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[comics] The Judge Dredd Cover That Never Was … The hidden art behind 2000AD #18’s Judge Dredd cover. ‘In 1977, [Don Lawrence] was hired to draw the cover for 2000 AD Prog 18 which was meant to illustrate that issue’s Judge Dredd story ‘Brainblooms’. But it turned out there was a hitch – he hadn’t drawn Dredd! Lawrence’s cover featured ‘Greenfingers’ Ma Mahaffy harvesting her grotesque plants but as creepy and bizarre as the cover was, editorial at the time didn’t feel it was ‘dynamic’ enough.’

Side-by-side comparison of two versions of 2000 AD Prog 18 cover. Left: Don Lawrence's original artwork showing elderly Ma Mahaffy in robes holding a watering can, walking among grotesque human heads growing from the ground like crops, saying 'Oh, my customers will be pleased... all the brainblooms are ready for picking!' Right: The published version with Judge Dredd figure composited into the foreground, saying 'By Stomm! Now they're even growing law-breakers in Mega-City-1!'

A 2000AD Cover That Never Was…

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 12:37 pm and is filed under 2000 AD, Comics.

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