Steve MacManus (sometimes credited asIan Rogan; born 1953) is a Britishcomic writer and editor, particularly known for his work at2000 AD.

Born in London and educated in Devon, MacManus joinedIPC in 1973, aged 20,^[1] as a sub-editor on the boys' weekly comicValiant, until 1975 when he moved toBattle Picture Weekly under editorDavid Hunt. While working onBattle he also freelanced onAction,^[2] appearing as the title's mascot "Action Man",^[3] who performed and wrote up stunts and activities such as exploring London's sewers^[4] or flying a hot air balloon,^[5] as well as writing "The Running Man",^[6] "Sport's Not For Losers",^[7] and episodes of "Dredger".^[2]

In 1978 he was taken offBattle to sub forKelvin Gosnell on a new science fiction title,Starlord. When it was cancelled later the same year, he became Gosnell's sub on2000 AD, replacingNick Landau who was moved toBattle. He wrote scripts for "M.A.C.H. 1", and was the main writer for its spin-off "M.A.C.H. Zero", as well as contributing episodes of "The V.C.s", and also wrote "The Lawless Touch" for another of Gosnell's titles,Tornado.^[2][8][9]

In 1979 he was promoted toeditor of2000 AD, a job he held until 1986.^[10] This period is widely regarded as the title's "golden age", during whichJohn Wagner,Alan Grant,Pat Mills andAlan Moore produced some of their best work, and new talents likePeter Milligan andGrant Morrison joined the line-up. MacManus had a hand in the creation of one of the comic's most enduring characters, "Rogue Trooper", alongside writerGerry Finley-Day and artistDave Gibbons, and he co-wrote the character withSimon Geller in 1986.^[2][8][11]

His one-off story "Shok!", created withKevin O'Neill for the 1981Judge Dredd Annual, was the basis ofRichard Stanley's 1990 filmHardware. Only after a court case, which Stanley lost, were the two given writing credits on the film.Hardware is now considered the first2000 AD story to be adapted into film.^[12]

MacManus gave up editing2000 AD in December 1986. In the following year he became managing editor of the2000 AD Group, during which time he launchedCrisis, a politically aware comic which introducedGarth Ennis,John Smith,Sean Phillips andDuncan Fegredo, among others. After IPC's comics division becameFleetway, he quitCrisis after 50 issues following problems with censorship under new ownerRobert Maxwell.^[2] He married in 1990.^[13]

In the early 1990s he edited the first twelve issues of theJudge Dredd Megazine, and co-edited theBatman/Judge Dredd crossoverJudgement on Gotham withDC Comics'Denny O'Neil. Other titles he oversaw in the2000 AD Group includedRevolver andDice Man. In 1995 he became Managing Editor of the Pre-School Group of Fleetway's new ownersEgmont, editingSonic the Comic and overseeing titles such asToxic andBen 10.^[2]

In 1997 he returned to2000 AD to write their3000 AD twentieth anniversary special withDavid Bishop. After Egmont sold2000 AD toRebellion Developments in 2000, MacManus moved out of comics and into Egmont's magazine editorial. He announced he was stepping down in 2011.^[2][8]

In 2016 Rebellion published his memoirs,The Mighty One: My Life Inside the Nerve Centre, with a limited edition hardcover and a standard paperback edition.^[14]

• The Running Man (with Horacio Lalia, Mike White, inAction, 14 February – 12 June 1976).
• Sport's Not For Losers (with Dudley L. Wynn, inAction, 14 February – 1 May 1976).
• M.A.C.H. 1:
  • "Chinese Formula" (with Kato, in2000 AD No. 14, 1977).
  • "Tokyo" (with Lopez, in2000 AD No. 20, 1977).
  • "The Death Trumpet" (with Marzal Canos, in2000 AD No. 26, 1977).
  • "M.A.C.H. Zero" (with Ramon Sola, in2000 AD #43–46, 1977–1978).
  • "The Dolphin Tapes" (withJesus Redondo (1–2), Montero (3–4), in2000 AD #54–57, 1978).
• M.A.C.H. Zero:
  • "Cousin George " (with Mike Donaldson (1–2, 4, 6–8), Ramon Sola (3, 5), in2000 AD #65–72, 1978).
  • "The Suit" (with Montero, in2000 AD #73–75, 1978).
  • "M.A.C.H. Zero" (with Mike Dorey, in2000 AD #162–165, 1980).
• Strontium Dog: "Assault on Trigol 3" (with Rob Moran, in2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 1979).
• The Lawless Touch: "The Dogs of Death" (with Mike White, inTornado #20–22, 1979).
• The V.C.s: "The VCs" (withCam Kennedy, in2000 AD No. 145, 1979).
• One-Off:
  • "Shok!" (with co-writer and artistKevin O'Neill, inJudge Dredd Annual 1981, 1980)[1].
  • "Last Thought" (withJohn Higgins, in2000 AD No. 202, 1981).
• Tharg's Future Shocks: "Say 'Aaaaagh!'" (with Dave Wyatt, in2000 AD No. 493, 1986).
• Rogue Trooper:
  • "The War of Words" (withRobin Smith, in2000 AD Annual 1985, 1984).
  • "M For Murder" credited as "Rogan" (with art byCam Kennedy, in2000 AD #384-386, 1984).
  • "The Hit Man" (with co-writer Simon Geller and artistSteve Dillon, in2000 AD #495–499, 1986).
• Tharg the Mighty: "The Last Laugh" (withCarlos Ezquerra, in2000 AD Winter Special 1990).
• B.L.A.I.R. 1: "B.L.A.I.R. 1" (with co-writerDavid Bishop and artistSimon Davis, in supplement to2000 AD #1034, 1997).
• Dan Dare: "Dan Dare 3000 AD" (with co-writerDavid Bishop and artistKev Walker, in supplement to2000 AD #1034, 1997).
• Flesh: "Flesh 3000 AD" (with co-writerDavid Bishop and artistCarl Critchlow, in supplement to2000 AD #1034, 1997).
• Harlem Heroes: "Hike Harlem Heroes" (with co-writerDavid Bishop and artistJason Brashill, in supplement to2000 AD #1034, 1997).
• Invasion: "Invasion! 3000 AD" (with co-writerDavid Bishop and artistHenry Flint, in supplement to2000 AD #1034, 1997).
• Blazer! (2019)

• The Mighty One: My Life Inside the Nerve Centre (Rebellion, 2016).ISBN 978-1-78108-475-5.
• Elmsworld. My Life At Dartington Hall School 1963-1971 (eBook Publication, 2017).ISBN 978-1-97331-574-2.

• Shok! online

• British comics writers
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• Living people
• 1953 births

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