Sure, sadly he passed only recently in 2018. I think he was only 70. But succumbed to the big C.
Met him once, at Forbidden Planet, (comic mart) in London, way back in the day. Maybe 1980’s.
The Forbidden Planet store - just off the end of Oxford Street - was THE place to be. I remember being completely mesmerised by all the original Judge Dredd artwork displayed on the walls. For a sum (too large for me at the time), you could buy them. I now wish I had.
Do you still have those early progs, maybe with the free gifts?
By coincidence, I was recently looking at specialist comic websites, also eBay and was pleasantly surprised on the prices being asked.
I’m never selling. (But I’ve told my adult kids - when I’m gone - they can sell them. Just don’t flog them, some are worth a few pennies).
Unfortunately no. 
Just like you, I was in at the start.
I think a lot of lads read 2000AD at the time. It was such a new and different thing. My and my mates all talked about the story lines.
It was a bit like “Top of The Pops. If you hadn’t seen TOTP on Thursday night, or if you hadn’t read 2000AD over the weekend, you had nothing, when everyone started the conversation 
Which Marvel did you prefer?
I think my favourite Judge, after Dredd, was Judge Anderson, from Psych division. She was as complex as Dredd himself.
Tharg the editor, might say :
“Borag Thungg” - to all you - "Deca Thargo’s”
Of the later stories I really enjoyed Ace Garp trucking, may have coincided with playing Elite on the ZX Spectrum, or the latter revived memories of the former.
Always remember GBH, Ace’s sidekick and near Wookiee describing himself as “undead”.
Speedo Ghost being an epic ship design.
Yeah, I remember that one as being fun. Remind me, was it comedy (tongue in cheek) always getting it wrong
Quite a space ship…
But how about this for a space craft design. I used to think this was such a cool thing - Blitz Spear.
I think I had this actual “pin up” on my bedroom wall.
Love it, bringing it all back.
Wasn’t it a ring of some sort with prog1?
Yeah, like a mini frisbee
Being a kid, I took it off and played with it.
What do you know about “collectables” at that age 
Here you go…
I’ve seen decent examples of prog.1 for £75-150, depending on condition. But apparently the presence of the original free gift can add £50-100.
Never got Dan Dare, generational thing.
Prog.2 was a much better gift - stickers to put on your forearm - of bionic parts. Much better gift and I remember using them and wearing them for days. My mum eventually persuaded me to wash them off
Incidentally, prog.2 was the first one to showJudge Dredd.
I’ve read since, the creative and publication team hadn’t quite got everything right for prog.1, so Dredd didn’t make it into 2000AD until everything was ironed out, in time for no.2 following week.
Think Ace was always a bit of comedy but had huge creativity.
** Historical context - “bionic parts”
Six million dollar man - was hugely popular television show from 1973 through to 1978 - about an astronaut hero character, near death experience and brought back from near death, with the benefit of bio-engineered parts, which enhanced his abilities.
Compulsorily viewing for us aspiring super hero lads, in the 1970’s.
Anyone admit to growing Sea Monkeys ?
Rogue Trooper was brilliant.
The whole idea of a genetically engineered soldier. In fact a whole army of them.
You might remember they all got slaughtered in their first deployment. Rogue survived and was the last of his kind and fought on. Knowing he and his brothers had been betrayed, he went underground or Rogue.
Absolutely genius story line.
The idea - of genetically engineered soldiers - has been used so many time since in the past 40 years. I wonder if it appeared in 2000AD first ?
Always wanted to, but then I found out what they were…not monkeys at all!!!
Damn cheek.
