The John Wagner Facebook Thread

[John Caliber]

I'm actually writing a story set in the time of transition between the 'old cops' and the Judges. It's called NEW CELLS and partly turns on terrorist movements within the USW (United States Of The West--remember that old map?) who are cloning their best operatives. Some of the leading Judges take a keen interest because they've been thinking along the same lines.... 

I'm firstly developing the idea as the premise of an online role-playing adventure, then repurposing it (pretty much a complete rebuild) as a novella for a future PDF in my PLAY DREDD DOSSIERS series.

[radiator]

John has posted a little interview about his early career on his page....

When I moved down to London in the early 70s and was given the job of editor of Sandie, one of my subs was Rhoda Miller, also an ex-DC Thomson employee. It must have been galling having some talentless newbie parachuted in on top of you, but she kindly never bore a grudge. Indeed, nearly 40 years later Rhoda, back at DC Thomson, asked me to do an interview for the staff magazine. As it's unlikely to see the light of day anywhere else, I thought you might be interested to read it.

Click the 'Read All Comments' link to read all the questions.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Wagner/22334044612?ref=ts

[Pete Wells]

The devilishly handsome Pete Wells asked John:

Thanks for coming to the chat night on Wednesday John, it was a bit chaotic but I think we got some gossip out of you! I do hope you'll come back again.

During the session I asked if Mayor Ambrose was inspired by Boris Johnson. You said he wasn't and that his current position was just a natural progression for him (or rather, PJ.) That got me wondering, when you originally created young Mr Maybe, did you intend for him to be around this long and come this far or has the murderous little tyke just kind of found his way here on his own?

He replied:

"PJ was always there to be used again, Pete, but the fact that he's still around and risen to such an elevated position is purely down to PJ himself. He's one of those characters who takes over a story. I can place him in situ but once he's off and running PJ tends to dictate where he'll end up. Characters like that make for more organic, less mechanical, storytelling, which makes my job easier and usually produces a better tale. So be prepared for some unexpected developments this time round."

Wow! I'm speculating my little socks off here!

Next, the not-quite-as-handsome Commando Forces asked him:

Hi John, it was good to see you (type) in the chatroom last week, as you made a few fans happy.
I have a question for you, if you don't mind!
This week I received my Dredd Restricted Files Vol 1 and inside some of the stories have unknown next to the writers credit. I wondered if you wrote any of them or if not, if you k...now who did. Here they are:-

The Judge's Graveyard - Summer Special '77
Dr Panic - 2000AD Annual '79
Ryan's Revenge - Dan Dare Annual '79
Mega-Miami - 2000AD Annual '80
Christmas Party - Dan Dare Annual '80

Thanks for any help in advance.

To which John replied:

"Don't recognise any of those, John. I'll ask Alan Grant if he knows but I doubt he will either. Stories for Annuals and Specials tended to be farmed out to all and sundry. Could have been Kelvin Gosnell or Malcolm Shaw or Chris Lowder or any number of others."

[Colin_YNWA]

Arhh you're question leds nicely into some speculation over at the 'Catching up with 3 months worth of Progs' thread Mr Wells.

http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,27797.0.html

So the question is just what does PJ think he can achieve then... I wonder. This is all turning into a quite wonderful speculation fest!

[Robin Low]

...JW said...

"PJ was always there to be used again, Pete, but the fact that he's still around and risen to such an elevated position is purely down to PJ himself. He's one of those characters who takes over a story...."

I hated Maybe when he first appeared. I thought he was a crap, boring character. I only changed my mind when he hit the Megazine. Since then he's become one of the most worthwhile and interesting characters the series has ever had. However, I still don't really understand what changed my attitude.

Regards

Robin

[Dandontdare]

I hated Maybe when he first appeared. I thought he was a crap, boring character. I only changed my mind when he hit the Megazine. Since then he's become one of the most worthwhile and interesting characters the series has ever had. However, I still don't really understand what changed my attitude.

I agree, for me I think it's 'cos the first stories were played for broad comedy - lots of trouser jokes, comedy names and sub-Adrian Mole spellings. Things definitely got darker in the Meg, and the fact that as a grown man, his journals are still misspelled and rather childlike is creepier rather than funny when the serial killer's in his thirties!

[COMMANDO FORCES]

his journals are still misspelled and rather childlike

Grud on a greenie, does this mean that Cyberleader2000 is PJ Maybe. Who will he kill from the forum

[The monarch]

I'm watching my back...

[Pete Wells]

I woent kil... I meen HE wient kil aniwon!

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Said it before, I'll say it again.

PJ for CJ.

With Dredd knowing who he is, but unable to do anything for fear of disrupting Justice Dept further - plus PJ's doing a good job!

[George Dread]

Can't get into the comments on the wall there. A shame because there seems to be a bit of a natter on a subject I broached.

[King Trout]

"James Moon" just popped up again, posting a big pile of shit about some story he would be happy to "write some ideas for". *sigh*

[Jim_Campbell]

"James Moon" just popped up again, posting a big pile of shit about some story he would be happy to "write some ideas for". *sigh*

The posts in question appear to have been deleted and, judging by the way he's whinging on Usenet, it sounds like his Facebook account's been yanked, too!

Cheers

Jim

[Mike Gloady]

That's good news.  Hurray!

[mogzilla]

he'll be back on here soon blaming gordon rennie for john not loving him anymore