Judge Dredd the Megazine #1
Judge Dredd the Megazine Vol. 2 #1 (May 1992) is one of the most consequential single issues in British comics history because it is the debut of Devlin Waugh — confirmed as the first openly gay lead character in UK comics — whose 'Swimming in Blood' serial immediately established a bold tonal alternative to the stoic, jackbooted archetypes that had defined 2000 AD for fifteen years. The simultaneous launch of three new strips (including Alan Grant and Carlos Ezquerra's 'Armageddon' and John Wagner's 'Texas City Sting') positioned the relaunched, fortnightly Megazine as a genuine creative showcase rather than a simple spinoff vehicle. The title would go on to win the UK Comic Art Award for Best Ongoing Publication in both 1992 and 1993, with this volume relaunch widely credited as establishing its identity.
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The Megazine had run for twenty monthly issues under Fleetway as Volume 1 (October 1990–May 1992) before being relaunched as a fortnightly in May 1992, with this issue numbered Vol. 2 #1 — the twenty-first overall issue in the title's cumulative run. The format shift to fortnightly publication was accompanied by a fresh wave of launch strips, with writer John Smith and artist Sean Phillips handed the opening chapter of 'Swimming in Blood' as a marquee feature. Editor Steve MacManus had overseen Volume 1's first twelve issues before the editorial baton passed; the relaunched volume's cover for this debut issue was provided by Sean Phillips, who was simultaneously drawing the Devlin Waugh strip inside.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Devlin Waugh — a freelance Vatican exorcist and the first openly gay lead character in British comics — in 'Swimming in Blood' Part 1, written by John Smith with art by Sean Phillips.
- Three simultaneous strip launches: 'Judge Dredd: Texas City Sting' Part 1 (John Wagner, art by Yan Shimony); 'Devlin Waugh: Swimming in Blood' Part 1 (John Smith, art by Sean Phillips); 'Armageddon: The Bad Man' Part 1 (Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra).
- Published May 2, 1992 by Fleetway as Volume 2 #1, marking the Megazine's relaunch from monthly to fortnightly frequency; it is also the 21st issue in the title's overall sequential numbering.
- Two cover variants exist: a standard edition and a version with a free promotional button badge reading 'I do it fortnightly in Judge Dredd the Megazine' taped to the cover.
- Cover art is by Sean Phillips, who also illustrated the debut Devlin Waugh story inside the same issue.
- 'Texas City Sting' introduces Judge Colovito — described by at least one commentator as a Hershey-type character — alongside Dredd on a cross-city pursuit into Texas City, where they clash with the jurisdiction-protective Deputy Chief Judge Honus.
- The Devlin Waugh 'Swimming in Blood' arc, which opened here, ran for nine consecutive fortnightly episodes (through Vol. 2 #9), establishing the character as one of the Megazine's defining strips.
- The Judge Dredd Megazine (this volume included) won the UK Comic Art Award for Best Ongoing Publication in both 1992 and 1993.