A review by stopsatgreen
Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!: 2000AD & Judge Dredd: The Secret History by Lisa Mills, Pat Mills
4.0
Pat Mills is the (co-)creator of many of the comics and characters I read through my teens and early twenties, notably [b:Charley's War, Volume 1: 2 June – 1 August 1916|663412|Charley's War, Volume 1 2 June – 1 August 1916 (Charley’s War, #1)|Pat Mills|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348502129s/663412.jpg|649478] and [b:Marshal Law: Fear and Loathing|277634|Marshal Law Fear and Loathing|Pat Mills|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386912210s/277634.jpg|269259], and an instrumental figure in British comics. These are his recollections of the many ups and downs of 2000AD, the long-running sci-fi anthology, and he doesn’t hold back on telling his side of the story. He has strong opinions, and he doesn’t care who knows it!
There are many illuminating stories, and many axes to grind. But all the way through you know he’s only angry because he cares about telling good stories and making sure that creators get the credit—and cash—they’re due. This is 40 years worth of stories in a single book, and there are frequent digressions along the way; in my opinion, it might have benefited from tighter editing. But it’s a very compelling read, I got through it in just a few days; and if you’ve grown up with 2000AD, as I have, this is pretty much an essential—if partial—history.
There are many illuminating stories, and many axes to grind. But all the way through you know he’s only angry because he cares about telling good stories and making sure that creators get the credit—and cash—they’re due. This is 40 years worth of stories in a single book, and there are frequent digressions along the way; in my opinion, it might have benefited from tighter editing. But it’s a very compelling read, I got through it in just a few days; and if you’ve grown up with 2000AD, as I have, this is pretty much an essential—if partial—history.