"SinDex" has got to be the most important. It's the most personal and I've been writing it the longest. It now represents a huge body of work, and some of my favorite art, and it's properly complicated, like a long-running soap opera. It was also great fun to write "Sinister Dexter" in disguise in the form of "Malone," a character I'm now coming back to. I'm very fond of all my invented strips like "Atavar," "Sancho Panzer," "Black Light" (with Steve White) and, of course, my new thrill [strip], "Grey Area." But, alongside "Sinister Dexter," I think "Kingdom" is my best work for "2000 AD." I'm not quite sure why I feel so involved with it by I feel very engaged with the world we've created there. It's action-packed yet poignant and Richard Elson has done some amazing work. I look forward to doing some more the moment he's free.

Do you see an eventually end to "Sinister Dexter" and "Kingdom?"

I could imagine writing a final "SinDex" story one day, but, for now, I've got loads of ideas to play with. Both Download, the setting for "Sinister Dexter" and the world of Kingdom are both places that could go on indefinitely anyway, so I haven't really thought about the strips finishing.

Speaking of "Sinister Dexter," can you share any clues about what happens in the next installment?

Very much. It's just getting planned out now. But it's a major new story, a major new departure point, and so much of a restart it's almost a reboot. The story is called (speculatively) "Witless Protection."

Have you ever given any thought to extending "Sinister Dexter" and "Kingdom" by having an "Abnett-verse" with other strips set in those worlds?

Abnett would love to extend "Kingdom" and "Sinister Dexter" into a larger Abnett-verse with new stories set in a shared world

"Kingdom" art by Rich Elson

That would be fun. I think both could handle it, in different ways. "SinDex" has already had a couple of "almost" spin-offs, like "Downlode Tales" and "Malone." We'll have to see.

You've also written a lot for strips you didn't create, including "Judge Dredd" and "Flesh," just to name a couple. Are you particularly proud of any of the stories you wrote for those?

I would say certainly the epic "Durham Red" trilogy I wrote with Mark Harrison would be a standout. I still think that's a great and epic story, beautifully illustrated. I was very happy to be able to continue the story of "The V.C.s," which had been my favorite strip as a young reader. Most recently, it would be "Insurrection," the grand-scale foray that Colin MacNeil and I have made into the world of Judge Dredd for the "Judge Dredd Megazine," a third volume of which is now underway.

"Insurrection" brings space-opera to the Dredd-verse and you're a well known "Warhammer 40K" novelist, as well. What is it about the genre that you love so much, and can we expect more "Judge Dredd" space-opera from you after "Insurrection"?

I seem to have a knack for heavy duty military Sci-Fi, so that's what I do. I'd love to do more space epic stuff for "2000 AD" in general or the Dredd-verse in particular...

When did you start reading "2000 AD"?

Prog 9.

Wow, so you've pretty much read everything that's ever been in the book! What are your favorite stories over the last 35 years?

The Dredd classics like "The Cursed Earth," "Judge Cal" and "The Judge Child" are huge favorites of mine, along with the original run of "The V.C.s," as I mentioned, the early "Nemesis" stories, "Halo Jones," "Flesh" and "Harlem Heroes." In recent years, I've been very fond of "Defoe," "Dante" and "The Red Seas," and "Dredd" is always an excellent read.

How would you rate the current state of "2000 AD" compared to the past 35 years?

I think it's in excellent shape and it's a constant delight to see how new, inventive and groundbreaking strips can be. Long may it continue.

Johnny Alpha vs. Judge Dredd. Who comes out on top in a fight?

I think it would be a close run thing but Dredd is likely to win out in the end by sheer will power and determination.

Abnett has long been inspired by writer Pat Mills and stories like "Defoe"

"Grey Area" art by Karl Richardson

You've worked under editors David Bishop, Andy Diggle and now Matt Smith over the past two decades. What was it like working with each of them?

They each had their own particular way of doing things and I enjoyed working with each of them very much indeed. I find Matt Smith's script editing insights particularly good and always enjoy getting e-mails back from him because, even if he's knocking ideas back for revision, he does it in the most interesting way.

Any newer thrills, writers or artists that you think people should be watching in "2000 AD?"

I mentioned that I was a particular fan of "Defoe." Any strip created and written by Pat Mills doesn't really need trumpeting, because we all know how good he is, but I really want to say how much I love the art by Leigh Gallagher.

You mentioned some of Pat Mills' work earlier, as well, so like most of us, it's clear you're a fan. How would you describe Mills' unique style?

I don't think there's a more "high concept" writer in the business than Pat. He is brilliant at constructing thematic and tightly imaginative strips that are often almost symbolic. Also, his connective imagination is boundless. Any subject he tackles, he tackles thoroughly and with great enthusiasm.

Why do you think that "2000 AD" appeals to British audiences so much, yet has struggled in the past to get attention in the US? Is there something quintessentially British about it that American audiences don't get?


Maybe, in terms of content. I think it's got more to do with the US not being used to a large format, weekly, anthologized comic. The material always has to be repackaged and re-sized to be appropriate for a US audience, and thus it loses something of the immediacy. The more they know it, the more they'll love it.

"2000 AD," featuring "Sinister Dexter," "Judge Dredd" and more, is available weekly in comic shops and digitally in the App Store