Mr Byrne,

I have been reading your messageboard for a few weeks now, and I would like to ask a question.

I know that you tend to work exclusivley for the American comics market, and indeed, I have rediscoverd your work on the xmen through the 'essential' TPB reprints, but I do recall you  working on the DC version of Judge Dredd in the 1990's.

With this in mind, can you tell me how you approached such a iconic character, given that the core concept was such a strong concept to begin with? Also, are there any other classic or iconic british comic characters (such as Archie The Robot, The Steel Claw etc..) that you would have liked to  have worked upon?

Thanks for your time!

I grew up on DARE, and would have loved to take a sail thru that "universe" -- at least before it got all grim and gritty. HEROS THE SPARTAN was another favorite. The more recent stuff, tho --- there I'm not so familiar.

Thankyou for the prompt answer!

But, at the risk of sounding impolite, can you answer me about Judge Dredd? He is such an iconic character within the UK ( I owuld go as far as to say more recognisable than batman or superman to the UK public) that to essentially launch him to an American audience could not have been easy!

QUOTE: Judge Dredd? He is such an iconic character within the UK ( I would go as far as to say more recognisable than batman or superman to the UK public)

Aw c'mon Darryl that's nonsense. Everybody's Grandad and Granny know's who Batman and Superman are, they would probably recognise Spider-Man and Hulk too but Judge Dredd? Not to put the character down in any way I should add, but I doubt many of them would have a clue who he was, were they to be shown his picture.

JB did draw a short Dredd story, can't remember where it appeared. I remember him saying somewhere that he didn't enjoy the script, which I think was about football hooliganism.

I've got it, but again, can't remember where...

IMP.

He also drew some issues of the 'Ultimate' version of Dredd too.

I believe the Mekon was a production of the original Hampson team so Frank Hampson probably designed the original concept and it was worked on by various group members. The original Maquette is still doing the rounds of museums in the Dare exhibit.