Classic cover artists: Brian Bolland

While his time working for IPC publishing (and, almost exclusively, on 2000AD and Judge Dredd) was relatively brief – comprising selected stories and episodes between 1977 and 1981 – Brian Bolland developed the design of Dredd and his world to such an extent that he is rightly considered one of the series’ most important artists, and a favourite for many fans. His line and brush work has a confidence and technical excellence that brought a strength of character and realism, mixed with a noir sensibility, which I think helped ground Judge Dredd and Mega-city One as a world not quite as bizarre and distant as that designed by Carlos Ezquerra and first realised by the series’ earliest artists such as Mike McMahon.

Brian produced 40 front covers for 2000AD in the 1970s and 1980s, including many that have iconic status. It’s been tough choosing just four, but here goes …