘Future war’ was one of the genres, and I remember (aged 10) not knowing what that was – nor liking the sound of it. I didn’t ‘get’ war stories.

So Rogue, when he burst on to the scene, was a revelation. Gerry Finley-Day was the writer; he, and Gibbons’ clear, exciting art, made it work. The story of one man with a personal grievance, and the fascinating concept of his dead friends stored as chips in his equipment.

Looking back, I can see how this wasn’t what I thought war comics were about – glorified violence and patriotism. Rogue Trooper was more of a successor to Charley’s War: an anti-war story, vengeance against the officer classes who used soldiers as pawns, disposable commodities.

Rogue’s backstory isn’t revealed in this first episode but we see glimpses of his sense of mission. He is the last of the G.I.s, his comrades and friends having been massacred by the betrayal of a treacherous general on their own side of the war.

The battlefield is Nu-Earth, a planet in the shadow of a vast black hole that resembles a black sun. A black sun is a folklore symbol of a ‘world turned upside down’, heralding civil war, death, and a change to the natural and social order; i.e. Rogue’s world and his goal.

This era of 2000AD is commonly thought of as something of a golden age. Looking at the calibre of creative talent in this prog alone, it’s not hard to see why. Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill were collaborating on the subversive and arcane Nemesis the Warlock.

Veterans of the industry Tom Tully and Eric Bradbury served up dirty future sports action in Mean Arena, while Alan Grant and Carlos Ezquerra opened the book on ‘The Kid Knee Caper’, a new adventure for Strontium Dog.

And the centre pages exploded with colour as John Wagner, Grant and Brian Bolland concluded the seminal Judge Dredd saga Judge Death Lives. Thrill power unlimited!