Coming In September To ‘2000 AD’: Rob Williams, Steve Yeowell, Patrick Goddard & Dylan Teague Resurrect ‘Red Dragon’
by Richard Bruton
This September, 2000 AD brings back the Red Dragon, not seen for nearly 40 years after his appearance in Zenith Book 1…
First appearing in Zenith Book 1, and thereafter dying in Zenith Book 1, Siadel Rhys’s story was one of lost hopes and dreams as the Welsh superhero Red Dragon. He was a major player in Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell‘s pop culture inspired superhero series Zenith back in 1987. And now, he’s coming back, The Red Dragon flying the flag for all things Welsh and superheroic, as Rob Williams, Steve Yeowell, Patrick Goddard and Dylan Teague take us back in time for a tale they promise will explore the past and present of Wales itself.
Here’s what 2000 AD have to say about it…
‘Once Britain’s most powerful superhero, Siadel Rhys appeared in Zenith years after his glory days were over, running a pub and disillusioned with superheroing. Recruited by Zenith to form a team protecting Britain from a new threat, the character was killed in the line of duty. Now, starting in 2000 AD Prog 2451 on 24 September, the new series revisits Rhys’ superpowered heyday of the 1960s alongside the present day.’
The story will switch between two time periods, with Yeowell drawing the adventures of the young and powerful Welsh pyrokinetic in his glory days during the swingin’ Sixties. Goddard will be drawing the tale’s present day setting, as a documentary crew head to post-Brexit Wales to look at the legacy left by their greatest hero.
Writer Rob Williams has this to say…
“Reading Red Dragon’s story arc in Zenith in 1987 broke my heart, and I wasn’t alone in that. Grant and Steve created this vibrant, deeply flawed, extremely human character and, what’s more – he was a Welsh superhero. Red Dragon sounded and felt like quite a few people I’ve known over the years growing up in South Wales, just they didn’t have the ability to fly (although there were a few alcoholics and arsonists). When I was asked if I would be interested in telling a Red Dragon story, I started to think about the idea of a Welsh superhero. Of where the UK and Wales was in the 1960s of Red Dragon’s heyday, of showing some of that optimism and bright colour, and then telling a story about where Wales, and Britain, is now.”
And Yeowell, co-creator of Zenith and of the Red Dragon, says this…
“My first encounter with him was when he appeared in Zenith phase one, more than thirty years ago: a broken and disillusioned figure, fated for a tragic end. So I’m really excited at the opportunity to work with 2000 AD writing veteran Rob Williams and fellow artist Patrick Goddard on this dual timeline story, to show him as a super hero in his 1960s prime – charismatic, confident and principled.”
Red Dragon starts in 2000 AD Prog 2451, a special bumper issue releasing on 24th September
